Rivendell

[elk]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rivendell-Rambouillet-50cm-with-Schmidt-Dynamo-light_W0QQitemZ200165496821QQihZ010QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Have you already discussed this bike?

I'm just thinking about my future...
I haven't been able to duplicate a certain" june essay qwa" (as my student wrote) that I used to experience on my old Raleigh 10 speed...was it the drop bars? the steel? the age of the rider???? I loved feeling like I was riding a steeplechase...

My now-older-bicycle-eye has already evolved (thanks ALOT goils:rolleyes: ) and where it used to see cute cruisers...it now wanders over sleek road and touring bikes... Particulary drawn to the Waterford and the Rivendell...for mostly aesthetic reasons as I don't know d*** about them really.

Not that I don't love my little draft horse....(although those fat tubes are starting to grate a bit...)

But if I continue to enjoy riding like I do, I might want to go farther and faster....and maybe I should start saving up now...? Or keep an eye out for a good used one..

According to the Riv site...this ebay bike would fit me well....

[jobob]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rivendell-Rambouillet-50cm-with-Schmidt-Dynamo-light_W0QQitemZ200165496821QQihZ010QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Have you already discussed this bike?




Yep. :)

[elk]

are you bidding on it? where is the discussion...if you have the link to the thread...

OOOPS...found it. Why does Lisa think it's $$$$?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That thread was about a different blue Rambouillet on Ebay- that auction is over.
This is a new auction- a much smaller Rambouillet with 26" wheels. Different bike.

Rambouillets come in 50cm frames, 52, 54, etc. (except that they are not making any more of them for now)
FWIW: My inseam is 32" and I ride a 54cm Ramb. I would probably be comfortable on a 52cm as well, since my 54 is "almost" too big. A 56cm would be too big for me.

[jobob]

Dunno. <shrug>

With the wheels and the dynohub and the light and the TA Carmina crankset ($325 from Peter White), I think it's a good price.

A new Rambouillet frameset (frame, fork, headset) costs $1500, and built up with standard Riv parts is available for $2500 from Peter White Cycles, but the wheels would not be as good as the ones handbuilt by PW.

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/rambouillet.asp

[jobob]

That thread was about a different blue Rambouillet on Ebay- that auction is over.
This is a new auction- a much smaller Rambouillet with 26" wheels. Different bike.

Um, Lisa, beg to differ. We're talking about the same bike - the one with the Mark's rack - as in this thread, posts 63-65.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=256615&highlight=rivendell#post256615

[elk]

shoot....and it's probably just the right size for me---esp given that top bar...

I bet there's a line of smarty pants ebayers waiting to bid at the last minute...

not that i need another bike....i just imagine getting up these hills more easily.

I should take a photo of my neighborhood:eek:
a neighbor who is MR Road bike was laughing sadly at us..."poor things...this is not the greatest neighborhood for getting back on a bike..."

restraint....not my strong suit in ANYTHING!!! (but I can keep a secret)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Um, Lisa, beg to differ. We're talking about the same bike - the one with the Mark's rack - as in this thread, posts 63-65.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=256615&highlight=rivendell#post256615

Oh, you are RIGHT! I was thinking of the blue Rambouillet on Ebay from the week or so before- the 54cm one I think. Sorry. :o
(blue rambouillets whirling all over, making me dizzy now.....)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Speaking of Rivendell Rambouillets, my DH just put up a nice page of pictures on CycloFiend of his beautiful Rambouillet:
http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2007/cc399-briansullivan1007.html

[elk]

who am i kidding....i need that dough to pay my property taxes....and I should see where I am as a cyclist in a year...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Elk, you know if you can find an older steel road bike that fits you well, you can get it pretty cheap and then put some nice components on it one at a time and make if into something really cool. You can put some wide gearing too for your hills. I see lots of older steel bikes that have been made into fabulous bikes this way. I like the look of an older lugged steel bike with a few well loved dings in it and a good leather saddle, etc. There are tons of them out there in people's garages...sleeping beauties...
dont give up hope! :)

[jobob]

What Lisa said :)

[elk]

I wish wish wish I had kept my 1975 Raleigh !!!!!!
But the mechanic said it wasn't worth spending over 200.00 to get it fixed up when the new technology was so much better.....

:eek: :eek:

I knew nothing. so we gave it to a collective & I went bought my Globe.
That was only about 2 months ago... Maybe the place I gave it to still has it!!

[KnottedYet]

my inclination would be to trust the mechanic on this one. In any case, the bike is probably gone.

If you want to build-up your own steel bike, consider taking a peek at some of the "nekkid" frames offered by Surly and Soma. www.surlybikes.com www.somafab.com

$400-$600 for the frames, then do them up however you like.

I think your Globe is very cute. Don't get rid of it! Everyone needs at least TWO bikes: a "performance" bike (whatever performance means to you) and a utility bike. The Globe is a lovely utility bike.

[elk]

I LOVE my Globe and will definately keep it. Its great for roadworking my dog, for trails and paths...

I'm just thinking about speed and distance... I might eventually look at "entry level" steel road bikes....I'm just thinking outloud...:)

[KnottedYet]

<whispers> Surly... Soma... Gunnar... Rivendell... Waterford... Bianchi... Jamis... Kona... Moots... Comotion... Rodrigues... Davidson... Vanilla...

<whispers again> and MORE!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think it's good to get a solid feel for what price range you want to stay within. The list Knot gives, for example, has a huge price range- the Vanilla bikes cost several thousand and have a several year wait list I believe. Rivendells cost a couple thou to start, as do Waterford, Davidsons (I think)....
Jamis, for one example I know of, are much cheaper- more of an "entry level" steel bike. I am sure a few others that Knot mentions are less expensive as well.

And then there are the really cheap (in comparison) garage sale/Ebay older steel road bikes that can be updated with many or a few new parts and customized just to you. Some are lugged steel and others are TIG welded steel. The big thing with them all is that you really would be best off if you could test ride them first to see if the frame fits you right before you actually buy them.
And you'll want to know just how much work and new parts they'll need to be safely ridable for you to begin with, -aside from parts swapping just for the coolness/customizing factor.

[elk]

I read the "official" company websites for fun.

I will keep my eyes open on craig's list, should proably start hitting garage salea as they come up, etc...I also imagine that the citybikes collective may have some refurbished old bikes...

I tend to go out and just keep my heart open and see what sparks. I think a well tended heart and alert mind always recognizes what it wants...and in this case, add an aging but eager body...:D to that list....

Then I get to come here and tell you what I've found and see what you say!!

can't really go wrong....!! (Danger? the place where i bought my Globe sells Waterfords)

[elk]

GLORIOUS ride yesterday... 15 miles with DH on his Trek hybrid, Friend on his refurb Bridgsetone and Friend #2 on her drop dead gorgeous DeNucci (Sacha White before Vanilla) and me on my Specialized hybrid....(I did OK..we had some nice long breaks and once when I thought I can't go further (and then have to go back) I got all renewed and had the best part of the trip.)

Friend A a long time bike freak and bike builder--says I probably wouldn't want to do even 25 miles on my hybrid ...I think it was partly because of the Albatross bars--:( and partly because of the weight. I'm thinking OK...I'm going to get serious about a touring/road bike....

I think I oogled every single bike I saw yesterday..;-) Saw a Heron..that was Pretty!! I am SUCH a flirt!!!

I stopped at CityBikes Workers COllective (closed) just to window peep at some refurbs...and I saw a whole row of new Jamis Auroras...
And I bought some clips at RiverCity and saw a Salsa Casseroll (although its' more of a road road bike than a touring bike...right?) AND a Waterford frame hanging off the ceiling....

And then I got home and the Riv on ebay didn't have ONE BID....and it would fit me...and I think I would LOVE it but damn it...$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!

Been watching ebay and craigslist .... should I have a fitting before I even think about another bike?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Those Jamis Auroras are supposed to be fine touring bikes- lots of people would love to get one but can't find any.

Hey, if your hybrid fits you well there is no reason you can't do long rides on it.
Plenty of women do centuries on their nicely fixed up hybrids. My DH loved to do 30-40 mile rides on his trek hybrid with albatross bars before he got his Rivendell. If your hybrid is a bit heavier than a speedy road racer, it will just make you a stronger rider. ;)

[elk]

Lisa. glad to hear another opinion!! I figure when I get stronger and all dialed in properly, I can do it. I was proud of myself yesterday...Pretty much spent the whole day on the bike...

A guy at my LBS also told me that they were one of the only shops to carry my bike...most of them are in Europe!? When I did a search before I bought it...the only reviews I could find were from the UK...odd!

;-) I'm just so seduced by the beauty of the machines! I need to calm down and be patient and ride lots and keep an eye open...

I wonder if the Jamis is an 07 and on special.....:D

[KnottedYet]

Those Jamis Auroras seem to sell like hotcakes.

The Surly Crosscheck and Surly Long Haul Trucker are also steel and kind of in the same price range. If you can't find an Aurora to test ride, maybe see if you can find a Surly?

[elk]

hey Knot...I saw a line of Auroras through the citybikes window....and I think rivercity carries Surly...

how would you compare the Surly to the Salsa Casseroll?

[KnottedYet]

I haven't ridden a Casaroll, but I've looked at them and fondled them...

Workmanship-wise they look very similar quality. The geometry of the Casaroll looks like the sort that works well for me. (cyclo-crossy toury relaxedish)

I've only seen them as frames that the shop has bought and then built up to their own specs or to a customer's specs.

The ones I've seen for sale at my LBS have been a few hundred $$ more than the Surly Crosschecks. My shop carries many brands and makes of steel bike, so i have to be careful when I walk in there...

[KnottedYet]

OOh! I just read about the Surly Traveller's Check! (a Cross Check built with S+S couplers) http://www.flickr.com/photos/surlybikes/1554016016/in/set-72157602385067626/

Way beyond my budget (or needs) but I'm thrilled! The frame alone costs more than my complete Cross Check, but is still a lot cheaper than just about every other S+S 'ed frame I've run across.

Supposed to be out in a couple months.

[elk]

gulp....its back...for less...I may have to go in for this....given my discussions yesterday about road bikes and $$$ at the shops....

ummmm what can I sell.. ?????

It has become my dream bike.