Bikes Similar to Rivendell

In my seemingly never ending search for the perfect road bike I have started
to focus on bikes built for comfort rather than speed. I have been doing a
lot of miles on my winter/rain touring bike with 32 mm tires instead of one
of my racing bikes. I like the comfort of wider tires and the ability to
use fenders. I like most of the ideas behind Rivendell bikes but really
hate the look. I know that many people think the lugged frame, and the
intricate designs, are the high point of bike style but I am completely
turned off by it. Can anyone recommend other makers of bikes that are
designed with similar ride characteristics as the Rivendell bikes?

jitensha studio in Berkeley, CA. Hiroshi designs similar frames as
Rivendell, but uses simple single point lugs. I believe his are also
braised in Japan. I ride past the shop on a regular basis and like
what I see. I own a Rambouillet, but would own an Ebisu in a second.
You could also get a custom Steve Rex (Sacramento, CA) for about the
same price as an off the rack Rambouillet and for way less cost than a
custom Riv. One more option for a production cruising cycle would be
Heron. Check the website for more info.

Check out gaansari cycles (google is your friend). The owner worked w/
GP, and is reputed to be a pretty nice guy. Tell 'em what you're
looking for and I bet he could fix you up.

Good luck....

Frank Drackman wrote:
In my seemingly never ending search for the perfect road bike I have started
to focus on bikes built for comfort rather than speed. I have been doing a
lot of miles on my winter/rain touring bike with 32 mm tires instead of one
of my racing bikes. I like the comfort of wider tires and the ability to
use fenders. I like most of the ideas behind Rivendell bikes but really
hate the look. I know that many people think the lugged frame, and the
intricate designs, are the high point of bike style but I am completely
turned off by it. Can anyone recommend other makers of bikes that are
designed with similar ride characteristics as the Rivendell bikes?

Kind of hard without really understanding more of what exactly bugs you
and what you like about them. There are many bikes that can take wide
tires and fenders and high handlebars, e.g. suitable cross bikes, many
others. If it's just the fancy lugs tha bug you, get simpler ones; or
if it's lugs at all, get something fillet brazed or TIG welded- but TIG
welds are hardly aesthetic to most people who have a sense for such
things. There are very many excellent custom builders who can do either
for you. Start by your location, find someone local you can work with.

"Frank Drackman" wrote in message
...
In my seemingly never ending search for the perfect road bike I have
started to focus on bikes built for comfort rather than speed. I have
been doing a lot of miles on my winter/rain touring bike with 32 mm tires
instead of one of my racing bikes. I like the comfort of wider tires and
the ability to use fenders. I like most of the ideas behind Rivendell
bikes but really hate the look. I know that many people think the lugged
frame, and the intricate designs, are the high point of bike style but I
am completely turned off by it. Can anyone recommend other makers of
bikes that are designed with similar ride characteristics as the Rivendell
bikes?


So you want a steel bike that's comfortable but not lugged? Try the Gunnar
Sport.

Frank Drackman wrote:
In my seemingly never ending search for the perfect road bike I have started
to focus on bikes built for comfort rather than speed. I have been doing a
lot of miles on my winter/rain touring bike with 32 mm tires instead of one
of my racing bikes. I like the comfort of wider tires and the ability to
use fenders. I like most of the ideas behind Rivendell bikes but really
hate the look. I know that many people think the lugged frame, and the
intricate designs, are the high point of bike style but I am completely
turned off by it. Can anyone recommend other makers of bikes that are
designed with similar ride characteristics as the Rivendell bikes?

A Cannondale touring frame has all the features of a Rivendell, but is
lighter, cheaper and stronger.

I prefer the look of welded frames. I prefer aluminum to steel, although
I have a couple of steel frames. Touring frames are probably the most
versatile starting point.

Frank Drackman wrote:
In my seemingly never ending search for the perfect road bike I have started
to focus on bikes built for comfort rather than speed. I have been doing a
lot of miles on my winter/rain touring bike with 32 mm tires instead of one
of my racing bikes. I like the comfort of wider tires and the ability to
use fenders. I like most of the ideas behind Rivendell bikes but really
hate the look. I know that many people think the lugged frame, and the
intricate designs, are the high point of bike style but I am completely
turned off by it. Can anyone recommend other makers of bikes that are
designed with similar ride characteristics as the Rivendell bikes?

Waterford RS series..custom and exactly what you may want-see a
Waterford dealer.

http://www.waterfordbikes.com

Here are a few...

Kogswell Model D (out of production now, but you may find one if you're
lucky--*simple* lugs, 1-1/8" steerer, steel! I own one and love it.);
Kogswell Model P (similar to the Rambouillet, slightly less fancy, much
cheaper) both at www.kogswell.com.

Surly Pacer...similar to the above Model D but w/o lugs--except that I
believe the fork crown is lugged. Tig'd, black podercoat, very nice.

Something Completely DIfferent: The Trek Pilot series. Personally, I
don't like the look, but if you do, it might work. Room for relatively
fat tires and fenders, in alloy and/or carbon.

An older steel Trek. It might be worth your while to haunt eBay and
the backrooms of local bike shops in search of an older Trek tourer.
Since they're steel, they can be adapted to newer gearing (8/9/10), and
the touring models are very comfortable. The lugs are *not* overdone,
and there's room for fenders, etc.

And of course there's Waterford.

There are also some British/Euro builders who cater to the randonneur
trade (probably misspelled) who could supply what you want...Thorne and
Berthoud come to mind...

What do you like/not like about Rivendell's designs?

Owning a Gunnar Sport for the past two weeks I would obviously second
this recommendation as well as the Waterford RST and RSE depending upon
whether you can live with canti brakes. The Gunnar is a great value
and and has several options including custom geometry for an additional
$350 which for me was a great option...it is so wonderful to have a
bike that fits so well. The Gunnar will not have the stainless steel
dropouts and the full Waterford finish but have everything else that
the Waterfords are known for. The Sport model has just been updated
with new OS2 tubing and a sloping top tube. From my perspective the
new model is indeed stiffer at the BB than the older model.

"Andy M-S" wrote in message
oups.com...
Here are a few...

Kogswell Model D (out of production now, but you may find one if you're
lucky--*simple* lugs, 1-1/8" steerer, steel! I own one and love it.);
Kogswell Model P (similar to the Rambouillet, slightly less fancy, much
cheaper) both at www.kogswell.com.

Surly Pacer...similar to the above Model D but w/o lugs--except that I
believe the fork crown is lugged. Tig'd, black podercoat, very nice.

Something Completely DIfferent: The Trek Pilot series. Personally, I
don't like the look, but if you do, it might work. Room for relatively
fat tires and fenders, in alloy and/or carbon.

An older steel Trek. It might be worth your while to haunt eBay and
the backrooms of local bike shops in search of an older Trek tourer.
Since they're steel, they can be adapted to newer gearing (8/9/10), and
the touring models are very comfortable. The lugs are *not* overdone,
and there's room for fenders, etc.

And of course there's Waterford.

There are also some British/Euro builders who cater to the randonneur
trade (probably misspelled) who could supply what you want...Thorne and
Berthoud come to mind...

What do you like/not like about Rivendell's designs?

Thanks for the great suggestions.

I find the way that Rivendell "celebrates" the lugs extremely ugly & gaudy.
I also find the Rivendell message to be elitist and condescending. I know
that it doesn't matter in riding the bike but I have a hard time giving
money to a company that I disagree with their core values.