Great write up! Took me back to a few years ago. I'd ventured cross-country, found myself in San Francisco, what else would a bike nerd do? Jump on the BART to Walnut Creek. I'd found myself confused as I rounded a section of storage unit type structures, only to find a discreet Rivendell Bike Works sign. Upon poking my head in, I'd found myself in the RBW headquarters. Some banter later, and Roman and Grant are deciding who will squire me through Shell Ridge. A fantastic experience all around. I left with a new hat, and a pocket full of Lip-Ivo.
E. Lee Southeastern VA On Monday, September 18, 2023 at 8:22:30 PM UTC-4 sarahlik...@gmail.com wrote: > As a lady who also wanted a yellow bike... and custom painted one.... Make > it happen! Say goodbye to barf green! > > > On Monday, September 18, 2023 at 1:40:39 PM UTC-7 Joe A. wrote: > >> Hey All, >> >> I wanted to share a special ride report from this past Saturday. >> >> Originally, my wife and I planned to hop on BART from West Oakland and >> travel to Walnut Creek to visit the Riv HQ, followed by a quick ride around >> Shell Ridge. I've been to the showroom a handful of times to pick some odds >> and ends, but my wife has never been. >> >> She currently rides a Clem H in "Barf Green" as she calls it (ha!) that I >> sourced for her from a fellow bay area Riv rider. It's an amazing bike, but >> as she didn't pick it, it's never truly been *hers*. I was excited for >> her to try out a few bikes and finally find her one true steed. >> >> We arrived to find Grant in the showroom, helping another person find >> their PBH size. Before long, my Wife and Grant were deep in conversation >> about what type of bike she was looking for, and she hopped on a Platypus, >> Homer (the new gold ones look amazing in person btw), Proto Charlie, >> amongst others. She immediately fell in love with the Homer and was zipping >> around the compound with a huge smile on her face. While she did that, I >> nerded out with James, checking out his Homer and Atlantis. >> >> Intermittently, Grant, James, and Riv Friend Dan, gushed about the color >> of her frame, how unique the color was and how beautiful it was in the >> light (all things I also thought when I scored the bike for her). For >> context, my wife is obsessed with getting a yellow or orange bike, and >> nothing else will please her :) Grant conceded to her that yes, one should >> have a bike in a color that makes them love it, and so it in was in >> friendly jest that for the rest of our time together Grant kept talking up >> her "barf green" Clem. I thought it was hilarious. >> >> After an hour or so, we said that we'd come back another day to hammer >> out the details on a build, and that we were off to Shell Ridge to ride >> some trails. I confessed that we'd never been out there before and James >> let me take a photo of a map they had on hand to get there. >> >> We set off, only to find both Grant (on his light blue Clem) and Dan (on >> his army green Gus) waiting near the start of the trailhead! >> >> They graciously offered to show us around (though were careful to give us >> the option to get a few pointers and continue on with our date ride). >> Obviously, we were more that elated to have Grant and Dan lead us on our >> first ride in Riv's backyard. How cool is that?? >> >> So we were off! Grant and Dan tested our chops a bit through some light >> trails, and eventually we came up to a fork in the road. Grant and Dan gave >> each other a look and after a moment Grant said "well, you two look like >> you can handle yourselves, so let's try some singletrack, it'll be fun!" >> >> Full disclosure: my Wife and I are pretty avid cyclists, though we spend >> most of our time on easier fire trails and pavement in the urban jungle of >> Oakland. So... our experience on singletrack and trails in general isn't >> the greatest. But when Grant says ride, you most certainly follow. I also >> felt comfortable knowing we had them around. I must also admit that I've >> never really taken my Clem L on this kind of terrain, so there was a lot of >> learning to do. >> >> What followed was an amazing jaunt around Shell Ridge. I fell at least >> twice, but there was no shame to be had. Dan shared that on his first ride >> with Grant in Shell Ridge, he fell off his bike and slid 50ft down the side >> of a hill which scored some laughs all around. >> >> As we went along, both Dan and Grant gave me some tips on how to ride the >> terrain and by the second half I was having the time of my life. The >> biggest thing I learned was to trust the long-wheel base, and pedal, pedal, >> pedal. It took a bit of courage to do, but once I got the hang of it I was >> amazed at how, yes, you really can pedal through those moments of doubt and >> come away smiling. I'll never forget it. I was also in awe of how >> skillfully both Grant and Dan rode the terrain, they're incredibly skillful >> but are never in your face about it. >> >> Along the way, we had great conversations about not just bikes, but life. >> I asked Grant if he was going to celebrate Riv's 30th anniversary next year >> to which he yelled *"NO!"* (though I suspect people will celebrate him >> and the team anyway) and in turn, he asked us about our lives, our >> interests, our hobbies, etc. It was great to hear about his philosophy on >> life, on bikes and everything in between. We joked about the French (my >> wife is French) and Grant's struggles to pronounce French words. I even >> snapped a few photos on my Kodak Ektar H35. >> >> Grant was also a great ride leader, explaining how to approach certain >> sections in a non-condescending manner. The riding was technical, but I >> never felt overwhelmed, and both my wife and I really began to understand >> how Grant's design philosophies translates to real world applications. Oh >> they definitely translate :) >> >> After about 2 hours on the trails we made our way back to HQ where Grant >> graciously gave us some coconut water to rehydrate. We were gassed, so we >> hung back and talked more about Taiwan and the bike manufacturing scene >> there, and shared the story of how my wife and I met in Taipei over a >> decade ago. >> >> Before leaving, the Riv team also gave us some goodies (patches, stickers >> and shirts!) and we said our goodbyes, promising to come back soon to not >> only get my wife a Homer, (though she's since reconsidered getting a >> Roadini to complement her Clem, that she now has a newfound appreciation >> for, obviously) but also hang out. >> >> I can't stress enough how thankful we are to have had the opportunity to >> ride with Grant and Dan. I've always had a sense of the Rivendell vibe, but >> that day really solidified it my mind as the best bike company in the >> world. Grant, if you ever read this, you are the man! >> >> I wish I had taken more digital photos of us, but will have to wait to >> develop the film. We did snap a photo of our "fearsome foursome" before >> leaving though (my wife Mathilde is between Dan and Grant, and I'm on the >> right): >> >> [image: IMG_3473.jpg] >> >> I'll also share some photos of our rigs when I get a chance! Oh and a few >> weeks back I made a post to the group about offloading my Clem for a Gus. >> Yeah, that ain't happening anymore :) >> >> Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed reading (I know I can be a bit long-winded >> with my writing) and would love to hear about similar experiences folks >> have had riding with the Riv team. >> >> Allez! >> >> -Joe >> >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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