The quickest and most meaningful solution is to buy stuff from Riv. On Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 11:54:38 AM UTC-5, AV wrote: > > > https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/peeking-through-the-knothole/2019-no-3-state-of-the-bunion > > In the latest Blahg, Grant again discusses the financial situation. He > lists several options for going forward, which I would summarize as: > continue to try and squeak by, sell the business, give it to employees, or > look for an angel investor. > > I'm sure people will tell me I'm wrong, but for what it's worth, I think > at least some of Rivendell's financial problems stem from an awkward > pricing scheme. > > On the high end is the AHH, which sells for around custom prices. I would > guess that Riv loses some customers here, because why not buy a made to > measure frame (eg, a Gunnar) instead? On the lower end, the $900 Clem or > Roadini frames sit in a weird spot -- cheaper than a custom but more > expensive than, say, a frame from Soma or Black Mountain. So why buy a Clem > or Roadini, especially if you prefer classic geometry, as many people do? > The lugs? Are lugs really worth losing sales over? Are lugs all that make > Rivendell bikes special? And I have to agree that many of the latest > designs have lost me. > > I think it bears repeating that other companies are succeeding by making > Rivendellish bikes for lower prices. For instance, isn't the Black Mountain > Road essentially a TIG welded Rambouillet? Why doesn't Riv offer a line of > lower priced TIG frames? Who wouldn't want to buy a TIG version of, say, > the Legolas or Quickbeam -- same geo, same tire clearances, same practical > features such as rack and fender eyelets, but costing way less? Would it be > watering down Riv too much to offer a TIG frame? I mean, the Roadini has > only a few lugs. Why not go all the way and bring in new customers who > appreciate the kinds of bikes Riv makes but could never afford an Atlantis > or AHH? How is that bad? > > Some will object and say, those TIG bikes already exist, go and buy them. > To which I respond: Not exactly. I'm pretty sure I would prefer a Grant > designed TIG frame over a Surly. And I would rather support a smaller, > ethical company like Riv, just as I would rather buy a jacket from > Patagonia than Nike. > > I don’t mean to suggest that Grant should start chasing trends or > introduce a carbon bike with disc brakes. But I do think there is a middle > approach that could bring in more sales, expand the customer base, and yet > stay true to the Rivendell philosophy. > > And the lugged bikes would still be there, as always. > >>
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