People typically choose two Rivendell bikes by thinking about what the eventual third one will be, and by calculating how they will all complement each other and round things out.
This sounds sort of tongue-in-cheek, but it's common in practice because of the addiction/collector gene that all bike geeks possess. N+1 is real. You're always going to "think" you need another: One that's lighter and suited for long, fast paved trips; or one that has fatter tires and is better suited for exploring dirt roads and trails; or better equipped for loaded touring; or one that's equipped as a town bike for shopping and carrying things; or one that's robust and fendered for winter commuting. So what seems like an obvious answer is to get two models that are as different as possible - like a Roadini and a Gus - to cover all bases.... but this thinking is a trap. The problem is that you end end up with bikes that are specialized or optimized for one thing but don't get ridden enough because - in the end - you're ALWAYS going to just grab the one you like best and fits the best and that you are most familiar with. The one that has become an extension of you. My advice would be to do the opposite: Think about the range of riding that you do on a *regular* basis, and pick two models separated only by that degree of optimization. If you don't regularly do group rides with roadies, you really don't need that Roadini. If you don't live in the mountains, you really don't need that Gus. If you don't plan to tour - or could get by with a lighter load or credit card the one time you do - then you don't really need an Atlantis. You can ALWAYS do those things on any other Rivendell model. You might just go a tiny bit slower. With this thinking, you'll admittedly end up with bikes with a lot of functional overlap, but I promise you'll use both of them more. If you tinker with one at a time, you can also experiment with things like different cockpit setups and gearing and tires to your heart's content, without finding yourself without a bike to ride mid-project, while you're tracking down some obscure spacer or ferrule that you didn't know you needed. So unless you really DO participate in those more extreme activities, you could maybe get a Sam if your tire and fender clearance are good but you think you'll regularly need a stiffer frame than the Platypus. Or get a Clem L if you like the step-through but regularly need fatter tires than the Platypus. Leah, when faced with your exact quandary, did the smartest thing ever and just got a second Platypus! I started accumulating rivendells (and other bikes) at a different time. Compared to the much older and more speciaiized ones that I own, the current range of Rivendell bikes - with the longer top tubes and longer chainstays and slacker head angles and increased tire clearance - across the entire range - are SO good. Combined with the ready availability of quality, fat tires now on the market, it's hard to make a mistake. I often think how much simpler my life would be if I got rid of most of what I have and chose one new one - but I'm too emotionally attached still. So many now hang un-used... making me feel guilty... while I inevitably grab the "one." On Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10:52:42 PM UTC-7 Masa wrote: > Hi all, I would like to ask you how you would choose 2 Rivendells if you > could own. > > Which models? What kind of purposes? What kind of weather? What kind of > roads? Any definition is welcome. > > I'm currently riding a Platypus and I feel like I can ride it everywhere > for any purpose as Riv says it's an All-rounder so I just would like to > know how you would add one more Riv or how you are riding 2 Rivs already as > a reference (possibly for my future 2nd Riv). > > I hope you enjoy the topic! > > Masa > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/16df088b-4c96-4d68-8d29-9cc2b0692704n%40googlegroups.com.
