Morphology – Bike Snob NYC

It was raining and howling wind yesterday so I rode Zwift:

No, I’m kidding, I stayed in and watched videos about my favorite bikes. Do you know Jeff Jones does a little parking lot test ride of every custom order bike he builds and sometimes makes a little video of it?

Well he does.

I don’t know if Rivendell tests their bikes similarly, though if they do I imagine it would involve riding around the parking lot while taking black and white photos and listening to banjo music. I couldn’t find any videos of that, but I did find some foot shifting:

Friction shifting is just a gateway drug, and before you know it you’re ditching the derailleur altogether and shifting with body parts.

I also found this video which I thought was entertaining:

Here in New York you don’t see that many Rivendells, plus I don’t have any friends, which means I too have sort of had to piece the whole Riv thing together for myself by looking at the staff bikes on their site. As far as I can tell it’s pretty flexible, but there are a few style notes you’re supposed to hit. For one thing, you should have at least one (1) discontinued part:

You should also do your best to have at least one parts combination that’s not supposed to work together but does anyway, such as a Campagnolo shifter with a Shimano low-normal derailleur:

And yes, you’re allowed to have indexed shifting on a Rivendell, just as long as it’s something that’s not supposed to work together but should, like a Campagnolo shifter with a Shimano low-normal derailleur, or a Modolo Morphos that’s not connected to anything and instead you shift with your foot:

And yes, apparently they still sell the Modolo Morphos:

I may have to get a set for the Cervino.

And finally, your Rivendell bicycle should feature a highly improvisational handlebar treatment:

Basically it’s like the Velominati on acid.

[All preceding photos from the Rivendell staff bikes section…except the Modolo Morphos shifters, those are from the planet Mars.]

Speaking of Rivendell, Grant Petersen has a new book:

It’s infuriating and the proceeds and he’s donating $10 for every book sold to a good cause, so how can you go wrong?

As for my own Rivendae, I’ve at least taken tentative steps in the right direction. For example there’s the Swingline stapler Simplex front derailleur on the Homer:

And I’d argue that the double grip situation on the Platypus qualifies as improvisational, or at least slightly quirky:

Though it could probably use one more set of grips to really bring it home:

Ultimately though I’ll never be capable of the sheer insouciance of a Rivendell staffer or an Ultraromance–who, as I mentioned, is doing a medium-reach brake road bike:

This means medium-reach brake bikes are going to be the new thing, since I’m sure by now everyone’s burnt out on old mountain bikes, and if I see one more “gravel conversion” on the Internet I’m gonna puke:

[Oh Reddit…]

This means those medium-reach brakes could soon command a premium, and single-pivot versions won’t remain cheap for long once people realize they open wider for easier wheel removal with those fat tires, and they’re Jobst Brandt-approved:

Better pick up a Milwaukee while you still can.