The Cult Of Rivendell

Those of us in the cult are firm believers that carbon fiber is bad, swept-back upright handlebars are good, and wool is the year-round fabric of choice.

I more or less agree about the wool (although I don't wear it in summer), but I have problems with the other two.

First, I'm sorry, but swept-back upright handlebars are not very comfortable. The "Albatross" bars that Riv sells look great, but they put your hands in an awkward position, and they put your upper body in such an upright position that you can't get leverage on the pedals. Even Cindy thinks they're uncomfortable. I tried to like them. I even rode a 700-mile tour using them. Uncomfortable.

Second, if carbon fiber is so delicate, how come the TdF bikes don't snap in half every time there's a crash? I admit, they don't always survive the crashes, but c'mon. They're going 40 mph. The fact that any of them DO survive, and are still rideable, means that they can't be the death-traps that Grant says they are. Furthermore, my STEEL bike broke--snapped!--at the drive side chain stay. That would have been uncomfortable going at speed down a hill. So much for bending and not breaking.

OK, one more. I understand the need to sell less expensive unlugged bikes, but hey, to say that they are as good as my gorgeous lugged Rambouillet, well, sorry, no. "It's the Rivendell ride that makes them special." Nope. I love the way my bike rides, but I bet I could get a similar (for me at least) ride from a much more modestly priced Surley. It's the lugs, stupid.