Rivendell Atlantis owners...share your thoughts

[canali]

I have a surly cross check (love it!) and have always lusted after a bike from Rivendell...well found a very slightly used one and am going to plunk down my money for it....the only problem is that my cross check runs 700c wheels while my Rivendell (due to my shorter stature) will only accept 26" wheels, but the owner said I can get the same speed (as I love to fly on the flats) by simply upping the larger chainring a bit.

Anyway, I am excited and so feel free to share your thoughts on your Atlantis (pros, cons (if any) with me.
Email me@ joseph.collins@telus.com

[valygrl]

My sister has the 47cm Atlantis, and has handling problems with it.

Here's her description:
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The bike is generally over-responsive to input.  Any small changes in pressure to the bars result in surprisingly large turning deflection, to the point where it is very difficult to ride with just one hand on the bars (to attempt to drink from a water bottle, for instance).  At very low speed, the bike tends to wander, while at higher speed, it holds a line well as long as both hands are on the bars.
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She has tried different bar heights and tires, no luck yet sorting out the problem.  I'd be interested to see how you like the bike, if you get it.  

Hopefully you can test ride it before you buy, and see if you have these problems.  

Good luck!
Anna

[RussellSeaton]

"the only problem is that my cross check runs 700c wheels while my Rivendell (due to my shorter stature) will only accept 26" wheels, but the owner said I can get the same speed (as I love to fly on the flats) by simply upping the larger chainring a bit."

True.  But going from 700C wheels to 26" mountain bike wheels results in wheels about 2" smaller in diameter.  Take a 52x12 high gear for example.  This seems to be a common high gear now days.  52 tooth chainring.  12 tooth rear cog.  At 90 rpm with a 700C wheel (26.5" diameter) you get 30.7 mph.  Pretty darn fast.  With a 26" mountain bike wheel (24.5" diameter for 25mm width) you get 28.4 mph.  Pretty fast.

I would advise not worrying too much about not having high enough gears with a smaller wheeled bike such as 26" instead of 700C.

[DaveB]

the only problem is that my cross check runs 700c wheels while my Rivendell (due to my shorter stature) will only accept 26" wheels...

Does the Riv take mountain bike 26" wheels (ISO 559) or 650C aka road 26" wheels (ISO 571).  

If it takes mountain bike wheels you will have problems finding reasonably light tires for road use.  The smallest tires I'm aware of are 1-1/4" and run about 400 grams each. These will be fine for touring but hard to "fly" on.

If it takes 650C wheels, you will have the opposite problem.  Most 650C tires are 23 mm or narrower and made for performance, not carrying a lot of weight.

Russell is correct about the gearing but going to a 54T big chainring from a 52 will give the same overall gear with the same cogs.    

[Dan]

Ritchey makes a one inch wide tire called the tom slick that is for 26 inch mountain bike wheels and this weighs around 300g.  They are 26 X 1.0 and run about $20

[RussellSeaton]

The Rivendell Atlantis takes 26" mountain bike tires.  559 mm bcd.  

There are several "racing" tires for these wheels.  Continental Grand Prix 1.0 folding is 208 grams per the Colorado Cyclist catalog.  Also costs $45.99.

As for 650C (571 mm bcd) tires, the only medium width tire is made by Terry Bicycles.  28mm is the listing.  $40.

For those interested.  The formula for figuring bicycle speed is:  mph = gear inches * rpm / 336.3.  Where gear inches equals front chainring / rear cog * wheel diameter.  Roughly 26.5" for racing 700C tires.