Waterford Precision Cycles - A visit

Not alot of riding to speak of lately and there is a significant re-shuffling in the works on my daily rider front but more on that later.  I'm actually home relatively briefly between trips and had to get up some shots of a very brief visit to the friendly and amazing Waterford Precision Cycles in (where else) Waterford, WI.

Waterford is 8,000 sq ft of American manufacturing, and it might be the highest volume MUSA steel bike shop in the country. (anyone have an idea of who might be larger?)  Not only are they bigger than the average custom bike shop but they put out some extremely high quality frames for some very hi profile customers... Rivendell (Atlantis, Hunqapillar, A Homer Hilson to name a few), Boulder All-Road's, Gunnar (house brand), small batch Schwinn Paramount Anniversary editions, and of course the Waterford branded custom bikes.  Quite an impressive brag sheet in my mind

I checked in via phone and email ahead of time and let the good folks at Waterford know that I'd love to stop in and see the place as I'm a current Rivendell rider and they very kindly obliged. I got a spectacular walk-around with Richard who really knew his way around the shop.  Given that I didn't and haven't ridden an actual Waterford product (my Atlantis is a Toyo built frame) I can't give any feedback from a rider perspective.. so the pictures and captions really just give you my wide-eyed, curious view of a really cool bike shop.

Thanks very much to Richard for showing me around and Johanna for taking my calls.  This is a cool shop with good people and gorgeous bikes coming off the line!  Enjoy the pictures.

TIG welding at a very hi level.

A pair of seat stays being miter-cut for the frame in the next image down

As each frame moves through the work floor it is paced by its spec sheet that gives the geometry, materials, customer and other information.  Every frame, even the 'stock' Gunnar's go through as a single item built up from scratch.

Brazing station

A future Waterford in paint

If I remember correctly these are all Gunnar's but I'm not sure...

Here's what I was hoping to see!  post-paint Riv's and Waterford's all lined up and ready for final touches!

Here's what I was hoping to see!  post-paint Riv's and Waterford's all lined up and ready for final touches!

The chrome frame is one of 25 Schwinn Paramount Anniversary editions... a very rare bike at the very start of its lifetime!

Hunqa - hunqa - hunqa

I wonder who's lovely orange Homer this is!

And a gorgeous blue Homer getting worked on

Rivendell Bike Book and Hatchet - A visit

Given the amount of time I've spent on Rivendell's website, or corresponding with fellow devotee's on the RBW Owners Group, or obsessing over the build on my own new-to-me Riv Atlantis.... it was only fitting that I make it by the new flagship storefront from Grant Peterson in Walnut Creek.  I was a little suprised by Walnut Creek, I had never really looked into it and didn't expect it to be such an affluent and bustling area.  I guess the pictures from Shell Ridge/Mt Diablo area colored my thoughts that Walnut Creek was a sleepy country-ish suburb in the Bay Area.

That notion was instantly disabused and my buddy Kamal and I grabbed some coffee down the street and easily found the RBB&H.  The store is really cool, I'm happy for the company becuase I think they really executed a fine looking storefront that balances the best of Riv's stuff with the innate quirkiness.  I hope it is a commercial success for them!

From the perspective of someone already bought in to the Riv universe/lifestyle I only wished that more (or all) of the goods available at the website were available at the storefront. I understand that for the full gamut you can go to the HQ which is nearby but I was close to closing time and missed that opportunity. Other than storage space at the storefront I'm not sure I understand having two differenent but similar inventories... enjoy the pictures!

For a boring and wordy discussion that includes some thoughts on the RBB&H visit check out this post.

The pile of wood outside is pretty amusing, as is the sign.... STOP if you love The Wind in the Willows!

Hatchet = Great GIFT

Brand new Alba-stache bars, more on that and my demo ride soon.

Keven's mystery bike 'Apalloosa', really long chainstays and really cool looking diagi-stays... The front shopsack sold me on getting one for myself.

Great looking bike displays, with lots of information handy.

I wish there had beena slightly smaller Hunq for me to ride but I imagine it would be very similar to my Atlantis

I love the ceiling tratment... a grid of twine hung with bells... grab a hatchet to ring the bells!

one of the bell pulls

Why not finish with the hatchet wall!

Bruce Gordon Cycles - A visit

Bruce Gordon Cycles

Bruce Gordon recently opened up a small showroom and even a museum loft of his own personal collection of self-built frames (built up in period correct parts).  I happened to be near enough to stop in last week and was overwhelmed by the craftsmanship and even more so by the man himself.  Enjoy the pictures, let me know if you have questions and definitely put Bruce on your list of frame builders to visit in the San Francisco area!

Every one of the bikes pictured was hand made by Bruce, most of them on the premises of the shop adjacent to the show room.  Bruce is a one man operation and it was clear to me that he takes great pride in his craft.  Oh yeah, "Bruce Gordon was nice to me!!"

All of these shot's were made with an extreme wide angle (20mm) lens so please forgive any distortion, its the camera not the bikes!

A more wordy discussion of my visit here.

I love this 'rust' powder coat...looks fantastic in person, there is a great texture to it as well!

I just wish I could get a picture of Bruce atop the flinstone bike!

Bruce does (or has done) Ti...

Those joints are preeeeetty sweet!

Petaluma, CA is a lovely place... I had a great lunch downtown just a couple blocks from Bruce's place.  Looks like the riding is pretty darn good too.

I didn't get alot of pictures of the custom racks, but cro-mo tube, tig welded racks are also one of Bruce's calling cards... I'd love to get a set for my tandem!

Drumroll please.... Bruce's 'Autobiographical' collection... every bike he has made for himself in the 30+ years he's been fabricating bicycles, nearlly all built up.  It's a wonderful display and a great idea.  You can just see the man himself in the back left.  Bruce is very friendly and happy to talk about his bikes!

How gorgeous is this?!?  Look at those custom racks too!

More from the personal collection... scary thing for me is that I think I'm about the right size for ALL of these bikes!!!

NAHBS Winner... yeah just another award winning stunner of a steel lugged bike for BG Cycles...  gorgeous (the color is quite remnescent of my Riv Atlantis though!)

Another custom rack that looks sweet... check!

Most important bike in the shop... Bruce's personal commuter.  Check out the steel integrated seatpost,  I don't see those at the bike rack ever!  Other cool details include a rear tire generator hub, BB mounted that can be moved in and out of postion by the extra shifter tab on the seat tube.  Good color too.

Yet another unique, and this time aerodynamic rack

Guess who else is in town!?!  Oh yeah we partook of the tasting room before heading out of town.  White Industries is right around the corner as well but according to Bruce they don't have a showroom.

Lots of beer... go check out Petaluma and BG Cycles!

California Bike Industry Touring

This will be the least interesting of three or four posts about my recent California trip… wordy and not terribly focused.  Bottom line is that I’m taking a step beyond internet research and forum discussions to go meet and experience different parts of the bike industry in person.  It is a really fun process!

One of my 2014 goals, and in general a part of my curiosity for the world of bicycles is to visit in person and have conversations with designers, frame builders, parts fabricators and companies.  In this vein I recently had the opportunity to pay visit’s to three radically different , yet philosophically linked bicycle companies in California and came away impressed by the passion and at the same time had my eyes opened to some significant challenges to achieving and/or maintaining a profitable business.  This past week I stopped in at Ocean Air Cycles in Ventura, Bruce Gordon Cycles in Petaluma and the just opened Rivendell Bike, Book and Hatchet storefront in Walnut Creek.  I got exposed to quite a few strong opinions, some excellent bikes and parts from each of these companies.  Here are a couple thoughts on each of my visits;

Ocean Air Cycles

Ventura, CA

This was my second visit with Rob Perks and I’d encourage you to check out my ride report on his excellent Rambler, the low-trail Rando/Porteur bike he designed based on his experiences with vintage, skinny tubed steel Trek bikes (among others).  We didn’t have time for a ride unfortunately but the conversation was very good.  My interpretation of Rob’s business model is that he identifies or designs items that he himself uses, sources them from local, US business (the smaller the better) and presents them for sale.  The collection of bit’s and pieces available through is storefront is pretty eclectic and I find it fun to peruse and read about his suggested uses.  The Rambler, the heart of his operation is a blank sheet design spec’d out by Rob and fulfilled by Zen Bicycles in Portland.  I found the myriad of responsibilities Rob has too his customers to ensure his design get’s satisfied in the one-man-shop operation to be pretty dizzying.  My impression is that all Rambler riders are in good hands as Rob really cares and almost seems honored by each customer’s business.  I would have bought a pair of the new Soma C-Line tires if he’d had them in stock, I still may put in an order for them but I’ve had another fit of bike-tire-buyers-preemptive-remorse (BTBPR) and am not sure.  But I will be ordering one of his cool embroidered hats offered in partnership with Randi Jo Fabrication, it’ll be my first cycling cap… J

Bottom line, another great conversation with Rob and I’m hoping to try out a Rambler again when I’m in Ventura next!

Bruce Gordon Cycles

Petaluma, CA

I only had a passing familiarity with BG Cycles before last week, I’d taken note of the BLT (Basic Loaded Tourer) bike they were offering at a very attractive price last year and then on my first visit with Rob Perks he showed me one of BG’s renowned cro-mo tubed racks.  I’d read Lovely Bicycles’ blog post about meeting BG…  none of that could have prepared me for meeting the man, and seeing his bicycles!  I think I was actually somewhat enthralled to spend the roughly 2 hours he gave us, a running conversation about the bicycle industry, frame building, details on frames and components and of course getting to see his amazing ‘auto-biographical’ collection of every bicycle he has made for himself since the 1970’s (10 points for anyone who takes the High Fidelity reference).

I don’t really know where to go describing this visit other than to say if you are interested in steel bikes you owe it to yourself to have a conversation with Bruce.  What I really took from Bruce’s conversation was his deep seated belief in the value of handcrafted, made in the USA components and bikes.   I’m convinced that every detail of a BG bicycle is INTENTIONAL, and that those details reflect a lot of riding and building experience.  I think a set, or at least a rear BG rack is in my future but I need to figure out a couple of things first.  In the mean time I couldn’t help but purchase one of his cool aluminum tail-lights, bullet shaped and smooth…  it’s already found its way onto my Atlantis (not sure Bruce would approve but it looks great either way)

Rivendell Bike, Book and Hatchet (RBBH)

Walnut Creek

Not quite the ‘origin’ as I opted with my limited time to check out the new storefront vice the warehouse/HQ.  Grant Peterson’s book, Just Ride, is definitely responsible for jumpstarting and directing my interest in bicycles.  So it’s only fitting that I finally make the pilgrimage. 

This visit not only satisfied my curiosity in seeing the Riv storefront but it allowed me the opportunity to meet Keven, with whom I have been corresponding with questions about my Atlantis since the summer.  First the shop… it is as dazzling as I could possibly expect, I was impressed by the quality of the displays and of course the bikes.  Thinking back they had a Hunq, a Cheviot, 2 Sam’s, a Rodeo… I think that was it, I wonder if they turn over the selection?  The riv-ish-ness of the shop is undeniable!  My hands down favorite part is the ceiling bell grid w/ pull cords… I’ve never heard of such a thing and I love it!

I arrived hoping I’d get a chance to check out a 58cm, 650B A. Homer Hilsen from a fit perspective and probably could have made that happen at the HQ but the shop didn’t have one.  The brief conversation I had with Keven was interesting, based on my PBH (Riv’s handy dandy measurement system, mine is ~90) he was unequivocal that there were no Riv 650B bikes in my size… end of story.  Honestly I would have liked to discuss it a bit further but the confidence and manner that he presented kind of put me off a bit.  Amazingly though, he did it in the most friendly way possible… weird actually.  He is hugely knowledgeable about Riv’s bikes and pretty much any offerings they have.  Anyway, it came down to what bike to test ride (since we were there we may as well test one out) and I picked the 58cm double top tube Sam (blue w/ cream headtube).  More on the ride later but I have to pass on the most amazing thing to me about my visit.  Keven, armed only with my self-measured ~90 pbh adjusted the Sam saddle and handlebars without any input from me or trials…  that one #, and his skills resulted in a PERFECT fit.  I guess I shouldn’t be surprised but I was very impressed.

Upon our return to the shop I couldn’t let the opportunity to pick up a medium dark green Shopsack and a sweet (but $$$) RBBH Tshirt.  Great visit, awesome putting a face to the email address with Keven and I’m still looking forward to making a stop in at the HQ some day!