Farewell Atlantis

It's actually been a done deal for going on two weeks but I wanted to wait till the new owner had received and checked out the bike before completely 'washing my hands' of the frame... after less than a year and somewhere close to 1,000 miles I sold the 64cm Rivendell Atlantis.  I had an absolute blast on this bike, love the aesthetics, the amazing flexibility and almost above all... the name.  Truely an inspired choice for a bike name, excellent art on the headbadge and I'll definitely keep one eye half open for another Atlantis that is actually my size in the future.

In the end it was two things that pushed me over the edge, first the flexibility of the frame to take massive tires was comprimised by the fact that the frame was probably 4cm to big... maybe even more than that for certain off-road uses.  Second I got an opportunity to purchase another Riv that really intrigues me, more on that in a future post.

I went through the full catalog of images I made of the Atlantis and decided to throw them all up in one last post.  I can't say enough good things about this bike!

First photo session, frame, fork, headset, bb, crankset, DT cable stops and seatpost... as purchased

Initial (mongrel) build, particualrly the 700C wheelset off my wife's old dept store hybrid.  Mismatched rear derailleur resulted in only 5 working gears in the rear!

Moustache Bars on the Atlantis just feels right.... right?

First extended ride, an Arlington Loop with a jaunt into DC

Parked with the rest of the fam...

Nice random ride up Arlington Ridge on a warm weekend morning, great new-to-me view found

My first Riv-Ride, I'm still pretty amused and happy by my choice of the Sailor and Seaman Memorial for a backdrop to the Atlantis! :)

Back at one of my favorites, the LBJ Memorial Grove

Over at the Velocity Co-Op as I finalized the legit 700C wheel build, nice XT hubs (dyno front) with velocity rims and the Nomad Resist tires.  Pictured here before I even laced up the chain.

Obviously not an S24O outing but a great and very warm fall (Oct) car camping trip that the Atlantis and MB-5 got to come play in, couple short off road rides proved it could be done!

The first night out the bikes got to dew-ey being left outside, so the second night I found this spare bit of blanket to cover them up... trust me, the Atlantis (and MB-5) are under there.  Check out the mist and the cows in the far background!

The Atlantis touring Lake Waccamaw NC

My first coffee outdoors attempt (unsucessful due to several huge omissions in packing) was also at Lake Waccamaw and I rode the Atlantis out on this boardwalk early in the morning.  Great ride!

Second Riv-Ride meet-up

Howard and I swapped bikes briefly on the second Riv-Ride and I caught a rare shot of the Atlantis in action

Another family shot, you'll notice the Trek got drops (noodles), the Atlantis got the Albatross (upright), and the new XO-3 picked up the traditional Mustache bars... the MB-5 is hanging tough with the bullmoose style.

Bethesda Bagels and a meetup with Erl and his 56cm Atlantis (great looking bike!)

One good one with me and the Atlantis on the CCT over Rock Creek Park with Erl

Alba-eye view of the C&O Canal towpath paralleling the CCT

I love the shadow's in this selfie

Monster cross - Fat Tired Atlantis, massive 2.1" Kenda small block eight tires and the front rack/basket/dyno light dressed up the Atlantis in spectacular style for the final couple weeks.

One of my favorite photo's of myself in a while, courtesy of my lovely wife.  We had a ton of fun bombing around the National Mall, me on the Atlantis and her on the MB-5.

Inside looking out from Swing's coffee where I'm picking up my fresh roasted, single origin coffee.

Last look, I'm really happy with the ultimate build I used with this bike. I went through a fun progression and while the 2.1" tires wouldn't have worked for me long term (too much cush for regular road riding) I had an absolute blast with the bike in this configuration.  The front basket with custom light mount was super-sweet and the Albatross bars with B67 saddle made way more sense than I could have imagined.  

Farewell Atlantis!

National Mall Snow-Ride

After  a week of not riding much (no rides since Monday) due to the cold or trail conditions or both I was itching to get back into the saddle.  Sunday morning provided a great opportunity for Erika and I to throw the bikes onto the car rack and head into the city to check out the National Mall.  I wanted to pick a nice sunny place that still had some loose, non-icy snow to ramble around in and the Mall worked in both requirements.  Not a serious or grueling ride, just some fun on bikes with my wife!  We followed it up with a stop in one of my favorite winter-time DC museums.... the US Botanic Garden.  Need a break from cold, snowy reality?  Check out the lush, humid, warm and GREEN in the USBG... I always think it woudl be a great place to come read a book, or the paper.  Haven't made that happen yet but we'll see!

Enjoy!

Erika took a much better photo of me than I did of her...

Union Market, up in NE DC off FL Ave... really cool.  It's definitely grown since I was there last. These tea pots/warmer stands are sweet.

Monster-Snow-Cross-Atlantis

I'd been waiting for the opportunity to try out these massive 29x2.1" Kenda 'Small Block Eight' tires on the Atlantis... well they fit!  Another snow day in the offing for the DC area and this stuff is promised to be 'fluffy'.  I guess it's a good thing I don't need the bike to commute in and out of the city today though the challenge was appealing.  Also check out the long awaited front rack/basket/dyno light configuration.  2 months of thinking about it, 20 min of wrenching...

The pull away of the full bike always gets too much background but I  was to lazy to move the bike outside and get some lighting around midnight when I wrapped up.  The fender's and 45(42)mm Nomad tires came off, as did the rear rack.  Good clearance all around, the right fenders might just fit w/ these beasts.

When I ordered my Cyo Premium II from Peter White I got to talk directly with Peter... as soon as I mentioned mounting the light low he immediately and somewhat rudely told me if I did so I'd be wasting my money.  He conteds that the center, fork crown mounting is what the lighth is designed for and that's the end of it.  Well his comment did make me think long and hard about keeping the light centered so here it is.  The former WALD basket hook strips do an admirable job as a rugged light mount on the front of the basket. I'll have to keep an eye that the nylock nuts and star washers do their job but it is very solid right now.  Peter would still be scandalized that there isn't fender protection below the light so I may look to add some tape or other replaceable splash guard to the bottom of the unit just in case.

The Nitto M12 front rack bolts directly to the canti studs, based on a recommendation over at the RBW list on Google Groups I used valve stem nuts as spacers to help push the rack line closer to level with the top tube. It still dives a bit towards the front but I'm happy with it.  The Wald 137 (medium) basket is the same that is on several other bikes in my garage and it gracefully accepts my new Riv medium 'Shopsack'...

The reason for the occasion...Kenda Small Block Eight, used from my co-op for a pittance... small knobs and supposedly a high TPI, good overall tire for hardpack conditions.  We'll see how it handles some snow today!

Great tread remaining on this tire.  The clearance looks closer than it really is in this pic... can you make out the out of focus new rear light in this shot?!?

My very own Bruce Gordon, CNC Aluminum bullet rear light... more on my visit with this legend.  I'm not sure he'd be thrilled to see his light on my Riv Atlantis (made in Japan)  but I think it looks super sharp.  Depending on my rear rack future this may not be the long term location for the light but we'll see.

That New Bottom Bracket Feeling - CCT Ride

At long last the Atlantis got it's new bottom bracket... the cheap Shimano sealed unit is in some ways a downgrade from the gorgeous, and lighter TA Axix bb that seems to either be in need of new bearings or I"m just incapable of adjusting correctly.  Just for anyone who is curious;

64cm Rivendell Atlantis
TA Zephyr Triple
Shimano UN55 68x127mm Sealed Cartridge BB

All work together just fine!  A 125mm axle would probably also work fine.

The new BB does really feel great, making me wish I'd done this $20 project months ago.  I can now go back to hearing/feeling the creaks from my sprung B67 saddle as the sole offender of my ears whilst on 2 wheels!

What to do with this smooth, silent ride...?  Well of course my friend Erl from the RBW Google Group came in with an opportunity to meet in Bethesda and do some riding on the CCT Trail.  Downtown Bethesda is almost exactly 15 miles from my garage and provided a great ride uphill at a reasonable grade.  Bagels and coffee were waiting along with Erl who very kindly indulged my curiosity for the sizing of his 56cm Atlantis (26" wheels).  The verdict - I think I could ride that bike very happily with a reasonably high stem.  The standover is excellent and the reach is pretty close to what I have on my 64.  Bike sizing is a weird science/art!

We kept going on the CCT towards Silver Spring and got to enjoy a fantastic boardwalk-bridge over the headwaters of Rock Creek.  Great conversation and nice weather contributed to a really good time all around.  The pair of handsome Atlanti got plenty of appreciation both parked in Bethesda and out on the trail!

In Bethesda, the Soma Saga at the front here was ridden by a friendly and chatty gent who was very impressed with our Atlanti

Handsome pair of bikes!

Erl and his Atlantis over Rock Creek

I and my Atlantis over Rock Creek (note the new shop-sack, purchased direct at RBB&H last week!)

Contemplating the C&O...I'll be back!

DC Riv Ride #2 - Arlington Loop

~20 miles including a fun jaunt into DC for some Monument viewing

Happy end to 2013!  Howard, Liz, Michael, Tom and I had the pleasure of really enjoying the warm winter sun on Saturday for an impromptu Riv-ish ride around Arlington.  I was really impressed at the turnout given the relatively short notice and it was especially cool that Howard made it out since we road a very similar route together back in September.

There were some REALLY sweet looking bike's out there as you'll see in the pictures, a fine looking bunch.  There was definitely talk of a next ride especially of a Cherry Blossom's ride in the March timeframe.  Enjoy the photo's and if you are in the area come out and join us next time!

Also check out Michael's photo's on flickr!

From Left to Right - Tom and his Bob Jackson, Howard and his new Sage-Sam, Michael and his Sam, Liz and her Saluki, and Tony (me) with Atlantis.

Washington Monument, with receding scaffolding and Jefferson Memorial on the other side of the Potomac River.

Howard's brandnew Sage-Sam, 62cm double TT, very sweet Riv-build.

Liz's Buterscotch Saluki was gorgeous!

Tom's Bob Jackson sported a gorgeous paint job with some fancy two-tone fade work on the down and seat tube's, and check out these lined lugs,  the 'fins' are really striking.  Very cool bike all around!!  (click through this shot to see it bigger and appreciate the lug-work!)

Howard aboard his Sam as we round Gravelly Point near Reagan National Airport.

Howard aboard my 64cm Atlantis (as he said - 'My size!')

My view of Howard's Sam cockpit, I need a longer stem extension like this on my Atlantis.

Saddle view of the new Sam

Classy cockpit on Michael's Sam, great looking twine here and sweet cream head tube!

Michael on the Custis Trail, one of the few blind-behind-the-back shot's that worked out.

Liz and Michael on the Mount Vernon Trail near Roosevelt Island, my Pan shadow cameo as well.

Liz and her Saluki at the Lincoln Memorial, crowded in the gorgeous December day that approached mid-50's later in the day.

Sam at the Lincoln.

DC WWI Memorial, this is the DC specific, not national WWI memorial, It is tucked away east of the reflecting pool between the Lincoln and WWII memorial's and is a really gorgeous and comparatively understated monument.

Sam - Bob Jackson - Atlantis @ the DC WWI Memorial

Concluding with a shot of my Atlantis, the Alba bars were installed earlier this week and this was the first extended ride.  I am LOVING the combo of the upright Alba's and upright B67 sprung saddle. So comfortable and conversational!