Rivendell - Appaloosa Frameset

Frames arrived April 26 - in Stock! 

Words by Rivendell:

The Joe Appaloosa is as good an all-around bike as we make. It’s 100 percent perfect for 90 percent of the riding you’re likely to do, and 90 percent perfect for the other ten percent. Ideal for tires between 1.5-inches and 2.2-inches.

I/Grant have ridden it on the roughest, boulder trails of Mt. Tamalpais, on the soft-soiled and leafy trails in the redwood forests overlooking the ocean way north of here, on the fire-roady local trails of Shell Ridge and Briones park, and on thousands of commute miles and Trader Joe’s runs. All with the same smoothish treaded 1.75-inch tires and wide-range gearing.  When I wear those out, I’ll go a bit fatter.

The Appaloosa has equal amounts of everything we like about bicycles. As versatile and all-around useful as you could ask for, with beautiful, unique-to-Rivendell lugs, crown, and graphics. 

Frame Specification:

• 650b wheels in size 51cm
• 700c wheels in sizes 54cm and up
• Cantilever or V brakes. Get V-brakes
• 26.8mm seat post
• 135mm rear spacing
• 1" threaded fork - headset included and pre-installed
• If you will use Cantis, be sure to purchase cable hangers (not included)
  
• two silver cable stops for the down tube included

PBH ranges here:

• 51cm: 80 to 84cm
• 54cm: 84 to 88 cm
• 57cm: 87 to 91cm
• 60cm: 90 to 96cm

Full geometry chart here.

APPALOOSA TRIVIA

In certain circles there's heated debate whether the Appaloosa breed came to the U.S. from Spain or Asia. If it was Spain, it happened in the late 1400s, the first of about 70 decades of unfortunate events for Indigenous people.

In this country, the Appaloosa’s original home is the land around the Palouse River in Washington and Idaho. (“A Palouse horse” sounds, not coincidentally, like “Appaloosa.”) They were famously bred by the Nez Perce tribe, and are identifiable at a glance from near or far: Their hooves are always striped vertically. Their coats are spotted. Their lips are spotted, too. And they’re the only breed that shows the whites of its eyes, and not just the iris, when at rest. Appaloosas are smart, calm, hard-working, and easily trained. Who wouldn’t want those qualities in a horse?