— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
I was just thinking the Mission was due for a new semi-twee bike shop, and it looks like we're about to get one (but only for nine days only). Rivendell Bicycle Works will be opening up June 1st next to Wise Sons on 24th, and they'll have all sorts of bike stuff to get your hands on:
There will be bikes to see and touch, art from our other showroom, bags, handlebars. Some free schwag, brochures, coupons, a secret “have to be there to get it” super deal. Small items for sale, and discounted posters. No test rides, sorry, just too much to worry about at the start and our insurance for the rider, well, were not sure about that part.
Our big honkin’ 71cm Homer will be there though. It will be the only bike available for test ride. […]
Opening day is Saturday June 1st. At 5pm Saturday we’re doing something special, a giveaway? Hmm.
Curiously enough, they rented the space they'll be popping-up in on a site called Storefront, which is basically Airbnb for retail space that I shouldn't be at all surprised exists, but, yet, I still am. (And the site has a heavy presence in the Mission, so I expect we will be seeing a lot of pop-ups this summer from businesses that can swing $350+/day rents. But I digress…)
Rivendell suggests if the store is a “smash success” or they “break even,” they might be sticking around the neighborhood a bit longer. So vote with your dollars, folks. It might get us a new bike shop!
[via RBW Blug]
Comments (12)
Interesting idea… if the hosting business doesn’t make enough revenue running its own space.
Not sure if it’s intentional, but that image looks a little too much like Goatse.
$3500 new bike made to look like a $100 used bike. What’ll they think of next??
$100 used bikes don’t come with $200 Brooks saddles.
Yeah. You know very little about bikes.
More bikes = mo betta!
I’ve parked a few of these bad boys and there are few bikes that inspire such reserved wonder among their (often very tall) riders. Every once in a while I’ll see two at a time and it’s like the owners are instant friends. Not in the cult-like foldy or let’s-go-to-the-beach-bar cruiser vibe, but just a genuine appreciation of well-built machines.
Anyway, interesting to watch. Thanks!
i think you thought of this, but it might be brilliant.
I love the “Storefront” idea. I often think of “popping-up” my old, closed store for a week or so, and this may help it actually happen. Thanks for the heads-up.
Why does that bike have two horizontal bars at the top?
It’s only the very large sizes (65-71cm frame) that have the double top tube. From their site http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/f-hilsen.htm:
The 2tt adds triangulation and the strength and anti-twisty stiffness that comes with it, to frames that could use that, due to their longer head tubes. Some people object to the unusual look, but there are hundreds of thousands of examples of 2tt bikes in the world, and it is a feature that came about to solve a problem. So if you’re tall, embrace your gangliness and get the 2tt bike. If you’re tall and light and will ne’er ride with any sort of weight on it, you can get a tall Homer with 1tt…but you don’t save money doing that, and the bike is worse. So….?
Hmm, I’d think more strength would be accessible by lowering the second bar to where it would create a true triangle.
pop-ups have been ruined for me; it seems like the cheesiest, most hackneyed idea ever. now when i hear the word i just think of this:
http://sfist.com/attachments/SFist_Brock/nema_popup.png