Rivet Cycle Works

Super Bowl Sunday gravel populaire is in da books! 14 riders, plenty o gravel, fun to see rando friends, and great to see Haffassa Tempt who stopped by. Extra dose of happiness when Madeline & Hugh walked in at Bike Dog who are back in town! SWEET!!! I love it when cycling groups intersect. A fine day indeed!!!

Beer-Ride-Beer day. and lunch fueled us for another scouting ride down the levee adjacent to the wildlife refuge. Lovely day playin in the dirt. Then back to the pub for another round. The Younger was long gone (get there early!!) so Pliny The Elder (Russian River) had to suffice. We took one for the Pliny team.

Closeups to help ID my new bike! Help me my friends!

Philly Bike Expo this weekend. Such a great time! Awesome people from all over the East + a few Norcal folks - I see you Paul Bike Components! I hung w/Velo Classique, Elton & the fab Peter G. from Cane Creek Cycling. My booth was right next to Dave and Dawn spreading the interest about was just across the aisle sharing a booth with . Listened to the Bicycle Nomad share his amazing journey retracing the steps of the Buffalo Soldiers. Just a fantastic weekend! Looking forward to next year!

Two weeks till Showtime! Can’t wait to get back to PBE to see friends old and new! Gonna be a fantastic show! See.You.There!!

Gotta great email today from a happy customer. He writes:

I just wanted to write in to say how impressed I am with the Loveland I bought a few months back. I've had it on my Madsen bucket bike (which is my daily bike that I use to take my kids to and from school every day) for about 200 miles now and I have to say that it is the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden. I was having trouble finding a shape that worked well with the dutch bike geometry of the Madsen and this thing absolutely fits the ticket. It also might be the most beautiful piece of bike kit that I own. Chapeau on a great saddle!

Yay! You can get a Loveland for your cargo bike too! https://rivetcycleworks.com/product/loveland/

I've known Bob for a few years now, and frankly, I didn't take him too seriously when he started mentioning an interest in riding PBP in 2023. Then, he emailed asking about a new saddle, and that's when I knew he might be working in that direction.

And today, he sent me this note:
It really is a beautiful thing. After riding a Titanium rail Brooks Swift for 20,000 miles, I upgraded to a Titanium rail Rivet Imogene, and I could not be happier.

Thanks for the saddle.
RUSA 1737

Here's his new Imogene perched on his lovely Rex.
Plus, new bar tape - he must be serious!! :-)

New to me bike day. A lovely Swiss Mondia Special, frame/fork purchased from the great Matt Gorski. Finally built it up with Campy high fl**ge hubs on Mavic hoops, Mafac Racers, Campy drivetrain, Nitto handlebars/GB stem, and of course, Rivet Pearl saddle & handlebar tape. Rides smooth & plush with 35 Donnelly XPlors. Might go wider! Blue Silca pump for the win! +1,

Happy holidays everyone! It’s time for an adventure, so we’ll be closed until 2022. Stay healthy & get out for some rides!

What can I say? Lu has great taste in bike accessories!

When not selling saddles, I'm advocating for safe and Slow Active Streets in Sacramento. Yesterday, was a banner day!

Getting Outside, Reopening The Outdoors In Northern California And Nevada As experts begin to wrap their heads around how people can safely participate in outdoor activities, some city leaders are looking to the streets.

Much of this year has been spent working towards safer streets in the Sac region. Gary Delsohn noticed and penned the following. I’m honored by his kindness. And yes, there’s much to be done, and I’m hoping 2020 is a banner year for cyclists! Happy New Decade!

Inside East Sacramento January 2020 Inside East Sacramento January 2020

Another trip around the sun will land us at the Phillie Bike Expo. Come find us at Booth 1093. See you soon!

Rivet Cycle Works will be closed until September 1st. We are taking a vacation the way the French do... and are heading to France! Email us if you need/want to be in touch. We'll be back up and running in September!

nahbs, Nahbs, NAHBS! We will be there. Find us in booth 1105

NAHBS

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just read an email from customer John: I am a leather saddle evangelist and like to drop in and send a note of support for your fine saddles of which I own 3. Sadly repeat business can only come from word of mouth as they LAST and LAST and LAST...

Here is my beloved bike "Effie", a Foundry Firetower, at the Elkford campground in Elkford B.C. I have ridden Effie on the Tour Divide route for the last 2 years.

Thx John for the support and here's to tailwinds on your next Tour Divide!

A few weeks ago I was interviewed by the Outspoken Cyclist: Diane Jenks. The podcast is here: https://www.wjcu.org/files/audio/shows/outspokencyclist/wjcu-the_outspoken_cyclist_2019-02-02.mp3

She's great and it was a fun convo. Hope you enjoy it.

www.wjcu.org

When I launched Rivet Cycle Works almost 8 years ago, I had thought to myself that I would be on a steep learning curve, but I hoped that I would still be able to use some of my skills from years of consulting in education. That has proven only somewhat true.

Then, after the crash (4 years ago on Friday!), I was left with a mountain of medical bills and debt that I am still digging out from under. I went "in-house" to work part-time at our local bicycle advocacy organization, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates and found myself using many of the skills I had used when in education. All good.

Last week I stepped up as Interim Executive Director for SABA as it transitions into its next phase of good work on behalf of cyclists in the Sac Metro Region.

I'm hopeful that this plate of cycling goodness (advocacy, small biz, and riding inappropriately long distances) blends into a satisfying if not busy work/play life.

Both SABA and Rivet will be at NAHBS. See you there.

Happy Holidays to everyone. We'll be around working on a new website for 2019, wishing for either dry weather for riding or a good storm for skiing. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday.

Philly Bike Expo 2018 tech gallery, part five | CyclingTips

Another great round-up of gear from the Philly Bike Show. Thanks James!
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/12/philly-bike-expo-2018-tech-gallery-part-five/

cyclingtips.com Highlights from the 2018 Philly Bike Expo.

Here's hoping that everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving weekend and that you are ready to roll into the rest of the holidays. We spent ours in the Eastern Sierras camping with friends, riding bikes and having a blast.

Rivet Cycle Works's cover photo

2018 Philly Bike Expo – The Business Cycle

The Philly Bike Expo was a blast as always. Great to see customers and rando-friends from the East Coast. Always a lovely time with fellow exhibitors. Here's a nice write-up celebrating all that is the PBE!

http://txgarage.com/2018/11/2018-philly-bike-expo-the-business-cycle/

txgarage.com It's fall. Since it's fall, I again travel to Philadelphia for that city's Philly Bike Expo, an annual exhibition of Bikerly Love. And in my third visit since transitioning to the Mid-Atlantic in the fall of '14, it finally occurred to me…the Philly Bike Expo is as much about the business (general...

Philly Bike Show is in the books. It was a great event. Rivet’s best to date. Saw rando friends, bike friends, customers and a few people I know through social media but haven’t yet met, until this weekend. How great is that?

People loved the RHMixte - thanks & Bruce for the distress-oration & re-build. Many asked me about my Rivet quilt hanging - thanks Irene! And saddles, bells, sox & wool jerseys went home to new owners. Sweet!

One of the reasons why this event is excellent is because of the folks who pull it together. The Bilenky clan & in particular, Bina! Plus Firth & Wilson’s Simon who has more energy and passion than half of the vendors at Interbike. The vibe, the space & the kids piece (art, striders, a racetrack) adds fun and is a reminder to not take ourselves too seriously. It’s all about having fun on bikes.

It’d be so cool to have this great of a show on the West coast too.

On my way. Always a great time. Come and visit the Rivet booth.

Bill

French Fender Day is a fabulous gathering of friends old and new who like to talk about, collect, and most importantly, ride old vintage bikes from the Golden Age of cycling and before. Always held in CT, it includes fall colors, lots of food and a guaranteed good time. Peter set up this podcast with Diane which was a bonus to the weekend. Enjoy!

The most recent installment in Diane Jenks's "The Outspoken Cyclist" is about Peter Weigel's "French Fender Day," and includes interviews with RUSA luminaries: Debra Banks, Corey Thompson and Jan Heine.

We are just back into the office after 18 days in Japan. What an amazing place. Everyone we met was over the top courteous and kind and the countryside and places we visited were fantastic. We went for a 1200k randonnee up in Hokkaido, which was organized by Sapporo Randonneurs. Typhoon-like rain and cold ended my hypothermic ride on Day 2. More than half the field stopped as well. Spent time with friends from Australia which is always fun and now, back in the office catching up on all things Rivet. More on Japan in a blogpost.

Happy July 4th week everyone. We are off enjoying the mountains. Will be back at work on Monday, post holiday. Get outside and move!

Rivet saddles heading to the UK! Everything except the baguette, prosciutto, and baby Swiss cheese. Thx Carradice!