rivbike.com

Three New Sizes, Last of old Four Sizes.

Old sizes: 47cm, 52cm, 58cm, 62cm are now discontinued. 52s are already gone.
New sizes: 50cm, 55cm, and 60cm what we'll stock for the future.

Betty Foy
 
 Frameset with headset, bb, and seat post: $1,225. 

The whole bike without saddle/pedals starts around $2400 depending on parts.

We introduced the Betty Foy and Sam Hillborne at the same time, and what you can do with one, you can do equally well with the other. This is because the bikes are equally strong and have similar clearances, so they fit the same volume tires and fenders. 

The Betty Foy is designed with a low diagonal tube that's easier to step over. That is the only significant functional difference between the Betty Foy and the Hillborne, and the A. Homer Hilsen. 

What's it for?

-- any kind of road rides--solo, club rides, fitness rides, whatever

-- weekend touring

-- commuting

-- fire trails

-- bike camping

Clearance is key to the Foy. It has enough to fit tires up to 40mm wide, so it's good on rough roads. It has clearance to take fenders easily, even with 40mm tires, so it's the ideal foul weather commuter. What you can do on a bike, you can do on your Betty Foy. 

This style--mixte, lady's bike, step-thru, whatever you like to call it--came about originally to allow a woman's dress to drape gently down so it wouldn't get blown up by the wind. Most women don't wear dresses anymore, and if they do they don't ride bikes in them; but there remain benefits to this style frame:

1. You don't have to swing a leg high over it to get on--besides being a good thing if you do wear dresses.

2. It's also if you have a child or big load of groceries on the back. Same if you have a bad hip; it's a low step-over.

3. It's even easier to fit it since the height of the top tube is never going to be a problem on the Betty Foy.

Whether you want one now or need one now, whether you carry babies or groceries in back or don't, the chances are someday you will need a bike that's easier to get on, and when you do, you'll be hard-put to beat the Betty Foy.

Frame Quirks&Details

The slightly upsloping virtual top tube would have about a 2-degree slope to it, bringing the head tube higher. That makes the Betty Foy better able to fit slightly taller riders than, say, a normal mixte can. Just a little.

Every lug is investment-cast, a rarity for girls frames, which historically have been short-sheeted in the lug department. They're the best quality lugs available in the world today, and were designed specifically for the Betty Foy. Same with the bottom bracket shell. 

The fork crown, also investment-cast, is the same one we use on our most expensive custom frames. As fork crowns go, it is as good as they get, with functional and structural details others plain don't got. It's wide enough for 42mm tires; the brake hole is cast low, to maximize tire and fender clearance; and the "wing" on top is visual art in a space that's usually blank. In the Betty Foy's case, the wing is painted fingernail polish red.

The Betty Foy is designed for long-reach sidepulls, like the Silvers or Big-Mouth 73's.. They're easy to set up, powerful, easy to use, easy to maintain, and will never give you a lick of a problem.

The wheels are 650B on the 50, 52, 55 & 58. Five years ago, were rare in the U.S., but no more. It's well-supported in this country--it's even trendy--and has a secure future.

Simple Sizing

If you have a PBH between 70cm & 81cm and can ride a saddle height (measured from the center of the crank to the top of the saddle) between 60 and 72, get a Betty Foy 52. Probably 98 percent women between 5ft 3 and 5ft 6 will ride a 52 Betty Foy. 

If you have a PBH between 80cm and 92cm and can ride a saddle height between 70 and 82, get a 58. Ninety-eight percent of women between 5ft 6 and 5ft 10 will fit a 58. 

And now available in new sizes both for the tall in a 62cm with 700c and small in a 47cm.

And NOW the new sizes:

50cm (650B) PBH range 72cm - 79cm
55cm (650B) PBH range 77cm - 84cm
60cm (700c)  PBH range 82cm - 90cm

The Betty Foy is a remarkable deal. We're not saying $2,400 is inexpensive, but when you survey today's bicycle offerings and discover what that much buys today, you'll see what a good deal the Betty Foy is. 

Frameset only or complete Foy bicycle

We've built up hundreds of mixtes over the years, and they all get pretty much the same kit, with minor variations.

The Betty Foy frame is designed to be used with Albatross bars, or some other swept-back bar, but it works fine with drops if you use a DirtDrop stem. But don't think the Albatross will limit you; it won't. Sometimes we get guys calling for their wive's or girlfriend's bikes, and they want drop bars because "they're better for climbing." Wrong way to think, pal. For one, Albatross bars are great on hills--I/Grant use them a lot, and they're on my Atlantis, my main bike-camping bike. Two--climbing is not about bar-shape, and if you slap drops on your wife's bike and then expect the little lady to dance up the hills like a feminine rocketship, give it up and back off, to boot! (End of preaching, most humble apologies.)

You can put the same parts on the Betty as on the Sam, and it totals up the same if you do. In any case, a complete bike is going to run you close to $2,600, but there are some ways of cutting out a hundred dollars or so on the Betty without hurting the bike. 

"Betty Foy" is a character in an old poem by William Wordsworth (1797).

Here's a customer review.

Here's the Betty Foy video made by Vaughn.

• Our No Warranty Frame Warranty
• It may seem odd for a company that makes such reliable frames to not have a standard instant freebie replacement - warranty, but hold on. Just because something that's defective is likely to break, doesn't mean anything that breaks is defective. Even superbly designed, artfully made steel bikes ridden according to design intent can break. We know that, and go to great lengths to prevent it.
• We're skilled, experienced non-defective designers. We use top-notch, proven, non-defective materials. Within the few but real constraints pricing imposes, we're selective about who builds our frames. When it comes to caring about weight and shooting for lightness, we're super conservative. It's not far off the mark to say we don't care about weight, and it's absolutely true that we never compromise a frame to make it lighter. A good frame weighs what it ought to weigh.
• After all that, our frames are tested and meet strict EN (European Nation) standards, which are tougher than the German DIN standards, and considerably tougher than the American CPSC standards. But sometimes a frame breaks, and that's no more proof of a defect than a broken window is proof of defective glass. It is impossible to tell the history of the frame. It may be impossible for even its owner to know it. Sometimes even good things break, and anybody, or any company who doesn't acknowledge that is not being honest.
• All that said, broken frames are rare. Crash damage, and running into garages with bikes on the roof rack are way, way more common. Tell us your frame's story. We may fix it for nothing, but you pay the freight. Or we may charge a fee for the fix. It is at our discretion, but we're not your enemy, and you are our friend. We keep that in mind, always.
• The great thing about steel frames is they can be fixed. In many cases, the fixed frame can be reinforced so that it's stronger than the original. You want a fresh start, but a fresh start with a beefed up frame can be even better. A thicker tube. An extra tube. Whatever it takes, we can do it. In almost all cases, a fixed frame needs new paint. We'll work with our local painter and get it to you at no profit. A repair may cost nothing or nine hundred dollars. It all depends.
• In any case, we feel beholden to original owners only. No other warranty (or non-warranty) is implied, so don't go inferring any. But no matter how you came upon your frame, we are happy to advise you on how to get your frame repaired at a reasonable cost. We want your bike back in action, too. Fair enough?

Testimonials:


Hope all is well.....Wanted to quickly pass along some best wishes to you and the entire crew at Rivendell.  BTW:  I will be sending the 'thank you' card, so please look for it via USPS.

As you know, Keven kindly transported both of our bikes from Riv when they were assembled over to Box Dog Bikes.  Box Dog installed the Honjo fenders.  Lori and I picked up our bikes from Box Dog on Saturday, August 6th.  We raced back home late Saturday morning.  I unfortunately had to fly out for business early the next morning......I finally got a chance to go for a decent ride yesterday (about 35 miles or so).  First impressions:
I have been riding a frame way too SMALL for me for years.  I was riding a 51 cm [BRAND X].  Based upon my PBH, Keven recommended the 56 cm AHH with 650b wheels.  I was a bit scared at first, thinking the standover could be 'dicey.'  Well, after riding the AHH, the overall fit was fantastic.  The handlebars are level with my saddle and I can actually get into the drops AND be comfortable.  Wow.  Who knew?  I will be selling the [BRAND X] ASAP.

The steel frameset feels awesome and lively.  The [BRAND X] is light but seems quite 'dead' compared to the very nice steel AHH.  The AHH has a springiness and liveliness that cannot be duplicated.  It loves to climb and be pushed hard.  Getting out of the saddle I could feel the liveliness.  Wonderful frame and fork.
Descending was a dream.  With the (much) longer wheelbase it was extremely stable coming down.  Very confidence inspiring.

The very wide 650b tires (Panaracer Pacenti Pari-Motos) are awesome.  I put 60 psi in them (min. 55 psi) and boy are they cushy.  They seem just as fast as rock-hard 700c tires but are way more comfy.  I purposely went on some nasty roads and the tires and bike were way more comfortable vs. my old road bike (700c pumped to 105 psi).
The utility of the frameset (and braze-ons) is amazing.  The ability to install WIDE tires AND fenders AND racks is just awesome.

I decided to go with your advice and install standard pedals (MKS touring).  I figured I could always install clipless if I wanted to.  Well, I went on the 35 miles ride in my Merrell shoes and I think I will never look back.  I believe I am able to produce more power because my previous clipless pedals/shoe combination allowed for very little cleat adjustment.  Obviously without being clipped in I can move my foot around.  It enabled me to (I think) use some under-utilized muscles to power the bike.  I also felt way more natural pedaling.

Lori is riding her Betty Foy to work and back (about 30 miles roundtrip).  She would ride 5 days a week except for bringing in clothing (she is eyeing the Sackville panniers).  She has the Nitto Big Back Rack so it is only a matter of time.

She loves Betty.  It is a smooth and stable ride.  
She loves the way Betty looks.  The Brooks B.17 (honey) with the tan Acorn roll bag are just outstanding.
Again, the utility of being able to run wide tires with fenders and loads of racks make this an outstanding bicycle.

++++++++

So, you have two more converts, I suppose.  Now I am eyeing the Roadeo!  To prevent clogging up the email system I enclosed only 2 photos of AHH and Betty.

Thank You and the entire Crew at Rivendell for designing, executing and assembling awesome bicycles!!  I am positive that the more we ride our Rivs, the more the genius of their design will shine through.  I believe more and more people will eventually come around to this concept.  They just have to open their minds (easy to say, hard to do).

Very Best,

J & L

Hello,

The Betty Foy arrived today, safe and sound and I want you to know I love this bike! It is beautiful and spirited and she rides like she was made for me. I am delighted. Thanks for a great product and warm service--I am a satisfied customer and a new member of your fan club. -Nancy Hi Dave - Received the frame today and it was MARVELOUS! Above and beyond - the photos don't do it justice! That paint job! Those lugs! I'm in love!

Thanks so much for all of your help - it's going to be a great bike. I'll shoot you some pictures when the whole thing is put together.

-C

 My wife's Betty Foy has become my DAUGHTER's favorite bike--even though she has a very nice Cannondale and the Betty is too big for here..maybe time for another?
--MH

Dave,
L____'s Betty Foy arrived in perfect shape yesterday, and we assembled it last night. I absolutely MUST commend you, GP, and your whole organization: that is one gorgeous piece of what I call functional art. It is the epitome of successful industrial design. I expected it to be good - in design, finish and function. It is better: superb, and clearly shows GP should be regarded as a brilliant designer (and your group: brilliant producers and managers). Everything on the frame is in the proper place (not a common occurrence), everything looks superb (the mid-seatpost lug is wonderful, the fork makes most modern bikes look like a bad joke).

Altogether, an amazing achievement. And one that very few people are able to recognize as such. I'm tempted to buy a 62cm Betty for myself. This is truly a golden age. The Betty Foy, while at first glance is simply a gorgeous creation, actually begs to be ridden far and hard for decades ( in excellent comfort ). Please share this note with your colleagues. Thank-you. I can barely wait to see my Sam Hillborne!
- LM