rivbike.com

Mercian Tandem

58cm front, 53cm rear. Lugged, made in England, reasonably equipped for fun & family, with sweepy back bars, low gears, Marathon 38mm tires. Priced to sell fast, and pickup only. (We cannot and will not ship this) Probably fewer than 2,000 miles on it. Has a stem riser on it now because I lent it to a taller guy. Will do no work on it---but the bike has always worked well, except the last time I rode it the chain seemed to stick on the middle ring for some reason. I haven’t investigated, but I just right now took $200 off the price, so you can deal with that yourself.

It’s the Super Tourist model, which currently retails for $4300 for the frameset, and then you have to get it here from England. Let me say this kindly: Any price negotiation attempts, or any “can you throw in a----“ or “can you switch out….” Or , “ can I get touch-up….” will cancel the deal. I know that sounds butty, but I want to make the point that I know the value of this bike, I really like it, and I am not aching to sell it---I just need to raise cash fast, and selling it for less than the price below will take all of the fun out of it for me.

$2,600

• 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?

Hi. Just wanted to say thank you one more time. The Hunq frame is beautiful. I spent most of last night building it up, then rode it around the neighborhood after 11PM. What a great riding bike!

Anyway, thank you, and be sure to pass my thanks on to Grant, Jay, John, Mark, et al. You folks are all very helpful and nice, and I'm truly glad Rivendell exists.

-Brian

Keven, Mark

Wanted to tell you that I do love my new bike.  I ride it 5-6 times a week and, though it's a bit embarrassing for a fully vested late middle aged adult to say, when I'm not on it I'm thinking about when I will be on it next.  This is exactly what I asked Keven to build up for me.  A bike like the bikes I rode when I was a kid, always anywhere ride as I am.  Chokes me up, it does.  It is a simple profound pleasure, giving me what James Dickey liked to call life's "deep delights."

And taking Grant-man's advice and buying the Taubes book, I'm eating differently and have lost poundage, down in 10-12 weeks from nearly 235# to 216# at my physical the other day.  My doc says my cholersterol counts are as good or better versus before I started upfats/downcarbs and I may come off blood pressure medication (I'm 57 with a history).  I'll be at 210# soon.  It's nothing dramatic compared to some of the stories, but it's still good and a result of Rivendell.

You know, you do "sell" more than bikes.

Hope this finds you all well,

M

Hi there!

I hate to blow up your inbox with another long email but I had to write to you to tell you how fabulously the Hunq performed on tour. We left the Oregon coast for New York City about two months ago-which I guess you know about because my mother called me to say she emailed you (for which I apologize)- and are now safely back at home. I am in love with my Rivendell and I have never regretted getting it.

We had to ride through some pretty sketchy terrain and she held up wonderfully. At one point I broke a spoke in my rear wheel about 130 miles from the nearest bike shop. I was stupid enough to forget to bring extra spokes so we had to true up the wheel as best we could and ride across the desert with our fingers crossed but we made it. I am normally an extreme tightwad but fortunately I splurged on some good wheels (not from you guys) and racks (from you guys) and I am so glad I did. I had a lot of weight on my bike because we were in some pretty good wilderness for quite a bit and I never, ever worried about the Hunq which was quite refreshing.

It was the most amazing time ever and I thought that I would get touring out of my system when all was said and done, but here I am planning a coastal tour along hwy 101 with my sister. The Hunq was so comfortable and I loved having the assortment of eyelets. Aside from the rear wheel fiasco the only other mechanical problem I had was a lost bolt in my front rack. Now, sadly, I have a huge scar on my forks from the rack scraping the paint.

We had to ride some pretty tough roads (the Amish are not kind to asphalt) and I was so glad to have so much tire clearance especially on some of the gravel farm roads. I took a couple thousand pictures (literally) and probably a fourth of them are just of my bike. It was hard to resist because the Hunq is truly a piece of art.

One of the most fabulous things about it was that I was able to have complete confidence in it riding across the country fully loaded, and yet I was able to strip it down and zip around NYC (which is one of the funnest thing to do ever). Taking a fully loaded touring bike on the subway is an adventure in itself. Anyways, I truly am a happy customer and I thoroughly believe the Hunqapillar is the best bicycle ever built and it is perfect in every way. I had to ship it back home separately and it isn't here yet and I fear I am getting separation anxiety. I dismantled my road bike before I left so the only bike I have to ride right now is an old Lotus single speed I slapped together for a friend. : ( It is not the same as the Hunq.

One of the trip goals was to take a picture of the Hunq next to a Hunkapiller mail box but I didn't see a single one. I got a picture next to the Cody, WY, Woolly Mammoth Museum instead.

-DD

Keven,

Last Spring you fielded my call to RBW and facilitated a seamless purchase of a Hunqapillar, for which I owe you thanks. At the time you requested that I send you a pic of the built-up bike; it is below. I am beyond pleased with the frame/fork and anticipate never parting with it. I'd say that's an endorsement I never thought possible for a non-custom frame. Thanks for your advice and your assistance with this build.

Sincerely,

PC

Hey man, this is J----, I passed through a few months ago on a bike
tour and you sold me my Hunqapillar. I've been riding it everyday for
a little over a month now and I just wanted to say thanks again for
all of your help. I couldn't be more stoked on the bike honestly. It
needs to go on a serious tour in the very near future. I can't believe
how well it rides and handles loaded up with gear. I included a few
snap shots so you could see it all built up.

Thanks again!
-j