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I popped into C&L Cycles and gave a Bloomfield a test ride when I was in Montréal over Christmas. I can confirm they are super nice bikes and even nicer dudes. Not sure on their thoughts on Palestine tho...
freewheely_-
That's great to hear. They seem like a cool bunch and I was happy to see their raffle and call for a permanent ceasefire. It's probably unwise to be puritanical about these things (I mean, where does it end?) but sometimes you just have to go with what you believe is right in the circumstances.
Browndonneur
That’s a fair question — the sale isn’t prompted by a dislike of the frame or anything like that. The long stays I guess are visually divisive but ride so damn good!
To be completely frank with you, for a brand that introduced the brilliant and bold Black Reparations Pricing policy in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the staunch, unapologetic support and fundraising for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion, Rivendell’s radio silence as a genocide unfolds in Palestine jars on me. Of course, not everyone shares the same views — and no one expects a small bicycle brand to change foreign policy — but as a business that has made an active decision to be vocal about social justice, politics and trans rights, their silence now makes for uncomfortable ownership. I emailed Grant, and wasn’t satisfied with the response I received. To be clear, he isn’t ‘cancelled’ or anything stupid like that. The folks at Riv seem to be nice people but I guess we all have our blind spots. Sorry, you probably got more than you bargained for with that innocent question!
I’ve ordered a lovely 51cm Bassi Hog’s Back frameset in ‘Loch Ness’ from the Woods Cyclery and the parts I’ve pilfered from the Riv will adorn that rig in the near future. I may start a ‘new projects’ thread to document my journey with that, let’s see.