In current days one individual has emailed me questioning how a Jones compares to a Platypus, after which in yesterday’s feedback like two folks additionally puzzled kind of the identical factor. That makes three entire folks, so I figured I’d as nicely handle it. Granted, three will not be very many individuals, but it surely’s in all probability a superb 75% of my readership; plus, I’ve by no means written something based mostly on whether or not significant numbers of individuals would possibly really discover it attention-grabbing or helpful, and I’m definitely not about to begin now.
Earlier than evaluating the bikes, let’s examine the businesses themselves. Whereas Jones and Rivendell are fairly totally different when it comes to the bikes they provide, I’ve all the time felt they had been related in that they’re run by individuals who do bikes they manner they wish to do them, with none regard for what’s standard or trendy–and, as is usually the case with folks like that, a lot of what they’ve completed has subsequently change into trendy, and I’d say that as small firms each Jones and Rivendell have had an outsized affect on biking “tradition,” should you’ll pardon the time period.
One other manner wherein Jones and Rivendell are related is that they’ve devoted followings, however in any on-line dialogue of both firm you’ll additionally discover folks saying they’re “overpriced.” With Jones it’s often one thing like, “$[X] and it solely comes with an NX derailleur? The Gnar-Gnar Rad-O-Gnar prices the identical and it comes with a GX derailleur!,” or else “Why not simply get a Surly?” In the meantime, with Rivendell it’s usually both, “Why not simply get an outdated Miyata mixte for $150?,” or else, “$[X] for a motorbike made in Taiwan?!?,” or, once more, “Why not simply get a Surly?” It doesn’t matter what the bike, if it’s product of metal and it’s not a Surly, somebody will let you know that you would have simply gotten a Surly.
After all the fantastic thing about capitalism is that “overpriced” is within the eye of the beholder, and should you assume a Jones or a Rivendell or an S-Works or no matter else is overpriced then you definately don’t purchase it. Within the case of Jones, these are singular bicycles designed by somebody who has devoted himself to the idea of a high-performance non-suspended all-terrain bicycle for a few years, and regardless of being a small household operation he’s gotten to the purpose the place he’s capable of supply full bikes for what in immediately’s bicycle market is a reasonably low value, which is fairly exceptional–and I don’t assume another firm is placing critical thought, effort, and sources into to producing supremely succesful off-road bikes that don’t use suspension methods. Within the case of Rivendell, chances are you’ll or not need a rim brake bike with a threaded fork, an extended wheelbase, lugged building, and delightful show-quality paint, however should you do there’s no technique to get such a motorbike with out seeking to the used market or going customized. (Possibly one or two Crust fashions qualify, however that’s about it.) Moreover, there is no such thing as a different bike firm that continues to be dedicated to what I’ll lazily name “conventional” or “basic” requirements (quill stems, rim brakes, quick-release axles, and so on.) than Rivendell, and if that does matter to you then you definately perceive why that’s necessary. This goes manner past frames with fairly paint, and all the best way to spending the cash to design and produce parts the large firms not care about–together with a derailleur.
As for simply shopping for classic as an alternative, that may definitely be enjoyable, however if you would like a complete bike and also you’re not on the lookout for a challenge it’s not all the time a sensible or cheap alternative. Take into account the ‘Noner. The bike was given to me, however I nonetheless had to purchase new components for it, and on high of that I’d estimate conservatively that I spent a superb 15 hours getting it again into respectable form–and whereas my time isn’t price a lot, yours is probably going much more invaluable. And that’s simply doing the naked minimal: the underside bracket’s nonetheless tough, the rear hub nonetheless kinda feels like a rock tumbler, the chainrings are worn, and I didn’t even substitute the outdated tires. Once more, I’m a semi-professional bike blogger, so I’m completely happy for a challenge and I’m completely happy to share it with my seven or eight devoted readers. However for a standard individual a brand new bike might be a discount as compared, particularly should you’re wanting one thing particular.
Okay, so now let’s have a look at the bikes. You’ve bought your Jones (LWB Full in my case, although an older iteration):
And also you’ve bought your Rivendell Platypus (mine began as only a body, however now they’re additionally obtainable as full bikes):
At this level I ought to in all probability level out that should you’re going to match Jones and Rivendell a way more acceptable Rivendell mannequin can be the Susie W. Longbolts / Wolbis Slugstone, as that’s their most trail-oriented bike, with clearance for two.6-inch tires:
[Photo: Rivendell]
In the meantime, Rivendell describes the Platypus thusly:
I’ve bought 2.1-inch 29er mountain bike tires on there, principally as a result of I used to be utilizing what I had readily available, and that’s about probably the most tire the Platypus will deal with. It’s fairly completely happy on trails just like the one you see above, but it surely’s not the bike you’d select for terrain a lot rougher than that. In the meantime, the Jones, with it’s 3″ tires (and it’ll even take a full-on fats bike tire within the entrance) will take you wherever and over something. So for all their numerous variations, that’s the basic one: for all sensible functions, the Jones is limitless when it comes to what sort of terrain you’ll be able to experience it on, and if that’s your precedence you merely have to go together with the Jones.
After all, there’s extra to bikes than “What dimension tires do it match?” Simply because a motorbike can match mountain bike tires, that doesn’t make it a mountain bike, as is the case with the Platypus. And simply because a motorbike can match big-ass plus-size mountain bike tires, it may well nonetheless be good on the highway, as is the case with the Jones. I strategy body geometry like grammar, which is to say I don’t give it some thought, I don’t know what all of the technical phrases imply, and I don’t actually care. Whether or not it’s a motorbike or a sentence, all I do know is what works and what doesn’t, and I’m going totally by really feel. What permits the Jones to go manner farther (or is that additional? As I say I don’t know from grammers…) offroad than the Platypus isn’t simply the tires; it’s additionally that even within the lengthy wheelbase model it’s straightforward to govern the bike and decide the entrance and rear wheels up off the bottom in the best way you need to do when driving over rocks and roots and logs and tough sections of path. On the identical time, it’s very steady (it’s virtually unattainable to think about going over the bars by chance on the Jones), it stays planted whereas climbing, and general the traction you get from the large tires is ridiculous. As for driving it on the highway, it feels fairly totally different from any highway bike you’ve ridden, even one with upright bars–although, not less than should you’re me, you cease noticing that after a couple of minutes. It’s not an alternative to a highway racing bike–if that’s what you’re after you’re not going to get it from a Jones–but it surely’s nice on the highway simply so long as you don’t need or count on something like a standard highway bike expertise.
In the meantime, regardless of accepting what till comparatively lately had been thought of full-on mountain bike tires (now 2.1″ 29er tires are extra like gravel tires), the Platypus will not be a mountain bike, nor does it wish to be. Sure, I’ve taken it onto mountain bike trails right here and there, however in contrast to the Jones the wheels of the Platypus wish to keep planted on the bottom–like, for all its stability, once you hop on the Jones you’re nonetheless tempted to experience off curbs or pop wheelies. This isn’t the case with the Platypus. The lengthy chainstays definitely have lots to do with that, however I feel it’s additionally in all probability simply one thing inherently “highway”-ish in its design–a highway racing bike has very brief stays and concomitant brief wheelbase, however aside from bunnyhopping potholes you’re not inclined to wheelie or soar these both. (Or not less than I’m not.) The Platypus is a step-through, it’s lengthy, and it’s designed with upright swept-back bars in thoughts, however should you’re used to driving highway bikes the Platypus doesn’t shock you for these first few pedal strokes on the highway the best way the Jones does.
So if you need full and uncompromising mountain bike functionality not less than a number of the time, otherwise you wish to know you’ll be able to go on a very lengthy bikepacking expedition sooner or later, you must completely select the Jones. However what should you’re not involved in that? What if for positive you’ll by no means want to make use of your bike as a mountain bike or for a multi-day journey bike? What if you simply need a sensible all-rounder that’ll carry stuff and take you into the woods a bit? Moreover feeling a bit extra acquainted, what’s the benefit of the Platypus, if any?
Nicely, this relies totally on you, however should you wish to tinker and you’ve got plenty of components, one benefit is that the Platypus is extra customizable. The Jones is ideal with a contemporary wide-range drivetrain, and naturally the Jones bars. There’s not lots to consider with a Jones, as a result of it simply works so nicely as designed. I imply sure, technically there’s nothing stopping you from utilizing totally different bars, as I’ve completed for the sake of experimenting:
However finally there’s actually no level:
Sure, the Jones is designed for driving in an upright place, so it nonetheless works, however you even have to make use of a super-long stem to maintain your knees away from the bars, and general giving up the Jones bars means additionally giving up a few of that off-road maneuverability, which doesn’t actually make any sense. As for the remainder of the bike, with thru-axles and Enhance spacing and disc brakes and all that different stuff, you’re locked into trendy mountain bike-oriented stuff–not that there’s something improper with that as a result of that stuff is nice for utilizing the Jones to its full potential, however should you’re not utilizing the Jones to its full potential it does restrict how “funky” you may get with it.
In the meantime, between the varied bars Rivendell gives, and that straightforward compatibility with “conventional” gear I discussed earlier, there are many other ways to strategy a Platypus (the bike that’s; you in all probability shouldn’t strategy an actual platypus, they appear harmful):
Desire a single ring with a clutch derailleur and a set off shifter? Tremendous. Wish to use your outdated deerhead Shimano XT stuff and a friction shifter mounted to your quill stem? Additionally tremendous. By way of being each snug and supremely succesful for the whole lot from highway driving to mountain biking Jones bars are implausible, however not less than for my part if consolation is your precedence and also you don’t want to fret about your bars slipping whereas driving over a log then completely nothing beats bars with full back-sweep, such because the Tosco. Each the Jones and the Platypus have mounting factors for all types of equipment and baggage, and little doubt you would simply equip the Jones for something from commuting to driving throughout a continent. If reality a Jones with fenders is arguably the perfect all-season, all-weather, all-terrain, all-purpose bicycle:
However if you would like an upright bike with a basket for rambling, you’re a tinkerer who likes to reconfigure your bikes over time, and your mechanical preferences lean extra in the direction of tubes and rim brakes than sealant and discs then you definately in all probability need a Platypus.
Or simply get each. That manner you actually can’t go improper.
