Okay, right here it’s. A lighthearted, albeit detailed evaluate of the Rivendell Gus Boots Willsen and the manufacturers that contributed to the construct. This bike defies classes and is tough to label. Grant Petersen prefers to name it a “Hillibike”. However, actually for all intents and functions, it’s an all-terrain bicycle (ATB).
I take advantage of it as my sole mountain bike. However, no matter you need to name it, it’s an pleasurable bicycle to journey.
Legendary Bike Designer Grant Petersen
Okay, let’s contact a bit on Grant, as he’s an enormous a part of this story.
Grant began Rivendell Bicycle Works out of his storage, again in 1994. Rivendell got here to fruition after Grant’s profitable run because the “man in cost” of the U.S. bicycle division of Bridgestone, producing some influential and iconic bikes within the late 80s and early 90s.
I used to be first launched to Grant by means of his cleverly written, fantastically photographed, and illustrated mountain bike catalogs whereas searching for my first actual MTB in 1989-90.
The bikes have been gentle and properly constructed and didn’t comply with the “traits” of the time. Grant was spec’ing the bikes half by half, as an alternative of spec’ing them by “gruppo” like the opposite manufacturers. This gave the bikes a extra “customized constructed” really feel to the road.
I noticed, again then that Grant was a free thinker, not certain by what the “remainder of them” have been doing within the business… he was a maverick, nearly defiant in doing his personal factor. I used to be hooked.
However, though I actually wished a Bridgestone MB-0 (MB Zip), I simply couldn’t afford one. So, purchased a model new, shiny ’89 Shogun with Shimano 7-speed “push-push” listed set off shifters. I continued to gather the catalogs and pine over that MB-0…
Why Rivendell?
I found Rivendell round 2014, at a time in my biking the place I used to be searching for one thing dramatically completely different. I had finished all the racing I’d do again within the day (XC and Downhill).
And admittedly, I used to be finished with the sensation of attempting to be aggressive with my associates (and strangers, for that matter) on my leisure rides. I’ve been driving that means for the reason that early 90s and it grew to become exhausting.
So, after drooling over the Rivendell bikes, for a very long time, I made a decision to lastly pull the set off on my Clem Smith Jr in RBW Blue again in November 2021. If you wish to nerd out on that bike, test my weblog submit on it right here.
Why the Gus Boots Willsen?
After placing in nearly 1000 miles on my Clem, and loving all of them, I made a decision to promote my solely mountain bike and purchase the Rivendell Gus Boots Willsen in March of this yr.
The Gus could be Rivendell’s equal of a mountain bike, though Grant prefers to name them Hillibikes, leaving the opposite nomenclature for the remainder of the mainstream bike manufacturers.
Who’s Gus Boots Willsen?
With the guts of an early mountain bike, the Gus is the one bike in Rivendell’s line that got here with a threadless fork and a 1 1/8″ headtube. I used to be drawn to every little thing about this bike, together with the non-sensical identify. I couldn’t discover something about why Grant would identify a motorbike Gus Boots Willsen.
So, I went straight to the horse’s mouth, so to talk.
At first, I despatched an e mail to Will Keating, the Common Supervisor of Rivendell and a really busy man. I hadn’t heard from him but, however completed the piece and wanted a solution, so I known as Rivendell straight and spoke to Vince.
Vince didn’t know, and Grant wasn’t in to ask. However Vince tried and guessed that “perhaps it was a means for Grant to distinguish the bike farther from all the macho and aggressive nature of mountain biking”. That sounded good… and made sense to me. Thanks, Vince!
I used to be going to run with that. However, after I bought house from a brief journey, I discovered Will’s response in my inbox. I used to be excited to listen to why Grant selected such a singular identify. However, upon opening my e mail, I disappointingly learn that there truly was no purpose for the identify… “Grant simply made it up”.
Regardless of my unusual disappointment in that reply, it additionally made sense to me, and I discovered some pleasure in it. Grant doesn’t take into consideration bikes like the remainder of us do, clearly. He picked a splendidly distinctive identify for a splendidly distinctive bicycle.
To me, judging by the instrument decals on the highest tube and non-drive chainstay, and the truth that the face on the headtube (I’m assuming is Gus, himself), has a harmonica as much as his mouth… to me, Gus is a New Orleans Jazz man.
Nonetheless Hand Made
The Gus’ body and fork are manufactured from chromium-molybdenum metal (CrMo) and are each lugged and fillet-brazed of their development. The body is made in a Taiwanese manufacturing unit that’s identified for its prowess on the subject of fillet brazing, lug work, and bending bigger diameter tubes.
Gus was made with a tube set that sports activities barely bigger diameter tubes with barely thicker tube partitions than the opposite Rivendell bikes within the line. These few variations, make it worthy of driving it on actually tough terrain. Which I do.
For these of you who have to know stuff like this, my Gus with no saddle bag or handlebar luggage mounted, weighs in at 26 lbs. That’s fairly spectacular contemplating the scale of the bicycle.
Look, this clearly isn’t the bike if you wish to race downhill/XC or do any loopy “high-speed/high-risk” sort of driving shenanigans. And, if that sort of driving is your jam, that’s nice. Nevertheless it additionally signifies that you’re most likely not even studying this. And that’s positive as properly.
Notes from Grant on Geometry
From the Gus data web page on the Rivendell web site:
“We could present the geometries on-line, however could not. I’ve combined emotions about that as a result of I feel they mislead individuals into pondering they’ll inform how a motorbike rides by its numbers, and numbers that fluctuate from what any given reader’s norm tends to come back off wacky, even after they make tremendous sense“
If you’re interested in what dimension Rivendell bicycle you need to select, simply name. The extraordinarily useful and passionate workers will information you thru it. Trace: it will likely be nearly solely based mostly in your PBH (Pubic Bone Peak). I’m 6’1″ (PBH: 87cm), and my Gus is 57cm.
The Story of the Orange Fork
I wished the brand new orange Gus, I liked the way it regarded, however that shade was out of inventory and never returning. The ultimate cargo of the orange shade was arriving at Rivendell and all the 57cm Gus Boots had been presold and accounted for.
I used to be too late.
In a determined act, I reached out to Will at Riv to see if there have been any left in dimension 57cm. He knowledgeable me that there was a frameset accessible, however that they have been required to carry on to it for a substitute if one bought broken in transport.
He was type sufficient to place my identify on it simply in case, with no ensures although. I nonetheless bought my hopes up.
After just a few weeks, I used to be knowledgeable the accessible body was gone. Will advised me he did discover a lone 57cm from final yr’s mannequin (in Riv’s lovely Moss Inexperienced) hidden in storage, however couldn’t discover the matching fork.
After an extended seek for an identical inexperienced fork yielded no outcomes, Will and I began to brainstorm attainable options. He steered I get the inexperienced Gus with the newer orange fork.
Hmmm… I used to be hesitant, thought of it, and since I wished to expertise the Gus, I stated “okay, let’s do it”.
Simply to be crystal clear, Rivendell doesn’t mismatch body components upon request. This was a uncommon event the place the ends justified the means.
Because it seems, I really like the orange fork on my Gus, it differentiates it from all others. It provides to the bike’s already one-of-a-kind uniqueness. I adore it, and I’m eternally appreciative of the hassle, thanks Will!
Okay, we’re transferring on.
Constructing It Up
The photographs of this body shade do it zero justice. Belief me, it’s a fully lovely Darkish Moss Inexperienced that takes on a distinct life within the daylight. Extra on this later. On to the construct.
Let’s take a look at what manufacturers helped me spec out this magnificence… ranging from the underside to the highest.
Velocity USA:
Velocity USA is situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and consists of 14 year-round staff. All of their rims are made right here, within the USA. They get their rim extrusions from Profile Precision Extrusions in Arizona. They roll, drill, anodize, construct, and distribute their rims and wheels from their manufacturing unit.
I reached out to Velocity and so they have been completely happy to have their Wheel Division hand-build up a set of Velocity Cliffhangers for this construct. I selected to make use of their very own, self-branded entrance dynamo hub and the White Industries MI5 polished rear hub that was shipped to them straight from White Industries.
They didn’t have a silver dynamo hub, so I swapped it for a black one. Contemplating the mismatched fork on the Gus, it simply appeared to make sense.
The Cliffhangers are nice rims which are sturdy (I take advantage of one other set on my Clem Smith Jr.). They’re typically used when build up a set of wheels for touring. The Cliffhangers for this construct are 700c, black, and have 36 holes for added energy and future bikebacking excursions.
Cliffhangers have an inner width of 25mm and are supposed for rim brake software with a machined braking floor. They have been constructed utilizing double-butted stainless spokes and Sim Works’ uncooked brass nipples. The black rim with brass nipples appears to be like wonderful.
I’ve them arrange tubeless, and within the first 300+ miles I’ve stacked on them, they’ve been with none points, in any respect.
Teravail:
The Ehline was a tire I’ve wished to run for some time. And the Gus was the proper bike for them. I picked out the 29 x 2.5″ tan wall, with the supple sidewalls. This. Tire. Is. Superior. The aspect wall is supple however not overly compliant like some are usually below my weight.
I’ll get daring and say that it is perhaps my favourite off-road tire… interval. I like them higher than Teravail’s Honcho which I reviewed some time again. It’s for certain a greater all-round, multi-surface tire. And make no mistake, I journey the Gus, precisely as I did my Surly Krampus, so I can say that these tires carry out exceptionally properly off-road.
The Gus lends itself to be ridden on no matter floor you need and fairly effectively, I would add. these tires didn’t appear to have any actual negatives, even on prolonged rides on paved roads and trails.
Tumbleweed Bikes:
On one other bike, I used to run the attractive, heat-treated, triple-butted, uncooked chromoly model of their Persuader Bar within the 800mm width. I preferred it rather a lot because it was compliant and comfy. It had the correct quantity of again sweep (30 levels) and an honest rise (50mm). However, boy it was heavy (638g).
I’m not a weight weenie, however when searching for a bar to make use of for this construct, I noticed that Tumbleweed had an aluminum model of the Persuader Bar. I wished to make use of that for the Gus construct.
So I reached out to Daniel at Tumbleweed. The aluminum model of the Persuader bar had the identical dimension, besides the sweep was now 31 levels. Weighing in at 411g now in the identical width (800mm) the bar is rather a lot lighter.
The journey on the alloy model isn’t as tough as I believed it will be. Throughout the first few miles, I’d shortly stopped noticing any tangible distinction in compliance between the 2 variations of the bar.
Paul Part Engineering:
I’d think about the Gus Boots, for the shortage of a greater label, a bicycle that’s of the neo-retro ilk. That’s as a result of rim brakes, fast releases, and 135mm rear spacing. Issues of the previous for some.
Fortunately for me, I don’t care about that form of stuff. We used to run all of those requirements at one level in our previous bike lives. Our cantilever, and “V” brakes stopped us completely positive again then.
Our QR hubs held as much as rather a lot of abuse with out failing. Don’t get me began on the 135mm rear spacing. Look, we’re nonetheless right here to speak about it, and that speaks volumes. We’re lucky that firms like Paul Part Engineering nonetheless make high-quality bits for some of these bikes.
For this construct, Paul Comp equipped their lovely black Boxcar Stem within the 50mm taste.
In addition they supplied their black Love Levers and their attractive linear-pull Motolite brakes. The Motolites pop within the black anno with the adjuster nut within the orange anno. These brakes are highly effective, modulate completely, are silent, and work rather well.
They’re straightforward to regulate and arrange, and the pads appear to be the proper compound for the place I journey.
To prime it off, they despatched a pair of their 5mm Fast Launch Skewers within the black/orange combo, clearly.
Velo Orange:
I wished the construct to be particular right down to the little particulars, so I reached out to Velo Orange, as they’ve what I would like on the subject of ending a particular construct. They provide every little thing you want to construct a motorbike, together with their top-notch frames.
For this construct, I turned to them for the unglamorous stuff, like shift and brake cables, but in addition for one thing that may set this construct off. One thing completely different, that you just don’t all the time see on a construct.
I selected their Retro-Fashion, Stainless Wound Package for each the shift and brake housing. I additionally wished to run strong, uncooked Brass Housing Caps as a result of, properly… brass means class, that’s why.
Supernova:
Wanting the identical sturdy, water and dust-proof dynamo gentle on the Gus that I ran on the Clem Smith Jr., I requested the Supernova E3 Professional 2. They have been type sufficient to shoot one over to me in anodized orange, and admittedly, it appears to be like wonderful on the bike.
The sunshine is ultra-durable, and rugged sufficient to have on a mountain bike all the time. It’s all the time confirmed to be vibrant and dependable even at sluggish speeds. The E3 Professional 2 is switchable on the again of the unit. It even sports activities a vibrant shining brand as a aspect marker for added security. It additionally carries a 5-year guarantee.
White Industries:
I’ve fairly just a few White Industries components on all of my bikes. It’s protected to say that I’m a fan of their high-quality merchandise, consideration to element, and the aesthetics of their components, and I’m an enormous fan of the people who find themselves employed there.
I reached out, and so they hopped proper on the mission. They supplied their MI5 Polished Rear Hub that was despatched straight to Velocity USA to make use of for the rear wheel construct.
The Backside Bracket is their Exterior BSA Backside Bracket, in silver. It’s sized to run a 30mm spindle and has exterior bearings. It appears to be like wonderful and was straightforward to put in.
Trying on the White Industries web site for a headset that may match the Gus was pure reduction. I didn’t should test any new-fangled requirements, or bizarre prime and backside cup combos. Simply a typical headset for a 1 1/8″ head tube and straight steerer. The EC34/EC34 in black match the invoice completely. Increase, Bob’s yer Uncle.
The crank arms are their M30 Cranks for mountain bikes. This was a easy selection as properly, black anno, 30mm spindle, 175mm arm size, and a gold extractor cap… stayin’ stylish. I’m operating their 30t, silver MR30 TSR 1x chainring within the straightforward to decide on, 3mm offset (normal/non-boost)
Every part from White Industries, not solely installs with out difficulty however operates and capabilities completely. I’ve a variation of this crank on all of my bicycles, and it doesn’t get any higher.
And for the TSR (Tall-Short_Ring) 1X chain retention technique is perfection. You may see the tall tooth popping up by means of the chain across the prime of the chairing rotation.
Thomson:
Talking of seatposts. The seat collar on the Gus is lugged and subsequently is the less-than-popular 26.8-size. I might’ve used one of many Nitto or low cost Kalloy seatposts that Rivendell sells, however I wished this construct to be excellent.
I imply, the Nitto choices are very nice, however to me, being an older bike nerd, after I consider a high-end blingy seatpost, I consider Thomson seatposts. They’re made very properly, have been round eternally, have that signature, ovalized interior diameter for energy, and have a cool-looking setback mannequin. To not point out they arrive in a plethora of sizes.
I requested an Elite Seatpost within the 26.8 x 330mm setback in black, and so they delivered. I added a smidgen of Phil’s Waterproof Grease on the submit and within the seat collar, and set up was eventless. Ahh… metal and aluminum, not a peep or budge in 300+ miles of offroad tomfoolery.
Forager Cycles:
I’ve stated it earlier than, however the particulars matter. And on the subject of going quick and searching actually good, the Forager Cycles Cable Cherries will do the trick.
Listed here are just a few advantages of the common-or-garden cable cherry…
- No extra crimps falling off your cable finish, leaving you with these blood-letting cable strands.
- Makes a tasty deal with for changes.
- Completely reusable.
- Assured, if one occurs to fall off, Forager Cycles will ship you one other one free of charge.
- CNCd in Washington and shipped in very minimal packaging.
I truly bought these by means of Velo Orange. However you may get yours right here.
Shimano:
Effectively, I wanted a drivetrain proper when Shimano wanted somebody to journey their new LinkGlide system. I had them ship me the 11-speed, XT Linkglide gruppo for the construct, plus they despatched alongside a pair of XT Path pedals as properly.
I’ll contact on some highlights of the system, however it’ll get its personal separate evaluate after I journey it for a pair hundred extra miles.
The XT LinkGlide system was designed to be extraordinarily sturdy and sturdy. It has completely different shift ramps on the 11-50t rear cassette, permitting a very completely different and smoother shift level when below load.
The rear derailleur has a brand new geometry and won’t play properly with the present XT 11-speed Hyperglide.
To date, it’s been a nice expertise. There are some issues I like about it and a few issues that aren’t so nice. However, we’ll get into that within the precise evaluate.
How My Gus Rides
I’m certain you seen that the Gus has lengthy chainstays. You’re proper, they’re simply shy of 550mm. That measurement makes this bike tremendous steady in all facets of its journey. It climbs very properly, even the punchy steep stuff. It descends properly. It’s very compliant with out quite a lot of lateral compliance.
I’m discovering that the lengthy chainstays truly imply a extra steady climb, not the alternative like we’ve all been advised. I sat upright and comfy and motored up one of many quick and steep (20+ %) climbs that I’ve ridden persistently for the final 20+ years and was in whole management.
What’s Up with These Chainstays?
Once I arrived on the prime, I discovered myself not practically as winded as I often am. I didn’t have to consistently regulate my physique weight up over the nostril of the saddle to maintain my entrance finish on the bottom, like I needed to with my Krampus. And on the Gus, if there was an impediment, I simply simply steered round it.
Hmm, lengthy chainstays, go determine.
The journey high quality is second to none, I’ve by no means ridden a completely inflexible mountain bike that was as snug because the Gus. Its compliance appears to assist it nook properly, because it form of “settles in” to the nook, even within the looser stuff. The Ehlines assist rather a lot in that regard.
The purposeful and stylish bend of the fork when paired with the Ehline supple tire, at about 19-20psi supplied a pleasant supple journey. Add these lengthy chainstays and it rides amazingly, providing its personal “suspension”.
The journey place could be very upright, it’s not for everybody. The sloping prime tube is not any slope-ier than say a contemporary enduro bike, it’s simply bought extra of a curve, resulting in the conclusion that the slope was simply finished extra elegantly.
I really like every little thing in regards to the bike. The quirky decals and painted by hand highlights across the lovely lugs and fork are that “one thing completely different” I used to be searching for.
The development of the bike is of very top quality. You may’t actually mass-produce a fillet brazed bicycle body, and it exhibits within the brazing and development of the Gus. This can be a bike that was constructed with longevity in thoughts and can, greater than probably final for a really very long time.
In Conclusion
The Rivendell Gus Boots Willsen retails for $2000, which incorporates the body, fork, seatpost, and headset.
I couldn’t be happier with my buy of this frameset. Whereas I actually liked my Surly Krampus, the Gus presents a distinct expertise. I can accomplish the identical form of driving because the Krampus… however with Gus’ personal form of fashion.
It’s a bit sluggish to react on tight single observe, however barely. Not a deal breaker in any respect. I can nonetheless shralp the sh*t out of one in every of my fave spots and have a blast doing it.
The Gus Boots Willsen is that particular bike that’s like nothing available on the market, and like nothing you’ve ever ridden. Gus is each fantastically elegant and purposefully rugged unexpectedly. And it rides like that.
I feel Grant nailed the design of this bike. It’s purpose-built for climbing, singletrack, lengthy bikepacking journeys, quick dust loops, or taking it to go get groceries. It’s constructed to be a lifetime bike for a bikey sort way of life. It’s a bicycle that’s constructed for enjoyable and frolicking within the dust or wherever you see match, and that’s actually what it’s all about.
