Platypus custom: First thing I did after my US trip
Hey it’s Sub, who came back from the US a month ago, growing even more desire for buying bikes and parts. Not much growth in skillset or as a person though.
Anyway, I joined this year’s US business trip as a videographer, with Tani-san, Sent-kun, and Issue-san. And I got so much stuff I wanna share with you.
I’m editing the huge piles of vids in ultrasonic speed so please look forward for that! On my upcoming blogs, I’ll be covering my personal interests that I couldn’t share as much as I could on youtube.
This is the very first blog for that!
When coming back from the US, I made a huge list of what I got to do. The first thing I did was customizing my Platypus.
This is how it looks before going to the US.↓↓↓
This is how it looks now!↓↓↓
I’ll get straight to the point. The Platypus owned by Will from RIVENDELL was so cool, and I simply inherited his style. Well, I felt sorry for him if I did a carbon copy, so with a bit of tweaks too.
This is his Platypus that I got inspiration from by the way.
His bike do appear in front of me from time to time, either through RIVENDELL’s digital media or the surrounding community, so I wasn’t thinking it will be particularly new to me. However, having a look through my own eyes, something special struck me.
The message I got from his bike is that RIVENDELL’s bike is not necessarily heavy and slow. (*It’s not what Will told me, it’s simply what I felt from his bike.)
When I was still just starting to get to know RIVENDELL, the impression I had for their bikes was “upright position, relaxing riding style.”
That’s how I exactly rode my Platypus in Tokyo: Racks on both front and rear, with 139 basket attached, heavy and unhurried. And I thought that’s how it should be.
Not Will’s. His Platypus got a lower handlebar positions than his saddle, making him low and forward leaning! Never knew that was even possible!
The way he rode that bike so lightly was super cool. I admire that big time.
As I expected, RIVENDELL was generous, kind, and welcoming. What I was surprised was the diverse presentation they showed us about the way to ride their bikes. They were also a lot more obsessed with tough tough rides than I expected.
After returning back to Japan, although I knew the limitations of my physical elegance compared to Will’s tall height and long arms and legs, I so wanted to mimic his custom.
Lowering the handlebars, and extending the saddle height by a few millimeters. Now a somewhat similar riding position to his!
Look how short the stem is haha.
And the riding taste? Now it’s a lot lighter! So much fun, it’s almost a completely different bike! Of course there was simply lost in weight from removing racks and changing tires, but the forward-leaning riding position makes it easier to put more power on the pedals.
The new tire got low and hard nobs, which makes less friction and rolls more. Been drifting a lot these days because of it. I never knew this side of my long time buddy. I now love my Platypus even more.
That said, I bet this is not the main way of riding a Riv, so I won’t say out loud that it fits to every Riv bikes. Besides, I already miss the grip positions the albatross and tosco offered. And all of my camera gears lost their place to stay on the bike, my Platypus used to carry it all!
I love both the relaxing and quick Platypus. For now I’ll enjoy this current style, reminiscing the days in the US.
Thank you Will for showing me more ways to enjoy this bike!
Btw, when we were introduced to Riv staff’s bike, they happen to be bringing a lot of Platypus that day. Here’s Roman’s. His handlebar position is high up.
This is Grant-san’s. A lot lower than I expected. Maybe the Platypus has always been that kinda bike. Or is it just a coincidence?
