{"id":177463,"date":"2026-05-31T16:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T07:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluelug.com\/blog\/?post_type=global&p=177463"},"modified":"2026-05-31T16:35:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T07:35:02","slug":"my-joe-appaloosa-research","status":"publish","type":"global","link":"https:\/\/bluelug.com\/blog\/global\/my-joe-appaloosa-research\/","title":{"rendered":"My Joe Appaloosa Research"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, I’d like to write about the Joe Appaloosa<\/a>, a bike from Rivendell. It’s one of my favorite bikes that I’ve ridden for a long time.<\/p>\n

This is going to be a long one, but I would like to write the things that I have been thinking at night.<\/p>\n

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These are two photos of Grant-san’s Appaloosa. The one of above is when he built it,<\/p>\n

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and I believe this is one of the recent photos.<\/p>\n

In recent years, Rivendell has continued to produce step-through frame designs. The Joe Appaloosa is the latest diamond-shaped frame designed by Grant Petersen.<\/p>\n

—side track—<\/p>\n

While Rivendell\u2019s models all share a consistent aesthetic, their riding characteristics are completely different\u2014each one excels at something unique (which is part of the fun).<\/p>\n

However, compared to other manufacturers, it\u2019s hard to pin a clear label on each model like \u201cgravel bike,\u201d \u201ctouring bike,\u201d or \u201cmountain bike\u201d which makes them a bit tricky to explain.<\/p>\n

With that said, the Joe Appaloosa is called the \u201call-rounder bike.”<\/p>\n

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\n(This is what the general use green<\/strong> paint looks like in the sunlight)<\/p>\n

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I imagine that if I asked Grant about what kind of bike each model is, he’d probably just say, \u201cIt\u2019d be great if it could ridden in all sorts situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

I tend to explain that \u201cthis frame can do anything,\u201d but I think if I could explain a little more about what that \u201canything\u201d actually means, many of you might realize, \u201cOh, the Riv that seems right for me might just be the Appaloosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

So today, based on what I know, I\u2019d like to break down the Appaloosa and give you a presentation on this frame that I love so much. It really is a great frame!<\/p>\n

The Appaloosa was originally conceived as the successor to the Atlantis, a model that had been part of the brand\u2019s lineup since its early days. (To clarify, I believe the story goes that it was initially created to fill the gap between the Sam Hillborne and the Hunqapillar, and was later dubbed the \u201csuccessor\u201d because the design philosophy of the current Atlantis, which was later came back, is identical to that of the Appaloosa.)<\/p>\n

Here’s a photo I really like.<\/p>\n

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That is young Grant and John after going on a S24O with their Atlantis. I can tell that the two had a great time camping from their smiles.<\/p>\n

This Atlantis was also marketed as an \u201call-rounder,\u201d but back then there were so many touring or travel bike type built that I mistakenly believed the Atlantis was a designed exclusively for touring by Rivendell, kind of like the LHT from Surly.<\/p>\n

Then, word leaked out from the official blog that a successor to the Atlantis was in development. I remember getting all excited when I heard on a Rivendell riders\u2019 forum that some people had already ridden the prototype…<\/p>\n

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\nI believe this is the photo of the prototype. I don’t know the details of this bike, but check out that cool and long chain stay!<\/p>\n

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This gentleman was the test pilot of the prototype. I’ve seen photos of him riding with his child, riding in the mountains with MTB tires, or bike camping with a fully packed saddle bag.<\/p>\n

I now think that this was the prime example of all-rounder.<\/p>\n

While long chain stays have since become synonymous with Rivendell, back then I was completely brainwashed by the cycling world\u2019s \u201ctheory\u201d that \u201cshorter is better when it comes to chain stays,\u201d so I was shocked. (I used to blurt out things like \u201cshorter chain stays are easier to handle\u201d without any basis.)<\/p>\n

I also thought, \u201cThe Appaloosa must be a touring bike!\u201d I remember being obsessed with the naive conclusion that these super-long chain stays must be amazing when loaded with gear.<\/p>\n

Heavily influenced by this, the initial reasons I became an Appaloosa rider were \u201ctouring\u201d and \u201ccamping.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n(a photo from SWIFT CAMPOUT few years ago.<\/strong><\/a>\uff09<\/p>\n

Just like Grant and John, I wanted to try bike camping. I wanted a bike that could handle that kind of adventure.<\/p>\n

And sure enough, even with a heavy load, the long frame stayed steady and felt secure. It\u2019s an excellent touring bike, the most comfortable one I\u2019ve ever ridden on a CAMPOUT trip. Plus, I wanted to try it out on a Rivendell rather than doing high-tech bike packing.<\/p>\n

I found myself choosing the bike to commute even after the camp trip. I\u2019m gradually realized that the Appaloosa isn\u2019t a \u201cframe designed exclusively for touring,\u201d but rather a \u201cframe that can also handle touring.\u201d Its strengths aren\u2019t limited to touring; they shine just as brightly during city rides and off-road rides.<\/p>\n

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\nThe test pilot of the prototype would go to parks with his child too. It’s natural change the set up of bikes based on the change of lifestyles.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t go camping that often, and you want to ride it for everyday life and other activities too. Is this what you mean by \u201cIt\u2019d be great if it could ridden in all sorts situations.\u201d Right Grant-san?<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at my Appaloosa that I’ve ridden the heck out of. I hope this will convince the readers to become a future Appaloosa owner.<\/p>\n

\"*RIVENDELL*<\/a><\/p>\n

My current theme for the Appaloosa is \u201ceveryday life\u201d and \u201ccomfort.\u201d To put it dramatically, I have it built with the goal of creating a \u201cmobile home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though I originally got this bike for the \u201cescape from the reality\u201d that camping offers, it\u2019s still incredibly comfortable for everyday use. Now I think I\u2019m starting to understand what it means to be an \u201call-rounder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"*RIVENDELL*<\/a>