Frame - Platypus

$1,750.00 USD

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Size 50cm 55cm 60cm

Color Ana Purple Sergio Green

Quantity

Rivendell PLATYPUS

The Platypus is a versatile, all-around bike for mostly pavement riding with loads from zero to 30 pounds.

ALL WEATHER: Easily fendered, so you can ride it all year long.

Relevant specs:

650b wheels in size 50cm
700c wheels in sizes 55cm and up
V-Brake Post
26.8mm seat post, included. If you want to upgrade to a NITTO, OK!
135mm rear spacing
28.6 front derailer clamp
1" threaded fork - FSA Duron headset included
kickstand plate

It's one of our plushy, cushy, incredibly comfortable long-wheelbasers, and we highly recommend you put an upright bar on it. Let us help you do that.

Recommended PBHs and Saddle Heights:

50cm (650b)
PBH range 74cm to 81cm
SADDLE HEIGHT 65cm to 70cm.
55cm (700c)
PBH 82 to 87cm
SADDLE HEIGHT 71cm to 76cm.
60cm (700c)
PBH 87 to 96cm
SADDLE HEIGHT 76cm to 85cm.

NO bike is better than the Platypus for zooming and cruising, shopping and commuting and all purpose day-riding on pavement.

The Platypus has plenty of fender room and braze-ons where they need to be, so it's great in the rain, too.

Same with racks. It's not for heavily loaded tours, but racks always come in handy. If you don't want racks, put at least one bag on it. Put the Platypus to work for you.

The Platypus is arguably the most beautiful bike in our line, and we try so damn hard to make them all beautiful. It's the continuation, and fourth model in our long tradition of mixte frames. It's for all-around road riding with loads up to maybe 30lbs.

Difference from the Cheviot, its immediate predecessor:

• The Platypus fits V-brakes

• and fits a bigger tire. up to 50mm recommended.

• the chainstays are a bit longer.

• the midsized Platypus, the 55cm, fits 700c wheels.

• it is a current model.

An upright step-through for all

How to Mount a Mixte by Leah P

Three sizes—50cm, 55cm, 60cm all in Mermaid

PBH's are lightly flexible because of the step-through

50cm (650b)
PBH range 74cm to 81cm
SADDLE HEIGHT 65cm to 70cm.
55cm (700c)
PBH 82 to 87cm
SADDLE HEIGHT 71cm to 76cm.
60cm (700c)
PBH 87 to 96cm
SADDLE HEIGHT 76cm to 85cm.

You can fit a bigger Platypus than a Homer or a Sam or Altantis because there's no top tube to hit your crotch.

A common and reasonable concern:
What about top tube length--if I can fit a bigger frame seat-tubewise, won't the top tube be too long?

PROBABLY not. These bikes are designed for upright, sweepy-back bars (Albatross and Bosco, for example), and the sweep-back gobbles up horizontal reach in huge mouthfuls.

Let's say you're 5-7 with a PBH of 85. You can ride either a 55 or a 60. With the 55 you might ride a higher stem with a longer extension (let's say, a Nitto Tallux 11cm raised to the Max Ht line). Well, on the 60 you could get a similar position with an 8 or 9cm stem sunk deeper into the frame. The location of the handlebar will be the same.

Clearly, the 55 will ultimately allow a lower bar and the 60 a higher one, but these aren't low-bar bikes from the get-go, so who cares? The MAXIMUM allowable handlebar height is more of a matter than the MINIMUM height.

If any of this is confusing, extreme apologies. We deal with these bikes and fittings and different bodies every day and for a living, and we'll nail it for you.

In any case, the Platypus, in a few ways, is our most all-around useful, comfortable, democratic bike. Over the next 30 years of your life, it is the bike most likely to be hauled out the front door.

It’s a country bike like our Sam. That’s what we call it. But most people don’t know what that is exactly so to kowtow to categorization here we go: Road tourer. All-Road. Gravel Grinder.

It’s also nimble and more than able for fast fire-road rides with the right tires. There are plenty of tires to attire your Platypus from gravel-grinding cross tires to light and zippy road slicks to bulletproof commuters.

Everything that makes it a great touring bike also makes it a great commuter, camper or all-rounder.

Relevant specs: