Grant Petersen
Encyclopedia
Grant Petersen is a bicycle designer and the founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works
. He was U.S. marketing director for Bridgestone Cycle (U.S.A.), Inc.
during the 1980s and 1990s, where he designed the XO series of bicycles.
Petersen is widely known in the cycling community for opposing complicated design and slavish prioritization of speed, light weight and racing
-led fashion — over tradition, comfort and durability. The company specializes in bicycles intended for all sorts of riding outside of competition. In addition to lugged steel frames, signatures of this trend have included leather saddles
, downtube or bar-end shifter
s in place of brifters, and the use of "moustache" and "cruiser" type handlebars
.
Rivendell Bicycle Works
Rivendell Bicycle Works is a producer of lugged steel bicycle frames, located in Walnut Creek, California, United States. Rivendell produces stock and customized frames. Rivendell frames are designed in the U.S., with manufacturing of stock frames in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan...
. He was U.S. marketing director for Bridgestone Cycle (U.S.A.), Inc.
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
during the 1980s and 1990s, where he designed the XO series of bicycles.
Petersen is widely known in the cycling community for opposing complicated design and slavish prioritization of speed, light weight and racing
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
-led fashion — over tradition, comfort and durability. The company specializes in bicycles intended for all sorts of riding outside of competition. In addition to lugged steel frames, signatures of this trend have included leather saddles
Bicycle saddle
A bicycle saddle, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.The bicycle saddle has been known as such since the bicycle evolved from the draisine, a forerunner of the bicycle...
, downtube or bar-end shifter
Shifter
Shifter may mean:* Shifter , or gear lever, a bicycle part that selects which gear the chain rests on* Shifter , an adjustable wrench/spanner...
s in place of brifters, and the use of "moustache" and "cruiser" type handlebars
Bicycle handlebar
Bicycle handlebar or often bicycle handlebars refers to the steering mechanism for bicycles; the equivalent of a steering wheel. Besides steering, handlebars also often support a portion of the rider's weight, depending on their riding position, and provide a convenient mounting place for brake...
.
External links
- RBWs official site
- BikeRadar Petersen interviewed by Gary Boulanger, July 2007