I have to admit that the crown with the wave is so ugly that I would never consider purchasing a Riv. I suppose if someone gave me a Riv, I could take a dremel to it or cover it up with some shiny metal like a cheap French bike. The old Long-Low/Heron crown was quite nice, however. Too bad they didn't stick with that.
Leonard Bulger Marblehead, MA
Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>> I was actually aghast when I first saw that crown.
Joe Starck wrote:
>> I'd say "aghast" was how I felt when I first saw it
> too, Chuck. But I found a way to alter it sufficient
> to keep my blood flowing, and I came to understand
> more about its existence than those of you who aren't
> allowing more than a pea's-worth of dendrites to
> consider it. I think it's important that the top of
> the crown doesn't hold yet another silly crest or like
> brand emblem; that wing or sail is an inspiring form
> to pedal with. Below that, the crown is a solid
> hunk-o-metal, and that's inspiring too: it's manly as
> a Mack truck behind the caliper. The crown comes
> stock with side ovals, which I loathe; but I'm proud
> of my solution to my hatred there, because, CR people,
> there were cost constraints. For what you see on
> Grantersen's crown, it was only about fifty bucks. I
> challenge anybody to do better. The three circles or
> portholes or discs or saucers...can be thought of as
> three anything -- religion or baseball, whatever, but
> their position & size are intended to enjoin the manly
> space I set-off above the three dots with the open and
>> unlimited wave below.
>The best description of that fork crown I've ever heard is when >someone
>used the phrase "willfully ugly" to describe it.