Grant Petersen: The Big Bang Theory…of Bicycles

I’ll talk about how wheels came to bicycles, about the early bikes, about the first boom and what caused it...about what led to the 73-year slump between 1897 and 1970, and who and what lead to the rebirth/comeback after that... Grant Petersen is a 1954 model human and is a well-known figure in the world of bikes as an independent thinker, and a good bicycle designer, and founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works. Grant worked for Bridgestone Cycle for ten years where he designed the XO series of bicycles. In 1994, he founded the Rivendell Bicycle Works, and has been there ever since. Grant is known to be suspect of race-born bicycle technology, and is generally opposed to complicated design and slavish prioritization of speed, light-weight and racing-led fashion — over tradition, comfort and durability. Rivendell 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 shifters in place of brifters, and the use of practical handlebars. A reformed racer who’s commuted by bike every day since 1980, Petersen’s writings and opinions appear in major bicycling and outdoor magazines. Grant Petersen shares a lifetime of unexpected facts, controversial opinions, expert techniques, and his own maverick philosophy. He has written four books, the most recent ones being “Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide To Riding Your Bike” and his newest book is the recently released “Eat Bacon, Don’t Jog.” Grant lives in California with his wife of 28 years, and has two daughters in college.