The 2010 Rivet is the latest race-ready model in Van Dessel’s growing pantheon of cool bikes. From the Hellafaster to the Country Road Bob, to the Drag Strip Courage and the ever-popular Gin & Trombones cross bike, Edwin Bull of Van Dessel continues to keep New Jersey at the forefront of East Coast cycling and racing. In fact, Edwin Bull, a former racer, recently returned to the pro 1-2 ranks in Somerville, finishing an impressive seventh place. Not bad for a guy who works 12-hour days running a bike company.
THE FRAME
The Rivet is built using a carbon tube-to-tube wrap construction with maximum diameter and ultra-thin tubing. Our 58-centimeter model weighed in at 15 pounds. Van Dessel claims that their 56-centimeter frame weighs is 1050 grams. The Rivet is BB30 compatible with a 1.5-inch tapered head tube, and we were lucky enough to get Edwin’s personal Campagnolo Super- Record 11-Speed, with a Chorus cassette. FSA K-force cranks, bars, post and an FSA OS99CSI stem complete the cockpit. Easton EA90SLX wheels and a Selle Italia SLR carbon saddle finish up the build. Van Dessel offers complete bikes and framesets, and Edwin emphasized all their bikes are built to order. “While we offer stock builds, bar width, stem length, crank length and gearing are always to-order, and any parts swap-outs are typically no problem.”
The Easton EA90 wheels rolled smoothly and dependably.
THE RIDE
The Rivet has been labeled a crit bike due to its stiff characteristics and almost instant power transfer, but after riding it and talking with Edwin, we would expand that label just a bit. The Rivet is stiff and responsive, and great in corners and sprints, but it also has the comfort potential for longer, harder rides. The Rivet was a pleasure to ride, and while it is a popular choice for critfocused racers, it is also a great all-around race bike that will offer you a good dose of confidence in any discipline or race condition. We were surprised at the climbing characteristics of the Rivet and the way the bike soaked up road chatter on longer rides. Depending on your build, with a frame price of $1999, you can easily put together a solid race bike with some personality for much less than a midpriced offering from one of the larger brands.
The Campagnolo Super-Record drivetrain has all the gears you need.
BONUS POINTS
• Cool factor of a bike from a boutique race-focused company in New Jersey.
• Campagnolo Super-Record 11-Speed.
• The Easton EA90 wheels. Lively and fun.
• The bike does kick back.
• Flexibility in build options.
• Maybe the perfect bike for anyone who likes big round carbon tubes.
• Good looking graphics.
THE STATS
Price: $6799 (as tested); frame/fork/headset, $1999.
Weight: 15 pounds
Sizes: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60
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