12 Facts About Grant Petersen

Grant Petersen is a bicycle designer, author, and the founder and owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works.

Grant Petersen was US marketing director for Bridgestone Cycle, Inc during the 1980s and 1990s, where he designed the XO series of bicycles.

Grant Petersen is known for promoting traditional bicycle technology and materials such as wide tires, fenders, leather saddles, and lugged steel frames with relaxed geometry over modern, lightweight, racing technology.

Grant Petersen raced bicycles in his 20's, and at the apex of his career edged out fellow racer and Olympian Norman Alvis at the Mt.

Grant Petersen worked for a time at the Berkeley REI.

In 1984, Petersen began working for the US bicycle division of Bridgestone Tires in San Leandro, California in data entry and customer support.

Grant Petersen later became a marketing director and product manager and in the early 1990s promoted the development of fat-tired road bikes inspired by emerging mountain bike designs.

From his time at Bridgestone, Grant Petersen is known for developing the popular XO series of bicycles.

In 1994 after leaving Bridgestone, Grant Petersen turned down job offers from bike companies, Specialized and Trek, to found Rivendell Bicycle Works out of his garage.

Grant Petersen has been a contributor to major bicycling and outdoors magazines and has written four books.

Grant Petersen is a regular bike commuter to his shop located in Walnut Creek, California.

Grant Petersen married Mary Anderson in 1985 and has two daughters, Kate and Anna.