Rivendell Bombadil: my two week fling
I recently had the opportunity to carefully shot drive the new 52cm twin-top-tubed Rivendell Bombadil model, plus in small, I can conclude like this: brand new Bombadil is a bicycle which will take you by surprise.Rivendell touts Los angeles Bomba just like the «a beneficial stout-tubed slope bike for rough riding and you can heavy loads. It is not Dutch-big, however, from the modern-day standards out of expensive, great cycles, it’s available into line.»
The one thing I was thinking once i first selected it try, «guy, it procedure is white!» We wasn’t alone you to definitely thought thus; most of the cyclist buddy you to occurred to get rid of from the the house during my personal big date on Bomba told you a similar thing, none coaxed nor determined by me personally.
Configurations Grant got place the fresh new bike upwards to have himself, and that i believe it has been their fundamental steed to own an effective whenever you are, since the he is workouts the new kinks and you may tweaking one thing. Therefore, when i chosen the bike up, I grabbed it as is.
Los angeles Bomba was wearing the newest Pacenti Quasi-moto 650Bx2″ tires, being billed while the Pacenti’s hardpack tire. I could post another remark on men and women wheels, but I will you need to be short right here and you will report that they are effortlessly just like one XC battle tire We have ever used, and i utilized loads of battle wheels into my personal off-street triathlon days. They have been tacky, Fontana escort reviews they roll incredibly, and also the deluxe basis would be the fact of an excellent Cadillac. High rims, and I’m hoping one Kirk’s the brand new quicker knobby will match my personal Bleriot.
The brand new cockpit try arranged that have 46cm Pasta, and you can flash attach shifters on flat area of the pub. It actually was together with suitable with a new style Tektro brake lever (not sure of your design) one looked a delicate spoon-such as for example lever — higher level to the touch. Specific purists you’ll shout heresy along side V-brakes, nonetheless was basically perfectly personally.
Friday
To begin with I did is actually reduce steadily the pubs a couple of away from legs (joking! only a couple out-of ins!). Just after screwing it out for all weeks, I’d have preferred an apartment hill-design handlebar. I found you to into the Chico’s most technical eruptive surface, that we needed to be about drops quite a bit just to do have more leverage to your brakes. This will be a whole lot more a result of the surface in which We live, and my choice, so do not carry it due to the fact a suggestion otherwise some thing by doing this.
The greatest gripe I got having Grant’s handlebar settings was in fact the newest rubbing flash shifters. I personally use friction thumbies on my Bleriot, however, on this bicycle it never ever quite, um, engaged for me personally. Firstly, the brand new thumbies felt in the manner once i rode with my hands on this new flat part of the club. Finally, every time We used the top-n-apartment a portion of the club, the latest jarring landscapes do result in my hand so you’re able to slightly contact the brand new shifters. After a couple of minutes off operating I’d need certainly to trim the latest shifter a while to eradicate chain wipe and you may/or unintended rear changes.
Again, I believe similar to this results from the fresh landscapes right here. Basically rode smoother single-track, fire routes, reg’lar ways otherwise gravel roads it could never have been a keen procedure. Lower than are a photograph away from a great «trail» inside Chico about what I checked-out the Bombadil.
Easily were to created personal Bombadil getting sheer off-street operating regarding the Chico/Sierras/Shasta city, I would have fun with a hill apartment pub and MTB braking system levers that have lead to shifters. Brand new freedom for the bike stands out when thinking about just how to set it up even when, because you you will definitely rig it a natural mountain bicycle, a touring bicycle, a legendary Tour Compliment of Tibet bicycle, or maybe just an effective all the-rounder. Some of these configurations do fit new Bombadil.