Chico Gino: The fresh new cycling website out of Gino Zahnd, just who resides in Chico, Ca

Rivendell Bombadil: my personal two week affair

I just been able in order to carefully try journey brand new 52cm twin-top-tubed Rivendell Bombadil model, and also in quick, I’m able to sum it up like this: the fresh new Bombadil is actually a cycle which is going to take you by the surprise.Rivendell touts La Bomba as “an excellent stout-tubed hill bike to have harsh driving and heavy loads. It’s not Dutch-heavier, but by the latest conditions of high priced, great bicycles, it’s available to choose from with the boundary.”

The one thing I was thinking once i basic chosen it up are, “guy, it thing are light!” We was not the only one one to imagine thus; the cyclist friend you to happened to cease because of the my house during my go out on the Bomba told you exactly the same thing, neither coaxed neither dependent on me personally.

Configurations Grant got put new bike right up to own himself, and that i think it has been their head steed for a great if you are, just like the he’s working out the brand new kinks and you may adjusting one thing. Very, when i picked the fresh new bike right up, I took it as is.

La Bomba try dressed in the latest Pacenti Quasi-moto 650Bx2″ rims, which happen to be charged since Pacenti’s hardpack tire. I’m able to blog post some other opinion into the people rims, however, I will you need to be brief right here and you will report that he could be with ease competitive with any XC race tire I’ve previously utilized, and i used plenty of battle wheels into my off-highway triathlon weeks. These include tacky, they roll splendidly, as well as the plush factor is that of good Cadillac. Great rims, and you may I am hoping one to Kirk’s the new faster knobby commonly match my Bleriot.

Brand new seat is developed that have 46cm Noodles, and you may thumb mount shifters towards the apartment the main pub. It was plus fitted with a brand new concept Tektro braking system lever (undecided of free bbw dating apps France your own design) you to appeared a soft scoop-including lever – higher level to the touch. Specific purists you are going to cry heresy along side V-brakes, nonetheless they was indeed just fine for me.

Friday

First thing I did is lessen the pubs a couple off foot (joking! only a couple regarding inches!). Shortly after fucking it out for a couple of weeks, I might enjoys well-known an apartment hill-layout handlebar. I came across one to inside Chico’s extremely technical eruptive landscapes, that we must be on falls quite a lot only to have significantly more control towards brakes. It is so much more due to new surface where We real time, and you may my tastes, so dont take it as an advice otherwise some thing in that way.

The biggest gripe I experienced that have Grant’s handlebar setup had been the latest friction flash shifters. I use friction thumbies to my Bleriot, but with this bicycle it never somewhat, um, visited for my situation. To begin with, the brand new thumbies believed in how once i rode with my hands on the latest flat the main pub. Finally, everytime I utilized the better-n-apartment the main pub, new jarring terrain carry out end up in my personal hands so you’re able to somewhat touch the new shifters. After a few times out of operating I would personally need thin this new shifter a little while to get rid of chain scrub and/or unintended bottom shifts.

Again, I’m similar to this is a result of brand new terrain right here. Basically rode much easier single-track, fire paths, reg’lar routes or gravel roads it would never have started an point. Lower than is an image away from good “trail” during the Chico about what I looked at the newest Bombadil.

Basically were to create my personal Bombadil to have sheer off-street riding in the Chico/Sierras/Shasta area, I might play with a mountain apartment club and you may MTB brake levers which have produce shifters. The independence associated with bicycle shines when considering just how to set it although, since you could rig it as a sheer slope bike, a touring bike, an epic Concert tour Compliment of Tibet bicycle, or perhaps a all of the-rounder. Any of these configurations do suit the new Bombadil.