You couldn't have chosen a better bike! I also ride a Bombadil, and when not riding it in the woods, it makes me look forward to getting up and going to work.
On Nov 6, 9:17 pm, jinxed <hbcl...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Well after much debate, reading, soul searching and money saving...I > have a Bombadil. This is a quick and dirty first impression and I will > follow up better later. > > http://tinyurl.com/ybnpgx8 > > Ordering: > The order went fairly smooth, with only a minor delay for paint. Or > clear powder coat to be more accurate. I had called up Riv a week > before I had money in hand just to be sure they had a 52 available, > which apparently they had a few. When I was funded, I made the call > ordered the frame/fork/hs and some other random bits including the > bullmoose bar. All was well, and was to ship the next day. A week > later I called nervously fearing it was lost. As it turns out, the > frame they had was literally "raw" and still needed the clear coat. So > off it went. A week later, that frame came back, but the clear was > flawed, so they sent another one off. So one more turn around and BOOM > my bike is on the way! Hot dog!! Got my shipping confirmation, and a > few day later I had Mr. UPS knocking on my door. > > Receiving: > Always the fun part...just like Christmas. If I have learned one thing > in my 16 years in the bike industry, it's that Rivendell knows how to > package bikes and frames. I was floored when I got my Bleriot. I have > packed somewhere over 1000 bikes and hold the title of "Pack King" at > my shop...but I was seriously humbled upon opening the box. The > Bombadil was no exception. > > Inspecting: > Le Dang. What a fun and beautiful frame. I have been very lucky to > work with and around some really cool bikes over the years. I even > worked manufacturing them for a couple. Having built bikes from raw > tube sets, the nature of the raw powder coat really makes me happy. > Generally frames would undergo a bead blast even if being cleared, > which gives a really nice satin metallic finish and still shows off > the brazing. But I have to say, skipping the bead blast is what really > shows off the beauty of the steel. I had a couple days waiting on some > build parts so it was fun to really spend time checking out all the > brazing and lug work. I'm extremely happy with the construction > quality, and feel the price tag was more than fair for the amount of > work represented. Keep in mind, I chose to pay retail for this as > opposed to being able to pro-deal something from work. > > Assembly: > The frame seemed fairly well prepped out of the box, but I chased the > bottom bracket shell and honed the seat tube for measure. Frame > alignment was spot on both with a gauge and the good ol string > measure. Dropout alignment was also perfect. Nothing had to be > tinkered with, and went together very smoothly. > > Initial impressions: > First off, ignore the pictured wheelset and tires, those are off my > Bleriot. I am still waiting on spokes to finish the wheels which will > be shod with Pacenti Quasi-motos. They will be built on Dyad rims with > Chris King classic MTB hubs, 3X DT double butted spokes. Otherwise, it > is set up as planned. Now the bar was a real gamble for me. I was > really up in the air between the bullmoose and going with a moustache > set up like my Bleriot. I really love the moustache bars, but was not > sure how I would like them on a dedicated mountain bike so I opted for > the more "traditional" stance. I was even more worried when I placed > them on the bike. They really seemed odd to me. Very high and very > swept back. I sunk the quill as far as it would go, and looking at it > figured I would be looking to trade them for moustache bars. But once > it was out of my stand (and dining room) and I test rode it...well > they may be staying. Very comfortable and the sweep puts the angle of > the bar at a very neutral wrist position for me. I am extremely eager > to get this bike in the dirt with knobbies. It has been several years > since I had a bike with v-brakes, and I had forgotten just how well > they can work. I decided to go "V" over much better looking canti's > only for function off road, and I am glad I made that choice. The > majority of the parts are modern XT, which although looks modern still > seemed suiting in it's industrial black and silver finish. Original > XTR would have been nice, but this stuff was super budget friendly, > and works fantastic. > > Ride: > Every bike seems to have it's own feel that can be very hard to > convey. You seem to notice it on the first couple rides when the bike > is fresh and you haven't become accustomed to the subtleties yet. The > first out of the saddle sprint, the first hard leaning corner, a rough > downhill, that kind of stuff. I spent about an hour doing a shakedown > ride where nothing shookdown. I mixed paved trails with flat > relatively straight single track and hard pack gravel. I felt perched > high but connected solidly to the ground. The bike did not feel > sluggish although I kind of expected it to. Just solid really. The > build will evolve some and I will report with ride updates, but I have > to say I am super pleased. > > All that and I give you a cell phone pic. > Better ones with a real camera to come once the proper wheels are done. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
