So there have been several recent threads I have been following with interest. They are all revolving around questions I have regarding my Bombadil. Canti vs. side pull, 26" vs. 650b vs. 700, and the subtle shades of Rivendell models, ie: bikes like the Hunq and Sam falling in between other existing models.
My first Rivendell happened to be my first 650b as well with the purchase of my Bleriot. I fell in love with it instantly. It became the only bike I rode. Then having a whetted appetite for Riv designs I wanted to expand with an off road specific bike and debated between the Bombadil, and Atlantis ultimately deciding on the Bombadil. My hope was that I had chosen a bike that had different capabilities than the Bleriot to compliment it. I am finding that other than the difference in handlebars position, the bikes are extremely close in capability for me. This is where the wheel size is coming into play. After riding some similar lugged/rigid 26" wheeled bikes back to back with my Bomba, I find I prefer the 26" while riding technical rocky terrain. Most likely because that is what I have been mountain biking on for 20 years. It's not that I do not like the Bomba, but I feel the 2 Riv's I have are sort of redundant in the terrain I am comfortable riding them in. The thread regarding canti bikes had me thinking that if the Bleriot had cantis and just a little knobbier tire option than the fatty rumpkins...the Bomba would have never been bought. This has me questioning my keeping the Bombadil or at least how I have it set up. So I have been considering swapping it to drop bars, narrower tires, and using it for longer rides where I am carrying my panniers to go camping, but only on groomed mixed terrain, dirt roads etc. Then finding a 26" wheeled bike for the MTB use, and leave my Bleriot as is because I love it as my go to bike. In the midst of this mental acrobatics, I completely stumbled on a 26" wheeled xo-3 and became the new owner. So now I truly have 3 bikes in very close relation. I realize many of the members here are multiple Riv bike owners, and I am wondering how you diversify their use? They all seem so very closely capable with new models coming to fill seemingly narrow "gaps". All this boils down to me considering a trade on the Bomba for something of the same level but in a canti version 700c. Canti Romulus? A true all-rounder? Thoughts? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
