I know some people find romance in a bike being described as stout-as-all-get-out, or sturdy enough to survive an apocalypse; for me, that is is a turn-off: I want a bike that is as strong and stiff as I need it to be, but ideally no more than necessary. Especially in the case of steel, because much of the beauty of steel is how it flexes and springs as it works with you during a ride. So on paper, the Bombadil is not right for me at all (I'm 160lbs) but yet I find it rides lighter and more lively than its tubing spec would ever suggest - certainly, still a pretty solid bike, but nothing 'tank like' about it. I presume the same is true of the Hunq. I suppose that's true of all Rivs - they tend to ride lighter and livelier than their specs on paper would suggest.
On Friday, 23 December 2022 at 13:36:35 UTC-8 foolis...@gmail.com wrote: > Overbuilt is exactly the word I think of when it comes to my Bombadil. > It's perfect just like some of the early ATB of yesteryear. Perfect for a > bomb cyclone! Happy holidays everyone! > > On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 3:26:48 PM UTC-6 Chris L wrote: > >> I first discovered RBW in August of 2011 and Grant said he would only >> recommend the Hunqapillar or Bombadil for someone my weight. In the >> following eight years it took for me to finally buy one, I amassed quite a >> collection of Hunqapillar photos. >> >> One thing I've noticed is that some of the very earliest Hunqapillars >> have mismatched headtube lugs. The top has points on the sides but on some >> bikes, the bottom headtube lug is rounded, with no point on some bikes and >> pointed on the sides of others. I'm wondering if this factor >> differentiates Tawain Hunqapillars from the MUSA/Japan (of Toyo made some, >> it seems like they did) ones. >> >> The 54cm proto-type had the rounded side on the bottom lug. >> >> [image: 4985768915_03bc844911_o.jpg] >> >> >> This kidney bean Hunq also has the smooth sided bottom lug >> >> [image: 005 (2).jpg] >> >> >> I believe this is Marc's bike and I think he has stated it was a >> Waterford frame and it has the point on the side of the bottom lug >> >> [image: 006.jpg] >> On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 8:02:36 AM UTC-6 captaincon...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> All, >>> >>> I was deleting old file from my phone and found the *Original Hunqabook" >>> PDF. I'm not sure if it was shared already, but here you go. >>> >>> On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 12:04:20 PM UTC-6 Cyclofiend Jim wrote: >>> >>>> Yes. My recollection was that Bomba was coming out when it was >>>> "suggested" that those names were IP, so IIRC it was the last of the >>>> Tolkien names. >>>> >>>> Grant shared the Hunkapiller mailbox story with me verbally during a >>>> visit to RBWHQ&L. It was the same as he later wrote in one of the Readers. >>>> >>>> The first Hunqapillar I ever saw came out with grey frame and orange. >>>> I had some images over on my (goodness gracious it's still THERE?) >>>> Flickr feed - >>>> >>>> https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=93409214%40N00&view_all=1&text=hunqapillar >>>> >>>> There were both TTT (Twin Top Tube) and Diagatube frames when I >>>> visited. IIRC, Grant said it was going to be diagatube only in production >>>> - >>>> this image shows an unpainted model - >>>> >>>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/4713714578/in/photolist-8bx281-8btKnk-8btKpk-7NNCR6-cqiLDG-7NVfpo-oiwPmQ-7NVgrq-7NVfuj-7NVgwQ-7NRh2g-7NRhHe-7NRgWB >>>> (taken mid-2010) >>>> >>>> For completeness - here's a tall Bomba with the TTT and that gorgeous >>>> kidney bean red - >>>> >>>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/4207455573/in/photolist-7pNiXt-7pSegm-7pNiYF >>>> >>>> J >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 1:41:43 PM UTC-8 Jay Lonner wrote: >>>> >>>>> This is the story that I’ve heard. And while I do love the name and >>>>> woolly mammoth iconography, it does feel like a missed opportunity when >>>>> Oliphaunt was right there. (But maybe they had already gotten a >>>>> cease-and-desist from the Tolkien estate at that point?) >>>>> >>>>> In any case, it’s great seeing the Hunqapillar get some attention — I >>>>> sure love mine. And I also appreciate the link to John Watson’s build on >>>>> the Radavist. He mentions wanting to track down an 8-speed specific White >>>>> Industries freehub. So here’s where I confess to some gaps in my >>>>> knowledge >>>>> — are current generation rear hubs incompatible with 8-speed cassettes? I >>>>> had assumed that the freehub dimensions were constant, and that the >>>>> cassettes and chains just got narrower with more gears. But evidently >>>>> that’s not the case, presumably leading to a rear wheel with more dish? I >>>>> like my 3x8 setup quite well for the Hunq, and am wondering whether I >>>>> need >>>>> to be on the lookout for spares if there’s no way to retrofit >>>>> contemporary >>>>> components. >>>>> >>>>> Jay Lonner >>>>> >>>> Bellingham, WA >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my Atari 400 >>>>> >>>> >>>>> On Dec 11, 2022, at 11:52 AM, J J <junes...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Re: the mailbox — I believe Grant was on a tour and saw the name >>>>> “Hunkapiller” on a mailbox. Forgot where. He changed the spelling for the >>>>> bike. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 2:17:05 PM UTC-5 eric...@gmail.com >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Ricky — The mailbox thing is new to me, interested to learn more if >>>>>> others have insight. >>>>>> >>>>>> Laing — That is a beauty of a Bombadil and I really appreciate you >>>>>> have the screenshot from when you bought it. That's the kind of receipt >>>>>> I >>>>>> like. Please keep us updated on how it handles with the very wide drops >>>>>> and >>>>>> other changes. Congrats on your traverse of FL on that bike! >>>>>> >>>>>> Brian — Thanks for the info! Definitely appropriate for the thread, >>>>>> I'd say. I'm surprised Sackville is a reference to LOTR, never would >>>>>> have >>>>>> guessed it. I think I'd heard of the rest, but only through reading >>>>>> about >>>>>> Riv over the years. And I was aware of Rivendell Mountain Works as a >>>>>> point >>>>>> of inspiration as well. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, Eliot! I've got two videos in the hopper. Apologies for the >>>>>> erratic upload schedule. I enjoy documenting my projects but I don't >>>>>> want >>>>>> to be a full-time YouTube person. >>>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 12:39:36 PM UTC-5 eliot...@gmail.com >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Eric when are we going to see another YouTube video ? I really >>>>>>> admire your style and have even learned a few tricks from your >>>>>>> excellent >>>>>>> build videos. Sorry for the tangent. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 8:42:59 AM UTC-8 brok...@gmail.com >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Eric, I hope this doesn't derail your thread too much, but I though >>>>>>>> I might try to address your Tolkien question. As I'm sure many of us >>>>>>>> here >>>>>>>> are, I've long been a big Tolkien nerd, but I wouldn't consider myself >>>>>>>> an >>>>>>>> expert... I'd say I'm pretty well-versed, though! >>>>>>>> I know Grant has always maintained that he named Rivendell BW out >>>>>>>> of his appreciation for the old Rivendell Mountain Works catalogs (no >>>>>>>> doubt >>>>>>>> a main inspiration for the Riv Readers and model catalogs / >>>>>>>> brochures). But >>>>>>>> then, he also has taken quite a few liberties with the Tolkien >>>>>>>> property >>>>>>>> names and references. Here's a short list of all the ones I can think >>>>>>>> of, >>>>>>>> but there may be others: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Rivendell: the magical refuge of the Elves in Middle Earth, where >>>>>>>> the Fellowship of the Ring is formed >>>>>>>> Baggins: the surname of our Hobbit heroes, Bilbo and Frodo >>>>>>>> Sackville: a an affluent branch of the Baggins family in the Shire, >>>>>>>> the Sackville-Bagginses >>>>>>>> Bombadil: as in Tom Bombadil, a jovial character who helps the >>>>>>>> Hobbits out of a tight spot along their journey. He may be the oldest >>>>>>>> being >>>>>>>> in Middle Earth. Infamously NOT mentioned in the film adaptations, to >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> dismay of many fans. >>>>>>>> Legolas: a Woodland Elf who was a member of the Fellowship of the >>>>>>>> Ring >>>>>>>> Quickbeam: a young Ent who basically babysat and distracted Hobbits >>>>>>>> Merry and Pippin during the Ent Moot >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Can anyone think of any obvious ones I'm missing here? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 10:50:45 AM UTC-5 E. Ricky Creek >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The Hunqapillar is named after a mailbox in Indiana, but the >>>>>>>>> spelling is different. Also, it might not be Indiana. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 9:31:34 AM UTC-6 Luke Hendrickson >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thank you for starting this thread, Eric. Stoked to learn more >>>>>>>>>> about these two models. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 7:16:08 AM UTC-8 >>>>>>>>>> eric...@gmail.com wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> It seems the Bombadil and Hunqapillar frames are beloved. >>>>>>>>>>> They're stout, beautiful, and sometimes have intricate additional >>>>>>>>>>> tubes and >>>>>>>>>>> lugs. While I've done a lot of reading about Rivendell I was a bit >>>>>>>>>>> unclear >>>>>>>>>>> on the origins and intended uses of these frames. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I wanted to start a thread where we could share and dump info >>>>>>>>>>> about these bikes along with pictures of builds. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Joe and Jim were helpful in laying out a bit of background in >>>>>>>>>>> another >>>>>>>>>>> thread >>>>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/mkxv02ciCM4/m/KqWZOIMQAwAJ>, >>>>>>>>>>> there's >>>>>>>>>>> some great info there. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> The original Hunqapillar catalog is up here: >>>>>>>>>>> http://notfine.com/rivendell/Brochures/Rivendell%20Frames%20Hunqapillar.pdf >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> The first mention I can find of the Bombadil is in RR 41, >>>>>>>>>>> sometime in 2009. Excerpted pages attached. As a few members might >>>>>>>>>>> recall I >>>>>>>>>>> am very into raw frames with brass spilling out of the lugs! I know >>>>>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>>>>> many Bombadil owners have had their frames repainted like Jason >>>>>>>>>>> Fuller, >>>>>>>>>>> whose absolute stunner shows up here from time to time. By the way, >>>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>>> picture below is one of my very favorite Rivendell images. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: Jason Bombadil green.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> There's also the butter-banana Bombadil that recently sold on >>>>>>>>>>> eBay. I believe that one was purchased by John Watson of the >>>>>>>>>>> Radavist (and >>>>>>>>>>> he's got a Hunq) so we might see some nice pics of that bike >>>>>>>>>>> sometime soon. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: s-l1600-2.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> And speaking of, here's John's Hunqapillar, more images and >>>>>>>>>>> write-up here >>>>>>>>>>> <https://theradavist.com/rivendell-hunqapillar-review/>. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: Johns-Rivendell-Hunqapillar-29er-Klunker-76.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Are both of these frame names borrowing from Tolkien? I >>>>>>>>>>> understand RBW had to stop using Tolkien names. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6861950f-d33f-4acc-9c43-64c7def7bec3n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6861950f-d33f-4acc-9c43-64c7def7bec3n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/f12d9969-e993-4646-ae4c-0a4de7bad2bdn%40googlegroups.com.
