FS: Bombadil Protovelo

[erik jensen]

I'm selling a piece of Rivendell history as I refine my footprint into a sailboat. Only one bike can stay, and this one cannot be easily S&S'd or it would.

Mark Nobilette Made.

60cm ish upsloper, fits me like a glove. 93 is my PBH. All my other riv bikes have been 62 to 66cm. Second top tube is beautifully fillet brazed. I liked the improved standover compared to my 62cm Hunqapillar. The bike has a slightly higher bottom bracket though and a slightly shorter set of chainstays than the eventual production Bombadil - I like how nimble it felt by comparison. Way shreddier than my old Toyo Hunqapillar, it carves turns - after I got this bike the hunqapillar was sold. Best bike I have ever owned, to be certain.

It's built for resilience and singletrack adventuring. Before I rebuilt it from the repainted frame, a raw clearcoated it rolled down the continental divide with Daniel from Tumbleweed Bikes. Some scratches, but cared for in my travels with it and riding like new. I can equip it with Albatross or Raw Bullmoose bars. Right now it has albatross bars. Paul Cantis, Paul Levers, Paul Thumbies. 3 Bottle Cages. Hands on wheels, shimano hubs, heavy rims (I think cliffhangers) front and rear. Will include a set of knobbies. Also happy to include a porteur rack up front if you want it.

This bike has ridden me through many a mile of twisting californian backcountry, and has thousands of miles to go.

In the words of my friend Adam, "If one top tube breaks, just keep riding!"

It will be missed.

How does 2000 sound? It's stacked with the best equipment. I hear people on land around here pay twice that for rent every month. Ride away and get lost for the next decade. I will owner finance it to the right dirtbag, I just need to remotely know you through a friend.

For now, local pickup preferred. Will consider shipping, so perhaps write me direct to get in line. I'd prefer to sell to someone on the list, who understands how special this bike is and wants to continue it rolling into the sunset. More photos and details upon request. After a week or so it'll go to craigslist where I imagine she'll disappear quickly.

And, finally, I miss this community. Cosmic country is on the verge of rebirth. I needed to recalibrate and live my travels without a camera but I know what I want to show next.

Thanks,

Erik

--

oakland, ca
bikenoir.blogspot.com

[Joe Bernard]

That is a fine fine bicycle, my friend. My Holy Grail Riv is a Bombadil, but I'm way too short for this one. Yes, 2000 is a good price. Step up, somebody!

[Dave Grossman]

Dang man.  Would love to throw a leg over that beast.  

What did you dig about it more than the Hunq? 

[chris feczko]

Wow the photo's on the blog are incredible!

Beautiful bike too.

Chris

Sunnyside, NY

[Reid Echols]

Sent you a PM, but this is pretty much a perfect bike. What’s the clearance do you reckon?

[Philip Williamson]

I love that bike. It's my size, too. And a fantastic price. 

Looking forward to seeing the Cosmic Country rebirth, and good luck on your live-aboard life! 

Philip

Santa Rosa, CA 

[WilletM]

Happy to report that Erik's (and Daniel's before him) Proto-Bombadil is back on the road after six months of accumulating parts and building/rebuilding to suit my personal tastes.  It is now mostly an asphalt cruiser and grocery getter in Carbondale, CO.  As you can probably tell from the saddle height, there's not a whole lot of standover clearance for my short legs, but my long torso does appreciate the the lengthy top tube, er, I mean, tubes!

As this is my first Rivendell, I struggled a bit with component choices.  I do have quite a few other bikes with fairly high-end builds, so my inclination was to bling it up a bit, which I did with the shiny Phil/Son28 hubs, Edelux ii light, Paul Neo-Retro brakes, Alpe d'Huez saddle, and swept-back titanium handlebars.  But I also kept the Nitto seatpost from Erik, and went with a dependable Shimano XT 3x10 drivetrain.  Overall, I'm quite happy with how it turned out, especially that I was able to adapt the Surly 24-pack rack to fit the existing braze-ons and still clear the Paul brakes.

Since I've always coveted the raw clearcoat editions of the Protovelo (and since I believe that's how this frame started out, according to Erik's posting), I likely will send this in some years down the road for an alignment and clear powdercoat.  But for now, the "survivor" paint job is just fine for me in this dry climate, though I will try to order up some replacement decals and touch-up paint if such things are still available from Rivendell or elsewhere.

Willet M.

[greenteadrinkers]

Wow, if that was my size, don't think I'd hesitant on it, that's a freaking steal at 2k.

[Jim M.]

On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 9:02:30 AM UTC-7, WilletM wrote:

Since I've always coveted the raw clearcoat editions of the Protovelo 

Here's my proto, with current paint and with original clear coat. Clear coat is definitely cool but doesn't last like paint, and doesn't protect like paint. Rust was developing under the clear coat when I finally painted it. Not to say you shouldn't do it, but prepare for repeated clear coatings over the life of the bike.

Happy trails!

jim m

walnut creek

  

[WilletM]

It was an even better deal for me because I ended up the winning bidder on ebay for frame/fork/hs/seatpost, which is what allowed me to build it up with the decidedly un-Rivendellian build kit.  Altogether, with the auction price and the various new and used parts that I selected for the project, it's probably in the $2000-2500 range out of pocket as it sits.  It is definitely one of my Grail bikes, and you are very unlikely to see it for sale again until sometime down the road after a respectful period of mourning following my funeral.

Willet M.

[WilletM]

Thanks, Jim, for the info and the terrific pics.  You must have a lot more weather and/or salty air where you live than I do (or maybe you just actually get out and ride more?).  Here in the Aspen area of Colorado, I have a Surly Krampus that's been stripped of paint (and frame saver-ed but no clear coat) and it has a nice patina on it but no rust.  I don't ride it all that much in slop, but it is my late-fall-early-spring ice and slush bike, so it doesn't see all that many dry and sunny afternoons either.  I will keep your pic in mind, though, if I do decide to explore a raw finish down the line.

Willet M.