Bikeradar gallery

First ride: Rivendell Bombadil

The Rivendell-designed MKS GripKing pedal, ideal for stability and riding with a heavy load.

  • The lugged steel Rivendell Bombadil 650B mountain bike, suitable for loaded bike camping.
  • The Bombadil 650B camping bike, loaded and resting at the ranger station midway up Mt Diablo.
  • Named after Tom Bombadil, a character from J.R.R. Tolkien's
  • The investment cast fork crown has curly Qs for looks, strength, with braze-ons for rack fittings galore.
  • Check out the lugged gusset under the down tube.
  • Yep, that there's a kickstand, mounted to a stock kickstand plate, standard on all Rivendells. How else do you keep your bike upright?
  • The Rivendell-designed MKS GripKing pedal, ideal for stability and riding with a heavy load.
  • Kinda reminds you of Jimmy Page's double-neck Gibson guitar from the Led Zeppelin days, eh?
  • New brake levers from Tektro, designed with a finger-friendly, spoon-like paddle.
  • Top-mount brake lever interrupters make using drop bars on a mountain bike all the easier.
  • Pacenti Quasi-Moto 650B knobbies.
  • The Bombadil head badge.
  • Tearing down camp and loading up the bikes for the descent back to town.
  • Bike camping made easy on Mt Diablo.
  • The author in full descent mode on the Bombadil.

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The Rivendell-designed MKS GripKing pedal, ideal for stability and riding with a heavy load.

© Gary Boulanger