David, I have to admit that I've not ridden my wife's Bleriot more than 40 miles around my side 'o town so I don't know how it would feel loaded on a dirt road with a grade. But I will say that the Sam is a capable touring bike, not stiff feeling, and very easy to pedal with load on a grade. I'm not a crusty 3000+ mile tourer but the Sam handles a load with ease and even with its weird (to me) sloping top tube is a very nice ride. I'm comparing this to my '83 Specialized Expedition, which I love dearly, and a myriad of Trek 520s and a 620 I've owned over the years. The Sam is anything but stiff feeling.
Disclaimer: I weigh 168lbs. The SH is the only bike I own that I don't clip into. I happily pedal with my Chacos. If the world as we know it ended, I'd probably load up my Expedition and pedal to my secret hideout. Other than that, I would have no trouble choosing the Sam to go almost anywhere. And my decision may just be based on familiarity and time-in-saddle. Phil AZ On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 3:23 PM, David Estes <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote: > Looks like this is the quote: > "Own both. Built up a 52 cm Hillborne but it turned out to be too long in > the top tube for my wife. Bought and built up a Bleriot and she's now > quite happy. In the mean time I was able to ride the Hillborne a couple of > times on my daily commute and took it for a 3 day dirt road camping tour > this summer. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now it looks like I inherited it, not > that I need another bike. > > Hillborne: Nice relaxed geometry, steady when turtling up steep inclines, > braze-ons for cantis and front/rear racks. My example has some weird lump > beneath the paint on the bottom bracket shell and there's evidence of sloppy > brazing beneath the paint on the seat tube lug. Neither is likely to cause > structural problems but still kind of irritating on a $1000 frame. > > Bleriot: Doesn't quite fit me (too small) but my wife looks "right" on it. > Braze-ons for rear rack only. Nice neutral steering, same comfy feel from > the 650B tires. I've heard of sloppy paint on some but I must've got lucky. > Even though the Bleriot frame has a slightly rising top tube it looks more > conventional compared to the Hillborne's top tube." > > How 'bout the tubing and stiffness vs. liveliness of the two? That was my > only dig at my Bleriot: a bit stiff and too solid feeling. I've read that > Salukis feel a bit lighter, so wondering of the Sam compares. > > Cheers, > DE > > On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 11:29 AM, Phil Roberts <lugsnst...@gmail.com>wrote: > >> I have both. I recently commented, and it'll be in the archives. >> >> Phil Roberts >> Chandler, AZ >> >> On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 7:50 AM, David Estes <cyclotour...@gmail.com>wrote: >> >>> Isn't that custom paint amazing! I hope that's becoming a good seller >>> for RBW as it seems like a great bike. >>> >>> Anyone have any comments as to how it compares to a Bleriot? >>> >>> DE >>> >>> On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 7:32 AM, Mike <mjawn...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Alan at EcoVelo recently got his hands on a Sam Hillborne. He's posted >>>> some beautiful images of it over at his blog. Check them out. >>>> >>>> http://www.ecovelo.info/2009/09/12/more-sam-h-pics/ >>>> >>>> I'm really thinking that the addition of one of these bikes would >>>> round out my quiver nicely. I'd use it as my camping all--rounder >>>> bike. I doubt I'd set it up with those fenders but it sure does dress- >>>> up nicely. >>>> >>>> --mike >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Cheers, >>> David >>> Redlands, CA >>> >>> "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something >>> wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye, >>> scientist guy >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> > > > -- > Cheers, > David > Redlands, CA > > "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something > wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye, > scientist guy > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
