Great insight. Would be great to see a pic of the Sam. Maybe the Appaloosa will be your go-to and you can sell it to me, lol! Half kidding, but always like to see a well loved Sam if you have pics to post. Thanks!
On Friday, October 31, 2025 at 10:56:29 AM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: > FWIW, I'm in a similar position and own a Sam and it's an amazing bike: I > live in Chicago, most of my miles are commuting, limestone paths, streets > and roads. I have a Hillborne and it is dreamy for all that, plus loaded > rides on paved/good condition gravel roads. I'd describe the ride as super > comfortable, stable, agile, responsive but not at all twitchy. From what > you describe you do and aspire to do, it seems pretty ideal. It's really a > wonderful bike that's so versatile. > > Having converted a vintage Rockhopper to be rivish in the past, there is > just no comparison to the Sam. The Sam is so much livelier, more > comfortable, beautiful, stable, and fun. That Rockhopper was a lot of fun > and inexpensive, but to me, they are totally different rides. > > Re chainstays: They're long by standards of most contemporary bikes, just > not quite as long as an Atlantis or some other Rivs. Some folks on the list > find that relative shortness to be an advantage, as it makes the bike more > maneuverable both on an off trail. If you find yourself lifting your bike > up stairs, onto trains, into elevators, you might appreciate the shorter > wheelbase, too. I know I've been in some situations where I thought: good > gravy this is a big bike (57 Sam from 2021); thank goodness I don't have > one of the longer models! > > All that said, I'm lusty for an Appaloosa, because I'm planning on some > long distance dirt touring where I want big chunky tires, and a different > setup than my Sam. But if that wasn't in the works, I wouldn't feel the > need for any other bike. > > On Friday, October 31, 2025 at 9:24:37 AM UTC-5 Mike in BK wrote: > >> Hi gang. I'm itching for my first Riv and decision time is upon me. In >> Brooklyn I'm rather relegated to paved rides, usually laps in the park. I >> was never fast, but now I'm rather slow. I don't have a computer on my bike >> and can't remember the last time I did. I'm tired of clipless pedals and >> lycra shorts. I want to indulge in "the art of taking it slow" and have a >> bike that expands on that magic sensation I feel when I ride my 1981 Trek >> 710 with 531 tubing and longer chainstays. Bigger tires for starters and >> Grant's progressive designs. I built a '93 Rockhopper with Toscos, a B17, >> and 2.2 tires for riding upstate and it's fun! That frame's position >> doesn't really work for longer rides and getting distance covered at a >> reasonable rate. I had the idea that I would go down to just one bike and >> pick my perfect do-it-all Riv. I don't think that's very realistic, so >> maybe the Trek will always have a use for strictly road rides. That leaves >> commuting, leisurely rides, and some gravel and trail riding when I can get >> to it. Hillborne you say? Not a bad idea, but I don't hear the same glowing >> reviews of "Cadillac" type ride, and supreme comfort like I do when folks >> write about Appaloosas, Platypi, and Charlie Gallops. Slack headtube; long >> chainstays; I'm buying in. The geo for the 61cm Charlie resembles the 57cm >> Appaloosa more than anything else. (I noticed the headtube of the Joe went >> from 72 degrees to 70 degrees not too long ago, maybe that started with the >> Sergio green run). I don't think the Charlie would be ideal for trails >> under my 200 lbs, so I'm getting interested in the Joe. Antonio at RBW >> advised me that the Joe might be too long and heavy for my needs and >> recommended the Sam. I'm not sure if I'm jazzed about the Sam the same way, >> and no less important for such an investment, the lime olive Joe coming up >> is a way preferable color to the offerings of the Hillbornes pre-selling >> next week. I'd buy a used olive Hillborne (57cm) but no one ever sells >> their Riv! Any feedback from folks riding recent issue Appaloosas and >> Hillbornes would be very welcome. Thanks! > > -- 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 [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5f01a9b1-faf9-4657-b3c5-cb1906c2143bn%40googlegroups.com.
