Hi Zac, Thanks for the input. I think I'd be one size up from your bike, though I'm not 100% sure, so yes that would great if it ever works out.
On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 1:43:08 PM UTC-7 Zac wrote: > Hi Dave, > > I ride a Homer, which is very close in geometry to a Sam. I grew up in > Nevada City and when I'm back visiting, I like to ride loops that mix road > and gravel, which are very much in its wheelhouse. Pioneer Trail, NID > trails, old forest service roads would all be a joy with a Sam. If loaded > bikepacking and touring, or rocky, chunky, rooty trails are your aims, that > might tip things more in favor of the Appa, but I've never ridden one. > > You're close enough that you should consider making an appointment at Riv > HQ to test ride some different bikes. It's fun, and everyone there are > knowledgeable and super nice people. Next time I'm up in NC, you're welcome > to try my Homer if you fit on a 51. > > -Zac > On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 10:21:20 AM UTC-7 Dave White wrote: > >> As soon as I saw the picture I was thinking I know that place. I've seen >> you ride by my house a few times (I live in downtown NC), I've been hoping >> to catch you and ask about your bike (couldn't tell the model). Thanks for >> the info, I'll say I hi if I see you. >> Thanks, >> Dave >> >> On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 10:16:52 AM UTC-7 [email protected] >> wrote: >> >>> Hi Dave, >>> >>> I can't speak to the Atlantis/Appaloosa, but I've ridden my Sam on some >>> of the trails around Nevada City and it does really well, especially along >>> the canals. I have the smaller frame with the 650b wheels and a 47 mm tire >>> and it's quite a nimble bike. As long as the terrain doesn't get too bumpy, >>> I'd take it on most singletrack. >>> [image: PXL_20260330_181144159.jpg] >>> >>> On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 7:09:28 AM UTC-7 [email protected] >>> wrote: >>> >>>> i have a caliper sam, so no. the fender is flush against the (tektro >>>> R559) brake body. >>>> >>>> on a canti post sam, i’m sure you can go bigger. >>>> >>>> my friend is running sks fenders and the new 45mm ultradynamico rose. >>>> looks beast. >>>> >>>> On Apr 30, 2026, at 6:42 AM, 'Dave White' via RBW Owners Bunch < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks for all the replies, very useful. >>>> >>>> Brent, Do you think you could go wider on the tires with a flatter >>>> fender like the Honzos? >>>> https://analogcycles.com/products/honjo-by-simworks-fender-h-95-flat-wide-700c-29in-width-65mm >>>> >>>> On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6:35:47 AM UTC-7 Brent Eastman wrote: >>>> >>>>> i have done a ton of wheel/tire/fender combos. >>>>> >>>>> the biggest i can do on my bike is 42mm with fenders (42 cava, 42 >>>>> hurricane ridge, 40 wtb raddler) with no fenders i’ve gone as big as 50mm >>>>> (soma cazadero) also liked the 47mm terevail rutland. i’ve used velo >>>>> orange >>>>> smooth 55 and zeppelin 52 fenders. both work great. >>>>> >>>>> On Apr 30, 2026, at 5:47 AM, Steve <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Dave, I can't speak directly to the Appaloosa, but I do ride a >>>>> Hillborne and a Platypus and have taken both on trails. Regarding long >>>>> chain stays (my 2022 Platy's measure 505 mm vs the "25 Sam's at 455) -- >>>>> yes, the long stays do make the ride a bit smoother over rough surfaces. >>>>> The trade off is those longer chain stays combined with the Platy's >>>>> slacker >>>>> 69* head tube angle conspire to make it less nimble in tight, twisty >>>>> situations, compared to the Sam. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> For context, I live in the Appalachians where trail riding - >>>>> especially on a rigid bike - typically means dodging roots and rocks and >>>>> negotiating tight switchbacks. Having said that, most of my riding is on >>>>> National Forest fire roads and double track logging roads. Both bikes >>>>> perform nicely in those settings, but if I'm planning to ride single >>>>> track >>>>> trails I'll grab the Hillborne (or more likely my Ritchey Outback with >>>>> 48mm >>>>> knobbies) >>>>> >>>>> Steve in AVL >>>>> On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 1:51:47 AM UTC-4 Brent Eastman wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> sam is awesome on trails. >>>>>> On Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 11:55:51 AM UTC-7 [email protected] >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Dave, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I ride a romanceur with drops, an appaloosa with drops and an >>>>>>> atlantis with flat bars. I have not ridden a Sam. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Romanceur works fine on singletrack with both 650b with 2.1 tires >>>>>>> (before) and 700c with 38mm tires (currently). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Appaloosa is on 48mm knobbies. It does feel a little more smooth and >>>>>>> stable on the same singletrack, but the romanceur is still fun to ride. >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> guess I feel a little less "confident" on the romanceur but not to the >>>>>>> point where I don't ride those trails. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The atlantis (2005 or so) has 38mm knobbies on front and 38mm file >>>>>>> tread on back with 800mm mtb handlebars. Does the same single track and >>>>>>> feels great. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The sub 40mm tires bury in the sand sometimes. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> But all three bikes can do smooth single track and pick through >>>>>>> rocks. Caveat: I mostly ride in ft ord which is smooth packed sand with >>>>>>> very few roots or rock gardens. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Point is, any of these bikes work fine and you would get used to any >>>>>>> of them. Maybe just think about what riding you're doing most of the >>>>>>> ride >>>>>>> and most of the time. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And a mtb would work better on single track than any of these, if >>>>>>> you're really keen on trails!!! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> - gabe >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my BlackBerry, the smartphone with the little keyboard and >>>>>>> a big heart. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 10:36 'Dave White' via RBW Owners Bunch < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I would love to hear from people who have ridden fairly recent >>>>>>>> versions of both the Sam and Appaloosa/Atlantis on trails (lumping >>>>>>>> those >>>>>>>> together because they seem interchangeable). Besides the difference in >>>>>>>> tire >>>>>>>> clearance, how much more trail worthy is the Appaloosa than the Sam? I >>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>> to say I like the appearance of the shorter chain-stays on the Sam >>>>>>>> better. >>>>>>>> But do the long stays of the Appaloosa make the ride that much >>>>>>>> smoother? >>>>>>>> The slightly slacker head angle seems like it might matter even more >>>>>>>> than >>>>>>>> the rear of the bike. I find myself changing my mind every other day >>>>>>>> as to >>>>>>>> which of these I should pursue, so any info would be appreciated. >>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>> Dave White >>>>>>>> Nevada City, CA >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> 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/8ca37d3d-5772-46c7-b8f2-a3e99c9f4519n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/8ca37d3d-5772-46c7-b8f2-a3e99c9f4519n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/LJ5MLmD4kDs/unsubscribe >>>>> . >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eadb0300-7a60-4b75-9e94-9b0d17d0a5b8n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eadb0300-7a60-4b75-9e94-9b0d17d0a5b8n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/LJ5MLmD4kDs/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> >>>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eb513cd2-3e2d-44e4-979e-f17e757ee115n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eb513cd2-3e2d-44e4-979e-f17e757ee115n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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