I really do appreciate everyone for sharing their thoughts on this topic. It seems as though most people who have a Sam mostly use it for carrying a bag or two. However, if one desired, it is possible, given the proper wheels and tires, to make this bike a go-fastish bike, though this is probably not the ideal use of a Sam.
Since I already have a narrow tire (25 mm max) bike, I have not need for another bike like that. From what I have read, it seems that a Homer may tend toward the faster end of the spectrum, while a Sam is more on the slower/load carrying end of the spectrum. The San Marcos would be the budget choice that fits between the Homer and the Sam - with the faster feel of a Homer while a bit less load carrying ability than the Sam. Does the Bleriot fit closer to a Sam or closer to a San Marcos? I like the single top tube of the Bleriot, but did the Bleriot only come in 650B wheel size? Since I can put together nearly an entire ready-to-ride bike (Sam or San Marcos) for the price of a custom frame alone, it seems like one of those bikes may be the budget conscious choice for me. The other option, of course, is to jump on a great deal on a used bike. Truth be told, if there was cash on hand, that probably would already have been done! This is where I really appreciate the layaway option that Rivendell is currently providing. That plan makes it a bit easier to obtain a new frame from Riv World Headquarters. Sean On Tuesday, March 27, 2012 1:29:53 PM UTC-4, danmc wrote: > > I had a 56 Sam STT and for me it was definitely more of a country > bike than a go fast-ish bike. Started with roly-polys and Noodles but > the tires just felt too narrow. Switched to Marathons then threw in > the towel. I ended up getting a Ram as the go fast-ish and saving the > pennies for the AHH as a country bike. > > The San Marcos seems like a good option. It is not a touring bike but > can take racks and carry a small-ish load. Designed for 32-35mm tires. > Lighter tubing than the Sam or AHH so will probably feel more > responsive. > > Good luck in the search. > > Dan > > > > > > On Mar 25, 4:13 pm, SeanMac <seanm...@gmail.com> wrote: > > I'm considering pulling the trigger on one of the new blue Sam > > Hillborne's. They look like really wonderful bikes. Strong, versatile, > > attractive are words that come to mind when I think about this bike. > These > > are qualities that I find attractive. However, I also like to go > fastish. > > Can I do this with a Sam as well? > > > > I'm pushing 45 years old. A few years ago I had a custom made go-fast > bike > > built for me. That bike goes fast, but is limited in what it can do. I > > also have a Trek 520 Touring bike. This bike, obviously, is built for > > touring. Its not very fast, nor very lively. In short, my Trek isn't > much > > fun to ride. I'm looking for a bike to fit in between these two bikes > -- > > one that will be able to carry a few bags and ride on stone dust bike > paths > > (such as the Erie Canal path), but one that will not feel sluggish to > ride > > (like my Trek). > > > > Most of the time, when I see photos of Sams, the bikes seem to be set up > to > > be workhorses -- carrying a collection of bags and racks. I want to be > > able to do this with a bike (thus the attraction to the bike in the > first > > place). However, I would like to use noodle bars and go on fast-ish > club > > and recreational rides as well. In fact, the vast majority of rides > will > > be 20 - 30 mile "out for fun and exercise" rides. Is the Sam well > suited > > to this as well, or will it likely feel more like my Trek 520? Most > likely > > I would set up a Sam with Noodle bars and tires such as Roly-Poly or > Jack > > Browns. > > > > I'm also considering having a custom built randonneur bike -- one that > will > > be able to carry some load but also feel quick and lively to ride. > > However, if the Sam will meet my needs, it certainly would be a less > > expensive alternative. I don't think that my body has any proportions > that > > would make me difficult to fit (5ft, 11 inches tall, PBH 87.5, arm > length > > 35 inches) so I don't think that I *need* to go custom (though it sure > is > > fun to do so!). > > > > Any thoughts on whether a Sam would be a good choice would be > appreciated. > > > > Sean -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/cBGXLbz25_kJ. 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.
