I'd say the Hilsen is pretty close to that bike for me, though I mainly use it on roads. (I'm tempted to add a Hillborne, but wish they would bump the clearance a little bit--right now, save the brakes, it's almost exactly the same as the AHH.) In the non-Riv family, the Crust Bombora is hard to beat, esp with 2 wheelsets: 48 slicks for the roads, 2.2s for trails.
On Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 5:23:25 PM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: > Sam Hillborne is that bike. I had it as my only bike for three years. I > only built a Roadini because I had an extra cockpit, extra wheelset, and > found a frameset in my preferred color with brakes for $1100. > > On Mar 12, 2025, at 2:14 PM, Nicolas H <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Lately I've actually been really intrigued by this idea of doing less with > more, which I guess is what we consider underbiking. I guess the idea of > having the "perfect" bike seems both naive and a little un-attractive for > some reason. Maybe others can chime on this indescribable feeling I'm > trying to articulate. On the other hand, I might just be trying to talk > myself out of buying an Atlantis. > > Thanks, > Nic > > > On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM John Bokman <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Ahh...the One bike to rule them all. I've tried for years! My Sam can >> indeed fulfill pretty much all the riding I'm likely to do. This means city >> riding (commute and recreation), touring, and off-pavement riding that >> isn't gnarly (anything requiring more than the 43mm Bruce Gordon Rock n' >> Road tires I use for off-roading). BUT: my limitation is fenderability. >> Here in Western Oregon, I like fenders, most of the year. My Sam won't >> accept 43mm tires with fenders...And I don't want to commute nor tour >> without them. Thus, my thoughts of a second bike. If I lived in Riv's >> locale, I think I could pretty much do it all on Sam. But, I don't. I'm >> surprised you aren't be-fendered in your neck of the woods. Must be drier >> up there than I thought. Or your tolerance for slop is greater than mine. >> Either way, good on you, Jay. >> >> John >> Oregon >> >> On Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 6:48:26 PM UTC-8 Jay wrote: >> >>> Lot's of great info shared - thank you! >>> >>> My takeaway so far is that the nature of "unpaved" varies and that my >>> Roadini, in comparison to my Fargo, will win some, and lose some. >>> >>> As an example, I've been riding my Fargo throughout the winter, mainly >>> with 2.2" tubeless gravel tires on paved roads. Some of these roads have >>> had work done in the past 6 months and the paving is awful. The Roadini is >>> so much smoother over these roads (Roadini with 43 GKSS, tubed). The frame >>> flex is noticeable, in a really good way. >>> >>> My local mixed-surface trails, which are mainly crushed limestone, with >>> technical sections, is where I'm hoping the Roadini will do well. I've >>> only taken the Fargo on these trails because that's why I bought the bike >>> in the first place. It does awesome on the trails, and I'm moving around a >>> lot on the bike, so the bike has fine been fine. But on long road rides in >>> the winter, not so good. >>> >>> I still dream of the Roadini being the one bike to rule them all (my >>> *them*), and having like 4 wheel sets! figured I could have my two >>> existing wheels: 43mm GKSS for most road rides, which includes doses of >>> trails; 30mm fast rubber on dura-ace wheels for road rides with friends; >>> and then I would add, knobbies for trail rides, and a set of winter studded >>> tires. I would be reluctant to ride her much in winter due to the salty >>> roads (even though I clean my Fargo after every ride), plus the rim brakes. >>> >>> On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 5:53:20 PM UTC-5 [email protected] wrote: >>> >>>> TRAIL: >>>> Honestly the biggest factor has been cockpit. You are correct the geo >>>> is almost identical. I’ve never made a 1:1 comparison between my two bikes >>>> with same cockpit, but the drop bars I had on Sam are now on Leo. When I >>>> had only one bike, it was Sam, and I would switch from drops to other bars >>>> too often, and thus decided to get a second bike. On technical trails with >>>> drop bars the Sam felt great, until descents get steep, then it’s sketchy. >>>> Now that it has Billie bars (I've also used Simworks getaround and ahearne >>>> MAP) those same descents are fun. The geometry of both bikes can handle >>>> trail riding if you are skilled and comfortable with that stuff. Biggest >>>> impact to the trail riding experience will be cockpit and wheel/tire >>>> choice. Also if you weigh 175lbs or more and only want one of these two >>>> bikes, I’d say Sam all day. Roadini flexes a lot for me. I don’t think I >>>> knew what flex was until pushing myself and my Roadini. >>>> >>>> ROAD: >>>> I don’t have any carbon or aluminum road bike experience to compare to. >>>> Compared to 80s-90s steel road bikes with 25mm tires, both Sam and Leo are >>>> Cadillacs. Super comfy. Road manners are most affected by tires and >>>> cockpit. I’ve done centuries on both and they rule. Again I would stress >>>> that since the geo is the same, I’d consider the Roadini if you have a >>>> slimmer build, and if you’re closer to 200lbs I’d go Sam all day. The >>>> “road >>>> performance” of Roadini was negligible in comparison. I consider my >>>> Roadini >>>> 'faster' only because it has drops, lighter wheels, smoother tires, no >>>> racks, minimal baggage, just less weight overall. Never weighed either >>>> bike. >>>> >>>> OBVIOUS: >>>> The trails that felt sketchy on my Sam w/drop bars do not get ridden by >>>> me on the Roadini, at all. Yes the Roadini is way more trail capable than >>>> most dedicated road bikes, because the geo is chill and the tires (on >>>> mine) >>>> are fat (42 Cavas). The bike does have limits, though, and I don't need to >>>> push those limits because I have a Hillborne. Despite the matching >>>> geometry >>>> I would hastily rate the Sam [60/40 Road/Trail] and the Leo [80/20 >>>> Road/Trail] >>>> On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 2:22:13 PM UTC-8 [email protected] wrote: >>>> >>>>> Interesting thread. I own a 57 Sam set up with drop bars / 42mm gravel >>>>> kings. I had the opportunity to build a lugged 54 roadini, I’m luckily on >>>>> the cusp of both sizes. What persuaded me to follow through despite the >>>>> quite obvious similarities, was the ability to size down. Looking forward >>>>> to a more road build. Will report back once I have some riding done, >>>>> super >>>>> stoked. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Franco Rinaldi >>>>> c: 646.403.0661 <(646)%20403-0661> >>>>> >>>>> -Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message- >>>>> >>>>> On Mar 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM, John Bokman <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I have more or less the same questions as Mike in BK. I ride a 2017 >>>>> 58cm Sam, and the equivalent sized Roadini (a 57cm as it happens) has >>>>> almost identical numbers. The number I'm most interested in would be the >>>>> front center. But they don't list those stats anymore in the geo charts? >>>>> From email exchange with Will, the two frames will ride very similarly. I >>>>> wouldn't be surprised if the tubing is indeed slightly different - or not >>>>> - >>>>> but I'm not sure if I'd notice it. What I would notice, however, is the >>>>> front center measurement; Ideally I would want more than I currently get >>>>> with my Sam (61.8cm, according to Bike Insights). >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> John >>>>> Oregon >>>>> >>>>> On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 8:17:38 AM UTC-8 Mike in BK wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Brenton, >>>>>> >>>>>> If you have a 57 Roadini and a 57 Sam from a recent MIT generation, >>>>>> their geos looks very similar (like, very). With the Sam being more >>>>>> stout >>>>>> and a little longer, how would you compare the rides? Interested in the >>>>>> feel on the road and capabilities on non-paved roads (which you've >>>>>> already >>>>>> described a bit here). >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks! >>>>>> Mike >>>>>> >>>>>> On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 11:39:25 AM UTC-5 >>>>>> [email protected] wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I ride my Roadini all over. I'm on a 57 as well. 6'1" and 185lbs. I >>>>>>> have 32H dyad hoops. Only used Ultradynamico Cava 42s on it so far. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I have thrown the rear wheel out of true after getting "air" off >>>>>>> some roots on familiar trails. That's about as crazy as I get, and I've >>>>>>> learned not to beat on it the way I can do with my Sam. Sam has 36 hole >>>>>>> Atlas wheels. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 6:10:35 AM UTC-8 [email protected] >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Looking forward to answers to this. I have a Hilsen set up for road >>>>>>>> riding, with slicks and a dark-boston-winter-inspired dynamo, and I >>>>>>>> love it >>>>>>>> -- it's fast and so comfortable -- and have no plans to make any big >>>>>>>> changes. >>>>>>>> (Except maybe to Paul brakes -- big for the wallet.) >>>>>>>> Thinking of getting a Roadini or an Atlantis next, for trail riding >>>>>>>> but also, sometimes, commuting. On first glance, it seems like the >>>>>>>> Atlantis >>>>>>>> would be the smart choice, but I like the geo of the roadini better, >>>>>>>> like >>>>>>>> that it's a little lighter, like that the lugged version seems more >>>>>>>> rack >>>>>>>> friendly, and I'm just not convinced that a somewhat experienced (def >>>>>>>> not >>>>>>>> expert) rider needs anything bigger than a 43/45 tired unless he/she >>>>>>>> is >>>>>>>> hitting mountain trails. (For which a mountain bike will always be >>>>>>>> better.) >>>>>>>> I have a crust bombora, which I would gift to my son, and on all kinds >>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>> trails I've never felt any ride-feel difference between a 42 tire and >>>>>>>> a 50. >>>>>>>> So curious about others' experiences. >>>>>>>> Jay, thanks for asking this questions, and as far as tire advice, I >>>>>>>> really love the soma cazaderos for what you're describing. >>>>>>>> Cheers! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:50:23 AM UTC-5 Jay wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have the 2023 Roadini, size 57. I LOVE the bike and how it >>>>>>>>> feels, every time I get on it after a long break (riding another bike >>>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>>> snowy/salty roads) I'm reminded of just how good it fits, handles, >>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>> feels. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I'm thinking of adding a third wheel set, for mainly unpaved >>>>>>>>> riding (more below). *I'm curious as to your experience with >>>>>>>>> this bike on gravel roads, trails, etc.* I realize bike configs >>>>>>>>> will differ, as to the specific riding conditions, but to me this is >>>>>>>>> not a >>>>>>>>> road bike like the ones I've had previously, so I want to push the >>>>>>>>> envelope >>>>>>>>> and see what terrain I can ride, somewhat comfortably. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> *Recap*: Bought it a year ago and had two wheel sets from the >>>>>>>>> start, one with Dura-Ace wheels I already had, and 30mm tires for >>>>>>>>> road >>>>>>>>> rides with a friend, who is faster than me (me and the bike can keep >>>>>>>>> up! so >>>>>>>>> it has replaced my road bike); the other with new 105 hubs and H plus >>>>>>>>> son >>>>>>>>> archetype rims with 43mm GKSS tires for every other ride, which >>>>>>>>> includes >>>>>>>>> rail trails, short sections of gravel paths connecting roads, and >>>>>>>>> 100% >>>>>>>>> paved rides when on my own (I like the added comfort and versatility >>>>>>>>> over >>>>>>>>> the 30mm tires). Swapping wheels is so easy, pop the quick release >>>>>>>>> on the >>>>>>>>> TRP levers and on the other one on the brake callipers, swap wheels, >>>>>>>>> barrel >>>>>>>>> adjuster on the calliper to adjust pads to rim, done. I'm always >>>>>>>>> playing >>>>>>>>> records when messing around with the bike, and this is a "one song" >>>>>>>>> adjustment lol >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If I was to add a third wheel set, I think I would want go >>>>>>>>> tubeless, with supple 43-45mm tires with an aggressive tread. I want >>>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>>> maximize comfort and also have a tire that can corner on loose >>>>>>>>> gravel, and >>>>>>>>> ride comfortably over choppy gravel roads (on longer mixed surface >>>>>>>>> rides). >>>>>>>>> The 43mm GKSS tires are great, and I run that at 30psi if mixed >>>>>>>>> surface, >>>>>>>>> but they lack comfort on chunky terrain and don't handle my twisty >>>>>>>>> gravel >>>>>>>>> trails very well (where as my Salsa Fargo with 2.2" tubeless tires, >>>>>>>>> smooth >>>>>>>>> centre / knobby corners, is great). >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Looking for your input about this bike's capability >>>>>>>>> unpaved/off-road, our experience, and recommendations for TLR rims, >>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>> tires as described above. 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