[RBW] Re: New Sam Hillborne sizing advice

[Ryan Bolesta]

Hi David,

I am 6'1 with a 91cm PBH and ride a 60cm Sam from the most recent batch 
from 2022.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the size, but can't help but think about how 
I'd feel in the 57cm. I've never felt "uncomfortable" on the bike, it's 
definitely the comfiest bike I've ever owned, but it does feel a little bit 
too big at times.

The two handlebar configurations I've had:

*Albatross with a 100mm stem:* This felt really good with my hands on the 
grips, but I always felt way too stretched out when using the hooks on the 
front of the bar. I probably could have swapped to a shorter stem if I was 
still using this configuration.

*Nitto M137 (Drop Bar) with a 60mm stem*: This is my current setup, and 
while it isn't bad, it isn't the most ideal either. I switched to drops as 
I started doing more off-road descents in the area and wanted more hand 
positions with access to the brake levers. I find it uncomfortable when 
having my hands in the drops or hoods for any extended period of time. I'm 
typically resting my hands right before the hoods (the "ramps" or "corners" 
is maybe what this means in drop-bar speak) or on the tops next to the 
stem.  I've also done a little bit of finagling to shift the hoods closer 
to my hands at the expense of having the brake levers a bit further away 
from my hands when in the drops.

I don't think either setup was bad, just not ideal. The drop bar setup I 
currently have has been used on several loaded bikepacking trips, and 
countless 20-60 mile gravel rides in Colorado with huge elevation changes, 
and I've never once felt like I was in significant pain from the bike 
(other than my Brooks B17, which I feel hopeless in breaking it in), which 
makes me think that I can fix some of these issues with minor adjustments 
or a different drop bar. 

I can't offer any perspectives on the 57cm Sam, since I've never ridden 
one. Also, the two bars I've ran are not as swept back as other Riv 
offerings. I think there are plenty of bar/stem combos I've yet to try 
which would be perfect for my frame size. Overall I love the bike, and love 
the versatility. I originally built the bike to be my commuter and 
all-rounder, and have since transitioned it into a more-than-capable gravel 
bike (that I tend to underbike into some chunkier singletrack by accident 
at times) with a simple bar swap and adding wider knobbier tires. 

When you rode the 61.5 Homer with the Billie bars, did you try other hand 
positions than the grips?

Hope this helps!

Ryan
Boulder, CO



On Monday, May 6, 2024 at 12:06:45 AM UTC-6 David B wrote:

> Hey all, first time posting here. I'm planning on grabbing a Sam Hillborne 
> frameset when they go on sale this month. It'll be my first Rivendell. I 
> decided on the Hillborne as a replacement for my 56cm Cross Check, which 
> has never been comfortable for me. The short headtube puts the bars too far 
> below my saddle.
>
> I have a pair of Billie bars I'd like to put on the Hillborne for daily 
> commuting, grocery getting, and some light off road riding. I'd also like 
> to have the option to use drop bars at some point down the line.
>
> I went to the Rivendell shop a few weeks ago to test ride a few bikes and 
> get sized. I'm 6' with a 92 PBH (long legs, short torso), and based on the 
> Sam geo chart, my PBH puts me firmly in the size 60 Sam range. They didn't 
> have a 60 Hillborne around, so I instead rode a 57 Sam and a couple of 61.5 
> Homers with different cockpit setups. 
>
>- The 57 Sam was set up with wide, swept back bars (Ron's Ortho bars) 
>and was comfortable. We did have to raise the seatpost up pretty high to 
>get the saddle in a good position.
>- The first 61.5 Homer was set up with Billie bars and was also 
>comfortable. The saddle was pretty close to the top tube, however - there 
>was maybe a little less than a fistful of seatpost showing.
>- The second 61.5 Homer with drops made me feel a little stretched 
>out. The saddle was raised up higher than ideal for my height, but the 
> bike 
>belonged to a staff member who wasn't around that day, and so we didn't 
>adjust the saddle position. Part of me thinks it might have worked with a 
>lower saddle, shorter stem, and higher bars, but I'm not totally sure.
>
> I left feeling like a 60 Sam would work for me, but I'm now second 
> guessing whether it makes more sense to go down to the 57 for a shorter top 
> tube length. However, the size 57 Sam has a suggested PBH range of 86-89, 
> which is 3cm lower than my PBH of 92. 
>
> Could anyone share if you've had a similar experience being in-between 
> sizes for a Sam Hillborne, and how the size you chose worked out? Or better 
> yet, is there anyone near Berkeley who has a 57cm or 60cm Hillborne you'd 
> let me test ride to nail down my size? I'd be happy to buy you a beer or 
> some other beverage as a thank you!
>
> David
> Berkeley, CA
>

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[RBW] Re: Sam Build - Wish Me Luck!

[Ryan Bolesta]

Hi Jake,

I’m in a similar position as you with a LimeOlive Sam! I was impatient for 
a full bike build from Riv and thought this would be a great opportunity to 
learn by building it myself. I’m just waiting on my wheels to come in later 
this week and then it’s full steam ahead!

I also considered bar-ends when I saw that the mounts were out of stock, 
but I was able to find the s2 shifters & thumb mount combos from Blue Lug’s 
site!

Question for you (or anyone): Are you going to (or is it necessary) to have 
the bottom bracket threads chased before installing the BB? Seems to be 
differing opinions on whether it's necessary across other posts on the 
forum.

Best of luck with your build, excited to see how it turns out!

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 1:40:19 PM UTC-7 jak...@me.com wrote:

> “Any changes in parts and such while thinking over the build?”
>
> Reginald - yes, a few!   I switched to bar ends as thumbie mounts were 
> temporarily out of stock and I was impatient.  Lots of downstream effects 
> from that one.  I originally wanted to go with Ergon cork grips with 
> something like a Billie or a Crumworks bar.  I’ll see if the bar-ends on my 
> old Albatross and prodigious use of Newbaums works.  It’ll be creative 
> (nice word for obviously DIY).  If it’s not comfy, easy enough to make a 
> change.
>
> With the gigantic pedals, I am concerned with toe-to-tire spacing, so am 
> holding off on fenders.  Also no decision on racks. Crushed that the Nitto 
> Potluck rack is NLA.
>
> Getting there.  Riv box delivered today, more work this weekend.  Assuming 
> the Nexave derailer doesn’t derail me, should be finished up and ready to 
> ride.  (Whoa that’s a big photo - sorry). 
>
> Jake
>
> [image: A00698B8-FA9B-4BE4-8582-253D37FDB4B9.jpeg]
>
>
> On Monday, January 16, 2023 at 1:46:21 AM UTC-5 R. Alexis wrote:
>
>> Congratulations How exciting when the planning and futzing over the 
>> bike and parts finally come together. Any changes in parts and such while 
>> thinking over the build? I know when I built the Rivendell Mountain I went 
>> back and forth on several items. Thought of doing an 8 speed freewheel, but 
>> it seemed much when accounting for the hub set up and scarcity of 8 speed 
>> freewheels. Planned on doing a Nitto built Ritchey stem, but going with the 
>> Softride suspension stem was a strong pull. 
>>
>> Take it slow, don't supper force anything. Take it easy with the hammer! 
>> Lol!!!
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Reginald Alexis
>>
>> On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-6 jak...@me.com wrote:
>>
>>> I had to say it:  "Just ship it to me".
>>>
>>> If Vince knew any better, he would have talked me out of it.I've 
>>> never built a bike from (mostly) scratch before, and of course it had to be 
>>> a Riv.  Gutsy.  There may be other less flattering words for it.
>>>
>>> Learning from all of you has given me false bravado to forge ahead, so I 
>>> shall.  Picking parts has been a delight.  I have been embracing the 
>>> anticipation of arriving shiny bits as  patience will most definitely be 
>>> virtue.  Just one more box from Riv and I'll have all I need.  I think I 
>>> have a hammer around here somewhere.
>>>
>>> If I blow it, you'll never hear from me again.  If it rolls fast and 
>>> true, I will post a glorious, victorious photo from Flatistan, FL.
>>>
>>> See any parts you like?  Wish me luck!
>>>
>>> #goheavyontheboeshield
>>>
>>> [image: Sam Parts.jpg]
>>>
>>>
>>>

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Re: [RBW] Re: New Sam Hillbornes

[Ryan Bolesta]

I've been eagerly awaiting the Sam drop for a few months now, the new pics 
have me so pumped! This will be my first Riv if I'm lucky enough to get 
one. Looking to get the LImeOlive 60cm. Seems like the 60cm frames have 
been hanging around on some of the other recent drops, so fingers crossed.

On Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 5:02:16 PM UTC-7 eric...@gmail.com wrote:

> I'm sure everyone's seen it but Will included some pics of Riv-built Sams 
> in the new colors with today's email update. Always good to have some pics 
> in our threads. There's also a geo chart. 
>
> [image: unnamed.jpg]
>
> [image: unnamed-1.jpg]
>
> [image: unnamed-2.jpg]
> On Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 1:49:40 PM UTC-5 EGNolan wrote:
>
>> Brian asked "Anyone want to take any bets on whether or not they've made 
>> any changes to the geometry and sizes available?"
>>
>> My best guess, based on the location of the chainstay indentions is that 
>> they've increased those to more closely match the rest of the lineup. I've 
>> got a LCS (long chainstay) Cheviot, which I absolutely love, and a more 
>> normal, but lengthy for the time Bleriot, which I also absolutely love. I 
>> imagine there will be some folks bummed at not having shorter chainstay 
>> options, but we all saw this coming (and they may have even said as much at 
>> some point and I either didn't see it or forgot about it).
>>
>> Eric
>> Indpls.
>>
>> On Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 12:46:24 PM UTC-5 Keith P. wrote:
>>
>>> Yeah, I've been on high alert since the beginning of November. Can't 
>>> wait. We're almost there.
>>> I thought I was going silver till I saw how the olive turned out... hard 
>>> decisions to be made.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Dec 1, 2022 at 9:29 AM Brian Turner  wrote:
>>>
 I really want one of these, because the lime olive is so gorgeous, but 
 I don't think I'll be able to fund another Rivendell so soon after 
 building 
 up my Gus just a couple months ago.
 I might try to pick up a used dark gold Sam sometime in the next year 
 or so, or maybe if someone is selling one from this batch.

 Anyone want to take any bets on whether or not they've made any changes 
 to the geometry and sizes available?

 -Brian

 On Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11:29:16 AM UTC-5 eric...@gmail.com 
 wrote:

> I'm not getting a new Sam, as I've already got one, but these colors 
> look great. I scraped the images from the instagram post 
> 
>  
> Will linked in his last email from House of the Rising Sun in Jakarta. 
>
> [image: sam limeolive.jpg]
>
> [image: samsilver.jpg]
>
> On Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 10:04:00 AM UTC-5 jak...@me.com 
> wrote:
>
>> Anxiously awaiting the new Sams to land on our shores and am 
>> obsessing over the potential build.  Perusing these pages with all of 
>> your 
>> experiences have really helped.  I thought the lime olive was for me 
>> until 
>> I saw the early photos of the HiHo Silver.  Smitten.
>>
>> Anyone going in on these?  I feel like I am on baby watch!
>>
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 .

>>>

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