Impressed by an AHH (though I don't own one)

[Joan Oppel]

 I led a group ride this morning for one of the local bike clubs.  Richard showed up with his brand new A Homer Hilsen.  He's very excited about the bike, has posted here about his excitement (blueride2).  It's a pretty standard Riv build.  I took my Bleriot to the ride - another standard Riv build.  

Differences are: 

Bleriot has Hetres (45 front, 50 rear),  AHH has Jack Browns (at 70 front and rear)

Bleriot has SKS fenders, AHH is fenderless (though he is waiting for the fenders).

Bleriot is a 53, AHH is a 55.

Bleriot has a trunk bag and rack(multi-tool, spare, patch kit) and rack, AHH had just a tiny seatbag.

Since I can ride a 55, I took Richard's bike for a short spin.  Wow, was I impressed.  It felt - sprightly, lively.  Definitely different than the Bleriot.  

I'm wondering why.  There's maybe a slight difference in weight between the two bikes, by feel.  Is it the tires?  the tubeset?  

Joan

[islaysteve]

My barely-educated guess: mostly the loading on your Bleriot.  Then the tires/pressures.  I realize that that part is highly debatable. I doubt it's the tubeset, but... 

Steve

[James Warren]

I've had the same experience in comparing a SH to an AHH: same fit, similar toptube, both set up with similar 36-spoke wheels, Brooks saddles, and typical Nitto Aluminum bits.  Both with Jack Brown greens. The big difference in the frames was 60 cm SH with 6 degree toptube slope versus a 65 cm AHH with a 1.5 degree toptube slope, but the bar height relative to saddle was the same. AHH's chainstay was 0.5 cm shorter! There's faerie dust on those AHH's!

- Jim

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James Warren

jimcw...@earthlink.net

- Remember, my friends, it is better to feel fast than to be fast.

[Joe Bernard]

The Bleriot and SH were/are built with thicker tubes than the AHH, correct? My AHH felt very springy/lively, just like my Romulus did. I would say both are more road-only lighter-load biased than the Bleriot and Hillborne.

 

Joe Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 3:10:16 PM UTC-7, James Warren wrote:

I've had the same experience in comparing a SH to an AHH: same fit, similar toptube, both set up with similar 36-spoke wheels, Brooks saddles, and typical Nitto Aluminum bits.  Both with Jack Brown greens. The big difference in the frames was 60 cm SH with 6 degree toptube slope versus a 65 cm AHH with a 1.5 degree toptube slope, but the bar height relative to saddle was the same. AHH's chainstay was 0.5 cm shorter! There's faerie dust on those AHH's!

- Jim

On Jul 10, 2012, at 2:32 PM, Joan Oppel wrote:

 I led a group ride this morning for one of the local bike clubs.  Richard showed up with his brand new A Homer Hilsen.  He's very excited about the bike, has posted here about his excitement (blueride2).  It's a pretty standard Riv build.  I took my Bleriot to the ride - another standard Riv build.  

Differences are: 

Bleriot has Hetres (45 front, 50 rear),  AHH has Jack Browns (at 70 front and rear)

Bleriot has SKS fenders, AHH is fenderless (though he is waiting for the fenders).

Bleriot is a 53, AHH is a 55.

Bleriot has a trunk bag and rack(multi-tool, spare, patch kit) and rack, AHH had just a tiny seatbag.

Since I can ride a 55, I took Richard's bike for a short spin.  Wow, was I impressed.  It felt - sprightly, lively.  Definitely different than the Bleriot.  

I'm wondering why.  There's maybe a slight difference in weight between the two bikes, by feel.  Is it the tires?  the tubeset?  

Joan

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[Bruce Herbitter]

Riv refers to the AHH as a "Country Bike." Intended for dirt fire roads as well as smooth pavement. Lighter loads as you say. You can read Riv's comparison of the two models on Cyclofiend at the link below: (The article refers to Saluki, which is the same bike in smaller sizes as AHH)

http://www.cyclofiend.com/Images/rbw/rr37_pg14.jpg

[Cyclofiend]

I don't think it's as simple as "thick" vs "thin" tubes. When the
Hillborne first arrived, I was lucky enough to ride one over at the
RBWHQ&L , as well as hear what Grant had come up with in terms of
design and tube set choice. It is definitely a different selection
of tubes - as one would expect from a different frame design.

At the time I rode it, the ride seemed to land just where GP had said
- between the Atlantis and the Hilsen (for some reason, "light-framed
Atlantis" came to mind, even though I don't own an Atlantis for true
comparison). I never really heard what choices were made with the
Bleriot, but it was modeled after the Saluki. It would not surprise
me that some allowances were made to keep the price down and work with
the production facility (Maxway) and the needs of QBP, who was the
partner in the project.

And tires and pressures make a HUUUUUGE difference in any test ride.
The first time I rode a Hilsen, it was actually fitted with Rolly
Polly 28's (at the time the JB's had not yet arrived). Grant sent me
off on the bike saying very specifically that the tires were not what
the bike was designed for. It felt akin to my open-wheeled racer.
When I rode it again before buying one, with the JB's, it felt like a
Lamborghini with a Land Rover undercarriage.

- J

[Eric Platt]

Agree with this assessment.  Have an early Hillborne and used to own an Atlantis.  The ride does seem to be similar.  Closer than, say, my Simpleone to the Atlantis. 

Then again maybe my memory is all wrong as I haven't owned the Atlantis for a few years.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN