Well, I finally drank the Rivendell KoolAid

[Russell Duncan]

Well, I guess that I’ve joined the Rivendell “In” Crowd (I had to say it because I’m currently listening to Ramsey Lewis). I’m nearly finished with this Hillborne build and hopefully I’ll get to take my first test drive this weekend in the Sage Creek Basin of Wyoming. All that I need to do is fine tune the MiniMotos to stop me when I want to. Except for the pedals, I had all of the parts in my barn waiting for some build. Except for the wheels, most of the parts were slated for a 1973 Raleigh RRA that I was converting to a 650B, but that has been languishing for many moons. Then, when this previously owned but unbuilt 2025 Hillbourne came up for sale in my size and in the only color that I would have chosen among the many (two) color choices, sage green, I had to have it. To see for myself. The color will match nicely with the dominant vegetation type around here where I work in Wyoming, sagebrush. 

So, I bit the bullet, drank the kool aid, and joined the Rivendell Owner’s Club. Currently it’s shod with Hutchinson Caracals in size 35 (purchased from Rivendell of course). I want to first see how the bike performs with “skinny” tires. Then I’ll try it out with 40s. All in all, I’m happy with the build and how he looks. Except for some differences in geometry, it kinda reminds me of my mid-1990s Mercian. 

I’ll keep everyone up to date on my journey on pavement and off in the not so populated State of Wyoming,.

Russell Duncan

Carbon County, Wyoming.

[Ron Mc]

Congradulations, that's a beauty.  

I have a CX frame that won't fit larger than 35-mm tires, and it makes a great gravel bike for my use.  

I also have 35-mm Rene Herse light casing on my new RoadUno.  

Regards

[Patrick Moore]

That’s a nice looking build; please do report more fully on how it rides with the build pictured. I’m always intrigued by drop bar builds on current Rivendell models.

What length of stem is needed to get a comfortable reach to your bar?

And tires: From my experience with a ~2010 Sam (quite different, I know) I’d guess that 44s or 48s would be nice sizes for that build. I recently installed 44 mm Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass extralights on my Matthews “road bike for dirt” as an alternative to the “main” wheelset shod with 54 mm (actual) Thunderburts. With the 44s (45 actual with pressure a bit low, just now) it handles much more like a Rivendell road model, as I’d asked Chauncey to make it do; in fact, rather like the Ram, a  bit more staid than with my Riv customs or the Roadeo, and very nicely indeed, while being perfectly shod for combined pavement and firmish dirt instead of the very sandy soil that the Thunderburts are meant for (tho’ the TBs do roll very well on pavement for knobbies).

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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I endowed thy purposes with words that made them known.

[R. Alexis]

Nice bike! Welcome to the club! What size 40 tires to you have on hand? I have a Heron Touring/Wayfarer and a 1987 Schwinn Voyageur that I wish could fit bigger than a 35c tire. Actually, the Schwinn has some 38c tires on there and I haven't tested the Heron to see if it will fit bigger than a 35c. That is on my list along with trying to get the build completed. Keep us updated on the progress. 

Thanks,

Reginald Alexis

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Congrats Russell! Enjoy your Sam. Hopefully you'll become a "True Believer" after you ride the Riv!

Toshi 

Drinking the KoolAid in Oakland for 15 yrs