Notes on a new Sam Hillborne, Albastache handlebars, and on being "fast enough"

[Jonathan K.]

I just became a Rivendell owner last fall when I bought a new Appaloosa. I was so impressed with that bike, and loved riding it so much, that I wanted to replicate that super comfortable, smooth ride on my long-distance road bike. I wanted to try a more road-ish Riv, and when the pre-sale for the new canti-Sams opened up, I couldn't resist. I had intended Sam to be a straight up replacement for my current drop bar road bike that I really do like, but that I had struggled to get comfortable on. Sam had other ideas, though...

I first built it with 44cm Noodles that I had on hand, but even with the Riv-recommended 8cm stem (that I worried would be too short), I felt way too stretched out and uncomfortable. The first few rides I took on this setup were not fun. I thought the bike handled weird - the front end felt sort of squirrely. To be honest, I was pretty disappointed. After a quick mock up with some old Nitto moustache bars I had, I decided to order a set of Albastache bars from Riv. 

Sam Hillborne with Albastache bars is the most comfortable, fun bike I have ever ridden. (Right next to my Appaloosa, of course.) I love the more upright position, the sweep, the angles, the width, everything. The curves are great to sit and grind out the miles, but the ends offer a very comfortable upright position to alternate with as well. I was nervous that my enthusiasm would be squashed once the rides got longer, but I've done enough long rides in the last few weeks to be confident that these are the bars for this bike. I have no desire to go back to drops. These bars changed the bike, and my whole outlook on bikes in general. I realize that I don't have to have drop bars to ride long distances, or to be a "serious" cyclist (whatever that means). This is such a big deal to me, because my biggest struggle since I started riding has been fit/comfort on longer rides. 

This bike was originally intended to be just another road bike. I feel like what I have is so much more. At first I was worried, because I was not as fast on the Sam as my lighter drop bar bike, but who cares? Now, I only want to ride the Hillborne. When I ride this bike, I find myself not caring how fast I'm going, or about anything except enjoying the ride. When I'm on it, I just want to keep going. I can't think of a better compliment for a bike. This bike (and these bars) have completed my transformation to unracer.

I realize after re-reading the above that it might sound like I am saying Sam Hillborne is a slow bike. It is not. The Sam that I built, with heavier touring style wheels, and upright-ish bars is definitely not as fast as my more traditional stripped down drop bar road bike, but it's a heck of a lot more comfortable, useful, and fun. How fast is Sam Hillborne? My answer after putting a few hundred miles on it: Fast enough.

[JohnS]

Nice write up Jonathan and a great looking Sam! Well done. I'm a big fan of the original mustache bar, have them on three bikes now, different bikes, same cockpit.

JohnS

[Lester Lammers]

Great write up.

I first built it with 44cm Noodles that I had on hand, but even with the Riv-recommended 8cm stem (that I worried would be too short), I felt way too stretched out and uncomfortable.

 I felt the same way about my 55cm Bleriot with a similar set up. My legs are longer than my torso and I struggled with the stem and drops. FYI, I ordered one of these to be able to use drops on a MIT Atlantis.

https://www.analogcycles.com/2018/02/26/wright-stem-write-up/

[Ron Mc]

your bike is a beauty, and just how I would set one up.  Currently, my closest bike is my '74 International.  This may change before too long, since my thousand-dollar monthly child support commitment just ended for good.  

I ride religiously with a 7a Sunday morning group from Alamo Heights to the Alamodome.  It's a fun group of friends, all wheels, many old-bike-guys there, and 30-40 riders usually ride in to join the group.  

The lead group breaks into a sprint heading into downtown and the final stretch to the Alamodome.  My friends last week were commenting on my speed and place riding "the fender bike"

 

another group of us always split off for coffee before we head back uptown. . 

[Austin B.]

Similar story with my 62cm Sam. Noodles on a 90mm stem left me feeling stretched out no matter the bar height.  Then I picked up an 80mm stem and an Albastache bar and it was glorious! I have it set up as my offroad trail bike with 42mm knobbies.

-Austin

Sykesville, MD

[John W]

Nice build. How does the toe clip overlap compare on the two bikes? And more importantly — how do you decide which one to ride?

[Tim Bantham]

Your story is very similar to my story. When I first started riding as an adult I was influenced by racing. I emulated what I saw on TV and pretty soon began the slippery slope of racing, group rides and always trying to beat the guy in the pack or be the person who doesn't get dropped. After seeing the light and buying a Rivendell my first bike was a drop bar Sam because that was the closest to my previously owned carbon fiber racing bike. After riding that the first year I never really felt as comfortable as I thought I should so I eventually went to upright bars with the Albatross bars. This was a big improvement and I eventually added racks and bags to my Sam and started to do some overnight camping trips with it. After that I decided that I wanted a full blown touring bike so I bought an Appaloosa frame. All the parts from the Sam went to the Joe. 

Once I decided that I'd like to reinvent the Sam I had been enamored with some of the drop bar "rando" bikes that I saw on the internet. I added metal fenders and I once again had a drop bar Sam. Now I have reached the conclusion that drop bars are just not for me anymore and my ego is finally allowing myself to let go of them. A friend has loaned me the Albastache bars and dirt drop stem so I am now building up the fourth version of my Sam with Albastache bars. I have it set up with 40mm Clement MSO's without fenders. It has a front rack and Wald basket but I am trying to keep it to a minimum since the Joe does most of my heavy lifting. The Appaloosa is great but I am really excited about my latest version of the Sam. I too am no longer concerned with how fast I go. I just want to ride a good, reliable, practical bike. This is the essence of the Sam Hillborne. I'll post photos once I get passed the experimental stage with the new bars. 

On Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 5:34:44 PM UTC-4, Jonathan K. wrote:

[Jonathan K.]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I always enjoy reading about people's different setups and the how/why they went with the bike/bars/whatever that they did, so that's why I posted mine.

Austin: I saw the pictures of your blue  Sam in a thread a while back, and it was definitely one of the bikes I used for inspiration when I was trying to get an idea of how my bike would look with the new bars. There aren't a lot of people using them (at least of the people who post lots of pictures of their bikes.) I also spent an unhealthy amount of time staring at Surlyprof's orange Albastached Sam on Flickr, and of course Deacon Patrick's two Albastached rivs, as well as countless others. Albastache bars seem to be fairly polarizing. Based on what I've read, people seem to love them or hate them. Not a lot of in between.

Ron MC: Your bikes are awesome, and certainly a testament to the usefullness of non-drops for nice bikes as well.

John: I don't have toe overlap on the Sam. On the Appaloosa, I do occasionally, but not enough to be bothered about. I guess it's because of the large tires (Schwalbe Big Ben 700x50c) and fenders. As far as deciding, Sam is more of the recreational ride that I use when I have free time and want to just take off. Joe is my everyday commuter, and load hauler. They are both such amazing bikes.

Tim: I look forward to seeing pictures of the new build. Your comment here, and on my instagram picture about your ego allowing you to give up on drops really speaks to me. I love going out for long solo rides, but I have been fighting discomfort on drops on different road bikes for years. Right now, I only have one bike with drops, and I honestly don't see myself riding it much now that I have the Sam. I should probably sell it, but it's like there is some psychological hold on me saying "you need a drop bar bike." We've been conditioned over the years to believe that "real" or "good" bikes have drop bars. I'm becoming convinced that while tons of people are happy and comfortable with drop bars, I am not one of those people. There was a great quote from Grant in the Sam Hillborne catalog from a few years ago: "We're not against drops, just the idea that good bikes warrant them on principle." Like always, Grant was/is right.

[Chris Birkenmaier]

My story unfolded much like yours. Drop bars are something I don’t intend to return to. I have the Albastache bars on my Roadini and love them! I also put them on my 1986 Pinarello Montello and transformed that bike Seems to be a perfect marriage of comfort and good riding position

[Jonathan K.]

Chris, have you posted pictures of your Roadini anywhere? I don't recall seeing any Roadini builds with Albastaches. I would love to see it. (And the Pinarello for that matter!)

[Surlyprof]

Jonathan,

Love the choices you made building up your Hillborne. I’ve always had a soft spot for that combination of blue frame with tan bars and seat. And, I’ve always loved when someone can successfully work in a touch of purple like you did on the chainstay.

I’m flattered that you “cyber stalked” my Hillborne on flickr. Of course mine was inspired by builds by Bill Lindsay, Deacon Patrick and Manny Acosta (every bike should have a touch of Manny inspiration!). Like you and Chris, I evolved to the albastached Riv. My last drop bar bike was a Bianchi Veloce. I had that and a Soma Groove mtb that I had tried to make Riv-like. Since we are short on bike storage space, part of the deal of buying the Sam was that I’d sell the Bianchi or the Soma. I sold the Bianchi since it could only fit 23 tires and I was starting feel some neck and back pain after long rides on the drops.

I evolved to the albastache because the albatross bars seemed too huge a leap from drops. I didn’t like the angle of the forward hand position and the upright position was too much of a change from drops. I bought the albastache to get a little more aggressive position I didn’t get from the albatross. I immediately loved the ride and feel of the Hillborne with albastache bars. So much so that I eventually sold off the Groove because I never rode it. It lacked the feel of a Riv. I do miss having a dedicated mtb for gnarlier trails and will probably get another eventually to make my Sam the dedicated go fast-ish bike. In the meantime, I’m still amazed at the versatility of the Sam.

John