Hillborne / Hilsen: touring capable?

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Bikie#4646

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Nov 16, 2022, 5:50:40 PM11/16/22
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In my estimation, my 2015 Sam Hillborne is pretty nearly the perfect touring bike for overnighters or multi-day rail trail trips. I have a Hilsen which is a bit more lively and a really nice mixed-surface riding bike. (Yes, I am spoiled.)
I realize this topic has likely come up before:
Every once in a while, I wonder if the Hilsen would work for touring, but I tried a sport tourer for loaded trips once. It was too whippy, especially in the mountains. 
It's a rhetorical question for now, but at 76, I will eventually have to thin the herd. I'm happy with a dedicated bike for each purpose.
My Hillborne on the Greenbrier River Trail, WVa. in Oct.
The Hilsen:
Paul Germain
Midlothian, VA

Bob Warner

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Nov 18, 2022, 12:06:25 PM11/18/22
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Paul
I have the same vintage Hillborne as you.  What from rack do you use and does it align with the stock braze ons??
Nice looking ride there too!
Bob

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On Nov 16, 2022, at 5:50 PM, 'Bikie#4646' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

In my estimation, my 2015 Sam Hillborne is pretty nearly the perfect touring bike for overnighters or multi-day rail trail trips. I have a Hilsen which is a bit more lively and a really nice mixed-surface riding bike. (Yes, I am spoiled.)
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Paul Germain

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Nov 18, 2022, 10:12:30 PM11/18/22
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Bob, I have a Nitto Big Rack that Rivendell sells (sold?) on the rear. It came from a previous 2TT Hillborne I had and may have been purchased about 2011.

The front is outfitted with a small front Nitto Mark's Rack, double-strutted, and a HAR (Hub Area Rack) from Rivendell. Everything lined up OK on my 55cm frame. The front Mark's rack and the HAR are all attached at the mid-fork hourglass braze on at the front of the fork. It took a M5x30mm stainless bolt to penetrate the hourglass brake on fully once I added a small washer.

I don't know how these mid-fork fittings are moved around when the fame size changes, if they do. Here's an album of the bike with racks when I first purchased it (new) and built it up. If you are able to blow up the images it could help you. (At that time, I had single struts for the Mark's rack but later double-strutted it.


If you have any of the other Nitto small front racks with a fixed strut placement, I'm not sure what to tell you. The nice thing about the Marks rack is its versatility in terms of strut / struts adjustability. I think Jan Heine at Rene Herse is making a similar one now - at a higher price. It has an adjustable strut but does not use the diving board though.

If you need additional images, I would do what I can. And thanks for the compliment on the bike. I'm very proud off it.

Paul Germain
Midlothian, Va.


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