Sam Hillborne and Big Ben 50's revisited

[James Warren]

In the fall, I waffled on whether I would do the Big Ben 50's on a blue Sam Hillborne.

Well no more waffling. I do it! Photos kind of rushed, but I just wanted to demonstrate the capability:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46035786@N07/17070605792/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46035786@N07/17071337951/in/photostream/



I just had a great ride home from work minutes before taking the two photos. Big hill climb, and the big tires, Atlas rim, and heavy load in the rear bag didn't ruin the ride in any way at all.

These tires are the Sam's limit. In the rear, there are 2 mm between fender tab below the seatstay bridge and the top of the tire. This bike is incredible. I now can't decide whether I like it best with Big Ben, Smart Sam, or Barlow Pass.

-Jim W.

[dougP]

"I now can't decide whether I like it best with Big Ben, Smart Sam, or Barlow Pass."

Clearly, further research is required to arrive at a definitive answer.  Tough problem; bring as-is on Saturday & solicit input from the experts.

Hey, I just "got" the double top tube;  you can hoist the bike over your shoulder without dislodging the frame pump.  I KNEW there must be a good reason. 

dougP

[cyclotourist]

You're on a roll!

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Cheers,
David

Member, Supreme Council of Cyberspace

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

[Bruce Smitham]

That's one of the many reasons I love my double top tube Sam.

[Mark Reimer]

So nice! I love Riv's with big ol fat tires! Have you ever tried Super Motos? I can't seem to find where to buy them, but I'd love to put those on my Atlantis.

[Tom Harrop]

50 mm tyres with caliper brakes, that's fantastic!

Mark, you can get SuperMotos from the EU if you're prepared to pay shipping. I just bought some from bike-components.de to replace the worn big apples on my Bombadil (I **swear** they're worn, it had nothing to do with New Tyre Envy) but haven't got around to installing them yet.

[john muhl]

Super Motos on an Atlantis are awesome; way, way better than the Big Apple. The only troubles I had were: double-leg kickstand is a no go and I needed a small extension to get the rear rack high enough.

[Mark Reimer]

Oh MAN! Now that is a great looking setup!

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[Mark Reimer]

What size are they actually? And what rims are they mounted to?

On Wed, Apr 8, 2015 at 12:09 PM, john muhl <john...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Anne Paulson]

Why are Super Motos better than Big Apples? How are they compared to Big Bens?

I just mounted some Big Bens on my Atlantis, and I'm planning a mixed terrain 3-day trip this weekend. I took the Atlantis with the Big Bens out last weekend, and on the single track, the steep gravel uphill and the short steep rocky downhills I missed my Knards. 

By the way, Northern Californians, I take full credit for the rain this week. I removed the fenders both from my Roadeo (for summer) and my Atlantis (to fit the Big Bens). You're welcome.

-- Anne Paulson

It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride.

[Mark Reimer]

The super motos are substantially lighter than the Big Bens to my understanding, so they should spin up faster and roll easier than the Big Bens. 

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[Tim Gavin]

I just picked up a 26" Super Moto for the front of my KOM (from bike-discount.de, a tad cheaper).  I'm definitely going to get a couple more next time I order from there.  I think one will squeeze into the rear u-brake...

They're excellent tires: grippy, fast, light.  The tread is slick like the Big Apple (slicker than the Big Ben).  It should be great for road, gravel, lime trail, hard dirt, etc.  Not for single track, snow, mud, etc.

I'll report on durability; the Super Moto has Schwalbe's lightest rubber and no puncture protection.  I'm tempted to try them tubeless.

They fit fine on the narrow Mavic 317 rims (17 mm internal).

[Daniel M]

Re: Supermotos vs. Big Apples:

The Big Apples are wire bead with a Kevlar (or similar) belt for flat protection. In 26"/559, they come in 2.0"(50mm), 2.15"(55mm), and 2.35"(60mm).

The Supermotos are a folding bead with no anti-flat belt. I'm relatively sure that in 26", they come only in 2.35"/60mm, and must be imported from the EU. I think they can be found in 29" size domestically.

I have experience with Big Apples in 26x2.0" and 2.15" and they are suberb, but I am absolutely in love with the 26"x2.35" Supermotos. I had them on my heavy-as-a-tank touring bike and I felt they were a definite improvement over the Big Apples in both suppleness and rolling resistance (could be entirely psychological, of course), and since moved the pair to my newest project, a Surly Troll with Woodchipper drop bars. I swear that bike rolls so smoothly and sweetly that I'm questioning my need for a separate road bike at all. Seeing Jan Heine and Rawland announce their new foray into big smooth 26" rubber just as I was putting the finishing touches on that bike was kind of vindicating - I'd been calling myself a 26" apologist up to that point!

Daniel M
Berkeley, CA

[john muhl]

On Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 1:40:59 PM UTC-5, Anne Paulson wrote:

Why are Super Motos better than Big Apples? How are they compared to Big Bens?

With the Big Apples (the wire bead and thicker puncture protection belt version) I felt like as soon as I quit peddling I would begin coming to a stop unless I over inflated. Over inflating made them less comfortable than I thought they should be with so much volume. The SM with the folding bead, floppy sidewalls, lower tread and lack of puncture protection feel like they're made to roll in the same way that I feel the Compass EL tires are made to roll. I'm currently using the Barlow Pass EL and am not any more impressed with them than the SM.

I don't have any experience with the Big Ben but the description and specs look more like a BA than SM.

[john muhl]

On Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 1:25:13 PM UTC-5, Mark Reimer wrote:

What size are they actually? And what rims are they mounted to?

About 57mm on Synergy rims.