on 1/2/09 1:38 PM, Esteban at [email protected] wrote: > I wonder how it would do as a mountain bike. Stout tubing and upward > top tube slope might make it a good candidate for an 80s style rigid > bike that rides to the trails. Maybe the 40mm clearance would be a > weak point, although maybe not that big a deal. I rode mountain bikes > a lot in college in the early 90s, and just started thinking of going > beyond the fire trails recently. That Hillborne will be very > versatile, that's for sure. I got a chance to ride the prototype with > v-brakes, and it felt as though it could go anywhere!
I've been enjoying using my Hilsen as a trail monster since my recent C. X. Hilsen project. My tires have been what I spin on the cross races: a Michelin Mud2 which is nominally 700Cx30, but tends to actually measure ~35mm. Mostly out of habit, as I'm used to them, they act in a manner I expect and they are puffy enough to withstand a lot of abuse for my style of riding. With the advent of "Monster Cross" or "29er" tires, there have been quite a few tires appear in the 30 - 45 mm range which would give that much more cush. I would think if you can learn to ride "light", it would give you a lot of flexibility. My personal belief is that riding a cross bike size tire on trails really sharpens your skills - it's akin to ultralight tackle fishing where you have to be very specific in your movements. Of course, I have (and still do) spent some time fixing flats on the trailside. Fewer now, but there is a learning curve. I've taken cross bikes or the Hilsen down just about any local trail that I've taken an mtb. Not with quite the same line or velocity, certainly, but it generally can be done. - Jim -- Jim Edgar [email protected] Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes Your Photos are needed! - http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines "I thought the idea was to waste the rest of our lives together.." -- Cyril, "Breaking Away" --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
