On Thu, 2010-01-14 at 13:29 -0800, Mick wrote: > I'm very interested in buying a Sam Hillborne. I think it's a > fantastically constructed bike and aesthetically a work of art. I like > the idea of having a quality piece of machinery, that fits well, and > that could ridden for many years to come. While I can afford to drop > $2,000 (or so) on a bike, I've never owned one that costly before. I > was wondering if this owner's group could let me know if they've ever > felt uncomfortable riding an "expensive" bike or one as beautiful as > the Sam Hillborne. Is it the same as sporting around in a Porsche or > let's say a vintage Alfa Romeo? (I'm not sure I could ever do either > of these things).
Nobody's going to think it's "expensive." You want to see expensive, go to your Trek store and price one of their top line models. A HIllborne's cheap, especially if you build it "Riv style". Your entire build kit is going to cost less than a set of boutique wheels or a carbon crank plus bottom bracket. > > Generally speaking I like to keep a low profile. I was wondering if > that will be possible riding a Sam Hillborne. Certainly. > Do those riding > Rivendell's get approached often by people looking to appreciate their > bike? And is this a positive experience? Do you ever feel self- > conscious about riding such a flash bike? I do get people who notice and appreciate Rivendells. In fact, I met one of my best riding pals on the W&OD Trail, just riding along. She was coming in the opposite direction and, noticing my Saluki, stopped and yelled back, "Is that a Saluki??" Amazing chance, too, because at that point I hadn't ridden the W&OD for many years. > What about locking the bike and leaving it? Do you feel comfortable > doing so? Or is it so obviously expensive and sought after that you > wouldn't think of leaving it out of eye sight? I don't like locking and leaving bikes. Any bikes. I'll do it with my shopping bike, but that's the only riding I do where it makes any sense to leave a bike at all anyway. > Thanks for providing any insight you may have. I'd hate to buy a bike > that I loved, but didn't feel comfortable being seen in public with. > I'm hoping that you Rivendell riders might be able to put my mind to > rest. Those that notice it will like it, and you'll enjoy the conversations, even if most of the time you'll be disabusing them of the notion that it's an old classic. The ones who would scorn won't notice it anyway.
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