I just took possession of a Waterford Sam last Thursday. It is a 56cm and it has only a single top tube. I wasn't expecting to go the Waterford route but when I finally decided to pull the trigger I went to RBWWHQ with debit card in hand and was told that the incoming batch would only accept sidepuls - a dealbreaker (deal-braker?) for me, as I absolutely positively prefer V-brakes to all others in all situations. I was then told that I could order a Waterford-built frame with canti studs for an extra $250, which seemed like a great deal for a domestic frame. (Didn't realize at the time that I would also have to pay for the bottom bracket - included in the Taiwan frames but not in the Waterfords.) Well, I ended up lucking out because the Taiwanese sidepull-only frames ended up delayed (due to critically unsafe label placement) but my Waterford came in right on time. It almost goes without saying that I am completely, totally in love with the bike. Today is the first day that I haven't brought it to work with me and I'm wondering how it's doing at home all alone...
Link to a site that was kind enough to carry my photos: http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/05/03/gallery-daniels-rivendell-sam-hillborne/ Some unwarranted and unsubstantiated speculation: My original impression when I was in the shop was that the idea was to permanently switch to sidepull-only frames to make the Sam more of a discount AHH. On further thought it occurs to me that canti studs and the housing stop/bridge on the rear cost money to fabricate and eliminating them makes it easier to hold down the cost on what is supposed to be the budget bike. Somewhere I got the idea that the only reason for the Waterford option was that they had extra Taiwan- built forks with the canti studs and that they would special-order the Waterford bikes until the forks ran out. I'm wondering if the decal issue/delay has gotten the Riv folks fed up with the Taiwan folks and looking to build them exclusively through Waterford in the future. I am really surprised that the 56 would get a double top tube and originally thought it was a misprint. I did see a double-tubed Sam in the shop but I'm not sure what size it was. Daniel On May 5, 9:36 am, jpp <paste...@notes.udayton.edu> wrote: > This seems like a great deal. Waterford frame (double top tube no > less), Taiwan fork for $1250! They must have a really good > relationship with waterford. I am surprised the price is so low, does > the fork require that much work?? I am sure the double top tuber will > look great. > > On May 3, 9:01 pm, eflayer <eddie.fla...@att.net> wrote: > > > > > just posted to the Riv site. > > > Waterford is building Hillbornes? Larger ones will have two top > > tubes? Two top tubes on a 56 cm frame? > > > "Here's what's coming: > > Orange, side-pull, 56cm and 60cm Sam Hillborne frames arriving from > > Taiwan mid June. $1000. Frames are available! > > > All other sizes becoming available in mid to late May from Waterford. > > Taiwan fork, Waterford frame. Same orange. $1250. No bb or > > seatpost. 56cm and 60cm Waterford Sam Hillborne frames also available > > on request. All Waterford frames will be designed for cantilever > > brakes and you get 2 top tubes (at no extra charge!) on frames 56cm > > and larger." > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
