Thanks a bunch for the write up and pictures Tony, great info. On Sunday, December 2, 2012 1:42:46 PM UTC-6, Tony Lockhart wrote:
> Ryan, > I actually have both bikes and have some thoughts to share with you > regarding both. Perhaps some of my experiences can help with your decision > on which frame to purchase. > > I bought a Sam Hillborne a couple of years back and went through a number > of drivetrain and accessory changes. It's been my go fast, commuting, > townie, and cyclocross bike so I feel qualified in comparing both bikes. My > Sam has had a number of "personalities" in regards to set up and ride > characteristics. I currently have it set up as a townie with fenders, 32mm > tires, drop bars, and a basket (*contemplating a dirt drop stem and flat > bars with cork grips*). I also have a San Marcos set up as a commuter, > club ride bike, and cyclocross bike. My San Marcos has a mix of Shimano > parts, 32mm tires, a Velo Orange rack, and drop bars. *To answer your > original question, the San Marcos is an excellent choice for a go fast bike. > * > > <https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8n1WhS2qYyg/ULulwQWTKsI/AAAAAAAAAuA/ifpWp81Ra2w/s1600/DSC00207.JPG> > > *San Marcos Criticism #1* > > I'm not sure if this is true for different sizes, but you'll need standard > reach brake calipers up front and long reach calipers in the rear if you > purchase a 54cm San Marcos. I am not sure if this is true of the other > sizes or with any other 54cm San Marcos frames. I am running Tektro R559 > brakes on this bike--the fit of the rear calipers is spot on however long > reach calipers up front don't seem to fit properly. Have a look at the > attached photo and you'll see that the fork was not designed for long reach > brakes. Conjecture says that this bike should use standard reach brakes and > that the rear brake bridge on my bike was welded too far upwards, > necessitating longer reach brakes. > > > <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hPpChC7_z00/ULul4qOoEJI/AAAAAAAAAuI/nMYrtVGrYoc/s1600/DSC00209.JPG> > > *San Marcos Criticism #2* > > The dropouts on this bike suck compared to the ones on my Sam. As you can > see from the photos, the front dropouts originally come with lawyer tabs--I > quickly filed those off after acquiring the bike. The rear dropout eyelets > are welded too closely to the frame and cause interference when trying to > mount a rack or fenders. The welds get in the way and prevent you from > mounting accessories in a flush manner. The second photo shows a slight gap > between the rack tab and the eyelets because the welds get in the way. > Moreover, the decorative part of the Soma dropouts interfere with the > quick-release hub skewer--this is not the case with my Sam. > > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U7UDrv1Nts0/ULul_MczA-I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/gNXYgLA5_9E/s1600/DSC00210.JPG> > > > <https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OiPJ0hY_jvk/ULumDgoGmRI/AAAAAAAAAuY/pDBz7q0BIEU/s1600/DSC00212.JPG> > > > With all of that said, the San Marcos is an excellent bike and I am very > pleased with it. I have no trouble maintaining an average speed of 23mph > while on club rides. It is quite comfortable however feels very sporty and > agile when compared to the Sam Hillborne. Since you already have a Sam, try > to imagine your bike with easier maneuverability, a lighter feel when > climbing, and less squirrel*liness*. If you go with mainly Nitto parts, > more spokes than less, and wide tires, you'll have no worries about > durability if you end up with a San Marcos. > > I haven't had the chance to test ride a Roadeo, but I imagine that model > to be much more suitable for fast riding than the San Marcos. The Roadeo is > a gorgeous frame, and would probably be the ONE frame I would have if I > could only own one bike. But since I'm fortunate enough to have two, I feel > the San Marcos can easily be differentiated from the Sam Hillboarne while > retaining those absolute must characteristics (comfort, durability, > versatility). In your shoes, I would try to get past the eccentricities of > the San Marco because it's so much cheaper than the Roadeo...then I'd use > the left over money to purchase an awesome wheel set and an SRAM Apex group. > > > > On Sunday, December 2, 2012 10:42:45 AM UTC-8, RJM wrote: >> >> Thanks for all the replies, >> >> One the go fast bike, I was planning on using brifters, probably >> something from Sram as I prefer their hood shape. I am not exactly light, >> about 200 and still a short dude so I do have some weight to get off me. >> Light weight really isn't a huge consideration on the new bike, but having >> quick tires/wheels/the abilty to quickly shift would be important to the >> riding I have planned for it. I am also planning on sticking look >> clipless on whatever frame I get (I know, don't shoot me). I do want the >> bike to be durable too, my last trek wasn't exactly durable, the rear hub >> had issues fairly quickly and the shifters junked up and lasted about a >> year. I'm not too happy with what you get at the local bike shop, those >> bikes aren't really comfortable and for the money I think the Riv/Soma are >> better deals (and I don't want a carbon fork). The local bike shop owner >> put me on a Trek Domane for a test ride. It was a decent ride, but my Sam >> Hillborne is a better bike in my mind. (cheaper too.) >> >> Is the San Marcos rear 130 or 135 spaced? >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/eIEpEr5lNT8J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@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.
