{"id":561086,"date":"2026-05-01T19:16:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/561086\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T19:16:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:16:13","slug":"readers-rig-jessicas-rivendell-sam-hillborne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/561086\/","title":{"rendered":"Reader’s Rig: Jessica’s Rivendell Sam Hillborne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Reader\u2019s Rig of the week comes from Tunitas Creative founder Jessica in San Francisco, who shares the lovingly built Rivendell Sam Hillborne that she plans to continue riding forever. Get to know Jessica and check out her one-of-a-kind Bay Area cruiser here\u2026<\/p>\n

Words by Jessica Chan<\/a>, photos by Miles Arbour<\/a><\/p>\n

Hi, I\u2019m Jessica, though most people call me Jess. I\u2019m based in San Francisco, the sole person behind Tunitas Creative, and a long-time bike person. Being in the Bay Area allows me to do a wide variety of riding, from road to gravel, bikepacking, and mountain biking. It\u2019s pretty amazing, and I\u2019m very lucky to have it. <\/p>\n

\"Rivendell<\/a><\/p>\n

I always wanted a Rivendell. My partner fixed up and gave me a 1990 Bridgestone MB-3 when we first started dating. I jokingly thought of it as my \u201cpoor girl Rivendell.\u201d After many years on my beloved Bridgestone, I finally decided it was time to upgrade to a Rivendell and chose a Hillborne. <\/p>\n

\"Rivendell<\/a>
\n\"Rivendell<\/a><\/p>\n

I was going to wait for the next batch of Hillbornes, which might have taken a while (this was 2021, after all\u2026), but a friend (thanks, Axton!) knew I was looking and put me in touch with someone selling theirs. I pulled a lot of parts off my Bridgestone to build up the Hillborne, and have, over time, changed some things here and there. <\/p>\n

\"Rivendell<\/a><\/p>\n

Frame\/Fork: Rivendell Sam Hillborne, size 51cm
\nRims: Soma Weymouth Rim, 650b
\nHubs: SON dynamo (front)
\nTires: Maxxis Rambler, 650b x 47mm
\nHandlebars: Nitto Wavie
\nGrips: Ergon GA3
\nHeadset: FSA
\nCrankset: Sugino Double, 170mm, 40\/26
\nPedals: Race Face Chesters
\nCassette: Shimano 9-Speed, 12-36
\nDerailleur(s): Shimano Deore DX (front) \/ Shimano Deore XT (rear)
\nBrakes: Shimano XTR with Paul Love Levers
\nShifter(s): Microshift 9-Speed Thumb Shifters
\nSaddle: Specialized Oura
\nSeatpost: Origin 8 Pro Fit
\nStem: Soma Sutro Quill Stem, 80mm
\nFront bags: Tunitas Basket Tote 137
\nAccessory bags: Tunitas Stowaway Stem Bag
\nFront rack: SimWorks Potluck Rack and Tanaka stainless basket
\nLights: Busch & M\u00fcller IQ-X front light and \u03bc Taillight
\nOther accessories: Ghooost Twist Flowers, Spurcycle Bell, Safety triangle made by my friend Steffie using my fabric scrap<\/p>\n

I love my Hillborne so much. I could spend a whole vacation having the time of my life riding some of the sickest mountain bike trails. But coming home and hopping on the Hillborne is really why I fall in love with riding bikes over and over again. For me, it\u2019s cycling at its simplest and most joyous form. I reached that pinnacle in finding my forever bike, and I plan to ride it for the rest of my life. Or as my partner says, until I\u2019m too old and not flexible enough to swing my leg over the top tube. <\/p>\n

\"Rivendell<\/a><\/p>\n

You can see more from Jessica at TunitasCreative.com<\/a> and on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Send Us Your Bikepacking Rig<\/p>\n

Use the form below to submit your bikepacking rig. We\u2019ll choose one per week to feature in a Reader\u2019s Rig Dispatch and on Instagram. To enter, email us your best photo of the bike (preferably at a 90\u00b0 angle), your Instagram username (optional), and a short description of you and your rig. If your bike is selected, we\u2019ll need a total of five photos and a little bit more info. <\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/p>\n

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info…<\/p>\n

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Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.<\/p>\n