Cycling UK Forum

I think I would be stupid if I don't buy something now, considering the sales that seem to be going. Any idea how long the sales last at evans and such? Is this a matter of days or rather a few weeks?

Any advice on pedals and shoes to go with the bike is also welcome!

Thinking of getting Shimano M520 SPD's (cheapest SPD's) and a compatible shoe

I think I'm going to get a complete bike, simply because I want to start riding as soon as possible, I have no other bike to ride at the moment and I'm very very eager and stoked to just get on the bike and go go go

Very very interesting information, thank you! Going to do some research into building your own bike

Got to say that the Cinelli Hobo complete with Tubus racks and fenders and stuff for € 1080 is tempting. That Italian shop just confirmed to me that delivery to my country is free of charge. Only question is if the Columbus reinforced steel is any good

Building the bike myself is something I would want to do, but someone earlier in this thread told me that this will almost always be more expensive than buying your best bet complete bike and swapping the things you don't like later on. Or is it cheaper/about the same price in some cases?

That is a very interesting bike and indeed the versatility I am looking for (and maybe even more)! The one Singular dealer in Belgium listed on their website seems outdated though, it is not clear if he still sells bicycles at all, and I can't find an e-mail, but I have sent Singular a mail to see what it would cost to get me a complete peregrine. That might be already a problem because it seems they only sell the frames and do not do complete bikes?

chocjohn9 wrote:SamSam
Your two choices are not available in Belgium but are at Evans Cycles - which happens to have a showroom at Gatwick - not too far from here (Bel) then... plus being a huge online retailer, you might see other stuff at the same time. Certainly worth a trip over.....
Spec wise, they seem fairly similar but the Genesis does have a 725 frame - excellent and is £125 cheaper. At the end of the day, components are important but the frame is king of the list of things to want to get right first time around.

Yes, I have absolutely no idea what to think about the Columbus reinforced steel Cinelli is using. The predecessor of the Hobo, The Cinelli bootleg Racing Rats frame, has gotten horrible reviews, and I have found more bad reviews of steel Cinelli bikes. However, that might not mean that this Columbus reinforced steel frame is bad, because maybe they've gotten it right this time?

Anyone out there with experience on a Columbus reinforced steel bike?

mrjemm wrote:

SamSam wrote:Cinelli Hobo

Cinelli Hobo can take bigger tyres and to me seems a little bit more specced as a touring bike? Although I'm not sure, don't actually "know" all those components...If the Hobo is considerately cheaper I guess I go Hobo.

Hi Sam, I don't think Cinelli are known for cheap bikes! Also still wonder about this bike, whether it is anywhere in the real world- have you seen one, or are aware of them being available anywhere?

Maybe the Genesis is the only one actually available in the real world! (Not counting Surly and Salsa etc., we've all seen'n ridden those, but they're ruled out... ). Hobos and AWOLs I think are perhaps vapourware... Unicorns.

Now here is something really interesting to add to the mix...

http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/12/20/fou ... wolverine/

The Cinelli Hobo's are expected to hit the stores somewhere in January, probably by the end of january I guess. So that is indeed somewhat of a problem, there are no reviews and only luka bravi (or whatever his name is) has ridden one.

I indeed noticed the Hobo on evans, costing almost € 1600 in the UK, but according to Italian discussion boards the bike costs € 1200 in Italy, and I have found it even for € 1080 here: http://www.ciclimattio.com/en/ciclismo/detail/CINELLI_BOOTLEG_HOBO_TELAIO_E_FORCELLA_CUSTOM_2014/73165. Does anyone has experience with ordering something from that shop?

that Soma Wolverine is nice, but not for sale yet so he is out

Brucey wrote:Re the Fuji;

these bikes are very often a good spec for the price and seem as well made as any. If the bike fits you and has the spec you want, go for it.

However if you are looking for downsides to a Fuji then;

1) bike snobs won't drool over it (maybe this is an upside.... )

2) check both the warranty conditions and the customer experiences of people who have had to use their warranties.

I think on paper you get a lifetime frame warranty but how well this works in the UK is anyone's guess.

cheers

The Fuji indeed does seem pretty decent! And there also seem to be a very large amount of dealers here in Belgium, so I might try one out next week. I Think the bike is beautiful enough, and I don't care about bike snobs

Can't find information regarding the tire clearance ANYWHERE though

Limited lifetime warranty on the fuji, but reports seem mixed, some have gotten a new bicycle within a week, others had to wait more than 5 weeks

@chocjohn: Thanks for the offer! Will let you know if I make it across the pond!

The Cdf (cheaper cousin of the Croix de Fer) is out because of the road.cc review (the bigger brother seems to be worth the extra money)

Specialized AWOL is also out

The dealers listed at the Surly website are outdated! I know some of them and they don't stock Surly anymore

So still in the running for me are:

Genesis Croix de Fer
Cinelli Hobo

Cinelli Hobo can take bigger tyres and to me seems a little bit more specced as a touring bike? Although I'm not sure, don't actually "know" all those components. On the other side, the Croix de Fer has the advantage of its very good and proven reputation while the Hobo is completely new. If the Hobo is considerately cheaper I guess I go Hobo.

I also noticed the "Fuji Touring" today, but it seems dangerously cheap? And maybe I shouldn't add new options and stick with the two I have narrowed down to

Thank you for the info!

And that is actually not such a bad idea to cross the pond to go check some bikes, might have to look into that

Have to correct myself, the Day One is out because it is not designed to be able to take a front rack

pioneer wrote:SamSam, if it helps, the CDF frame looks very similar to the Genesis Day One frame, including the fork and chainstay gaps. I got a Day One disc some weeks back (a brilliant bike I might add) and it's got 35 mil tyres. I've put Crudcatcher's on rather than full mudguards, but wouldn't risk putting mudguards on with tyres any wider than 35 mil anyway. There isn't much gap, especially under the fork.

Have you considered the Surly LHT? Not the prettiest, but well designed and built and with a cracking reputation. One of the guys on the club run today was on his, got to admit, it's an impressive bike.

That is exactly what I was thinking today at work! I was wondering the following:

If I would buy a Croix de Fer, I would change the cassette/gearing before I go on a loaded tour anyhow. So if the Day One (which I also think is pretty pretty by the way) is essentially the same frame (but with lower graded steel?), it might not be a bad idea to get that one (because single speed/fixed gear is fine for commuting and everyday use to me) and thus transform the bike into a touring bike when the adventure nears.

However, in the end I guess I might end up spending the same amount of money? Because next to a touring cassette, I would have to buy and install derailleurs, shifters (and maybe some other things that are missing on the Day One which I'm unaware of) on the Day one.

I have considered the LHT, but I dismissed it because of the looks, the price, and the availability here in Belgium (The dealer information for Belgium seems very outdated, and it is unclear whether there still are Surly dealers in our country at the moment). Also, a few people have informed me that the LHT might be a little less fun to ride unloaded than some of the other candidates, and like mrjemm said: views and desires might change, and for all I know I might end up doing more unloaded/light loaded than heavy heavy loaded touring.

Curious to hear your thoughts

mrjemm wrote:I suspect the Hobo is another that nobody has ever seen, let alone ridden. Except hipster-hero Luis Bunuelle(?) on his advertising junket for it.

I think a large number of manufacturers now do a model that fits this genre (marketing target), so you've a lot of choice out there. If you're thinking of adapting over time (or building yourself to get right from the off), it's worth looking beyond stuff that could be changed easily when preparing for your big trip, gearing being one thing, especially as touring gearing, depending on how/where you tour, is likely to be different to commuting gearing (again depending on how/where you commute). Also, as time nears for your adventure, your knowledge, views and desires will change, so a bare-bones machine may make more sense. Or even a currently commute/day-to-day use oriented bike (as most of the models really are, I think).

That makes sense. Not sure if I understand you completely though, but do you mean that the Croix de Fer (and similar bikes) are good bare-bones machines? Or is the Croix de F a less good bare-bones machine because of the rather limited tyre clearance? Ok I know, that sounds silly

Very interesting information guys, learning a lot here!

A bike that seems to be comparable to the Croix de Fer in terms of geometry (based on a first look) might be the Cinelli Hobo, so that may be an alternative to the Croix de Fer for me, since the Hobo can take 40mm tyres with fenders, and comes with lower gearing (I think) and a few other specific features for loaded touring.

Going to place an order within the next 3/4 weeks, for the Croix de F or something else

Are the differences between a 32/35 and a 38/40/42mm tyre that big/significant? Are you going to get that much more flats or discomfort when doing some on and off-road touring?

Because the differences seem rather subtle to me? Please do correct me if I'm wrong

Croix de Fer 32/35mm with fenders
Salsa Vaya 38mm with fenders
Surly Disc Trucker 42mm with fenders
Spa cycles steel tourer 35/37mm with fenders
Kona Sutra 40mm with fenders
Cinelli Hobo 38/40mm with fenders

the tyre clearance is the only reason why I haven't ordered one yet. Any idea what the clearance on the chainstays/seatstays is? Or in other words, what is the maximum tyre size you could theoretically fit on the Croix de Fer if you would swap the fork? And how difficult and/or expensive is such an undertaking? I guess not all forks fit all frames?

I suppose 700x32 is fine for when I go touring in Europe (mostly paved), but since I'm a big guy (192 cm and +- 88/90 kg), I might need some bigger tyres for touring in Central Asia in the future, where oftentimes you encounter gravel roads or worse. Not sure which tyre size I would need for such an adventure

The Spa tourer seems nice, as well as some other things out there (Surly, Kona and Salsa bikes), but I'm still drawn to the Croix de Fer by its sheer beauty I guess it might be rather foolish to buy a Croix de Fer and then after a few years having to buy another bike because I need bigger tyres for a specific trip