Gravel/adventure bike or MTB?

[elPedro666]

I think you'd be surprised at how much difference an inch can make, used well (fnarrfnarr!). Basing that on riding short travel retrobikes which have really surprised me with what 50mm of elastomers can achieve.

I'm basing the double/triple thing on the fact that every single road bike I've ever seen with a triple is pig ugly (cue photos from agreived owners, like parents of ugly babies that they can't see...). I'll make an exception for heavy duty tourers the likes of Thorn, which are pleasingly utilitarian and industrial. I didn't see anything in the original brief that required winching heavy loads up mountain passes...

But in truth, to me that's just cranks and shifters - not something I'd consider important as it's the sort of thing that gets swapped around, and pretty irrelevant compared to the important aspects of the ride quality. This is perhaps not the case for the op though, who for all I know may be 86 with delicate knees... [emoji6]

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[reohn2]

I'd really like to see some of those 'fugly' triples and the difference to compact c/sets

One thing I've learned in 50+ years cycling is there'll come a time when you need a really low gear,scenarios like cafe closed,pouring rain,wind(there always is),last bonk ration devoured,feeling weak,and you turn the corner and there's that killer hill you didn't know existed.The saviour is twiddling up in a 20inch gear that you're glad of.

As for swapping around cranks and shifters,STIs/Ergos/Double tap levers and their equivalent chainsets don't come cheap.
For my bikes it would be cheap but then I run friction on the front on Kelly take off levers and Stronglight Impact cranks,which look just as 'fugly' as their Impact compacts.

One of my Vayas:-




It's called Baby Blue,and is beautiful to it's father,which is all that matters....

[Bonefishblues]

I've told you before about posting porn...

I think that there seems, on road bike triples, to be a fashion for graphite grey. I think that makes the triple look unduly "heavy" and prominent, when compared to a predominantly silver one, so I think I understand what's being said.

[elPedro666]

I've told you before about posting porn...

I think that there seems, on road bike triples, to be a fashion for graphite grey. I think that makes the triple look unduly "heavy" and prominent, when compared to a predominantly silver one, so I think I understand what's being said.

It is also, of course, entirely my own prejudice, so entirely ignorable (if you'll forgive the made-up word) [emoji3]

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[reohn2]

I've told you before about posting porn...

I must admit it is a bit 'blue'

[Trail Beater]

I've told you before about posting porn...

I must admit it is a bit 'blue'

Looks bloody solid too.
Nice.

[Bmblbzzz]

Yesterday I met a bloke on a Kona Sutra! His is four years old so there will be some small differences compared to the current model, but basically the same bike. He's very pleased with it, you'll be happy to hear. He doesn't use it for touring much, mostly day rides but he does like a bit of mild off-road riding -- bridleways and so on. He did say it was a bit over-lively off-road and he might fit wider tyres. The only other problem he had was toe/mudguard overlap, and his feet are size 8; apparently cured on later models with a redesigned fork. The weight he quoted was impressive: 25kg with empty panniers! "They're heavy panniers though." Alturas -- I've no idea how they compare to over brands. He estimates the weight without racks and mudguards would be 18kg. Even though it's a steel-framed full-on tourer with no pretensions to anything other than comfort and endurance, that does sound heavy to me.

[reohn2]

25lb surely not kg
Which would be quite light

[Bmblbzzz]

25kg is what he said. That's for the bike with guards, racks and empty but "heavy" panniers. If you think you could get that down to 25lbs for a steel frame, please show us where!

[Bonefishblues]

I weighed mine (Sutra) with guards, no racks and with a B17 fitted at pretty much spot on 30lbs. Those are heavy racks and panniers!

[Bonefishblues]

I weighed mine with guards, no racks and with a B17 fitted at pretty much spot on 30lbs. Those are heavy racks and panniers!

[reohn2]

25kg is what he said. That's for the bike with guards, racks and empty but "heavy" panniers. If you think you could get that down to 25lbs for a steel frame, please show us where!

Each of my Vayas weight 12kg with 'gaurds no racks,front and rear Tubus would weigh 3kg at most,rear panniers 2kg at most,so 17kg absolute tops.

[MikeDee]

25kg is what he said. That's for the bike with guards, racks and empty but "heavy" panniers. If you think you could get that down to 25lbs for a steel frame, please show us where!

http://velonews.competitor.com/bike-rev ... uct_search

I have a Bruce Gordon BLT that weighs 28 lbs. without fenders or racks. I feel the heft in the hills. It's also disconcerting when my Cannondale F900SL mountain bike weighs 24+ lbs.

[Bmblbzzz]

Well, I'm only quoting what I was told! I'm quite impressed if it is about 12kg in its 'bare' state. Mind you, I'm also a bit surprised they sell it like that -- though I suppose it allows people to choose their own racks and guards.

Also, one by for a tourer, really?

[bisikletci]

Update for anyone that's interested - I live in Euroland but am paid in pounds - so sadly the Vaya (which is way more expensive here than the other two) is definitely out...

I've spoken to a couple of Specialized dealers and the AWOL is sold out here (I could get one online, but I want to test ride it first) and there's no word of the 2017 model, so it'll be at least a few months before I can do anything. That said I'm leaning more and more towards the AWOL on paper - it doesn't seem to inspire as much devotion as the Vaya but lots of owners seem very happy with it nonetheless, andit takes much wider tires than the Sutra.