Genesis Vagabond

[Bez]

14kg? Pfft, those tyres came off something that's 15.4kg

Look, it's so heavy it actually sank into the trail this morning.

[hoppy58]

...Glad you like it! They are stable aren't they. Egged on by my daughter I also rode no-handed, for about 300 m with barely a wobble! I used to have a Surly LHT (26" wheel) and the thing I notice is how the Vagabond carries its momentum really well when the roads turns skywards, whereas the LHT used to stutter and you'd have to change down - maybe this is the difference in wheel size...but I tend to think that Genesis have got the geometry bang on.

Come on, lets have a look!

[reohn2]

I agree about the goemetry but 5mm on the chainstays and 0.5degrees slacker on the seatube would've been better still.
I'll get some photos up when I get the chance

[reohn2]

Here's some photos

[kwackers]

Wot! No mudguards?

[reohn2]

Wot! No mudguards?

Not yet,but if I fit a pair of 2.1 knobblies there may be no room for them.
It's the first bike I've owned since I can't remember when that didn't have them,and I'm surprised how mucky me and the bike are getting even in such dry weather as we're having

[hoppy58]

That's nice.

I use SKS beavertails when using my Vagabond off-road - very sturdy and keep quite a lot of the muck off. They stop spray from getting in your face and on-road, would keep most of it off your back. Here's a photo, not very clear, sorry - with 2.1 kenda small blocks - plenty of clearance...I lengthened the rear guard with a home-made extension. The front guard fits via the sturdy, (supplied) bracket which bolts on to the front fork, whilst the rear had to be cobbled together because of the lack of mounting on the rear seat-stay bridge. I think I used a reflector bracket.

[. by hop58, on Flickr*]

[Grarea]

Here's some photos

what are the shifters attached to there?

[reohn2]

Here's some photos

what are the shifters attached to there?

They're mentioned in the OP.
They're 9sp b/end levers mounted in Kelly Take Off's:- http://www.kellybike.com/product/takeoff/ They're available from SIS cycles a £70 but come up on Ebay occassionally.
They place the gearlevers in board of the brake levers protected from falls,yet easy to operate.I ride off road quite a bit where a a fall can ruin a pair of STI's.
Initially they need a bit of a learning curve to become natural,but I like them.I prefer them with down tube levers fitted as they're a little longer and not cranked like b/end levers but those levers were what I found in "the box" when building up the bike.Down the road I may swap them for D/T levers.
They also have the advantage of being able to switch the lever on the rear mech to friction(front is already friction)should the indexing get messed up if the rear mech gets damaged or hanger get's bent miles from anywhere.

[reohn2]

Hoppy
Thanks for the heads up on the m/guards,I'm looking at the options available

[Grarea]

Here's some photos

what are the shifters attached to there?

They're mentioned in the OP.
They're 9sp b/end levers mounted in Kelly Take Off's:- http://www.kellybike.com/product/takeoff/ They're available from SIS cycles a £70 but come up on Ebay occassionally.
They place the gearlevers in board of the brake levers protected from falls,yet easy to operate.I ride off road quite a bit where a a fall can ruin a pair of STI's.
Initially they need a bit of a learning curve to become natural,but I like them.I prefer them with down tube levers fitted as they're a little longer and not cranked like b/end levers but those levers were what I found in "the box" when building up the bike.Down the road I may swap them for D/T levers.
They also have the advantage of being able to switch the lever on the rear mech to friction(front is already friction)should the indexing get messed up if the rear mech gets damaged or hanger get's bent miles from anywhere.

I didn't realise they were something that was made.
I was thinking I wouldn't mind fitting my 'road/utility/everything/mooching about on bridle paths' bike with drops.
I see that Colin made something similar.
They look ideal.
I suspect that positioning is pretty important.
Like you say, lever length, distance from bar etc as well.

Thanks for that.

[RickH]

You can still get 3TTT Tiramisu bar ends from Planet X for £5 a pop, which could easily form the basis of a home-brew version. (Despite what it says in the description they are not 25.4mm they clamp on the main, narrow part of drop bars - 22mm? - so could be clamped anywhere on pretty much any bar.)

[reohn2]

Grarea
There's a lot thread on the forum somewhere with some pretty neat home made Kelly versions on it.

[colin54]

Here's Colin's Thumbies / Kelly skinflint thread, best make a cup of tea before starting it.......



viewtopic.php?f=5&t=57027&hilit=skinflints

[reohn2]

An update on the Vagabond with some small changes made:-
Front mech has been swapped from an RSX low clamp 7sp one for an Ultegra road 10sp one which gives quite a bit more clearance between the seatube and tyre and also moved the pivots and spring to the side of and not behind the seatube.
I swapped the seatpost from the Easton EA50 to a Thorn layback post as this gives a more precise micro adjustment,the EA50 was either too nose down or too nose up due to the course serrations on the interfaces.
I swapped the seatpost collar for a Salsa Liplock,the original Genesis one that came with the frame didn't inspire confidence,it looked cheap and flimsy.This isn't the first one I've changed,the one on my Longitude was a worse still QR one that wouldn't tighten enough.
Salsa Liplock is the Rolls Royce of seat collars IMO,very stylish and made from quality materials.

I've now fitted the bike with black 53mm Bluemels mudguards but wish I'd gone for 60mm as there's a bit of overspill with 50mm tyres ,a nice long front mudflap and a rubber deflector on the rear takes care of anything coming up off the road or trails.

I'm very happy with the bike for its intended purpose,it handles the trails and crapmac it's used on brilliantly,and with the Marathon Supreme tyres fitted is surprisingly quick and nimble both on and off road,for what is after all a heavish bike.

I've slightly tweaked the riding position as I've put miles on it,it's now juusssttt about dialed in

The Alpine Douple chainset is proving a really good choice(I normall ride a triple),the 24/39t c/set with the 14,15,17,19,21,23,26,30,34t custom cassette gives a 20in low to 79.5in high gear with a nice progression where it's needed in the most used gears.
I can climb steep 10%+ gravel in bottom gear,and have spun out top gear at 25mph.I don't need anything lower or higher,but if I were younger and fitter changing the chainrings for say 26 or 28t/40 or 42t would give a higher set with the same progression.

That about sums up the changes made other than to mention that today I swapped the 700x50mm Marathon Supremes for 700x50mm Conti RaceKings which measure up the same size as the Supremes(45w x 47high),these have a nice supple carcass similar to the Supremes but with a small close knobblie tread which look like they'll ride well off road in the impending wetish winter weather and look likely to ride well on crapmac.
A word about the Supremes,these are fast supple tyres that roll very well indeed for a big tyre and I'm very pleased with them,though they aren't as supple as Hypers due IMO to having a thicker albeit slick tread.
As a comparison at 50mm(44wx47high actual)they're about as supple as 40mm(37wx37h)Hypers but almost as quick which is saying something for a much bigger air chamber and I run them at much lower pressures,28f/48r compared to the smaller Hypers at 45f/65r.

EDIT;I'll post some photos when I get a chance to take them