Hello. Could anyone point me any bikes which would fill in with such criterias as: - steel frame (853 or 631 Reynolds preferably but any steel would be ok) - front and back rack mounts - 2x11 drivetrain 50/34 crankset (preferably shimano's 105) - full hydraulic or hybrid brakes - relaxed geometry more focused on longer rides comfort - front+back thru axles (or at least front) - tyre clearance at least 40mm (more the better but i would be satisfied with max 40-42 i think). Having above in mind are there any bikes fitting in those specs beside Niner RLT 9 steel (which is a bit too pricey for my wallet). In short is there any bike similar to that Niner's spec (Jamis Renegade Exploit would be If I would be sure I could mount a front rack on to it's hidden fork eyelets - I can't find any info about it. Official spec says only about mudguards). And in general is it allowed/safe to mount front rack onto front mudguard eyelets if producer didn't make specific bike with front rack mounts but mudguards only? I'm not speaking about some heavy loading it but still is it possible at all? Or could I go just with some custom rack fittings, something like Tubular racks. Please help.
Check out the 2015 Raleigh Tamland 1. Steel frame, relaxed geometry to include longer chain stays and a lower bottom bracket for stability. I've owned one for two months and love it.
Twin Six Standard Rando is a good option - steel frame/fork, mounts for fenders and racks (and mid-fork rack mounts). Rides really nicely.
\nGuitar Ted posted a review here recently (and bought the review bike).
Check out the Kona Road House it seems to tick all the boxes. Haven't come across any bikes with the above specs that can be had for much less than the Niner msrp. The Jamis shows rack mounts in the factory pics. The video shows panniers too.
Well I should have noted at the beginning that I live in Europe so some of models you reffering to are not available here or buying them and importing is a bit pointless from price point of view (which is bike cost + 23% import TAX). Tamland as I know is produced exlusively for US market. The other one you talk about is probably some US company made bike for US market I believe. As to Roadhouse. Initialy it was my choice but after some digging I came out to a conclusion that that bike is not that versatile as let's say Jamis Renegade Exploit. It got it good points but it lack in few places which personally for me are low tyre clearance (up to 35 or 38 I don't remember), no front mounts, back mounts are designed for mudguards and rack but I've read they're somehow tiny fit 4mm bolt which makes questionable their ability to carry heavier loads. Overall I got a feeling that Roadhouse leans heavy towards pavement/asphalt riding and not much for an off road. I would rather like to buy something more off road and eventually ride on slick tyres then have a bike onto which I couldn't fit bigger tyres (42mm for example). It's 853 Reynlods buil which is great but as it comes to stiffeness it''s the same across all Reynolds steel frames. Differences are in durability of steell in wield areas as I understand. Higher the Reynolds number higher the durabilty for those wield areas. Jamis Exploit is 631 so I think I could be satisfied with it and probably wouldn't notice any difference between Roadhouses 853 and Jamises 631. I think that for my needs Jamis Exploit would fit better out of those 2 (just it lacks of front rack mounts which is a bit crap - maybe I could go around it with some sort of fork custom clamp mounts like Tubular made or something. I need to dig deeper into this matter with that model. Anyone know how to mount front rack on Exploit? Niner RLT 9 steel fits all my needs sadly except price. It's a bit above I can spend on a bike. For 2500$ 2 star steel spec US price i would snatch it but getting it in Europe with all taxes included it becames 3200$ bike (not counting delivery costs) which is no go for me. To add a bit more ridicoulousness - just for Niner frameset cost here I can snag whole complete Exploit bike. I just have to add around 100$ to frame cost. Aside of that as I found out so far it's the most versatile decent looking bike but because of above I have to look for something else.
I know what you mean about the import duties. I was set on a Genesis Croix De Fer but all the tax put it out of reach for me. Personally I wouldn't clamp a carbon Fork and you probably should check the load rating on the Carbon forks you like to make sure it can handle the loads you want to put on them.. A handlebar roll or bag might help some. Packing rear and front to me sounds like a notch up from light touring though. My own experience is 38 or 40 c tires work great and if I need a larger tire size I'll switch bikes. Prices have gotten ridiculous on some bikes and I can relate to that...
My refer to clamp solution was just an generall idea how to go around a problem not that I would do that right away as a sure option. You said something very important in my case which is that if you want to go over 40c you switch bikes. Well that's the exact thing I would like to avoid as much as possible with my purchase. I own a 25 year old steel MTB bike which you probably would laugh off but it's still going. It's a bit oversized for me but it is. Better something then nothing. I just don't treat it as you as an MTB bike. It's kind of travel from point A to B when needed bike. That's why I'm after most versatile balanced bike between road/off road riding with a touch of light touring as you described it. As to that. You probably right with that front rack that it exceeds casual touring which I would eventually practice (if any at all). I start to convince myself that I probably don't need those front mountings. But you know how it is. It's better to have something and not use it then do not have it at all. As to Croix de Fer. I've considered it. The problem is that 105 Shimano's spec 30 version goes again a bit too high for me while 20 version is on Tiagra group (not that it's bad. I just got 2 solid conditions which my eventual purchase need to have which are steel frame and 105 group). The 30 version is about the same as cheaper Jamises Exploit except higher quality steel which about I don't care much (I can go easy with lower 631) and full hydro brakes (which I can go easy with hybrids on Jamis). About the wheels I'm not saying anything as I don't care which wheels those bikes have. My only need for wheelset is maybe to be tubeless ready so again I would have an option to go that way if I would decide to. Overall if the de fer 20 would be the same spec as it is with 105 group in it's current price or few bucks more I would really consider it. In fact with it's tyre clearance and front/end rack mounts it would be perfect. Maybe except it's weight.
The Raleigh Tamland is available in Europe from Raleigh UK. They call it the Maverick. It has a different spec but the frame is exactly the same as the US version.
Oh you reminded me that with Maverick. I wasn't sure was it a Maverick or a Willard or something. Anyway whatever it's called here I ruled that one out due to it's gear groupset.
Price range is affordable for that Elite, in fact it's cheaper then Jamis Exploit. I would say spec is on identical level as Exploits so choosing between those to came down to personal preference of shimanos 105 groupset (and paint finish which in this case of two very closely specced to each other bikes is a very personal deciding factor. In other case I wouldn't take the paint finish onto account in making decision process) At this point I would say that my searching narrowed down to finding somethig which would eventually "beat" Jamis Exploit in affordable price range (about max 1400 UK pounds/2100 US dollars).
kdennan wrote:Speaking of Kona, have you looked at the Rove ST?
\nYes I've seen it. Overall it got everything I look for except drive train. It's a 1x11 system and I would like to avoid it. If that bike would have 2x11 it would be perfect
Yeah, I thought so.
\nYou might consider getting a frame and building your dream bike?! It does cost more, but getting exactly what you want is awesome. I figure either way, if I buy a complete, I'll be changing saddle, tires, maybe bars and bar tape, etc, so why not?
At the moment I narrowed down my search to 2 bikes which are Jamis Renegade Exploit and Genesis Croix de Fer 20. My problem now is to decide what would be better to buy. Jamis with higher 2x11 105 group front carbon fork with thru axle but no front rack mounts and worse steel quality or de Fer 20 with worse 2x10 tiagra group full front and back rack mounts steel fork with no thru axle and better quality steel frame. I can't decide which one of those 2 would be more versatile from use and eventuall upgrades point of view.
kdennan wrote:Yeah, I thought so.
\nYou might consider getting a frame and building your dream bike?! It does cost more, but getting exactly what you want is awesome. I figure either way, if I buy a complete, I'll be changing saddle, tires, maybe bars and bar tape, etc, so why not?
\nWell. I've considered it too but overall I found out it would take me way up above my budget so this way is a no go for me.
Bart33kk wrote:At the moment I narrowed down my search to 2 bikes which are Jamis Renegade Exploit and Genesis Croix de Fer 20. My problem now is to decide what would be better to buy. Jamis with higher 2x11 105 group front carbon fork with thru axle but no front rack mounts and worse steel quality or de Fer 20 with worse 2x10 tiagra group full front and back rack mounts steel fork with no thru axle and better quality steel frame. I can't decide which one of those 2 would be more versatile from use and eventuall upgrades point of view.
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\nDon't know much about either of those, sorry. I'm a Kona nut. When you factor in "upgrades" the investment goes up of course, beyond perhaps building it right the first time. When I talk with a customer who is educated on parts selection and frame materials, etc, I immediately offer to help them go custom build. You seem to fit that category. I don't think you'll be completely stoked on a budget complete bike. Custom is all about you my friend!
kdennan wrote:
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\nDon't know much about either of those, sorry. I'm a Kona nut. When you factor in "upgrades" the investment goes up of course, beyond perhaps building it right the first time. When I talk with a customer who is educated on parts selection and frame materials, etc, I immediately offer to help them go custom build. You seem to fit that category. I don't think you'll be completely stoked on a budget complete bike. Custom is all about you my friend!
\nIf you could I would ask you to have a look in your free time on those 2 bikes I pointed out and share your opinions/thoughts about them. What's their advantages /disadvantages from your point of view /experience. .
The New Tiagra group gets pretty good reviews and is not cheap to buy either. The Croix De Fer 20 would be my choice, heck it's been around the world in record time too!
Damn meanwhile surfing Internet i found a site which sells custom de Fer build bikes and they got de Fer 20 build on 105 groupset. It may be it! I need to get in touch with them. Site is paulmilnescycles.com
\nP. S. After waiting 5 days for them to reply still no response all I can say they're bunch of douchbags.
