Wondering if I should keep rolling with my 2013 Surly Ogre or look for something else.
Some background: Just finished the DK50 on my Ogre, and am looking at the 100 next year. I love the Ogre, and rode it stock except for drop bars. The 50 was a comfy ride, but I could feel the weight on the late hills.
Wondering if I should just start socking money into lightening up the Ogre, sell it and pick up something like a Salsa Vaya (2017) or Niner RLT (any year), or just ride more hills in 2018. My budget for a new bike would probably be what I got out of the Ogre plus maaaaybe a couple hundred, whereas I'd just pick up used parts where I could otherwise.
I'm in it to finish rather than in it to win it. So I'm kinda leaning toward just running with what I got. Still, always fun to think about my options. Thought I'd toss the question out to my betters and see if y'all had any thoughts on the matter.
Tough call. For several hundred you could turn it into a dropbar build fairly easily. But with that several hundred + selling the Ogre you could have a proper gravel bike. I guess it comes down to what type of riding you want to do the most. If you want to do gravel mostly then get a gravel bike. If you're doing more extreme singletrack-type riding, or just love your Ogre, then upgrade it.
I had a Vaya, awesome bike. Had, until my wife bought a cutthroat and I took it for a ride. Sold the Vaya that week and found a little used Cutthroat.
\nI'm an old fat rider but this bike is just a blast to ride.
I've done the drop bar conversion (see below), which really made the bike. I had a medium Fargo that I sold to buy a small Ogre (I'm 5'8), and actually prefer the Ogre in this configuration.
I'd love a Cutthroat, but that's a leetle out of my price range. I'm thinking I stick with it. Saw a couple of guys crush the 200 on fat bikes. If they can do it, surely I can make this one work.
IHMO, it may work better to search out a used bike and then sell your current Ogre. Guess it just depends on your cash flow... The Vaya, RLT, and other more CX/touring-like bikes will definitely climb faster and will be more compliant.
