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I've had a search but couldn't find a thread on this.
I've got one of the original Arkrose and it's been an incredibly useful and versatile bike. This new version seems much more focused off road, and I reckon the wider tyres and sub compact gearing will make it even more useful for the riding I'm starting to do on mine, which has replaced my Soul for a lot of my local riding, but is a bit hard work at times.
Before I casually wander into my local Evans tomorrow when I have to kill and hour or two in town, anyone got any experience and especially problems with the new models?
Thanks
Have a bump.
(Follows thread.)
Interested in the sizing myself as I'm 6ft1 so possibly on boundary between LG and XL
I popped into Evans Birmingham, about 3 weeks ago and they’d no idea when they were getting stock. Might have improved since then. You might get more replies if you post on the monster Arkose thread….
I was hoping to avoid getting lost in the original thread!
I know the Nottingham store had a Large on display about 3 weeks ago. The website suggests 10-14 days for stock, but they always used to under promise and over deliver.
Sizing appears to follow the original Arkrose sizing - I'm 5'9", right at the top of the recommended medium range, and the medium has been spot on with my old one.
I've just been into Evans in Brighton and they had one on display there but it was the Arkose X that really caught my eye, I don't need one but I really want one. More off road still than the D3 with 1x gearing and flared bars. Looks like plenty of clearance for a 2" tyre and I assume it's the same frame. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Pinnacle I've been really pleased with my Ramin 3+, just need to find a reason to need it not just want it!
6ft 1 = large unless you have really weird proportions or go for "Halfords" sizing
Dawson re sizing. I have 2018 Arkose 3 in xl and I'm 6ft 1 inch and a bit. I find it a lovely fit.
You may want to test before buy.
Oops - I appear to have ordered one!
I ordered a D3 in store on Thursday, there was none at the warehouse but they said they’d get one from another store. They had a large D1 in store that I tried for size, I’m 6ft and it was the right size.
I ordered one a couple of weeks ago and it had to be ordered in from another store. I must say the service from Evans was very underwhelming but the bike is awesumz!
I've done a few commutes to work which is half bike, half train and it's so comfy on the crap roads round here it feels like it has suspension. I would go as far as saying it's more comfy than my old hardtail.
I also took it for a mixed ride last weekend for a couple of hours and took in some single track, farm tracks and a bit of gravel. It lapped it all up and I had a great time!
I got a bit over confident on the single track as it felt so planted and I forgot I was on a drop barred rigid bike. I still have a big bruise on my thigh where I glanced off a tree and the bar went into my leg ☺.
I'm 6'3" and the large fits perfectly. It feels a bit stretched out, but I think that might just be because I haven't ridden much in the last 12 months and I'm used to old mtbs.
I'll try and post some pics in a minute...
Hopefully this will work...excuse the bare wall and the state of the path!
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Shiny paint looks better in real life, it's got a metallic look to it:
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Bluebells
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Nice views once out of the woods
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Good feedback there, just what I was hoping to hear - I use my original Arkrose on the local bridleways that I used to ride the MTB on, but occasionally 35mm tyres, roadie gearing and especially BB5 brakes scare me, so the latest version looks spot on!
Oooh, love the paint in sunshine!
Oh, and the brakes are immense! I had a 2nd hand road bike a few years back and I never really got on with it. The brakes used to scare me as they were crap compared to my xt's on the mtb. That was one of the reasons for dropping the extra cash for the D3 over the D1.
It took a few hard stops to bed in and now I can do an endo far too easily 😎.
I love the paint job, but the D1 looks even better in the flesh - almost a two tone effect.
If you want any more pics or info let me know...
That's great thanks - gonna be a long 10 days till it arrives
Did someone say you want more pictures? Oh, go on then!
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Plenty of mud clearance
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Cable routing is good, minimal chance of cable rub here!
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That bike is gorgeous. Just needs a hub gear.
Hub gear version is a different colour, sadly
Just realised I said the large fits me perfectly. That should have said xl! Too many shandies tonight 😀
That’s annoying, just had an email saying I won’t get it until the 8th May now.
The more I look at that paintwork the more I'm thinking of invisiframe or something before various bike packing bags ruin it
Looks bang on for commuting duties on the lanes and canal path....
So 5'10, should I be looking to try a medium or Large?? bang on between sizes.
That does look good. Like the idea of the Praxis chainset and the rest of the spec seems really tidy for the cash. Don't need it.
Harry too - I'm just a bit over 5'9 and looking at a medium.
My canyon is a medium and sizes up about right.....
Will see if I can track one down for size.
Cheers.
It arrives tomorrow...…
Expect a full review tomorrow!
Anyone know the changes in this years model to last years. It says on Evans site that it's the biggest change in 7 years but it looks on the surface pretty much the same , thanks
Has the postie been yet Morecashthandash??
Sorry, yes it's arrived. No idea how to post pics nowadays.
And it's not been ridden yet. LBS is going to invisiframe that gorgeous paint job for me on Monday - it's going to be used a lot, and I want to minimise chips, scratches and rubs from luggage.
Brilliantly thought out bike though. Roll on Tuesday!
I'm waiting impatiently for my cycle scheme voucher to be paid by my employer so I can order a D1 and a set of 32c slick tyres to go with it, really looking forward to it as it should be perfect for my commute. I'm 5'11 and planning on going for the large unless anyone thinks that's a bad idea?
bikeytom - I'm 5'9 and a little bit and right at the top of the medium range, though a large is too big. I might need a slightly longer stem.
If you are near a store they can get them in so you can try before you buy
Unfortunately the closest store to me is Norwich, which is a bit of a trek. They also didn't have anything except the X in stock last time I was there. They had a large Trek checkpoint AL3 which felt right to me though, I'm actually toying with getting that instead of the Arkose as it was quite nice too.
Picked my D3 up today, lovely looking machine. I’ve never done tubeless before and the rims and tyres are tubeless ready, does that mean I just need valves or do I need tape too?
I also noticed just below where the front derailleur is banded on there’s another ‘thing’ banded on, it’s plastic with a kind of hook shape on the end that sits near the chainrings, never seen one before so can anybody put me right as to what it is?
@russl - it's a chain catcher. to stop it falling in and messing the BB shell
So, it's done about 100 miles so far this week, a few quick first thoughts:
The sparkly paint job is lovely, though there are a couple of small scratches under the lacquer. I don't mind, and it's been Invisframed to protect it from the abuse I hope it receives in the next few years.
It feels very upright when I'm on the tops, and stretched when I'm on the hoods, but just right on the drops. Need to play with that a bit.
It feels stiff - especially cornering. Not uncomfortable, shake your teeth out stiff, but solid. It's my first bike with thru axles, so it might be that.
It has hydro brakes. The old one had cable discs. The difference is huge, I found as I did some sort of power slide into a canal path barrier....
The saddle I'm not sure about, but always personal opinion. 50 odd miles on Saturday has made my bottom sore.
The tyres are as big as my first Scott Impulse MTB had in the 90s. But they don't seem too draggy. They are prone to thorns it seems, and as discussed on another tyre specific thread, they are an absolute bastard to get off the rim. The worst I've ever had to deal with. 45mm might be a bit of overkill for the trails it will be on, so I've got some 38mm Gravel Kings on order to try.
The subcompact gearing is a revelation. I love it. It's spot on for gravel riding. Seem to spin out at about 28mph (downhill, obviously) but there seems to be an ideal gear for any speed or situation, more so than the old standard compact on my original Arkrose. I've used every cog on the cassette in a week, and I think there are a couple of sprockets on the original bike that I didn't need in 5 years. I can see subcompact being a definite option for non racing bimblers like me on my road bike, given my proximity to the Peak