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Anybody ridden one?
I've seen the reviews on the site and they seem to be a pretty good, worthy and versatile machine. Just wondered if they were a bit dull compared to something like a Stooge or a Puffin?
Always tempted by a steel singlespeed.
Cheers.
I see it as a bit more of a bikepacking and general purpose bike rather than a singletrack slayer. It would be nice if they updated the fork for through axle as well. I am tempted by one, but at the moment it is the qr fork that puts me off.
bit dull compared to something like a Stooge or a Puffin?
That's a bit of a variation from XC/bikepacking, to XC/trail to fat bike. It's closer to stuff like the Karate Monkey, El Mariachi, Swift, etc.
I see it as a bit more of a bikepacking and general purpose bike rather than a singletrack slayer. It would be nice if they updated the fork for through axle as well. I am tempted by one, but at the moment it is the qr fork that puts me off.
Why (on both counts)? The geometry's in the same ballpark as most ~100mm XC hardtails so it should do that a well as having all the bottle mounts etc for a longer bikepacking trip.
The only time I've had a QR move in the dropout was during a nose diving crash that was hard enough to have me worried I'd ruptured my femoral artery (I hadn't, it was a raspberry gel I'd forgotten in my pocket that exploded on impact). And it still got stopped by the lawyer tabs. Even a rudimentary steel fork is probably stiffer than most bolt through sus forks.
They seem pretty decent. The previous one would have certainly been on my radar when I bought my KM Ops if I had known about it.
Edit: The 30% off ATM adds to the appeal!
worried I’d ruptured my femoral artery (I hadn’t, it was a raspberry gel I’d forgotten in my pocket that exploded on impact)
That made me laugh, although I imagine it wan't funny at the time
I like the fact it has QR front and rear - all my wheels will fit.
All your wheels will fit for now, but it is a technological dead end, and not one I want to be investing in for new components.
For that sort of bike, which you'll likely keep for a long while, QR both ends is a good thing not a bad one.
Even road bikes are moving away from qr, it really isn't a long term solution, it will go the same way as quill stems, cantilever brakes and 26" wheels.
That made me laugh, although I imagine it wan’t funny at the time
It was a week or so after Garcia did his, I sort of picked myself up of the floor a bit dazed and confused then suddenly found my jersey/shorts soaked through with a sticky red liquid!
All your wheels will fit for now, but it is a technological dead end, and not one I want to be investing in for new components.
How often do you need to replace a front hub? I can't ever remember replacing one due to it being broken or worn out!
I suspect for the buyers of that sort of bike the front hub they put in it will be the same one that's there 20,000 miles later.
Compare that to a maxle, with umpteen breakable moving parts, how long will Rockshox support 100mm maxles, or 110mm maxles? Whereas I bet in 20 years time you'll still be able to get shimano QR's.
I still ride bikes with cantis. quill stems and 26" wheels - perfectly serviceable and up to the job. I'll stick with what I have for now and maybe in 30 years think about changing 😉 ...Maybe.
The choice of better quality tyres is already limited for 26" wheels, even more so for rims which have a braking track, not even easy getting a 25.2 handlebar to fit a quill stem . So you while you could be happy to continue with these technologies, you probably will have little choice to continue using them when parts need replacing.
The world is moving on from qr, current midrange frames shouldn't be using them now IMO.
I also ride 700c, b+, 29+ and fat but like to keep my options open. Things move on but some people still ride bikes nearly 100 years old. Nothing against new stuff, just like all my old stuff to fit.
For a bike I am buying in the present, I would rather have easy access to a wide choice of spare parts in the future than have to source them in the past.
For a bike I am buying in the present, I would rather have easy access to a wide choice of spare parts in the future than have to source them in the past.
Don't buy a Brother Big Block then. There we go, sorted.
QR won't go away.
QR/old dropout spacing is the main reason I picked my Genesis Longitude over other fancier options. QR hubs aren't going away, and on a bike like this you don't need the latest, stiffest technology going. Wherever you are in the world, if your hub goes, you be able to get a new one, can't say the same about Boost...
The choice of better quality tyres is already limited for 26″ wheels, even more so for rims which have a braking track, not even easy getting a 25.2 handlebar to fit a quill stem . So you while you could be happy to continue with these technologies, you probably will have little choice to continue using them when parts need replacing.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">The world is moving on from qr, current midrange frames shouldn’t be using them now IMO.</span>
The world of mainstream suspension frames maybe, but I don't think steel (or any material) hardtails need any more than a QR so it'll be around for a good while yet. And as I said earlier, stick a Pro2 or comparable hub up front and it'll likely still be there a long time into the future, probably long after the average boost/650b+/BB30/12speed bike has long been considered obsolete. 100x15 seems to have been dropped, how long will spare 100x15mm axles be available Vs Shimano still making QR's?
So no-one's ridden one then? Long chainstays might make it at bit reluctant to lift its front but I like the pink.
I have ridden one loads, about 1000km off road SS in the months I've had it. Loads of fun, is really good on singletrack and very capable. Pretty light as well, got a nice compliance to the frame. Highly recommend, and would even if I didn't sell them. But I chose to sell them because I like them. Built my one on a bit of a whim because I had some old 29er wheels, bars and chainset, but had some of my best rides on it this year, really pleasantly bridges the gap between my gravel bike and real mtbs. Plus after spending the last 15 years fixing everyone elses gears it's nice to not need to look after mine!
Comes with QR rear plates but £15 for 12x142 plates and £13 for a brand X thru axle and you have 142, 100x15mm front wheels fit with an adapter and QR, assuming you can't just change the end caps in your hub. That's how mine is set up.
The front being QR I think adds to the ride feel, I have found previous bolt through rigids a bit rough. Had it down built 'enduroish' style trails with no movement, as ever, just use a Shimano QR.
Loads of pictures of mine up on our instagram along with some custom builds inc a drop bar offer we have on at £1499 -
https://pedalsbikecare.co.uk/shop/2018-brother-cycles-big-bro-frameset/