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Looking at this for commuting, winter riding, general bimbling about with the intention of some bikepacking at a later date.
What else in a similar price point/capability can one recommend the madon insearchof looks great but sure is spendy...
Vagabond is a great knockabout IME on 2.1 Nanos. Liked it. Never bikepacked on it. Didn’t like. It so much on 35c tyres, was more like one of those MTB road ‘conversions’ we used to do in the 90s. But drop-bar 29er it makes more sense on long tracks and fire-roads.
Ultimately I switched to a Longitude, that’s another option. Feels like less fun for bimbling though. May try some shallow wide drop bars on it one day. Both great bikes for the money if you don’t mind 13kg. The Vagabond was my fave bimbler/ATB ever (with the Deore kit) and I miss it. Others say they found it too lardy but I found it just very nearly about right for a doitall.
Used bargains you could also look at Spesh AWOL or Sequioa, Salsa Fargo etc
Bombtrack Beyond?
Fugio? Like a Genesis but with sensible shifters.
Fugio also made by Genesis, except not a monstercross, not a 2x10 29er. Looks interesting though. Vagabond has changed shifters for 2020 btw from bar-ends to Sram Apex
Thanks for replies, i think the vagabond has 'normal' shifters this year.
Will look at those others as well if its a main stream brand then 0% finance can come into play! 😉
I think me and Malvern went through the same thought process.
Was very keen on the vagabond but had never really used drops, so I borrowed my mates croix de fer for a week. At the end of the week I still wasn't keen. Just felt more comfortable and in control with a flat bar so got the longitude.
Got 2.1 29er maxxis crossmark. With 40psi they roll really fast for commuting and pub visits.
Drop to 20psi and it's worked well for cross country hacks and bike packing in the south downs.
I have a vagabond which sits between my Arkose on nano 40s and Longitude on 2.8s. It is my favourite bike for the riding I do. I find the Arkose uncomfortable on anything mildly rough at speed as a result of aluminium frame and narrow tyres. The Longitude is great on pure off road bikepacking but is a hard slog on 10 miles of Surrey roads to get to the off road. Vagabond is perfect compromise - it is too heavy but I would not sacrifice the steel frame and not that noticeable when upto speed. Bar end shifters are simple and work. Oh and the geometry is such that in standard set up the drops are as high as the tops on the Arkose so you tend to ride the drops a lot.
light blue darwin?