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looking for ideas for a new bike, that will be comfy over longish mixed terrain bike.
just got back from a 5 day on/offroad tour of the dales, lakes and pennines.
i rode my ti fargo, with carbon forks and 2.35 tyres.
my body is a pain riddled wreck. sore wrists, sore back, sore shoulders.
also descending lakes and dales tracks on a rigid bike is pretty stupid, IMHO.
so, a comfy, ok for 50 milers, ok on mixed terrain type of a bike ?
all idea's greatly appreciated.
Short travel full suspension with fast rolling and fairly narrow tyres? Or you thinking hardtail with plus tyres in a lightly treaded style?
One of the Epic Evos that are on sale from various places. Gnar enough for most people’s purposes, great fun (from what I’ve seen following someone round Nant Yr Arian), and stupid light.
Maybe not what you need for Lakes & Dales but a 'sofa bike's as requested. Does look comfy:
https://www.designboom.com/design/sofa-bike/
, a comfy, ok for 50 milers, ok on mixed terrain type of a bike ?
Orbea Occam
just got back from a 5 day on/offroad tour of the dales, lakes and pennines.....
my body is a pain riddled wreck. sore wrists, sore back, sore shoulders
Just a thought, but would some of this be due to you not being used to a 5 day tour, as well as the rigid bike?
Fit suspension forks to the Frago ? I do that on my Fargo when I am riding in the lakes, and then switch them for some carbon forks for mellower terrain.
Short travel (130/140mm) Giant Anthem/Trance would be ideal, lots of good second hand bargains on ebay currently.
The epic evo mentioned above could be a great option - especially if on sale
Fatbike
One of the Epic Evos that are on sale from various places
I should not have decided to investigate that idea....blimey, there's some savings/overpriced RRPs!
Sorry for the thread hijack. But those epic evos.. I've been looking at them for a week now. Is the comp FSR worth the extra £500? SID over Reba and GX over NX.
My inclination is to go for the £2.5k standard model and put the £500 saved towards some better wheels. I don't really have any experience of the SRAM mtb drivetrain and brakes (prefer RS to Fox suspension though) so would appreciate thoughts.
Fatbike is actually a very good shout, they are super comfy and not as cumbersome as they look.
@snownrock - I can't see much different in the spec. besides from the Reba v SID, and lots reporting issues with SID bushings/lower play, so I think I'd go for the £2,500 option and upgrade bits as and when. Better choice of colours in that model too IMO.
Edit: OP - £500 off all full sus bikes at Cotic this month - so I'd suggest a FlareMAX for that sort of riding!
As @timf said, surely some sus forks would be best to try first?
And perhaps some larger fast rolling tyres in 29 x 2.6-2.8"? Mezcals, Rekons, Teravail Coronado?
You could also try a suspension seatpost as well or instead of the bigger tyres, assuming you aren't running a dropper
Be a shame to get rid of that Fargo
Recommended what you have?
Canyon Neuron
It’s my comfy gravel bike
Orange 5. 😉
Can you fit fatter tyres?
My hardtail has gone from 2.35 to 2.6 and is significantly comfier.
It was fun doing the barebones winter ride this year. My route has a few steep downhills which chunky rock over hardpack. I'm sure I could have managed it on a gravel bike. It just would have been scarier and full on the brakes.
Have you had a look at some of the bike galleries on bikepacking.com. People have everything from what looks like a road bike, through gravel, race MTB and full suss bikes loaded up for mad distances. Loads of them have aero bars. They made quite a difference in speed/ easy on road segments.
Extra hand positions help me. I've gone for some inner sq lab bar ends and they make quite a difference, just having a different way to hold on the bars.
op, what is your mobility like? stretching and yoga with help with the aches and pains.
@snowrock - go for the best specc'd one you can afford, IMHO the absolute minimum you'd want from SRAM is GX as the lower grade groupsets are just plasticy shite, the Evo Comp has GX gearing, 2bliss tyres and better brakes, well worth the extra IMHO
As for @ton short travel FS like the Evo's would be your friend on these kind of things, or fit forks to your current bike as above.
The 3 time winner of the silk road race did it on a full suss this time.
https://bikepacking.com/bikes/bikepacking-race-rigs/
I'd love to ride the tour divide. My second child is due in November, so its a bit of a long term dream now 🙂 As is 5 days touring
Canyon Neuron
It’s my comfy gravel bike
Is that the newest version @ampthill?
I'm sorely tempted by the alu version. Such great looking value.
My Neuron is the older design. Which means it’s fine when riding it but induces geometry FOMO when I’m in here