Wasn't planning on a new bike, but this popped up at a price I couldn't resist. I'm bored of having so many bikes and feeling guilty that they often just take up space and gather dust so I figured I could go down to a full suspension bike and a gravel bike which should cover all bases pretty well.
Fitted a new chain since the old one had some corrosion from sitting and a pair of the cheap Ribble G-ones to replace the Marathon plus road tyres that were fitted. It's almost too nice to get dirty.
Now I just need to figure out what my riding position should be having never really ridden a drop-bar bike off-road and also which accessories I need to bolt to the many mounting points. Advice very welcome.
Excellent - that's the same frame as the DSX which mrs_oab had, I think it's really good.
The shadows make the saddle suitable for a big Arris...
Grab one of those Easton carbon bars for £35 posted earlier?
That frame looks very Specialized to me, with the seat/top tube brace mini triangle.
Excellent – that’s the same frame as the DSX which mrs_oab had, I think it’s really good.
The shadows make the saddle suitable for a big Arris…
Cool, I guess if drop-bar life doesn't suit I can alwasy convert it.
I too believed this. Now I have three bikes.
I have no doubt that I will end up with a collection again, but it's nice to have a reset at least.
Grab one of those Easton carbon bars for £35 posted earlier?
That frame looks very Specialized to me, with the seat/top tube brace mini triangle.
Definitely didn't need one, but at that price I couldn't say no. Thanks.
Also picked up some Shimano EH500 pedals from Halfords which seemed a decent buy at £40
Very nice.
check the front bolt through, i've seen a couple with issues where the thread is a bit odd.
set up wise the brifters look in a good starting position, just play with bar height. you should be able to descend off road on technical bits on the drops, you'll get more control that way
check the front bolt through, i’ve seen a couple with issues where the thread is a bit odd.
set up wise the brifters look in a good starting position, just play with bar height. you should be able to descend off road on technical bits on the drops, you’ll get more control that way
Thanks, it all looks good visually, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Initial blast felt great. A big change from my 2003 road bike, I won't miss caliper brakes skinny tyres. 1x with the dropper on the left lever is brilliant and opens up a lot more opportunity for lots of off-road detours.
Ordered some mudguards to minimise excuses about the weather.
set up wise the brifters look in a good starting position
You're joking, surely? Raise the bars a little (flip the stem for taste as well), rotate bars down and move the shifters so they form a natural platform to rest on. That way you can comfortably use the drops and reach the brakes on the drops not on the hoods. Then you'll have much better control on descents. You might need a shorter stem depending on reach.
My cross/gravel bike has easy reach drops for riding at least a third of the time on the drops. I never descend off road on the hoods. I want my hands wrapped well around the bars as I've seen riders lose their handholds on hoods by a jarring. And off they come. I also ride off road with wider bars (44 cm) for leverage than my road bikes.
On my mtb style gravel bike I have the bars much more as suggested above :
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