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....is a bit scary.
I fancy a decent new bike whilst my body will (just about) allow me to ride it.
Head says I want a small size, modern geo, mid travel 29er, possibly full suss, with wide-ish tyres and weighing in at under 30lb.
I tend towards longish days out over lumpy bridleways, local steep and mildly techy tracks and trail centre reds.
Currently riding a 26", 100mm, steep and short 853 Rock Lobster hardtail.
I like the look of the Sonder Cortex, having just spent some time ogling one at the delightful Alpkit shop in Betws.
A nice spec will come in about 28lb and 2.5k.
What else would you recommend?
Bird look good value and Whyte have always piqued my interest.
Have no prejudice against any brand, but:
Don't want 650b.
A press fit BB would put me off.
That's about it, really.
If I go full suss, will bearings offer a longer life than bushings? I've always assumed so.
Grumpy old man syndrome is shouting to just forget all about this modern stuff and buy a Surly Wednesday and spare set of narrower wheels, but I'm fighting against it!
All suggestions appreciated.
Canyon neuron would fit the bill. Good thing about alpkit is you can have a demo. I'd do that and if you like it, go for it. At least you'll have local support and good customer service. I don't think they do frame bushings anymore but I may be wrong.
Edit, forgot about import tax. That probably rules canyon out!
Cheers, but I think the Neuron is a 650b in the small, so it's a no, sadly.
Nice looking bike though.
I do like the fact that Alpkit have actual shops.
Will the Cortex really come in that light at £2.5k? Full suss 29er with relatively budget parts at that cost - will an alloy frame nearer the budget end of things.
I’m on an Aether 7 (Bird) and it’s 32lbs in a medium. Even with a lighter fork, lighter wheels and lighter brakes I don’t think I’d get sub30lbs - certainly not for £2.5k. Maybe with carbon wheels with fancy hubs, a step cast Fox 34 or Reba and something light brake wise I might get close. But that’s probably nearer £4K.
You’ve pretty much described a YT Izzo or Transition Spur etc - but you need to spend more.
Grumpy old man syndrome is shouting to just forget all about this modern Stuff
I don’t know what will suit you but suggest having an open mind and try to get some test rides. All these modern fads, actually I think most are real progress and make riding more fun than ever. As the old Dr Pepper ads said ‘try it’
Yup, it's taken me 15 years to come round to the idea of a new bike, I think I'm ready to try new tech.
Hell, I might even get a dropper. 😀
joebristol
Full Member
Will the Cortex really come in that light at £2.5k?
According to the website, yeah.
I know nothing about SRAM groupsets but GX Eagle with a Helm fork in small is 12.4kg without pedals.
I like the green. 🙃
Still riding a straight steerer Cotic Soul (small, with an offset seatpost) here, so I'm in a similar boat as you.
Guessing you've tried the small Cortex and it fit ok? I tried my brother's large Sonder Evol and I think I'm a medium in modern bike geometry.
No, not tried the Sonder yet, but at 5'6" I'm on 50cm horizontal top tube road frames and a small MTB usually fits just fine.
The Rock Lobster is a 15" and a small Soul is a perfect fit.
I always get a test ride before I buy anything!
Be interesting to see how these size up.
I suspect that this long/slack thing will take a bit of getting used to.
No, not tried the Sonder yet, but at 5’6″ I’m on 50cm horizontal top tube road frames and a small MTB usually fits just fine.
Those road bikes sound really short! I'm not much taller than you and tend towards 54cm ett.
suspect that this long/slack thing will take a bit of getting used to.
Yup. Having gone from an old skool mtb not a million miles from your rock lobster, with about 14.5" reach the modern bikes are something else. Gotta say though, around 17" reach is a very nice fit for me (don't forget that seat tubes tend to be steeper, and stems shorter). I would definitely keep an open mind. The new cotics e.g. arr longish, a small is about right. Other brands need a medium to get similar ett/reach.
Back to bike choices for the OP, it really is hard to see past Sonder atm. Decent value, possibly even some stock. I struggle to believe the weights they list for the Cortex, seem too good to be true really.
Lot of Bird fans here but are they more towards light enduro?
YT Izzo (might be press fit though) & Vitus (the CRC bikes) seem similar. Anything else?
Err, yeah. I meant seat tube and most definitely not TT on the road bikes! Sorry.
Doh!
Thanks for the heads up re new geo reach.
I shall definitely keep an open mind.
I've only made one sizing mistake - bought a 17" seat tube steel Rockhopper instead of the 15" recommended by the bloke in Harry Halls.
He was right, it was too big for a mountain bike.
Still a great pub bike 20 odd years later. 🙂
I stuck with 26" wheeled, XC alu framed bike for a long time, finally cracked 4 years ago and got a Swift, haven't looked back since. The old M2 became a SS play bike, then finally broken up for spares, only the frame left.
The Swift was, and is, a rigid with 650b+ wheels for trails and 29" for long days out. I then splashed out on a 29" hard tail - Ti - and getting to grips with that is another challenge - deserves to be ridden aggressively and I don't always manage that.
But in terms of standards - prepare to learn a whole new vocabulary, and the riding will come on leaps and bounds.
What about a surly krampus or trek stache?
Both insanely fun bikes and would scratch that fat itch you seem to have.
I just put a 1x10 groupset on my Rock Lobster and carried on!!
I know nothing about SRAM groupsets but GX Eagle with a Helm fork in small is 12.4kg without pedals.
And then weigh it, with actual accurate scales.
Like the advice given to someone on here a while ago, the world has moved on and we've realised it's more important how it rides than what it weighs.
Under the recommend what you ride, take a look at a Cotic - not cheap. but definitely value. And you asked about bearings etc, mine's done 3500 miles in/around the Tweed Valley in just over 3 years, still on the original bearings.
No, not tried the Sonder yet, but at 5’6″ I’m on 50cm horizontal top tube road frames and a small MTB usually fits just fine.
The Rock Lobster is a 15″ and a small Soul is a perfect fit.
Its difficult to compare new bikes to old on the basis of seat tube any more. Try reach and ETT instead.
I'm 6 inches taller than you but my hardtail has a 42cm seat tube...
Watching with interest, as in a similar position, as riding a short and steep 12+ year old hardtail and looking to come significantly more up to date. I have had a quick go on something more modern and it will take some getting used to- they ain't joking when they say long and low...
Why no 650b wheels though, especially for a small frame?
I've just bought a Cortex in Medium - and have come from a small mk1 Soul, but I'm a shade taller than you at 5'7 ish. It feels about right size wise, apart from the standover which is very different due to the big wheels. Sonder said I'd be cramped on a small frame and I'd probably agree. I've not had chance to ride it much yet unfortunately. I built it up on a reasonable budget and it doesn't feel that heavy, but I've not put it on the scales.
I'm not sure if the green ones are still available - looks to be white or brown on the website, and when I asked they said they weren't getting any more frames in the existing colours, they'll be replaced with new colourways later in the year...