You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Short story:
I've got a 1k cyclescheme voucher coming. I'm wondering if I should get this years d2 or perhaps last years r2 which is only 65 £ more right now?
Longer story:
My history is an mtb'er and some short commuting. However, a bike which can cope with basic fire/single track would work as young family go out and about now and then. I'd rather not be taking an overkill mtb on those trips and forgetting the kids don't have full suss anyway!
I've now got a bit more into "road" riding in so far as I got myself a lockdown smart trainer and have nearly finished a 6 week ftp builder training course.
If I can convince evans to let me overspend my 1k very slightly I could have the r2 with 105 gearing. Otherwise it's the d2 tiagra.
Thoughts? Opinions anyone? Am I going to love either? Will the r2 not be off road enough for family trips? Will I regret tiagra over 105 with the d2? If I have a 2nd wheelset would you go for r2 or d2?
Normally I'd have just chosen one but cyclescheme is making me wait and overthink! 😉
There's a long thread about the Arkose here:
It's got loads of info, and if you ask something there Jameso often turns up to answer.
The R2 seems quite like the Arkose 3 that I have. If so I'd recommend it, I've had good use out of it in the 18 months or so I've owned it. It's never going to replace a mountain bike, but it's good fun going off-road with it - you should be fine using it on 'basic fire/singletrack'. I ride mine to work every day on canal paths, gravel paths, over mud and grass, and on some very questionable 'bike paths'. At the weekend I ride it through woods and on mud tracks.
Tiagra is fine as you know, but I'd definitely stretch to 105 if that is an option. You know you won't regret it in 6 months time.
Thanks. Yeah I will either go r2 with a 2nd set of wheels for less smooth road/track, or d2 with some more road wheels to switch to. Just not sure which way around works best. I'm sure either will work out fine!
I've had a look at the spec of the R2 now. It is a bit 'roady', but that seems to be just the tyres. The rims are the same as the D2, and the R2 blurb says it has clearance for 700x45.
If it were me - and of course you will have different needs and priorities - I'd get the R2 and switch the tyres for maybe something 700x38 or 40. At the moment I'm using 38 Vittoria Revolutions which are fast, and capable on everything except wet mud and grass.
Try asking on the Arkose thread I linked to earlier. Jameso is really helpful with all sorts of stuff like this.
Cheers. I've had a good look at the specs and I reckon they are exactly as you'd want depending on if you lean to road or "gravel". I guess the answer is simply which am I going to do more of. Difficult to know as I'm coming from an mtb/commute background, need another bike for family off road stuff, but open to trying some longer distances.
I'll have another dig through the arkose monster thread 🙂
IME 105 is quite a bit nicer than Tiagra... if it were me I'd go for the R2 and change the tyres.