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I promised myself 11 years ago that I would buy myself a "road" bike to get more miles in around the flatlands that is Suffolk.
This never happened.
In that time the lines seem to have blurred a fair amount across cross, gravel, road, touring etc.
I'm unlikely to ever be a roadie so dedicated lightweight road gnarpoon would be overkill.
I'm a luddite so the appeal of simple steel lines is a draw.
"std" 135/100 QR is a draw as is IS mounts to make use of existing bits.
I'm currently looking at:
Genesis Croix de Fer
Fearless Vulture
Both 725, Eastern made, room for decent sized tyres, similar price. The Fearless does have a 44mm HT so potentially opens up more options for a carbon fork.
Anyone with experience of the above or good alternative suggestions?
Cheers,
Mark
fearless everytime, also see Cotic escapade
Or a Brother Kepler?
https://www.brothercycles.com/shop/bikes/kepler-disc-complete/
The paint job is fabulous. If you like it that is...
Cheers Guys.
The Kepler looks fairly similar in approach to the Fearless.
Sadly I think even the largest Fearless would be too short for my apelike arms.
The Cotic is a through axle 🙂
The new Sonder looks good on paper [screen]
How about a Breezer Radar? Not sure you can get them in the UK but you can mail order from places in Germany. It has everything thing you're after, plus it will take up to 2" MTB tyres no problem. I've got one and love it.
Edit: That Sonder/Alpkit one looks great! Hadn't seen that one before.
I've a cdf(carbon forks) which I built up from a frameset 4 years easter,it's my go too,I've a handful of different styled bikes but this just does everything,I initially bought to dip toe into road riding with option if I didn't like I could always stick wider tyres and escape into the byways etc,so after I thought yep,road bike now as I quite likey,so hence building a ti Lynskey,I have too admit that i genuinely prefer my cdf,yes it's weighty but I love it,if I could shift the Lynskey I'd buy a ti cdf tomorrow.
+1 Salsa Vaya (but then I’m biased)
Here’s mine
[IMG] 
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But I do like the Fearless
I also have the orange version. Always puts a smile on my face, but the 2019 black one looks great.
Agree and it gets the new waxwing fork!
Fairlight Faran also looks good.
The Fearless, by all that I have read, is superb and rates higher than many more expensive framesets..... I think it came second in some 'best adventure gravel frameset' test behind the Fairlight Secan which is double the price.
Small British outfit to and by all accounts the chap who runs it is a lovely guy who will personally help you out with anything you need....
I looked at everything I could and kept coming back to the Fearless. The only other I was tempted by was the Nordest Albarda (sp!) But that is creeping towards more MTB geo... Sort of....
I could almost have written that post. Only it's a bit too decisive as I need a few more years procrastinating. Also Suffolk, also think I probably should get a road bike, also fancy steel. Maybe one day...
Mark, have a look at the Secan - it really is a superb ride, on/off road. I had a Crux Doofer in the past and its a world apart. Fairlight are also releasing a new Faran soon if want cheaper.
I may be wrong, but the Sonder Santiago looks very much a touring bike rather than an adventure/gravel/trail bike. It says it only clears a 700x37mm tyre, which would be massively limiting. And the chainstays are very long so it may not be too playful.
The Cotic is a through axle 🙂
only on the fork
Thank you all for the thoughts and suggestions.
I’ve been in touch with Tim and unfortunately I think the largest of the Vulture frames is a wee bit too small ☹️ Which is a shame as it’s my current favourite.
The Pinnacle Akrose has cropped up on my searches - frame and fork for £300 seems reasonable.
The Secan may need to be a long term project - it’s lovely 😋 - but I could do with something cheaper to start with!
Interesting thoughts on the Sonder - seems a good deal but perhaps not ideal. 🤔
After much too-ing and fro-ING, procrastination and half-a-dozen hypothetical bike builds, I am going to go for the Vulture. Like others have said here, I'm not sure you can get much better quality for the price. The ride, by all accounts, is excellent and, importantly, it looks great. It will be cheap build as I transfer bits over from my current, uh, Boardman, but better kit will come in time.
Great choice mistermilton they look great for the money,
One word:
Test ride.
That CdF is a really nice colour
Temple do the adventure disc. There are 3 or 4 Konas that might fit your bill, Rove, Sutra etc. Kona ride big for me. Marin have the Nicasio.
There a couple of threads which list a whole bunch of gravel/adventure bikes, non of which I can recall right now.