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Idle speculation rather than definite a shopping trip, but I think I'd like a Sonder Frontier.
I sort of want a 90's mountain bike, riding local bridleways, blue-ish trail centres, possibly stick semi-slicks and front and rear rack for touring. Bikepacking, that sort of thing.
So first thoughts are, get a gravel bike, but I've had some eye surgery so my peripheral vision isn't the best. I'd like a more upright, MTB flat bar position rather than drops.
Genesis Longitude is a bit more expensive, Brother & Bombtrack more again, Surly/Salsa even more. Quite like the look of Trek 920 but it's got drops. And costs more.
The Sonder looks good, pretty cheap, actually available to buy but anything else similar? I'm looking at new as I can get an interest free bike loan from work (employers own scheme, not cycle to work) Suppose I could get a hardtail, rigid forks and sell teh bouncy ones, but I'm lazy and won't so would prefer a complete bike.
And if you've got one, how is it?
I have one for bikepacking and bumbling around the Blackdowns. It's got the rigid forks as a 29er. It is fun to ride, with a decent riding position, fairly upright. It is a heavy lump though, particularly the wheel set. For the price though, it's great. I managed to get it when they had an extra 10% off.
I think if you can get it through C2W it'd be a bargain, and seems to suit your needs. I came close to getting one last year and tested out at the shop - decided against it and got a Stanton instead as could re-use old wheels etc that I had. Looked nice though!
Alternative good value option would be a generic 29er hardtail from Decathlon or Halfords
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-sports/c1-cycling/c3-mountain-bikes/_/N-ggjnxuZiw3jyi
I ordered one a couple of weeks ago, build date looking like mid-April. I sent them my wheels to use, which should lighten it and helped offset cost of getting and Rebas and the rigid forks :-). For local xc rides and bike packing. Can't help with a ride report, sorry. My wife got one a few weeks ago, which prompted my purchase, but it's a bit small for me. For the money I don't think you can go wrong. I would prefer something a bit more 'bling', but I', confident it will do the job.
Sounds good so far, it's difficult to see anything similar around that price
Their customer service is excellent too. I had a dodgy hub after a couple of rides, and I had a rebuilt wheel in just over a week. No issues since and it's done many miles.
Got the V1 rigid Frontier, used it for everything from long bike packing days to singletrack to the Strathpuffer. Ride is simple and fun, feels very upright but still fun to throw around. Had for 18mnths with no issues.
I bought one last summer second hand but like new, great components for the money, I’ve used mine for all sorts of local riding- hoping to go bikepacking over summer.
Loads of space in the frame for water bottles or a frame bag.
Nice familiar Mtb feeling with the flat bars, I’m adding a dropper post sometime but other than that it’s great fun!
For £200 extra, I'd go for the On One Whippet and get full carbon. Which is exactly what I did! Two weeks til delivery..
Edit: it doesn't have rack mounts though, but I think you can get clamp-on ones, can't you?
I've had one since about last May and ride it way more than my other bikes.
It's got the rigid fork but still copes well on trails like the FTD on Cannock Chase. OK, it's not as fast as my full susser but it's great fun nonetheless.
I also use it for random longer rides from my door incorporating roads, bridleways, towpaths, etc, and it's really comfortable on longer rides than any of my others. I really wish I'd had it when I did the TransPeninne, it would have been perfect for that.
Re. The customer service backup, that's excellent too. Had a couple of questions before I bought which they answered really quickly, and somehow they managed to send me 2 front wheels rather than an f&r but they sorted that out in less than 24 hours from reporting to supplying the correct rear.
Can't fault it or them at all.
Interested in one too as a 'mountainbike' or should I say ATB.
I see you can fit a rear rack but I cant see any braze at the lower end of the seat stays - are they on the inside because of the boost width?
Plan b is the whippet too, although the lack of rack mounts is a shame.
@Vader - weirdly they have rack mounts on the dropouts but nothing near the seat tube end so you'll need a seat post clamp with rack mounting points on it.
Something like one of these
If anyone is interested regarding sizes, I was right on the boarder of medium / large and went with the large, which was definitely the right choice.
Thanks all, sounds like a good option and there's nothing really similar for about that price?
The wheel part isnt totally correct. If the lovemud then they are only 300gms heavier than Hunts. Add some fast light rubber instead.
They do another wheel option now so simply ask Neil the weights.
I have a frontier and Brokenroad. Frontier is my wrecking machine basically. Does anything and everything. Also run it rigid with a travers XC prong.
In xl with the Prong in its mental light with the Hunts and skinny light rubber.
Had a small frontier frame-set on order for a build up for my wife and it's been cancelled due to website wrongly showing stock...new stock in July...
Did anyone come up with anything in stock and similar pricing?
I'm struggling to find anything that comes close with a fork for around £300
Anyone seen the review in cycling uk's summer edition? Curious what they thought about it. Less of a value proposition at the new prices but an interesting bike nonetheless.
For £200 extra, I’d go for the On One Whippet and get full carbon. Which is exactly what I did! Two weeks til delivery..
Edit: it doesn’t have rack mounts though, but I think you can get clamp-on ones, can’t you?
You can buy a rear rack that attaches to the rear hub via the axle, no need for mounts. Just a bit pricey
https://www.tailfin.cc/product/spares/axles/universal-thru-axle/
The only other thing i can think of is a bootzipper. Which are in stock
Not ridden either but your looking for options
My only gripe with my V1 was the stupid boost qr drop outs. Rubbing brakes were a constant issue.
Now they’re bolt through it should be a decent bike.
^ The Bootzipper does look good at that price. Maybe order one with some Geoff bars?
I had my Titus built with Geoffs, with the OEM riser bars left in the box in case I didn't get on with the loops. They also upgraded the saddle for free when I mentioned I'd failed to spot the default saddle was only 135mm width and they found they didnt have the stock saddle in 145mm. Both the saddle and the Geoffs have both stayed on as they're working out great for me. PX were also very responsive to build queries using their website chat function, with answers normally in an hour or so. Built and delivered early too, after emailing first to let me know. All in all a positive buying experience....
I've got a V2 Frontier and I think it's great. Bought it earlier this year as a replacement for a drop bar 29er gravel bike, after realising most of the 'gravel' riding I was doing in South Shropshire was really XC MTB, which the Frontier is really well suited too. It's my bikepacking bike too, so the more upright position is great for long days in the saddle. Went for the Frontier because all the bits would swap over from my other bike, it was cheap, had plenty of mounts and most importantly was actually available to buy.
Built up with carbon forks, no dropper, X01 drivetrain, and fast rolling 2.2s it's reasonably light and plenty fast enough. Alpkit loop bars and a seatpack support stay on permanently. Really hard to go wrong for the price and Alpkit are great to deal with.
When you say anything similar is there any real difference between this and a Cube Analog, or aluminium reaction? There should be an awful lot of equivalent bikes ?