Tripster ATR finally built up - lush!

Bah ! I want a mug as well to show my allegiance ! 😥

I've been following this post with great interest. I have a long term test Tripster coming courtesy of Rory at Kinesis. The plan is to build it up from scratch then use it for adventures, touring and (gulp!) racing for Grit.Cx. Cannae wait! 😀

I have a long term test Tripster coming courtesy of Rory at Kinesis

nice one sanny - i love mine. it's quick, comfortable and adaptable - nowt not to like to be perfectly honest - an excellent bit of kit.

am looking at better wheels for road use, but to be fair, the kinesis cx at the price / weight / strength seem absolutely spot on !

@ sanny - it's not the new A.C.E. proto Dom posted on twitter yesterday is it?

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the tripster ACE !!!! i reckon that'll have slightly softer geometry than the ATR ?

the only problem with the ATR is the post mount disc calipers interference with the guard stays and he manipulation required to fit guards - a royal PITA.

i think an inboard rear caliper location would alleviate the rear guard fitment issues , but the front is still a PITA.

must get onto twitter for a look !

So could this also mean an Alloy equivalent of the ATR? I NEED details dammit! I don't twitter, someone please help!!

There's not much more on twitter, just that teaser pic. Twitter is very useful for all things Kinesis_UK 🙂 That's how I first found out about the Sync.

It's the Ti one for me. I had a long chat with Rory yesterday talking about the frame and the idea behind it. I ran a Ritchey Swiss Cross for years until I got hit by a car and have been contemplating this kind of bike for a while. It ticks many boxes - big clearances, ti, discs, geometry a little more relaxed than my cross bike - a bike for adventures and exploring! I rode the Three Lochs Way as part of a Loch Lomond loop last weekend on my Fargo and it's that kind of riding that I am planning for the Tripster.......whoop! 😀

So ... wheels ... what's everyone using then?

c_g continues her research. 😉

I wish this thread would eff the eff off, it's giving me the wants

Bimbler, you really aren't alone! I'm just keeping it going as a fishing exercise now to see who else gets sucked in, I MAY fall foul of my own evil plan one day though!

The tripster is still too much money for me, but I'm intrigued by the good value looking pro6 build at £1080. Not wanting to race, but for similar do it all riding how do you think this will compare to the tripster? Anyone had/ridden both?

I had a pro 6 before my tripster.... It more a proper cx bike. It's racier and not as relaxed as the tripster and not as comfortable on longer rides. Mine was slightly too big which is the only reason I sold the frame

If you look at the ACE, the C is for commute. It won't be just an alloy version of the Tripster, it will be a different bike, flat bars rather than drop.

cinnamon_girl - I'm using the Kinesis CX Disc wheels, they're great, so far indestructible off-road, plenty good enough for the road. Thoroughly impressed with them.

bobster, is that a certainty? A lot of people commute on drops? I'd love to see more of the build *nudge*nudge* come on Kinesis drop some more hints!

flat bars rather than drop

Hmm, I'd love to see a non-Ti version of the ATR made light still (so not out of scaffold pipe like my Pompino) with drops and a relaxed not race CX geometry that fits fatties and is under the £2k pice tag that the ATR is. Any chance you reckon?

bobster - thanks for that. 🙂

toby1 - Agree about commuting on drops, was just trying to highlight that I believe the ACE will be a variation on a theme.

For those not following Kinesis on twitter:

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But I don't 'know' anything, just guestimating.

I see Freeborn have just nudged the price up by another £30

I see Freeborn have just nudged the price up by another £30

Good.

When it was £1800-ish I was almost justifying it to myself. Now it's nearly £2k, I know I have to leave it alone.

Cheers Bobster 🙂

Anyone listening at Kinesis, please consider both a drop and flat bar option when spec'ing the ACE.

Just an update, for those that were wanting to go shorter on gearing.
I have just fitted a 12-30 ultegra cassette with no other changes and it works fine 😀
Did a clubrun on it on Tuesday night and it's doing it's first proper sportive on Sunday.
Still on knobblies as I'm waiting for the 28c 4 seasons and Tubus Airy to arrive from Germany
I do love this bike 😉

When it was £1800-ish I was almost justifying it to myself. Now it's nearly £2k, I know I have to leave it alone.

It's also still the best value bike I've ever owned. I actually couldn't justify *not* having it.

I see Freeborn have just nudged the price up by another £30

[u][b]Massive[/b][/u] profiteering! (or a revision in costs based on the buying in price of bikes/parts for the builds).

Well I got my Tripster yesterday from Freeborn before the recent little price nudge.

Superbly packaged and easy for even an idiot like me to assemble.

Had a little 10 mile spin on it last night and what a superb little bike .......

Felt more at home on it immediately than I ever did on my, now gone, Whyte 146.

On a mixture of country lanes, roads, bridleway and stony tracks, it was a hoot to ride ....although it's speed over gravel sections took me by surprise as I hit a rocky section far too quickly, so will have to watch that.

I'm immediately taken by the compliant ride and comfiness so pretty chuffed so far ...:-)

Cheers
JD

heads up - www.bridgestreet.cc for the ultimate tripster saddle bag - i just bought a medium - the perfect all day companion !

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14661443696_7a29d06b1f.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14661443696_7a29d06b1f.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/14661443696/ ]Mega rubber fitted to @kinesis_uk #Tripster #ATR, off out to Stanmer Park to give it a try.....[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]South Downs MTB Skills[/url], on Flickr

Just added some 42c tyres, plenty of clearance still left, lots of cushioning for zipping over Stanmer Park's roots and flints.

hummerlicious - pics on your return and impressions too please 🙂

Ouch. Just binned mine for the first time in 3,700 miles... Stupidly took on a cattle grid at about 20mph on a downhill section and hit the deck hard on the drive side. I think it's all ok - the mech hanger snapped off, so the LBS is getting one in for me. I am now sporting the 2014 Tour de France look du jour of gravel rash and cuts on my right knee, hip and elbow (serves me right for shouting at the TV during the first week) and other than a scratched skewer, it all seems ok. Fortunately, I'd opted to not wear my one-ride-old bibs so the old ones have lost a bit more fabric, as has an arm warmer.

TBH, I can't believe I was so naive to think that in the rain, downhill and off camber, mixing the skinny centre tread on the Land Cruisers with some slick metal bars was ever going to work. It was a real shame as I had a cracking 'gravel' exploring route planned. Ah well - TdF, golf and F1 for the rest of the afternoon and MTB in the morning to wear the stiffness off.

gtth - not good but at least it's only scrapes - thank goodness for replaceable mech hangers !

Cheers tlr - kicking myself, but yeah - far better it being a mech hanger rather than a remortgage!

TLR - tyres worked great off road, got caught in a thunderstorm on the road and they did feel slightly sketchy when I tried to corner hard, otherwise they're fine though. The extra volume did a great job of soaking up the roots and flints, also the traction uphill was improved a bit too.

ready for the big commute starting tomorrow :

[img][url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14698624325_be248f1fbe_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14698624325_be248f1fbe_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ooShVk ]IMAG0392[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]the_lecht_rocks[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/14511959558_4cac0e9f84_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/14511959558_4cac0e9f84_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/o7nzZh ]IMAG0393[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]the_lecht_rocks[/url], on Flickr[/img]

I did a 50mile sportive on mine yesterday, still on the knobblies but the bike was lovely to ride and I could keep up with the group no problem at 17mph ish average.
The roads had quite a lot of debris washed on to them after the storms, but on the tripster I didn't have to worry, unlike a lot of the people I was riding with !

Phone call made,
CC numbers given,
Debt incurred for the foreseeable,
Ali Tripster 57cm frame for sale soon.
Tim

(I blame you lot for unfair encouragement)

why no 63 in the ATR ?

2 bloody punctures - i think i need to replace the rear rim tape, but otherwise a successful commute.

25km on B roads in, 20km through the forest home.

bike is excptional - quick, comfortable and great on B roads.

whether it's ideally suited to the forest trails [i'm running 28c gravel kings so a bit unfair perhaps] is open to debate - but i reckon it'd be a winner on anything 32c and above like hummerlicious - lovely bike.

TLR, why didn`t you run it on the standard WTBs ?
(Just curious as I`ve found them pretty versatile and not lacking in grip pumped up on road or softer off road ?)

i did initially, but thought the 28c gravel king would be a better road choice, which was the original premise for the bike...........however, it's so capable on gravel / forest roads that i'm considering the crosswolfs to be refitted - i probably will when the weather turns wintry, but for now i think i wil persevere with the 28c gravel kings.

what are you using ?

The original Crosswolfs
I have got a set of 28C 4 seasons on their way though

Hi, could those running a 57cm size, tell me what the standover height is. I am a little over 180cm but am long backed, so I tend to run longer top tubes.

Thanks to the very nice peeps at Freeborn i'm now the proud owner of a spare Kinesis CX wheelset to be set up as a quick swap for off-road jaunts, tubeless of course…. using my usual gorilla tape tubeless method and stans tubeless valves, gonna be fitting my Clement X-PLOR MSO tyres to this set of wheels so that will leave me with my current Kinesis CX wheelset as a permanent road set-up.

And i received my TRP Spyre SLC brake set as well, only fitted the rear so far and i'm busy for the following week wi wickerman festival stuff so i'll not get to fit the rest of the cables/brakes/wheelset till next week but i thought i'd post up my progress as i'm sure there's folk interested regarding clearance for racks/mudguards etc.

As you can see from the pics the TRP Spyre SLC calliper is narrower than the Tektro Lyra so fitment of racks and mudguards should be relatively easy, you can see how much clearance i have with my Tubus Airy rack fitted to the rear mounts.

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Loads of clearance above for the rack without use of a 5mm spacer, vs very minimal clearance and use of a 5mm spacer below

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I've no idea about power/modulation or lever feel as i'm waiting on 4 XT discs to fit to the wheel sets, and the Yokozuna compressionless cable set seems very good quality, i dare say if the Spyres are as good as the Lyras then i'll be happy, they're shinier so that's a win for the [i]biketart[/i] effect anyway - 6 grams heavier than the Lyras but i'm not gonna throw a hissy fit as i could prob do with losing a couple of KG from myself 😉

Those spyres do look lovely!!

DrP

Still following this thread and somafunk has set the bar unbelievably high for the loveliest looking Tripster. 😀

My self-control really is being tested. 🙂

Been running TRP spyres for a while, really good modulation feel if set up correctly but not convinced they offer better stopping power than the BB7s they replaced. Definitely a much easier set-up and less faffing with than the BBs. Low profile worked well with rack and panniers though I think frame bags and seat post bags suit the ATR really nicely.

HAHA Tim I knew you would! Just off to try a 47mm in the front on the Downs.

Decisions, decisions. Do I get one of these or the Pro6

I have a single TRP Spyre SLC going spare if anyone wants it? 😀

I don't know what they think they're playing at, but after my little incident on Saturday morning, I phoned my LBS on Saturday afternoon to place an order for a new replaceable mech hanger. They ordered from Upgrade on Monday morning and the thing's arrived before lunch today. It's outrageous. 🙂 Many thanks for the super speedy service, chaps - very much appreciated! I shall endeavour to remain upright in the future...

Andy..can you mail me pictures and ££ please!
Ta!

Just been out on a quick lunchtime blast between clinics - just voer 20 miles of South Downs road and off-road... i chuffing love this bike!!

DrP

Would silver Open Pros look silly?
I'm thinking it NEEDS black rims...........

Are you having a dig at my bike? Open Pros working really well for me, light, strong and built a lot faster than your Jones wheels!

Anyone [b]NOT[/b] using a Crossmax wheelset? If so, what? Thanks. 🙂

Interesting times currently. 8)

For reference:
51cm
Std Kinesis build kit
Shimano DX SPD pedals

19lbs dead on the digital bathroom scales

Well, that's one less reason not to buy one. I could sell the road bike and the utility bike - wouldn't make much money but one less bike in the garage.

Guess it'd get down to 18ish with (eventual) pimpy wheels and 25mm road tyres?

I've just replaced my open pros with the kinesis cx disc wheelset.. Can't actually notice much difference except the 28c tyre sits much better on the wider rim and new wheels are obviously faster

Thanks cloudnine. 🙂

No Matt. I've got silver rims in the shed but think black looks better.

Ive just bought a frameset and will have 2 sets of wheels :-

- Archetypes on shimano cx75 centre lock hubs bought off here.
- chinese carbon rims built onto novatec hubs probably running tubeless
schwable ones if i can get them on the bloody rim!

@ hummerlicious - where did you get those 42c tyres from? I can't find information on them anywhere?

thx

Brassneck - mine was under 18lbs with a few carbon bits on it and 25c tyres, ultegra 6700 - nothing way over the top.

CG - the Kinesis CX Discs are super wheels. Very light and seem to be holding up well. I've run 25 - 40mm tyres on them quite happily.

Well impressed with the kinesis cx wheels here too so far. Hit lots of rocks , forest paths and asphalt without issue so far....

No problem with 40c on the Open Pros, only used them cause I had no money and got them rebuilt with new hubs, but glad I did.

Thought it was about time to add mine in....

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right you tripster owners, i am gonna ask you a question, and i want a proper honest answer, and i mean proper honest.

if you were suffering from a illness that curtailed your riding to a very sedate pace, not much over 13mph, and you could only climb hills at a snails pace in a very easy gear, and the chance of you getting the illness sorted was very slim, then would you invest in your tripster, or stick with your very nice touring bike?

Its not really a racing snakes bike.. its a light weight, bump flattner cruiser of a go nearly anywhere multi trick pony. Why would it matter how fast / slow you go? Its an ace bike and just a pure joy to ride.. so much so..I havent actually ridden my mountain bike for 3 months.
The tripster is pretty light which may also help on climbs?
What bike have you got and what dont you like about it?

got a surly lht. i love it, it is comfy and covers all the bases i need at present.
but i just have a itch... 😀

but i just have a itch...

i am gonna ask you a question, and i want a proper honest answer

In my experience the answer is no. On road it has not really any meaningful advantage over your tourer. I used it as a winter trainer with 25mm slicks and mudguards. But it's off-road with the 32mm cx tyres where this bike excels, it's just brillant fun. I find myself constantly beasting it, through neccessity as much as choice. 30-28 is my easiest gear (triple and big cassette) but even at that it's higher geared and therefore tougher than exactly the same trails on my mtb. The payoff is that it's much more efficient, so for your extra effort you do absolutely fly.

The vast majority of the trails around me are pretty hilly, but if you live in an area with lots of flat trails then the answer might be different.

Hope this helps!

I just got some of the 42mm tires from Ribble... £22 a wheel..

DrP

DrP - only conti cx tyres I can see on Ribble are 35mm?

ton,

My average pace/speed according to my gps is 11.3mph and any run over 40 miles is a struggle, when i get back home i struggle to walk more than a few yards at a time. 23 years ago i broke my spine in a few places and messed up my spinal cord and other stuff, i never had any real problems till 5 years ago as i noticed my power output start to drop and my ability to turn the pedals got worse - i dropped from being able to lap the full red/black Kirroughtree 7stanes course in under 2 hours on my SS, and i could quite easily do three consecutive laps without stopping in under 7 hours, fast forward to a few weeks ago when i tried to do a lap of the red on my Cove Hummer, i gave up halfway round as i couldn't even get the strength using gears to climb the piddling hills, and once i'm off the bike i can't walk more than a few yards at a time so i thought **** it.

That's why the tripster is great, i can sit and just pootle away on paths, trails and roads - i can explore anywhere and my my £4K+ build of a hummer is relegated to dog walking duties. Don't think you need to be able to sustain a 18mph average to justify a Tripster, if you want one….buy one, It's your money and you can spend it however you like.

Anyway…mini-rant over…here's some more Tripster pics as i've finally finished fitting the TRP Spyres along with the Yokozuma brake/gear housings, still waiting on my Tubeless Schwalbe one road tyres though (not in stock till end of the month). So that's it finally done, There's absolutely nowt left to upgrade on it or that i could wish to change about it, i may just have to ride it now 😀

PS : it gets ridden every single day, somedays further than others but i don't care - it's all riding and it's all good!

Go-on…buy one, who gives a flying **** if you climb at a snails pace?, my mother who is 61 (I'm 42) can climb just as fast as me on her Halfords Carrera and she's not a cyclist - didn't stop me from buying one as it makes me want to get out and ride at my own pace - it's just a fun bike to ride that makes me happy and makes me smile when i'm out on it…nuff said.

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PSS : I was lying when i said there is nothing left to upgrade, There is……I want a set of the new Paul Component 25th anniversary wheel skewers but i'm waiting on more stock of the black type arriving at [url= http://www.avt.bike/WebStore/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=PAUL-QR-SKEWERS ]Aspire Velo Tech[/url] before i order them…or perhaps the silver would look good as well?, perhaps i should just get a set of each colour for my two sets of Kinesis CX wheels.

😉

Hi all!
First post guys and girls so go easy on me 🙂

Have been reading this thread with interest for some months now, and finally decided to take the plunge the other week and order a Tripster frameset and the CX wheels ready for a Campag build (excited isn't the word!).... funnily enough I've ordered some SLC's too - great pictures and words again Soma, cheers!

Loving the fact that my dear LBS (who I've been a customer of for over twenty years) happens to be a Kinesis dealer, the wheels and frameset were ordered in and I went to collect...

Still in its sealed box, I gladly unravelled the frameset in the store (like it was Christmas morning), only to find that the right rear dropout was protruding through the stapled section of the box and had scraped/pierced through it during transit! The frame was firmly wedged as a result and poorly protected in terms of packaging which surprised me, and thankfully the shop agreed to return it. I took home the wheels (which incidentally the secondary packaging inside was damaged and they had 'come together' but I couldn't see any issues luckily so haven't mentioned it and kept them.

I then received the good news that the replacement frameset was in, and hastily headed to the shop 🙂 On being presented with the frame, the elation soon turned to disappointment again as there was a small gouge/scrape on the side of the seat tube down by the bottle bosses!

Closer inspection revealed it went slightly into the material and must have been quite a clash with something else, so I reluctantly and awkwardly told the guys in the shop (I really do love 'em and knew it wouldn't be their fault etc etc) but now this lack of quality control and/or 'proper' protective packaging has not only given me some doubts about the product but put an awkward strain on a very long term relationship as due to this small gouge the shop are now going to have to try to replace the frame AGAIN for me because two framesets have now reached them in substandard condition, which of course is also going to be awkward for them when they call the distributor I guess!

So, after blathering on a bit to give you the background, I guess my question is if any of you guys have had any snagging/quality issues with your frames or bikes? I'm thinking it's just sod's law and I've got the only two lemons given Kinesis' excellent reputation, but I'm just sincerely worried now that I'm spending over 1k on a frameset that my dear LBS are now attempting to return for the second time, it's a hassle for them and a worry for me when I've been dying to build up one of these babies for ages now! All I want is a frameset that's right 🙂

Loving the bike, loving the thread and all the happy times, just not loving what's happening at the moment!

Would like to say though that A) I hope it gets remedied and B) that I look forward to sharing more with you on this thread on the build/ride/experience in the near future! I'll keep you updated on how it goes (here's to positivity!), cheers all, and nighty night (had to wait for four hours to post as I had always just read the forums before and never signed up to actually contribute! 🙂

Welcome to STW mistergrizzly

I think you've just had the most unfortunate run of luck possible, Dom and his crew at Kinesis/Upgrade bikes are brilliant to deal with, i used to work in a bike shop and nothing was too much hassle for them so i guess you're just gonna have to be patient but you're quite right in not accepting a frame set unless you are 100% happy with the condition of it - especially given the price of the Tripster.

We always had quite sympathetic carriers who delivered our frames to the shop and they took great care in ensuring the bike/frame boxes were secured and protected but i guess not all carriers/drivers are quite as caring about the goods they deliver - I'm sure it will all be good in the end but i imagine you're chomping at the bit to get it built and head out in this fine summer we're having, not to mention joining in the [i]tripster love in[/i] on this thread wi pics and tales of rides.

Cheers somafunk, much appreciated 🙂

Fingers crossed it all goes swimmingly...!

ton - mine has been ridden everyday since i got it 3 weeks ago. mostly commutinhg. but commuting with a difference , both on road, b-roads, gravel paths and forest roads.

the weather this week has encouraged me to up the distances in and home and the bike is soooo comfy, forgiving and brilliant, i'm like the rest - recommending one !

i'm not out for a race, i'm out for a ride and to see, smell and appreciate all the emotion of cycling - the tripster is the vehicle of choice !

Nice write up Sumafunk, love the build, did you get that seatpost in the UK?, (assumes Kent Eriksen)

There will be a few cheapish tripster framesets on the upgrade bikes outlet shortly..
I bought mine from there and also arrived with one of the dropouts poking out through the box.. Luckily was OK

As well as gearing, another reason I find myself having no choice but to give it full beans on the Tripster is that due to the skinny tyres and no-suss, the only way to get over obstacles is to monster it. An mtb with a triple would offer much more scope to enjoy a relaxed pace, admire the scenery etc.

The average speed comparison depends on what route you're riding. My effort last night was 11.5mph over 25m, a third on road, two thirds off-road. It was a huge effort. I was obliged to go much harder and thus went much faster than I ever did on my mtb.

For flat off-roading I'd be inclined to stick with the nice tourer and perhaps change tyres if needs be. Of course you could change out to a Tripster, but I suspect (though may be wrong) that as you already have a nice tourer you'd experience more of a marginal gain than most posters on here who are coming from more distant niches.

I find myself getting the 'orn over one of these, but already have a Fargo and a roadbike

heeeelllpp...............