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After hours on STW I have convinced myself I need an adventure bike and would like some help with the final decision.
I want the new bike to sit somewhere between my Whyte 905 and my trusty old Dawes Galaxy commuter. I intend to seek out as much local off road as the mean trails of Middlesex and Surrey can offer as well as light bike packing duties when I consider 2.1 tyres to be overkill and an unnecessarily hard slog.
So far I have tested:
Pinnnacle Arkrose 4 - 2016 model is fantastic value and can accommodate 40mm tires. Felt sturdy but small in a Med.
Cannondale CAADX Ultegra - felt fast but skitish. Possibly not upto bikepacking? Cannot accommodate 40mm tyres - is this a problem when loaded up for bikepacking?
Whyte Saxon Cross - really wanted to like it but the test ride felt dull albeit around a car park. Never gets any mentions on here which is surprising given the MTB heritage.
Also considering the Boardman CX Team - not as fantastic value as last month but still a great spec.
Are these the right bikes for my intended use? Any others I should be considering - must be below £1,500 and have full hydro's.
Thanks in advance and please go easy as it is my first post
Arkose are great, very sorted bikes.
CAADX is very much a CX race bike..... very capable bike but it might get a bit uncomfortable for long days in the saddle.
Not ridden the Saxon Cross but it's one of the best looking bikes out there and there's some good feedback around.
I've got a Norco Search and am very happy with it. Good geometry for all-day.
At £1500 there is a fair bit of choice with hydro brakes, especially in Alu. You'd be able to get some bikes in Carbon in the sales as well.... or perhaps something like an On-One Pickenflick? Tough to beat a nice Ti frame for adventure use.
Pinnacle or boardman was my shortlist for go anywhere carry stuff drop bar bike. Went boardman as was best value and fitted me.
I would look at genesis.
I have a Croix der fer, which is excellent for everything.
As has been suggested there are significant, if subtle, differences between a racey oriented cx bike and a gravel/adventure one.
I had a Jake the Snake which was the former - light, stiff, responsive, but a bit tiring and harsh when touring/loaded up. I replaced it with a Croix De Fer, which was replaced last year with another Croix de Fer.
The steel Genesis setup is more relaxed and comfy, and better for what i do, which is light back road touring, light off road touring, forest trails, light singletrack. It would be poor for cx racing compared to the Cannondale or Boardman you mention.
Road Touring mode :
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unloaded fire road type stuff
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