Cross/Adventure Bike for City and Surrounds (~$1500)

[Bruno Moore]

I’d say that having a look at elwbikes’ thread from earlier would be a good place to start. You’ll notice that there’s a fair bit of love for the Bianchi Volpe and VeloOrange bikes there, as well as the Kona Rove and its relatives…

[ebubar]

I’ll just mention that the Bianchi Volpe disc ticks all of your marks and when I test rode one it was fantastic! I’d suggest hunting one down to test before you decide. There’s also the Jamis Aurora Elite and the Jamis Bosanova. Both more touring style, I believe, but still worth a test!

[ebubar]

One other that you might consider is the Salsa Vaya. I think the Vaya 3 falls in your price range. Lots of folks like the Vaya.

I’m with you on the steel, but while your testing, I’ll also throw in the Giant Revolt. It’s Aluminum but is very comfy. Someone on here has one and likes it a lot!

[Supermau]

The Giant Anyroad might fit the bill but I don’t think the custom racks are available in the US right now. Perhaps another rack is workable. I just bought this Anyroad 1 ($1300) a few weeks ago. I had no intention of buying it but when I rode it the thing just screamed fun and it’s extremely comfortable. It’s not very traditional looking but a most enjoyable ride anyway.

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[hozn]

@DaDitka 114253 wrote:

After I dismounted from my test ride I thought that was the bike for me, but then learned that it doesn’t have rear rack mounts which put the Surly Straggler back in the running despite its weight and heavier feel.

So, am I right in understanding it does have fender mounts, but just not extra mounts for rack, right? In that case, I believe there’s also an option of just using the fender mounts for your rack and getting fenders that mount to the rear skewer (SKS makes some) or, if you do a Google search, you’ll see folks mount fenders and racks using same bolt.

I think the difference in frame material is correlation, not causation, when it comes to how the bikes feel. You shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between aluminum and steel if you have 35mm of air-filled rubber between you and the road. Maybe a little when you get out of the saddle (assuming steel will flex more in BB). There is nothing wrong with steel (other than needing to prevent rust), but I wouldn’t rule out bikes because of their frame material before you’ve ridden them.

And I would consider titanium, though at your pricepoint that means finding a used bike. I would consider the Niner RLT9 (or RLT9 steel), but not sure if there’s a configuration at your price point. I think you could build a budget Titan ti bike for around $1500 (assuming a frame price of ~$600). But that’s probably more than you want to take on.

Edit: or watch what these guys are doing: http://www.masoncycles.cc/ I think their stuff is slated to be relatively affordable. Whether there will be a US distributor is a valid question, though.

[jrenaut]

I have a Volpe from a few years ago, before they started offering discs, but it definitely does everything you ask. I’ve been lusting after the new disc version.

[Tania]

@DaDitka 114253 wrote:

After riding all of the above except for the Konas, I eliminated the Trek, Felt F65x, CAADX. The only aluminum bike I rode that I liked nearly as much as the steel bikes was the Felt V85, which is a more upright and less race oriented Felt 65x (or so it seems to me).

Curious as to why you crossed off the CAADX, which is what I have. I am NOT an experienced cross/road biker and this is my first road bike since I was a teenager. I bought mine because it was the only thing in my size (44), my price range and it didn’t feel terrible to ride (other than the cantis….I miss disc brakes). I’ve had it for a little over a year now and other than the brakes (UGH) I can’t complain but then I don’t know what I don’t know.

Thus, I’m asking more for my own education.

[dasgeh]

You might look at the Salsa Fargo, too. I lust after it, and have a similar want list…

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Tania 114272 wrote:

Curious as to why you crossed off the CAADX, which is what I have. I am NOT an experienced cross/road biker and this is my first road bike since I was a teenager. I bought mine because it was the only thing in my size (44), my price range and it didn’t feel terrible to ride (other than the cantis….I miss disc brakes). I’ve had it for a little over a year now and other than the brakes (UGH) I can’t complain but then I don’t know what I don’t know.

Thus, I’m asking more for my own education.

I have a CAADX with mini-vs. It’s a fairly inexpensive upgrade and well worth it.

[DaDitka]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Bruno, thanks for the link. Good thread, it gave me some ideas.

The Bianchi Volpe Disc and the Salsa Vaya 3 tick all the right boxes. I don’t like the nickel look of the Volpe Disc though. The Vaya 3 looks great, but no LBS has any in stock for a test ride. Also, it is a Sora groupset. I had kind of limited my survey to Tiagra and 105 bikes for the ~$1500 range. Should I have done that/will I notice any difference from 105 on Macho Man Disc or Tiagra on others vs. Sora on Vaya 3?

The Salsa Fargo ticks the right boxes too, but seems a little more trail oriented than I need. Also I couldn’t tell if it could take a rear rack.

Giant Revolt and AnyRoad look like they might work as well. Have to find a good Giant dealer around here with some to try out though (Giant dealer I know around here is small and doesn’t carry them).

Hozn, you are right, the Macho Man Disc has fender mounts (see description of bike here). Are the fender mounts actually strong enough to rack a mount? I would of figured they aren’t reinforced or whatever. Also, fair point about the frame material. I just got it in my head that steel is the way to go after the rides, objective or not. I don’t think I need titanium and don’t really want to buy a used bike or build one up. Neat idea though. Mason looks cool.

The CAADX I rode was a great bike, but I liked the less aggressive geo of Felt V85 if I was going with an aluminum bike. I’m also not a big fan of the largely plastered Cannondale statement on the frame. If I was racing, I would probably go for an aluminum bike and quite possibly the CAADX. Great bike just not my style.

I have kind of moved toward Space Horse vs. Macho Man Disc (or a Salsa Vaya 3 if I can test ride one). As they both All-City bikes are the same price, its kind of down to rear rack capable vs. disc brakes (plus slightly better group set and the amazing orange frame). Seems like its more utility vs. more bike decision between those two. I’ll try and find a Vaya 3.

[hozn]

@DaDitka 114306 wrote:

Hozn, you are right, the Macho Man Disc has fender mounts (see description of bike here). Are the fender mounts actually strong enough to rack a mount? I would of figured they aren’t reinforced or whatever.

Someone with more heavy touring experience can probably comment on this, but on my one frame that had rack & fender mounts next to each other the drillings seemed to be identical in terms of strength; just a couple cm apart. (When I replaced that frame with the dsic-brake version the rack mounts were moved to the seatstays to get out of the way of the disc calipers; in any event, I don’t use them.)

A quick Google search turned up the following image. I think @dkel is doing something similar to his straggler?
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8417&stc=1[/IMG]

Edit: Between this and the Straggler, I’d probably go with the Macho Man for:
(1) The caliper being inside the rear triangle; no interference with fender/rack stays.
(2) The awesome color.
(3) The setup for running solid shifter housing. Note, though, that the FD cable comes from the top. I don’t know if they install one of those pulley things in the default configuration, but I would replace that ASAP with a top-pull FD like the Shimano CX70.

[Tim Kelley]

@hozn 114314 wrote:

Someone with more heavy touring experience can probably comment on this, but on my one frame that had rack & fender mounts next to each other the drillings seemed to be identical in terms of strength; just a couple cm apart. (When I replaced that frame with the dsic-brake version the rack mounts were moved to the seatstays to get out of the way of the disc calipers; in any event, I don’t use them.)

A quick Google search turned up the following image. I think @dkel is doing something similar to his straggler?

I recently installed a Topeak 29er disc rack on a Macho Man disc using the standard mounts at the bottom and p-clamps at the top on the seat stays. With that setup it was certainly strong enough to support my weight sitting on it, and I’m larger than most cute-sized humans.

[DismalScientist]

@hozn 114314 wrote:

A quick Google search turned up the following image.
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8417&stc=1[/IMG]

The front quick release is on backwards.:rolleyes:
This setup will certainly eliminate heal strike.:rolleyes:

[jrenaut]

@DaDitka 114306 wrote:

I don’t like the nickel look of the Volpe Disc though.

What? You’re insane. That bike is clearly objectively beautiful.

If that doesn’t convince you, go out to Proteus and try one. They actually look a bit different in person.

[Phatboing]

@DaDitka 114306 wrote:

Thanks for the replies everyone.

The Salsa Fargo ticks the right boxes too, but seems a little more trail oriented than I need. Also I couldn’t tell if it could take a rear rack.

Think trail-worthy, but everything-capable. Mine has been a regular ol’ commuter, tourer, gravel bike, mountain bike, ice bike, and trailer-hauler. It’s the kind of bike you ride with a stupid grin on your face.

It can take a rear rack, and unless they’ve changed the design, you don’t need a disc-specific one, either.

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