N+1? Do I need one? I want one…

[ian74]

Bear with me while I’m trying to justify a new bike. So, right now I have a fairly long commute, 17+ miles each way plus as many HP laps as I can fit in. There’s a good chance I will be getting a new job in the coming few months and I will be commuting even farther, from Alexandria to Shady Grove. That’s about 26 miles each way. I’ll probably do it several times a week. I’ve been training on HP for it!

Currently I ride a 2013 Bianchi Impulso which is a dedicated road bike. It’s aluminum. There are no frame braze-ons for racks or fenders. I’ve said before if I realized the majority of my riding was going to be commuting when I was shopping I probably would have bought a more commuting style bicycle. I bought a rack that mounts through my rear wheel quick release, and bought a seat collar with mounting points. I bought clip-on fenders (which I’m not super thrilled about). I’ve put on 25 mm tires, which is the widest that will fit. All in attempts to make the road bike more of a commuter. It does move pretty quick though.

So, now I’m thinking I would like to buy something more commuter friendly. I’ve been really interested in steel frames lately, so I’ve been looking at a few. Reluctantly my adorable and supportive wife has given me a half-hearted green light but with a relatively limited budget. Something in the $800-900 range. Now this is where I think my wish list is going beyond my budget. I was interested in a steel frame, drop bars, mounts for racks and fenders, disc brakes and accommodating tires around 35mm or so.

I was looking at things like a surly disc trucker, straggler, salsa vaya, but these are way out of budget. I have found a few bikes that might fit the bill.

A Charge Plug at Performance which is full Sora group, disc brakes, and on sale for $599 http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1165676_-1___000000

Then I was thinking maybe more touring specific, so I found this bike, Traitor Wander direct from Traitor for $974. REI sells this too, and with 20% off it comes to about the same price as direct (but I can’t get the limeade color) https://www.traitorcycles.com/2015/Store_Detail.cfm?Token={ts_2016-03-25_10:31:29}-75f560b2e4fc9bd5-A09845F3-C3CE-0BED-3DE504E8F028541C&C=620&P=621&o=520

OK, main questions.

1. If I buy a steel bike, I’m afraid I will sacrifice speed as compared to my road bike. I still want to be able to get up to work quickly without too much time lost for pushing a big steel monster.
2. I don’t need to buy TODAY, so I could wait a few months, but what might be some comparable bikes? Maybe a Kona Rove AL? Is steel a bad choice?
3 We say a Jamis Renegade locally on Tuesday, stock price was about 850 but the groupset was Shimano Claris. How would that hold up to 600-800 miles a month of abuse on broken bumpy
MUPs?
4. I’m not opposed to buying used, so if anyone has something that might fit my bill and is sized like a 50/52 maybe I’d be interested?

DO I NEED AN N+1????

Topic

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Steve O 141918 wrote:

First question for Seth – Why? Such a nice bike. Almost new. Why are you selling?

Now for everyone; help me think this through.

In the past when I’ve occasionally entertained thoughts of N+1, I usually think one of these:
A) Crabon road bike. For recreational riding on Saturdays, Skyline rides, Kill Bill, Tuesday nights, ex-Boomer’s hill ride, etc. (In fact, speaking of Boomer, perfect would be his Trek that’s hanging, lonely and unused, in his basement in Falls Church, but guarded by his vicious dog, Bandit. That would be a good one. Boomer, are you there?… BOOMER!)

I think you’d want to change the saddle. He has odd proclivities.

[KayakCyndi]

@Steve O 141918 wrote:

First question for Seth – Why? Such a nice bike. Almost new. Why are you selling?

Well he does already have the Ti Viaje. Oh, and I think he may have just gotten the deal of the century on something else swoopy but in plastic.

[sethpo]

@Steve O 141918 wrote:

First question for Seth – Why? Such a nice bike. Almost new. Why are you selling?

Now for everyone; help me think this through.

Like Cyndi said, I already had the Ti version of the Viaje when I came across this lonely bike on eBay where it was unsold stock from a small shop in Montana. I rescued it from that fate at a pretty decent price. I honestly wasn’t sure what I’d do with it when I bought it but it needed saving so there you have it.

I’ve come to find out that the overlap of functions with the Ti bike is just too great to justify riding this one. The only thing I like it more for is CX or single track. It’s super light and responsive but I don’t really do that much serious off-road and what I do my Ti can handle just fine. It’s also great for on road and gravel too just not as great as the titanium version.

It’s been about six months of deliberation to reach this point. I really love the steel Viaje. So much fun. But like Cyndi also mentioned, I came across another great deal on carbon road Volagi Liscio that arrives tomorrow It has less overlap with the Ti.

There’s a not small chance I’ll end up keeping the steel Viaje anyway if I can’t find it a good home. I feel bad for not riding it but I’ll missing having it.

Are bikes like pets? My column.

Oh, and Steve, what if you sold your current steel bike and used that money on an inexpensive suspension MTB?

[Steve O]

http://www.volagi.com/shop/viaje-1x/

Only $1600, and I like the 1×9 I switched out to on my Fuji, so this 1×10 setup is my preference anyway.

I just PMed Seth to see if we could find a time. No downside to the free beer of course. And an excuse for a ride somewhere regardless.

[hozn]

$1600 is a nice price for a frameset that sells for $1100 (which seems pricey for steel, but I guess it’s a fairly boutique brand). I don’t know that Hayes mechanicals are very well liked, but you could always upgrade later to something like http://gevenalle.com/product/hydraulic/ …. though for $400 you could almost get a SRAM Force/Rival 1 & S700 hdyro setup.

You need to find a UK frameset you want and take advantage of the plummeting GBP. Something like http://www.probikekit.com/cycling-frames/kinesis-racelight-aithein-disc-frameset-blue/11229214.html (But that price is same as it was a week ago, so just wait …)

[Steve O]

@hozn 142039 wrote:

$1600 is a nice price for a frameset that sells for $1100 (which seems pricey for steel, but I guess it’s a fairly boutique brand). I don’t know that Hayes mechanicals are very well liked, but you could always upgrade later to something like http://gevenalle.com/product/hydraulic/ …. though for $400 you could almost get a SRAM Force/Rival 1 & S700 hdyro setup.

You need to find a UK frameset you want and take advantage of the plummeting GBP. Something like http://www.probikekit.com/cycling-frames/kinesis-racelight-aithein-disc-frameset-blue/11229214.html (But that price is same as it was a week ago, so just wait …)

OR
@Steve O 141845 wrote:

I have a friend who says, “Just lie down until the feeling passes.”

[Author]

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