Your latest bike purchase?

[TwoWheelsDC]

So I haven’t ridden much as of late, mostly due to house selling/moving, and partly due to not having a bike that can handle the C&O (part of my new commute) in this rainy weather. So I decided to add a CX or gravel bike of some sort that had disc brakes, would be decently quick on paved stuff, and hold up well on the towpath and crappy DC streets (and maybe even gravel grinding). I initially was looking at the Felt F-series, but settled on a Fuji Tread (basically a CX frame re-branded as a gravel bike), since Performance was having an incredible closeout deal on them. Normally, I wouldn’t be inclined to go with Performance for a bike purchase, but the deal was just too good to pass up. 11spd 105 components, carbon fork, tapered head tube…based on my quick ride it’s super comfortable and light, but I’ll find out just how it rides on tomorrow’s commute. I also grabbed a set of the removable SKS Urban fenders based on Hozn’s recommendation. They seem to work really well, although I can’t mount the front one because the included bolt is too short.

[hozn]

Nice bike!

Yeah. I had to order longer bolt for my current fork too. Was a good excuse to get titanium hardware!

[MFC]

@TwoWheelsDC 139794 wrote:

So I haven’t ridden much as of late, mostly due to house selling/moving, and partly due to not having a bike that can handle the C&O (part of my new commute) in this rainy weather. So I decided to add a CX or gravel bike of some sort that had disc brakes, would be decently quick on paved stuff, and hold up well on the towpath and crappy DC streets (and maybe even gravel grinding). I initially was looking at the Felt F-series, but settled on a Fuji Tread (basically a CX frame re-branded as a gravel bike), since Performance was having an incredible closeout deal on them. Normally, I wouldn’t be inclined to go with Performance for a bike purchase, but the deal was just too good to pass up. 11spd 105 components, carbon fork, tapered head tube…based on my quick ride it’s super comfortable and light, but I’ll find out just how it rides on tomorrow’s commute. I also grabbed a set of the removable SKS Urban fenders based on Hozn’s recommendation. They seem to work really well, although I can’t mount the front one because the included bolt is too short.

I got basically the same bike about a year ago (Fuji Tread 1.0) and have been pleased. I alternate using it with my road bike for commuting, and have some (mild) off-road.

[hozn]

That has got to be one of the most understated frame paint jobs Fuji has ever created. I really like it.

I might dremel out the cable stops for running full-length shifter housing (assuming it already supports brake hose/full-length housing). Not sure why that isn’t more standard.

[hozn]

But hey, @TwoWheelsDC, you should keep your Rhino Lite wheels and use them for this bike (snow tires), no?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@hozn 139809 wrote:

But hey, @TwoWheelsDC, you should keep your Rhino Lite wheels and use them for this bike (snow tires), no?

I thought about it, but I assumed the rear spacing would be different and the hub wouldn’t work with an 11spd cassette. I’ll have to check it out to make sure though.

**edit** looks like the spacing is the same, so I guess I’d just have to replace the freehub and get the wheel re-dished?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@hozn 139808 wrote:

That has got to be one of the most understated frame paint jobs Fuji has ever created. I really like it.

Fuji’s entire lineup seems to have gotten a lot better in that regard.

[ian74]

@hozn 139808 wrote:

That has got to be one of the most understated frame paint jobs Fuji has ever created. I really like it.

I might dremel out the cable stops for running full-length shifter housing (assuming it already supports brake hose/full-length housing). Not sure why that isn’t more standard.

I agree, big fan of the understated look. I’m OK if we move away from heavily branded/over-logo’d frames.

[GovernorSilver]

Tore up the tape on my trekking bar by crashing too much. Finally had it replaced with Fizik Tacky Touch, with Fizik Bar Gel underneath the tape to add some width to the grips by the brake levers. So much more comfortable to grip there now. The new color doesn’t stand out as much as the hot pink did, but it’s worth the tradeoff.

Not yet tested in rain. The previous tape was a disappointment in that department – too slick.

[Tania]

Second wheelset for the warbird (stock wheels are now set up tubeless with slicks) for gravel rides.

DT Swiss XR 331 rims (hozn suggested I look at mtb wheels for this build and I’m glad he did – these are way lighter than road rims), Chris King ISO mountain hubs and DT Swiss Revolution spokes (same weight as their $$$ bladed spokes but less $$$).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12010[/ATTACH]

[hozn]

Those look awesome! Love living vicariously through these fancy wheel builds.

Curious about the washers. They look larger than the polyax washers I have used with Salim nipples. Are those spoke washers or nipple washers? Do hubs/rims, respectively, suggest using them or just extra insurance?

[Tania]

@hozn 141980 wrote:

Those look awesome! Love living vicariously through these fancy wheel builds.

Curious about the washers. They look larger than the polyax washers I have used with Salim nipples. Are those spoke washers or nipple washers? Do hubs/rims, respectively, suggest using them or just extra insurance?

They came with the rims.

“On a 26, 27.5 or a 29 inch bike: XC stands for fast uphills and passing in the downhills. As a result of elaborate finite element analysis, DT Swiss XC rims employ material only where it‘s needed. Comes with DT squorx Pro Head® nipples and PHR washers.”

[Steve O]

New “Jaguar Green” bar tape. Hard to find a dark green. Still seeking a more “forest” green that will better match the trim on my frame.

This is closer, but $70 for bar tape is a bit much.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12045[/ATTACH]

If you know where I can find a dark, forest green, let me know.

Oh, harder to see, but all my cables were also replaced today.

[vern]

These arrived today, replacing my taco’d front wheel. Shipped from the UK, arrived in 3 days, free shipping. I love Merlin Cycles!

[consularrider]

@Steve O 142507 wrote:

New “Jaguar Green” bar tape. Hard to find a dark green. Still seeking a more “forest” green that will better match the trim on my frame.

This is closer, but $70 for bar tape is a bit much.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12045[/ATTACH]

If you know where I can find a dark, forest green, let me know.

Oh, harder to see, but all my cables were also replaced today.

Is your’s the Deda bar tape that Wiggle calls “jaguar” green? Have you considered cloth tape, see the Green Grips dark green.

[Author]

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