transientgolf

I am considering a new bike for Gravel/Endurance Cross and some Gran Fondo type rides (with lengthly gravel sections). I would like a warbird and was considering the Carbon but it's unfortunately unavailable (LBS has no idea when it would come available). The 2015 Warbird Ti is still available and at a discount. Would you still consider this bike or would you lean towards something else?

I cannot find anything locally to look at, much less ride...except for the Slate which did fit well and ride nicely. The other bikes I have considered are: Open U.P. (looks cool, but high price), Santa Cruz Stigmata CC (too harsh?), and Cannonade Slate.

I appreciate any input on the Warbird Ti (or others).

Thanks!

allroader55

I don't know if delivery is any better, but did you check on the Cutthroat? I don't like the kit (not my first choices in drop bar and drive train), but the frame and tire options are fantastic.

I was talking to LBS about Salsa today, and they said ordering is very strange with them. Everything is on first come first serve and new delivery might not be available till spring.

ph0rk

I'd take a Ti bike over a carbon bike in a heartbeat. I'd even look into swapping out the carbon fork on the Ti Warbird, but that's just me.

MudvilleStomper

I would not be upset if I had to settle for a titanium Warbird at a discount. Not at all...

transientgolf

Thanks all. I am down to the Warbird Ti and Stigmata CC. I like the fact the Stigmata has both larger tire clearance and I think would be better on the road (not to mention being significantly lighter). The Ti is so appealing though....

Any specific thoughts on the Stigmata...one way or the other?

DirtRoadRunner

The Stigmata received glowing long-term reviews on the Radavist:
Seven Months of Shredding on the Santa Cruz Stigmata | The Radavist

Frankly, it looks like an amazing bike. The geometry is more aggressive than the Warbird, so it will be a quicker but less stable bike. Ridden the way it should be ridden, you'll get it scratched and dinged up. If you are OK with spending that much on a bike and riding it aggressively on gravel/road/singletrack, go for it. I would love to have one for a toy, but would never spend that much on a bike.

Regarding the CX1 groupset, it is probably fine if you are a strong rider and/or live somewhere flat, but it really wouldn't be ideal in a hillier area - you'd be at the top and bottom ranges of your gearing all of the time. A compact double (46/34) would be better for those conditions.

transientgolf

Thanks for all of the replies. I am leaning towards the Stimata With a double crank (I think that would be better for road??). the red build is expensive though, wish they had another option....

DirtRoadRunner

The Stigmata C Rival build is $3,500, and only weighs 2 lbs more than the Red build, despite being $3k cheaper. Unless you are using it for actual CX racing, you could swap the 36t ring on the crankset for a 34t ring, which would give you good climbing gears when paired with the big 32t cog on the cassette. $1,500 per pound is a lot to pay for weight savings.

I honestly doubt you'd really notice the 2 lb difference between the two bikes, as 18.7 lbs is still pretty like for a disc brake, fat-tired CX bike. You could use the significant savings to put a pair of really nice wheels on the Rival-equipped bike, and you'd still have $2k leftover. I've had SRAM Rival components on my road bike now for 6 years and they have been great - I'm sure the latest iteration is better than my circa-2010 parts.

transientgolf

Great points. I am more interested in endurance type events (ex: hill Billy, pisgah, etc) rather than cx racing. I have been searching around and may be able to build the cc with rival or Ultegra for a more reasonable price buy building it up myself.

Too add to my decision, I have found a great deal on a slate (that I actually got to ride) that fit and role well. I am hung up on the weight though (22lb with cheap pedals). I wonder how it would do in the type of riding I mentioned. Any thoughts?

DirtRoadRunner

I haven't ridden the Slate, so I can't offer an opinion on if it is actually a cool, versatile bike, or just an oddball fad. I wouldn't get to hung up on weight though - my gravel bike weighs a whopping 24 lbs, and I can't say its weight slows me down a bit, my own fitness and road conditions do far more to affect my speed than a few pounds of non-rotating mass on the frame. Minor differences in weight only really matter if you are a competitive rider looking to actually win races - for a recreational person looking to have fun, you'll never notice a few pounds more or less.