wintermute

My beloved 2006 Bianchi Volpe was recently stolen. I loved that bike, but I need to get back in the saddle both literally and figuratively. I used it for light touring, gravel and hardpack trail rides, fitness/training road rides, and just putzing around town with the family. If there was anything I could change on it (besides some of the kit - I added a Brooks saddles, barcons, Salsa Bell Lap bars), it would be to have wider tire clearance (I was able to jam 38mm TravelContacts under the stays) for looser trails and maybe a little bit more chainstay length. So here's my options as I see them:

- Bianchi Volpe (duh) - looks like they stretched it out a bit, not sure if the tire clearance has changed, not sure what the "Bianchi Chromolite" frame means, compared to the old Bianchi Cro-Mo triple butted frame

- Surly Crosscheck - the spiritual equivalent of the Volpe. Comes with barcons, which is nice, and accepts wider tires

- Surly Ogre - might be fun to have something a little more offroad oriented - not sure how it would affect on-road performance. Would need to change out a lot of the cockpit. Not the end of the world, since my LBS really does give you great deals when switching out parts on a new buildup.

- Salsa Vaya - Looks promising. Would need to get rid of those brifters. Not sure how I feel about only being able to use disc brakes

- Salsa Marrakesh - looks pretty. kitted out almost exactly how I would want it. disc only. Judging by the weight, this might not be the best unloaded ride.

- Kona Sutra - also looks promising, kitted out close to what I want. Disc only again still scares me. Not sure about the Alivio components.

So, what's everyone's opinion about these rides for the intended use? I appreciate the help.

jonpear6

The Marrakesh is the biggest flop in Salsa history in my mind. The steerer tubes come cut extremely short. The saddle is a B17 Narrow, not just a B17. My shop is essentially selling older Vayas rather than recommend the Marrakesh. Just my opinion, but I am extremely disappointed. If I were you, I would look at the Cross-check or the new SRAM outfitted Stragglers. They're pretty great. My wife just picked up a straggler, so I may be biased.

fietsbob

the sub race level 'cross bike' is a type, every brand has in their range by now.


Again I go with : Pick the Shop you like, first , Then Get a Bike there ... they will. offer test rides.

flargle

Cross Check, man. Fatties Fit Fine.

Sorry about the Volpe, though.

Wspsux

I'd say no on the marrakesh- that thing is a bloody tank!

I'd also throw the Spacehorse into your search. Awesome bike.

However I wound up going Salsa Vaya with the X9 sram set up Instead of a space horse. I really deeply truely couldnt be happier.

shelbyfv

The Black Mtn Monstercross looks interesting Black Mountain Cycles

bikemig 

Add the soma doublecross to the list.

wintermute

Thanks everyone! Right now I'm leaning mostly toward the Crosscheck - it has familiar old-school components that I'm familiar with and the geometry is almost exactly the same as my old Volpe, with one big difference - it has a horizontal top tube versus the Bianchi's sloping tube. So, based on measurements on my other rides, I would need to have the top of the saddle approximately 6 or 7 inches above the top of the top tube on a 58cm frame to get the right stroke. The problem with that is that I like my bars up as high as my saddle due to my bad back. Is this feasible and common with a modern horizontal top tube bike? So now my list has changed to:

Bianchi Volpe
Surly Crosscheck
Salsa Vaya
Kona Sutra
Jamis Aurora (added)

Removed: Marakech (sounds like it's a dog), Ogre (way too much reach to fit drop bars)

FrozenK

Surly bikes tend to have a short head tube, so you may end up with a long steerer (lot of spacers) or a high rise stem.

justin1138

all city space horse or macho man?

Wspsux

You'll probably need alot of spacers to get your bars up there. Some people, me included find that unappealing. Vaya wont give you that problem, the Space Horse will also address it with a sloping top tube.

Regarding the Jamis Aurora - I rode one for about 2.5 years before buying my Vaya. It never really impressed me. I found the tire clearances weren't enough for it to be a fun road to trail bike (though it seems this has been remedied in newer iterations) and the ride felt dead. The bike is also heavy, as all the bikes here are, but the Aurora rides and feels like a heavy bike where most of the others hide this sensation of weight in their ride. FWIW I was cross shopping the Surly Cross Check at the time when I bought the Jamis.

What the Aurora really is, is a good deal. Its the cheapest of the lot for sure, but I found it felt like a lesser bike than the All City Space Horse and definitely cant compete with my Vaya.

wintermute

Thanks Wspsux - that's definitely the kind of information I was looking for. My bad back, freakishly long legs, and short torso will thank you.

09box

Cross Check gets my vote..

wintermute

Now adding the Specialized AWOL to the list - one of the [good] LBSes told me not to knock it.

justin1138

If you don't limit yourself to just rim brakes, there are a whole lot of bikes you might want to add to your list.

RockiesDad

Might want to check out Redline Conquest bikes if you can find them in your neck of the woods. Just picked one up and I got to say they are fun bikes. Having test ridden a few on your list, I really noticed the ride and handling was what I was looking for (quick and comfy). A few reviews noted that their frame's geometry is spot-on and I agree. Just adding my $.02...

oldsmobum

I also suggest looking at one of the all city's. I built up a Macho king (higher end tubeset than macho man) for a customer and it is an awesome bike!

wintermute

I've been out of the loop for 10 years and MAN has a lot changed. Went to the LBS for a fitting and expecting the decision to be between the Vaya and the Crosscheck. After a fitting, and due to my long legs and bad back (needing the bars to be rather high), it was mutually decided to throw out the venerable Crosscheck. Then, being in a 10-year time warp, I began being seduced by 1x drives and hydraulic brakes. The long and short of it is, my current choices, in order of best to worst (but still do-able fit) are the Salsa Vaya X9, the AWOL Comp, and the Kona Sutra LTD (I'm mad at my LBS for showing me that beautiful bike because now I want it, but the fit will be finicky).

09box

I'm starting to dig the 1x setups out there. I don't think you could go wrong with a Salsa Vaya. They seem to be solid bikes..