Hey folks, just want to provide some input for folks thinking about taking the $598 plunge on this bike. I bought mine about 2 months ago, when it was $698, and am still happy with the price, even though it is now $100 cheaper.

The bike: Alloy frame and fork, Tiagra 10 speed group with FSA Vero compact crank, BB7 discs, stout Weinmann wheels, FSA wing compact drop bars, and fairly nice Novara branded saddle, seatpost, and stem. Nothing super fancy, but all very reliable pieces at a great price. So far, the only item I have changed is the pedals - I added some Shimano M530 pedals to use my SPD shoes.

The ride: Some people here will probably disagree with me, but I actually prefer a well-built alloy frame to steel. I love the stiffness, and have no gripes with the "harshness" or "buzz" that an alloy frame can allow. I find that the 700x28 Schwalbe Marathons smooth most surfaces very well.

I should also mention that I am not yet 30 (but close!), around 200 lbs, and 5'11". I am pretty fit, flexible, and in perfect health. This I suppose puts me nearly into "Clyde" territory, where my weight and strength will probably induce a little more flex in most frames than a lot of other riders experience.

The frame/fork: I got a Large - recommended for up to 5'11" - and the fit is just right for the type of riding I do most - commuting. The geometry is pretty playful (I can bunny hop it over curbs!) and it makes for a fun ride to work. Nimble, but not what I think of as twitchy. Easy to ride no hands. Most of my miles are on my commute - 4 mile sprints, train ride, 4 mile sprint again - but I frequently take the long ride home - anywhere between 12 and 30 miles. I would say that I have 200 of my miles on rides longer than 15 miles. So far, I have been very comfortable.

I have also taken it on a few gravel roads/fire trails, and found it to handle those surfaces very well. I am going to purchase some 35c cross tires to improve traction on loose surfaces, and then probably ride the local fire roads regularly.

I had a set of Planet Bike Hardcore hybrid fenders (45mm) hanging out, and they were relatively easy to mount. I had to bend the rear upper stay to clear the disc, but that only took a few minutes to get an acceptable fit. The chainstay bridge was too narrow for the clip at the end of the fender, but it has a threaded m5 hole, so I simply removed the fender clip and bolted it to the frame. The front fender created a little toe-overlap when turning, which almost caused me to crash cause it caught me off guard. I am thinking about mounting to the front of the fork rather than behind, to move it up a little to see it that helps. Otherwise, I thought about trimming the fender a little, or maybe finding a set of shorter clip on fenders.

I also mounted a standard Transit basic rack - the cheap one from Performance Bike - that I had laying around. I had to spread the rack stays a little and get some spacers and long bolts from the hardware store to clear the brake caliper, but I got it mount up. The brake cable routing rubbed the upper rack stay, and I didn’t like the stay being that far away from the threaded hole on the frame, so I removed the rack. I ordered an Axiom streamliner disc rack, which arrives any day now. Hopefully that will be a better solution. I knew that the seat-stay mounted caliper was going to cause some fitment issues for a rack/fenders, but I wasn’t that worried about it because there are a ton of disc-specific racks out there. I like the Axiom because it is narrower than most others, which is nice for folks carrying light loads in a small pannier.

All in all, this is probably the best bike I could have bought, it fits my needs very well, and it fit my budget when I bought it. I was looking specifically for an alloy disc brake bike with brifters, rack and fender mounts, and somewhat endurance oriented geometry. I had considered the Diamondback Haanjo Comp (found a great deal online, but couldn’t find one in person to test-ride), Specialized Tri-Cross disc (just out of my budget), and a couple of BD bikes (again, couldn’t test ride any). Other considerations were the Raleigh Roper, Surly Straggler, Fuji cross bike (don’t remember the exact model name), and Cannondale CAADX, but those were all just not quite right for some reason or another. I am very happy with my choice, and I hope I can make the choice easier for someone else!


I think my next bike will be a single speed - something along the lines of a Surly Karate Monkey or Singular Gryphon. I am looking for a sturdy, dirt drop bar appropriate, disc brake, single speed, steel frame, commute capable (rack mounts), big tire fitting monster. Looking for suggestions!