Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
That is a very nice looking bike, I bet it rides very nice. But, I am content with a Rohloff on an off-the-shelf frame, don't need a Pinion. And I have a dynohub, something that the $8k bike lacked.
I'd pick Rohloff over Pinion too. Although Pinion has a bit wider gear range (636% vs 526%) split into more "speeds" (18 vs 14) for overall lower increment per gear change (12% vs 14%), Pinion is 1-2 lbs heavier, costs more and limits options in that it may only be acquired in complete bicycle form. Pinion is probably less durable than Rohloff, making the Pinion an even more costly choice. Pinion has stated the P18 has a service life of 60,000kmi, while a number of Rohloff users have achieved significantly more, to 100,000 km and beyond.
I'd pick this Siskiyou with Rohloff hub, less-rack-mount-interfering chainstay brake caliper mount and eccentric BB.
CoMo offers the Pathfinder Package as a $600 option on all it's bike, consisting of a Schmidt SON28 hub, Edelux II headlight and Sinewave Cycles Reactor USB steerer cap. That is a good lighting/charging package but it's twice what you or I would pay for the parts from a German LBS (which is the case for every component or option on a CoMo bike).
Originally Posted by
BigAura
Looks pretty nice & pretty pricey. Personally, comparing it to my ~$2K S&S coupled LHT, I'm not sure the extra $6K would improve my touring experience. And should anything go wrong, those cutting-edge components would quick become an albatross.
Yes, I and most others find a reasonably spec'd LHT/DT is more than adequate for the job. There's a chance you could jury-rig your derailleur bike to limp along to the next LBS, where repair service or parts would be likely be available immediately or in a couple days. There's no chance of this happening with Rohloff or Pinion, since the solution requires parts shipped to Germany for repair/replacement, and the bicycle is rendered useless. You won't find Gates parts or a Gates-experienced mechanic in hardly any LBS either.
Not too surprisingly, many S&S bike owners do not always disassemble their bikes for transport because it's a PITA, including Darren Alff of the video linked in #1. In his YouTube videos, Darren usually boxed or bagged his former bike (CoMo Pangea) for transport.
Originally Posted by
DropBarFan
Pinion P.18 has best gear range but it's much more expensive & heavier than even Rohloff, not sure why even intended MTB market riders would want it. OTOH since Surly Trucker has helped introduce disc brakes & Rohloff compatibility I'd also wish to see a split rear dropout for belt drive.
Rohloff and especially Pinion are a big weight increase over derailleur drive. Plus pedaling efficiency loss over a well maintained derailleur drive.
I think Surly/Maxway could build an eccentric bottom bracket (EBB) and frame break into a LHT/DT for another $250 on the MSRP, but then it would compete directly with owner QBP's more upscale Salsa models (Vaya, Marrakesh). I'd prefer a Vaya frameset (for the shorter ETT and longer headtube) with 26" or 650b wheels and an EBB and frame break - but don't know if I'd buy it after I saw the ~$1000 pricetag.