What is that 'hanger' you have behind the seat... to keep the bag away from the brakes?
You make it or buy it?

You'd figure with a name like "Sequoia" it would be huge and sprawling...


But you're totally right- an Allez with rack mounts, slightly longer chainstays and a triple.


It seems that sport/tourers always get mid to lower end components. I think it's like @Chrome Molly mentioned- it's neither fish nor fowl. "Real" enthusiasts will spend to get the specific type of bike... the "specialized" model, as it were...


What strikes me about the old Sequoia is that it's not a race bike, it's not a touring bike- but it's got Class A components on it.

It's a Carradice Bagman rack with quick-release. It supports Carradice bags so they don't sway or hit your legs while pedaling. Not really needed for this small zip-roll bag, but essential for larger bags like the Pendle or Barley and others.

I actually like the new Sequoia, based on photos and without knowing the geometry. The old Sequoias were classic all-arounders capable for group riding, unpaved roads and trails, and light touring. Times have changed and the old designs probably wouldn't sell except for old guys like me, who generally buys used frames anyway. From what I see at group rides and bike shops, many cyclists seem to think disc brakes, compact geometries and 11-speed gearing are essentials. Not my cup of tea, but that seems to be what sells right now.

I wouldn't expect a new Sequoia to resemble an old one, but a classy frame with top level parts.

It takes less time to adjust the Spyres on my Fargo than the cantis on my Merckx.

This was half way down the page on Bike Snob
Bike Snob NYC


And no, you won't be able to buy a bike with rim brakes soon. Even the new entry-level Specialized Sequoia comes with disc brakes, for chrissakes!


The new entry-level Specialized Sequoia is purpose-built and engineered to spend the rest of its life unridden in a suburban garage, and indeed many purchasers will probably return home only to find the previous iteration of the Sequoia already there:

Agreed.

Looks like fun to me.

I won't dash out and drop $3,500, but I like the fact the bike gives riders another option.

Nice! I have a frameset and am trying to decide what to do with it. What size tires do you have stuffed in there?

Ritchey Speedmax Pro 32s. Nice tires, folding, reasonably light and roll well.

Good for you but since this is the C&V forum, they are also heavy, complicated and fugly. Couple that with the sloped top tube and goofy long seat post to get the sadlle up where it belongs, all it needs is an Energizer Bunny powered shifter to be perfect, not.

Yep, lots to love on this forum........

I've grown to appreciate a well designed modern bike. Hey, at least it is not covered in gaudy decals and a bunch of ugly colors. Obviously it is not a classically styled bike. When your blasting through mud puddles on a detour home from work you won't have a care in the world about that though.

Another new steel bike from a big name company. Who says steel is dead?

Exactly my thought. Based on my past touring experience, the most critical aspect of a touring bike is that it has to be sturdy and fixable on the road with parts easily found in out-of-the way locations. That would rule out disk brakes for sure.

A few more tidbits of info from a "reliable" source.
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/reviews/first-ride-the-adventurously-versatile-specialized-sequoia

If I were actually going off road on that bike, I would lose the fenders in a heart beat.

Yeah, fenders + offroad = danger.

Has not seemed to be much of a problem on the tour divide nor the Trans am race.

What is going to go wrong that would be fixable on a vintage style adventure bike in Seldom Seen, ID?

3alarmer, Ill try to answer your question. You would do the same thing you would do if you broke down on tour in Seldom Seen, ID with any other bike. You would try to fix the issue on the spot. Then you would get to the closest shop, if needed.
No different than if you were in Seldom Seen, ID on a 2014 LHT or a 1990 Fuji Saratoga.

davester- disc brakes are on bikes in most all modern bike shops at this point. There is an incredibly high chance the disc brakes could be fixed at whatever shop you find.
Disc brakes are on 520s, LHTs, and a whole slew of other dedicated touring bikes. Furthermore, the adventure bike market is littered with offerings that have disc brakes. Its actually rare for a bike in this segment to NOT have disc brakes.




I dont have a bike with disc brakes. I have a touring bike with cantis, a gravel bike with cantis, and just bought a frame to build a better fitting gravel bike that will have...cantis.
I am not pushing disc brakes here, just simply pointing out what seems like an irrational concern.

If a canti hanger cable snaps, I am SOL until I get to the closest shop regardless of where I am. Disc brakes arent new fangled tech that cant be easily worked on. They are well established and widely serviced.

This new model looks great, and it alerts me to the fact that I should keep my eyes peeled for the old one, too.

You can't do it that fast. You would have to mount the lights some other way.

That's a great point.

I've taken the fenders off of every bike I own other my Croll, which I use as a rain bike.

When I built my BMC, I had a nice set of Berthouds here.

Thought about it for a few days and came to my senses.

Decided to keep them on bikes that will primarily see road use.

Another good point.

I would have built the bike with the tail light on the back of the seat tube and the headlight on the rack.

Can't quite tell, but it could be there (head light) already.