Originally Posted by Wanderer

I ride Schwalbe Marathon Supremes on my Crosstrail. I've got a 35 on the front of my Crosstrail, and a 40 on the back, for the best of both worlds. I've got 30s on my Sirrus, and it is much more harsh!

To me, the 35 is a good compromise, and is only about 1 3/8 inch wide, vs an 1 1/8 for a 28mm. A quarter of an inch ain't a lot of difference, but it sure makes a BIG difference in comfort.

Originally Posted by Suza

I appreciate your suggestion and agree. . . . . . the Toughroad SLR1 looks very much like the bike I need, though I would like to run narrower tires. My hesitation is this: We only have two bike shops in our area (we like to patronize local merchants): #1 sells Specialized and Surly, #2 Giant, Specialized, Cannondale, Salsa, Surly, Redline, and Torker. I have done business with both and, hands down, the Specialized shop is my preference. While shopping for our current bikes, we went to LBS #2 first, because they had a variety of brands to compare. Perhaps we just went on a bad day: they basically told us to take some bikes out and try them - that was it; no discussion regarding our needs, budget, etc. Pretty much "There are the bikes (pointing). See what floats your boat"!! Perhaps we didn't come across as serious bikers, looked like we were just window shopping, or whatever. I was immediately turned off, so we looked around a bit and moved on to LBS #1 which ultimately fitted us nicely with our Specialized Crossroads. I have since talked to bike owner friends and family who agree #1 is the shop of choice. IMO, #2 seems more interested in maintaining, repairing, and modifying bikes, whereas #1 has full-circle customer service as well as a knowledgeable staff. Example: I recently took my Crossroads in to #1 for its third annual post-sale tune up. While there I expressed to the person on duty my desire to upgrade, which started a discussion about different Specialized options. He suggested I do some Internet research and continue the discussion when I return to pickup my bike. At that time, I rode several bikes, but was unable to completely satisfy my needs within the Specialized lines. I discussed the possibility of modifications and, although the person on staff had some suggestions, none, aside from a costly handlebar conversion, seemed to do the trick. Am I hard to please? Maybe. Am I wrong to want what I want? I don't think so.


A few days later I received a call from the shop's owner (who only works Saturdays and is the person who fitted and sold us our CR 4 years ago). Having been made aware of my frustration, he said his first thought was the Crossroads, until he realized I already have one and my reason for upgrading is to have disc brakes. He invited me to meet with him next Saturday. I believe his thought, mine too, is to fit me with a Cross Trail or Ariel. If make that choice, I should ride it a while, as configured, then decide whether to modify (less flat handle bar, better suited women's saddle, and perhaps a wider tire for off-road). This will also give me the opportunity to see how I like the fork suspension, knowing it can be swapped for rigid.


Sorry for such a long reply. Briefly stated, I feel the LBS is just as important, or even more so, than finding the off-the-shelf bike that best fits my needs. I will only be buying this bike once, but I need to be satisfied and content that the LBS genuinely cares for me and my bike after the sale. Having had experience with shop #1, I am confident I will leave with a well-fitted bike that fulfills my dream.


I hope my insights will help others who may be facing a similar challenge. I will report back

Originally Posted by Suza

I thought about mixing sizes to get more shock absorption on the front (larger, lower pressure tire) plus stability off road and less roll resistance on the rear (smaller tire, higher pressure). Maybe I'm wrong, but to me this makes more sense. Was actually thinking of this when I was considering a Sirrus. Wanting wider tires for off road, but the rear wouldn't accept much wider than the stock 30's.

Originally Posted by DougG

I think I've posted about this before, but why not consider upgrading to the Trigger Pro tires? That's what I did on my Crosstrail after the OEM set of Trigger Sports wore out. The Pros are rated for 45-90psi and have additional flat protection. Otherwise, they're identical as far as tread design, etc.

Originally Posted by travbikeman

Once I angled the grips like that, I no longer had my hands go numb since I was no longer bending my wrists. It took a bit to get used to it though, but now it seems normal to have the grips angled like this. Still have fingers go numb if I don't move around for a bit on longer rides.

Sit ups!???!??? Whats that? ........

Originally Posted by ColonelSanders

If you test road the Toughroad and found it to your liking, after your first service that is usually thrown in as part of buying a new bike, could you not just take the Toughroad to LBS 1 to service in the future?

Originally Posted by Skipjacks

Cool. Thanks.

I just took Ergon GP3 grips like yours off my bike and put the stock ones back on last night. I've been leaning into the bars too much and the harder rubber on the Ergons was killing my hands. But like like the wider grip and the bar ends so I want to make them work.

I was thinking of raising the grips a little like you did to offset that. (Tried moving the seat and what not. That helped, just not enough)

The other option is more sit ups to improve my core...but yeah that ain't gonna happen no matter how much I swear I'll do it.

I might ride over to the LBS and see what they recommend for me, but it's nice to see an option in place like yours so I have some basis when I talk to them.

Originally Posted by Suza

After my experience with LBS #2, I don't feel good about buying from them; yes, I might like the Toughroad and wouldn't have to swap forks. But, I feel better about patronizing LBS #1 as I have been doing business with them for several years and have confidence in their fitting expertise; LBS #2 is an unknown, in that respect.


Bottom line is, I don't think I can go wrong with the Crosstrail and am willing to give the suspension a try, knowing I can modify. Might I like the Toughroad as well, or better? Perhaps. But all things considered, I prefer doing business with LBS #1, including my initial purchase.


Thanks for your advice

Originally Posted by Wanderer

You might want to try the Specialized version of those Ergon Grips. The slightly softer rubber, is more forgiving, and more comfortable. While there, pick up a set of P2 Overendz Barends - you will thank me later!

Originally Posted by Skipjacks

Do you mean these?
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/co...=219393-131255

And here's a dumb question....if I used these, how do I use bar ends with them? Since the ends are closed?

Or are you talking about a different grip altogether?

Originally Posted by Suza

Looks like you angled the grips away from you so the flared rest of the grip is more flat?


I like the looks of your handlebar . . . . looks similar to the one on my Crossroads. What make/model is it?


I have to be careful with how far the handle bar sticks out. We carry our bikes with a 1upUSA tray rack on the back of our small Sprinter RV which has a recessed hitch. Even with a hitch extender, my bike barely clears the rear mast of the van. I put a tennis ball on the end of the bar, just in case. I'm going out to measure our bars.


P1110480_zpsdy53upou.jpg Photo by suzahuff | Photobucket


P1110481_zpsxmno7jzr.jpg Photo by suzahuff | Photobucket

Originally Posted by missesalot

I have a 2016 Sport Disc, I am interested in upgrading to a 1x11. Is this possible, is it worth it, and what would you recommend for parts?

Originally Posted by travbikeman

I think it was this Ritchey I bought from Performance bikes for around $20. They no longer have it on their website:

https://www.amazon.com/Ritchey-Rizer...hey+handlebars

You can always cut the handlebar ends down to shorten them if needed. Many people do this since the length of some of these bars might be too long for them.

Originally Posted by travbikeman

Anything is possible, it being worth it is really your interest in this technology. What kind of riding are you planning on doing? Gear ratios maybe similar to what you have, just simplified since there would only be one gear in the crank. So it being worth it is really up to you if you want the simplicity of this kind of setup.

1x11 are not cheap, especially for a Crosstrail Sport. It's possible the new groupset could end up being more money than what you spent on buying the bike, which in my opinion makes it not worth it.

Originally Posted by Suza

From reading the specs on both the stock bar and the one linked above, both have 9 degree backsweep. So the difference is the upsweep? Is the Crosstrail bar completely flat? The Ritchey Rizer list Upsweep as "2", but I don't know 2 what. Inches? Degrees?


If the backsweep is the same, would it work to just raise the bars?


The Ritchey lists width as 670mm. My bar can't exceed 660mm. I guess that would be an easy adjustment, as you said.


Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by missesalot

I ride pretty much all canal trail stuff, I just never shift off the middle chain ring. Figured the weight savings might be good. More than anything I just want to mess with my bike I think:-). If I put the parts on this bike, would they be usable down the road for a mtb build?

Originally Posted by munkeyfish

Anyone know where I can get original or even an aftermarket, seat post? I have 2 saddles I'm trying and it would be so much easier to just swap the post with the saddle already adjusted vs. Swapping saddles and then adjusting all over again.

Originally Posted by travbikeman

Hey, then it would be worth it just for the fun of it. These are mountain bike parts, so I'm assuming the 1x11 from both Shimano and SRAM would fit a mtb build as well.

If you do this, please come back and provide pictures. I would be curious to hear on the progress and how you like it.

Originally Posted by missesalot

Will do. I'm gonna do tires too. Marathons? How wide can I go without reducing rolling resistance? Stock trigger sports on there now...

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Which Marathon?

Originally Posted by missesalot

Not sure! Any recommendations?

Originally Posted by missesalot

Will do. I'm gonna do tires too. Marathons? How wide can I go without reducing rolling resistance? Stock trigger sports on there now...