cycling705

Thank you much for the detailed walk-through. It was very helpful.

ColonelSanders

I forgot about that.

Mind you, @coominya didn't find that an advantage and changed his carbon seatpost to the alloy version.

There has been some interesting discussions about this, where plenty of people on both sides express a concern or lack of concern.

One thing I have noticed is that as my legs have become stronger, I sometimes surprise myself to see that I am now using a higher gear than I was able to previously, on a familiar stretch of road, and having the gear indicators makes that easier to see.

Perhaps in a few years time when some of the noobie enthusiasm I currently have fades away, I won't be as concerned about the gear indicators.

cycling705

Colonel - Thanks again for your help. I didn't think I've end up here, but I'm very interested in the ToughRoad SLR2 after spending some time researching it and watching some videos. If you don't mind, I have a few follow-up questions.

When visiting a local Giant dealer this week, I discovered that they do not have a ToughRoad in stock at any of their locations. The LBS mentioned that a cost-effective alternative might be the Giant ATX Lite (whch is in stock at one of their other shops):

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/atx-lite

Not knowing whether or not the ToughRoad will be a good fit, I feel bad asking them to order it for me to test ride.

Since I have my Sirrus Sport for longer fitness/road rides, is it logical to assume that the ATX Lite would still give me what I'm looking for from a second bike (a more comfortable ride around the city / paved paths), while also giving me the flexibility for some trail riding later on if I ever wanted that (more so than the Sirrus)?

Basically I'd have both a road bike and an entry-level, rigid-fork mountain bike.

Obviously the ToughRoad SLR2 can accomplish the same things as the ATX, but in a much better way. And, it has better "equipment".

However, I'm trying to weigh whether or not it's worth an extra $435, especially since the 2017 SLR2 downgraded their RD from Alivio to Acera.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/toughroad-slr-2

I'm assuming on the ATX that the FD (Shimano M191) and RD (M310) are Tourney and Altus respectively. If so, are the derailleur differences between the two bikes just a matter of shifting-quality, or is longevity an issue as well?

Knowing that the ATX has lower-quality derailleurs than the ToughRoad, in your opinion, would I be wasting my money on the ATX, and thus would be better served to spend an extra $435 on the ToughRoad? What are you overall thoughts on the ATX (based on the specs from the link above)?

Thanks again for your help, and anyone else who chimes in. I really appreciate it.

ColonelSanders

Well it definitely wouldn't hurt to go for a test ride on the ATX and test it out.

It comes fitted with 1.95" wide tyres and I wonder how much bigger they can go?

My biggest concern with that bike is the rigid aluminium fork might give a harsh ride, especially if the terrain gets a bit uneven, but if you were to fit wider tyres on it, that would go a long way to alleviating the harsh ride issue(if there is one).

We don't get the ATX in Australia with the rigid fork and I do think that combo makes it an intriguing option.

Why it would be worth testing out the ATX, is that from just looking at the spec sheet, there are things one can not be certain about, mainly the ride characteristics.

I suspect that bike is built like a tank and might transmit a lot of vibrations back to the rider, but the frame on it will be nearly indestructible. It might be as heavy a bike as a Roam 3 with a suspension fork.

Not sure how to feel about Tourney running gear, like most Shimano stuff, it gets upgraded every few years, so Tourney stuff now, is better than Tourney stuff of 6 to 8 years ago.

If it shifts well enough on a test ride, then at that price point, I would not be concerned about it.

Another bike you should consider test riding is the Giant Roam 2 or 3.

cycling705

I believe there is quite a bit of room for wider/higher tires. Do you think I would need to go wider to offset the all-aluminum frame vibrations, or are 1.95's sufficient for pavement riding?

In your opinion, does the carbon fork on the SLR2 make a substantial difference for pavement riding? I doubt I would do much trail riding. If I did, it would likely be gravel or packed dirt.

Based on the specs below, is it likely the ride "feel" will be vastly different between the two bikes? I'm kind of a novice in this area. Visually there are some minor differences geometry-wise, but I don't know how that translates to ride-type. I will definitely test-ride the ATX Lite soon.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/atx-lite
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/toughroad-slr-2

Thanks again for your help.

hokiefyd 

That ATX Lite is a neat looking concept. It's really closer to a mountain bike -- and probably fits in Giant's mountain bike category. Giant is pushing the "27.5 inch" wheel as a good compromise between "29 inch" and "26 inch" for many riders. It could be true, I don't know. I think I'd prefer 29/700c wheels for hybrid/path use, but I also don't have a lot of seat time on a 27.5 to know if I'd like it better.

The alloy fork could probably be swapped for a carbon fork rather inexpensively in the future. Or, maybe Giant offers an ATX version with a carbon fork already?

AU Tiger

My wife has the Liv Bliss, which is the women's equivalent of the ATX Lite. She loves it. It is VERY lightweight for a bike with such wide tires. And those tires really smooth out the ride. I know you've been considering quite a few options for a while now, but I think the ATX Lite would suit your original purpose well and at a reasonable price.

ColonelSanders

Keep in mind that whilst I am concerned about the possibility of harsh feedback/vibrations, my concerns could easily be unwarranted.

1.95" is pretty wide, but actual tyre construction and tyre pressure will play a larger role than just width alone.

It seems like in the United States, you guys can't get good bike tyres at reasonable prices from your local online stores, if you buy from a German online retailer as I have on over 10 occasions without issue, you get access to great tyres at great prices.

As an example, if I had the ATX, these are the tyres I would consider putting on them.


Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HD Evolution MTB Folding Tire -2" - Euro 29.33

Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Evolution Folding Tire - 27.5x2.00 inch - Euro 30.17

Schwalbe Big-One Evolution Tubeless Folding Tire - 27.5x2.35 inch - Euro 27.72 - Schwalbe's lowest rolling resistance tyre, if you go tubeless.

With the above tyres, if you aren't logged into an account with the site, you will see higher prices because by default a 19% Value Add Tax applies, but if you live outside Europe and the UK, you don't pay that tax.

Now like most of the German online stores, you pay a flat rate for delivery, so whether it is one tyre or twenty tyres and twenty tubes you are ordering, the delivery cost will be the same.

For that reason I always buy quite a few things when I order from them, eg, extra brake pads, some tools, some panniers, etc.

I have never ridden a bike with an aluminium fork, but if you get the right tyres, I suspect you won't have a lot of problems, if any.

I still feel like a novice too.

My main concern with getting my bike comfortable was raising the stem height and/or handlebars, which is why I encourage you to test ride the contenders you are looking at, to see how they feel to you.

But whatever bike you buy, with a little bit of tinkering, you should be able to make it as comfortable as needed, although I understand that it is better to get a bike that needs as little tinkering as possible to be comfortable.

ColonelSanders

This is great feedback.

cycling705

I like your thinking, and was wondering the same thing. It looks like though there are only two ATX models - the ATX Lite and the ATX. The ATX uses a suspension fork (without lockout). That seems to be much more of a mountain bike setup. Thanks for the suggestion on the future fork swap. That's definitely something to consider if I go with the ATX Lite.

cycling705

As Colonel said, that was great feedback. Thank you!

What type of riding does your wife do with the ATX? Does the geometry give her more of an upright / comfort ride, or is it more aggressive? Does it work well on both pavement and dirt trails?

Thanks again.

cycling705

Thank you for those recommendations. When you order, how long does it usually take to receive your products?

I agree with you totally. The LBS mentioned swapping out the original stem for a higher-rise stem. That would likely get me very close to the ride type I'm seeking. The one you have on your SLR2 seems very similar to what he recomended (40-degree rise).

Thanks again for your advice! Very helpful.

ColonelSanders

Two weeks or less.

Because I tend to order a lot of different items at a time, I might be ordering an item that takes them a few days extra to get, to be able to send with the rest of my order.

If I were to order say just tyres and tubes, I suspect the delivery time would be closer to one week.

ColonelSanders

BTW, the handlebar on the Toughroad is a very wide 700mm.

Whilst I actually have got use to this by and large, it is worth mentioning that you probably won't like this, and will either need another handlebar or do as I currently do and have moved my handgrips in, by about 10mm on both sides.

If you do end up ordering tyres/tubes or whatever, you might wants some new handgrips, so I will link to ones I think you should consider, as well as my stem(I can't remember if I have previously linked it or not)

Procraft SL 31.8 Stem 40° Euro 22.61

Ergon GP2-L Bar Grips Euro 29.33

AU Tiger

She enjoys leisurely trails of pretty much any surface: paved, crushed stone, or grass and dirt. And the bike does well on all of those.

The position is closer to aggressive than upright, but not as aggressive as my Fuji Absolute.

Since this will be a second bike for you, intended to do rides with your family, I really think it would work well. But then, I think the Roam would also. The ATX Lite will be lighter because of the fork.

cycling705

Those look great. I didn't know about Bike24. Thanks for the links. Overall, do you find the savings to be substantial, or are you just not able to find locally the parts/tires you want?

badger1

The ATX Lite will be around 26.8 lbs/Medium. That's from Giant's German site, so likely to be accurate.

It is essentially an old-school (NORBA geometry) hardtail with a suspension-corrected rigid fork, set up for 27.5 wheels rather than the old 26er standard, so not a 'comfort' bike by any standard.

However, no reason it wouldn't be comfortable to ride. That would depend on correct fit and tire choice; one would want to use at least a 1.75" tire -- 2" or so would be idea. The lower tire pressure will negate any potential harshness from the aluminum fork.

The stock wheels/tires, components etc. would be perfectly adequate for light to moderate use, provided they are maintained/adjusted.

The bike would be an ideal, inexpensive choice for light to moderate use on paved surfaces and relatively non-technical dirt/gravel roads and trails.

cycling705

Thanks, AU. That's exactly what I was hoping to hear about the ATX. I'm pretty sure the LBS will allow me to swap out the original stem and put one on that is similar to what Colonel mentioned (40-degree). I'm guessing this will swing the pendulum to more of a comfort position.

Everyone - thank you for your advice throughout this thread. It's been tremendously helpful.

I'm headed to the LBS (hopefully this week) to do some final test rides on these...

Specialized Crossroads Sport - https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi...s-sport/106312
Giant Roam 3 - https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/roam-3
Giant ATX Lite - https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/atx-lite

(I love the concept and look of the ToughRoad SLR2, but it's out of my price range.)

I'm curious to everyone's opinion...

Hypothetically speaking, if all three bikes have the same ride quality and "fit" (which I know they won't), which would be your preference?

Thanks again.

cycling705

Thank you. This was very helpful, and great information to know. I appreciate your post.

Bizz

You might want to take a look at the KHS Ultra Sport line. I was looking at most of the bike mentioned in my search when I came across the KHS bikes. I just picked up a Ultra Sport 3.0. One of the LBS had them and they look great and are well equipped. I couldn't find much about them on line, in regard to reviews. But one test ride was all it took for me. The Ultra Sport line is right there in that price range. I was able to find my 3.0 for $550.

ColonelSanders

The price of stuff in Aussie LBS' is pretty expensive, perhaps twice as dear as Bike24, but the far bigger problem is the lack of range.

Bike24 is often significantly cheaper than ChainReaction, in addition to having a much better range.

Bike24 surely has the biggest range of parts and accessories of any online store, if one doesn't count Amazon.

AU Tiger

Like you say, they won't all ride the same. The geometry of the Specialized is noticeably different. The two Giants are very similar except for the forks. If you prefer the geometry of those over the Specialized, then it's just a matter of whether you want a rigid fork or a suspension fork. They're both roughly the same price, so that's not even an issue. The only reason my second bike has a suspension fork is that we occasionally ride trails with roots and ruts. Otherwise, I would definitely prefer the rigid fork.

cycling705

Sharp looking bike! Thanks for the recommendation.

cycling705

AU - With regard to your wife's version of the ATX Lite, does she ride that when you guys are on trails with roots / ruts? That would be the roughest trail-type I'd ever ride, and it likely would be rarely. I'm just curious as to her/your experiences.

I test rode the Crossroads and Roam very briefly a while back just to see if it would make the "cut". I liked both, but the ideal fit would be somewhere in the middle, which is what I'm hoping to accomplish with a stem-angle swap on the ATX Lite (assuming everything else feels right).

As for rigid vs. suspension, I'm leaning toward rigid, but I'll know more based on your answer from above.

I'll post updates after the upcoming test rides.

Thanks.

AU Tiger

Yes, that is her only bike, and it performs just fine on those trails. Like you, those are not our primary type of riding, so it's not like we're on them all the time. I should also add that I have lower back problems sometimes, so that was a factor in my choosing a front suspension. And like I said earlier in the thread, I went with a mountain bike with a better suspension than you'll find on a hybrid. Honestly, between the Roam and the ATX Lite, I'd probably go with the ATX Lite. But the Roam is a good bike -- I'm pretty sure you'll be very happy with either one.