Considering a Co-op CTY 3.1. What competitors should I be looking at?
09-01-18, 12:33 AM
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Considering a Co-op CTY 3.1. What competitors should I be looking at?
I’m looking for a bike that can serve as a commuter, errand bike, recreational bike, and gravel bike. My budget is about $1,000. My needs are rigid fork, disc brakes, reasonably good components, flat bars, and tires that are wide enough for gravel riding and light off-road use. I’ve read about the Salsa Journeyman and the Surly Bridge Club. Both seem like decent options. I also came across the REI Co-op branded CTY 3.1. It seems to be a great value. It has chromoly steel frame and fork that I prefer to aluminum. It has Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. It has a thru-axle on the front. And best of all it features a wide-ratio 1x11 drivetrain. That seems to be much more useful than, say, a 2x10. The tires are 650b x 47c which would be great on gravel. At only $899 it seems like a good deal.Are there any other bikes with these features for about $1000? I’d like to test ride a couple to see what works best for me. Thanks.
09-04-18, 02:54 PM
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650x47b tires are found on "road +" (which will most likely come with a drop bar) or MTB. Unless you are building starting from a frame, you might look at some rigid MTBs (https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2019-mountain-hardtail-trail-27.5-plus-pine-mountain ?). I would say that 1x11 may be not common on hybrids since they are marketed for a lower price range. The more expensive ones which are 11s are likely to be carbon, not steel.
09-04-18, 03:35 PM
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Hard to beat REI bikes for value. SRAM 1x11, Shimano hydraulic brakes, WTB rims and tires, thru-axles, and initial tune up for $900? Hard to beat, assuming you like the way it rides.
09-04-18, 04:28 PM
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Just to compare a notional 10 speed cassette, with a range of 11-36, and a notional 2x crankset, with chainrings of 24 and 40 teeth. That combo would have a low/slow of 1.50:1 and a high/fast of 0.28:1 (or a 535% spread). This notional combo would have about the same gearing as the 1x11 at the high end, but a much shorter low end, for climbing.
Those are all notional numbers, of course. Depending on your commute, you may or may not need or want the utility of the extra (smaller) chainring in the front. Totally up to you. But a 1x11 isn't categorically more useful than a 2x10...it all depends on the intended use.
09-04-18, 04:59 PM
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I suggested that Co-op bike to someone on another website just a couple of days ago. I think it looks like a really nice bike for the money, and if you're an REI member you'd get around a $90 dividend on that purchase which sweetens the deal even a little more. Lifetime membership for REI costs $20, I think. That bike does have a 38t chainring according to someone from REI answering questions about the bike further down the webpage. 38t x 11-42 gives a pretty good gear range, and 47mm tires should work well over a variety of conditions. Chromoly is a point in its favor, too. 11 speed and Shimano hydraulic brakes-not bad at all.
Here's another one I thought looks like a nice bike. Marin Fairfax 4. The geometry of that one is a little closer to that of a road bike, so it should have quicker handling which may or may not interest you. Comes with 32mm tires but it looks like there's room for bigger tires. https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/201...ness-fairfax-4
Also in that price range is the popular(on this forum and probably other forums, too) Giant ToughRoad. A little more burly than the others, but a bike like the ToughRoad is very capable. I don't have a ToughRoad, but I have an XC mountain bike that I've converted to rigid that is pretty similar to a ToughRoad.
Here's another one I thought looks like a nice bike. Marin Fairfax 4. The geometry of that one is a little closer to that of a road bike, so it should have quicker handling which may or may not interest you. Comes with 32mm tires but it looks like there's room for bigger tires. https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/201...ness-fairfax-4
Also in that price range is the popular(on this forum and probably other forums, too) Giant ToughRoad. A little more burly than the others, but a bike like the ToughRoad is very capable. I don't have a ToughRoad, but I have an XC mountain bike that I've converted to rigid that is pretty similar to a ToughRoad.
Last edited by Pendergast; 09-04-18 at 05:57 PM.
10-05-20, 11:16 AM
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I really mine. Switched to a MTB clipless, double-sided pedal. Exercise rides, commutes, gravel, errands, it does it all comfortably.
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