rnjl

Hello BF advice-givers, I'm looking to purchase a road or cyclocross or touring bike that will mostly be used for 15-30 mile exercise rides on streets and rail trail, but which can occasionally go longer and which can also be fitted with rack and panniers for a long day picnic with the family.

Once a year I do a charity ride down into NYC and I'd prefer to have something a little more sturdy/wider tires/stable than my fast road bike, a Specialized Roubaix. Sometimes I also do some gravel roads so 28 or 32 mm tires is important. I don't want an offroad bike, per se, but one that can handle a little gravel or some dirt roads.

I will not be doing long tours- don't need a special touring bike- but do want rack options for day trips and such.

Steel seems like a good idea- I did not like the feel of the aluminum Specialized Tricross I used to own- and I really like the idea of disc brakes, as again on the Tricross the cantilever brakes just weren't strong enough for the hills around here. I did, however, like the strong and stable feel of the Tricross.

So models that I'm looking at include:

Kona Rove

Raleigh Roper

Jamis Bosanova

Redline Metro classic

Salsa Vaya

Salsa Colossal

Any other models I should consider?

Anything I'm missing here or not thinking through?

thanks so much in advance for any advice.

Neal

kayakcyndi

Volagi Viaje -- steel frame, carbon fork, fits huge tires and is a joy to ride!

vwchad

I know you said you didn't care fore the Tricross in aluminum, but they have a steel model this year with discs. Personally, I think it is a little overpriced for a bike with Tiagra components.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...teeldisctriple

It doesn't have discs, but the Surly Cross Check is a really popular choice, for good reason.
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check

sced

Titanium for the price of steel. Comes with cantis's but disc compatible.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._pro_ti_xi.htm

marqueemoon

Lighter/better wheels will make a huge difference whatever you buy - even more so than with a rim brake road bike.

If it were me I'd seek out a (now discontinued) Salsa La Cruz frameset and do a build. OX Platinum, fender eyelets, non-ridiculous cable routing, healthy bb drop, etc...

A rack might be a hassle though. If you could stand it off from the disc caliper some a Tubus Fly might work, or bust out the p clamps or get a seat collar with rack eyelets.

This frame is very similar, and might be a good basis for a build.

https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...ducts_id=14370

$700 ain't cheap, but of you have $1K more than that budgeted you could do a nice build with used/scrounged parts.

rnjl

VWchad- wow, thank you for pointing out the new Tricross. I did like the shape and fit of the old Tricross; I wonder if the geometry is similar?

The steel Tricross strikes me as a bit expensive compared to say the Metro Redline but on the other hand- i can get one at the LBS 4 miles away. Salsa, Kona, Redline and Jamis dealers are all more than 20 miles away and don't seem to stock the bikes I'm interested in anyway. There's something to be said for dealing with a shop I trust and to which I can bike in 20 minutes; they offer free fitting and lifetime small adjustments, among other things.

Re: LHT: I really don't want cantilever brakes again; I just didn't feel safe on the old Tricross screeching down some of the bigger hills around here.

Thanks all for your thoughts. More are welcome.

Neal

rnjl

Hi again all.

I think after calling around I've determined that Salsa Vaya's are sold out till October. (That's just dumb, IMO.)

So I think we're looking at the steel Tricross, the Metro Classic or the Rove (but that one is 4 or 5 lbs heavier than the others.)

Anybody with any experience of these who can tell me about how relaxed or aggressive the geometry is?

Thanks,

Neal

slowride454

add Soma bikes to the list

mcdun13

Salsa Vaya was at the top of my list for similar needs. All were sold out at the LBS, so I ordered a 2012 Bianchi Volpe. Price was a factor ($925). No disc brakes, but I live in southern CA so they were not mandatory. Specialized Tricross was also at the top of my list, but I really preferred steel (even though the reviews were top notch). The Kona Rove also really piqued my interest, but the price was out of my comfort zone and the lack of reviews scared me away.

rnjl

The Bianchi looks great but I wasn't happy with cantilever brakes from the last Tricross I owned. There are some steep hills around here and the shudder and squeal was nasty and I frankly just could not stop hard and fast when needed coming down those hills. I think I'm looking at either the Metro Classic or the new steel Tricross but the closest Metro Classic is 70 miles away. The steel Tricross is $400 or so more than the Metro Classic but driving there and back to check out the Redline adds 50+ bucks to the price- and the Specialized dealer is 4 miles away and will give me lifetime small adjustments for free.

So I'm leaning towards the new steel Tricross but haven't decided yet- it's a lot of cash for a bike that's not my "nice" one.

DVC45

Redline is nice.

rnjl

Yes, I'd love to be able to test a Redline Metro Classic but the closest one is 70 miles away.

Since I'm not going to travel 70 miles each time I need a little adjustment or warranty work (unless it was major stuff) I'm guessing I might as well cross my fingers and mail order if I'm going that route.

thanks for the suggestion.