please help the newbie decide

[Tango]

hi all

I wonder if you can give me your thoughts as I am looking for new bikes for me and my wife.

I had been mountain biking for years and my wife tried it, but didn't like the red and black stuff so wanted to try road riding and loved it. she is however happy on canal tow paths, forest trails, bridal paths etc and we have been doing a bit of touring on dawes galaxys in france.

we still have road bikes and bromptons but the dawes galaxys have gone as has the orange 5.

My road bike is a titanium frame and I really want our new bikes to be Ti as well, most of the riding we do will be road based to get to somewhere to have a bit of fun on some easy off road stuff when we get there then pedal back. I want to be able to put a full rack on the back although I may never actually do so, I just want the rack mounts.

I have been looking at the Kinesis Tripster ATR V2, hope 5twenty CX wheels, Hope tech3 e4 brakes and jones h bar as we are keen for a more upright relaxed riding position.

are there any other Ti frames I should consider or are there any nightmare stories regarding Kinesis.

sorry its all a bit vague and probably a very repetitive set of questions, but I would appreciate your thoughts

thanks in advance

T

[ScotRoutes]

I wouldn't have any problems buying a Tripster.

Here's another option for you (you could have disks if you want)

https://www.vannicholas.com/touring-bikes/amazon

Also, the Torragar from Albannach

http://www.albannach.cc/frameworks/

[jameso]

Look up Spa Cycles. They have some nice ti frames in their range, made by a really good factory in Taiwan.

[Scattamah]

Enigma keep catching my eye...until I tear up at the pricetag. :)

http://www.enigmabikes.com

Greetz

S.

[Bearbonesnorm]

You mentioned Jones bars to me Eddie ... I wonder whether these frames will feel short / cramped if fitted with a sweptback bar. After all, they are pretty much designed around drops.

[BigdummySteve]

Steve ‘notinabox’ on here has one of these
https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/sonder-camino-ti
Looks very well made and handled bearbones land well enough, could make for a very versatile bike.

[Mariner]

Fargo runs either Jones or drops.
ti fargo jones by michaelandamanda, on Flickr

copyright KP acknowledged

[Bearbonesnorm]

Fargo runs either Jones or drops.

Yes but it's very much a mountainbike and quite different from such things as a Tripster.

[Tango]

Hi all

Thanks for the feed back and I welcome any more too.

I’ll need to put some thought to what’s been said, thanks for taking the time to reply

[ScotRoutes]

You mentioned Jones bars to me Eddie ... I wonder whether these frames will feel short / cramped if fitted with a sweptback bar. After all, they are pretty much designed around drops.

I have drop bars on my Amazon but VN have it pictured with flats/loops too.

[Scud]

Only concern with the Kinesis was the short warranty for a ti bike.

But in the usual recommend what you have, take a look at the Reilly Gradient, nicest bike i have ever owned, with road wheels beats my carbon road hands down and with 45c gravel tyres in has been really capable off road, plus it's a fair price for a small company too.

[Tango]

Only concern with the Kinesis was the short warranty for a ti bike.

But in the usual recommend what you have, take a look at the Reilly Gradient, nicest bike i have ever owned, with road wheels beats my carbon road hands down and with 45c gravel tyres in has been really capable off road, plus it's a fair price for a small company too.

Was actually looking online at a gradient yesterday, keen to go with Jones H bars

[dlovett]

Sonder Camino ti, with Jones bars.

[Tango]

Sonder Camino ti, with Jones bars.

Nice looking bike, just had a quick look.

Do you ride one ?

[dlovett]

I have a Camino Al, amazing bike, so good on and off road. 650b wheels with Byways can tackle pretty much anything.

I have Jones bars on my Sonder Vir Fortis, but use the stock ones on the Camino. They actually give you almost as many hand positions if you have the rival1 groupset, due to the hoods.

Ask Alpkit for a demo bike, they do a demo service.

[Tango]

I think I will pop up to their Ambleside store and have a look
Many thanks

[wriggles]

I have a Camino Ti - its ace, really like it. Have put 3,500kms on it so far. I'd also look at the Broken Road with 29er tyres (as skinny as you want) for a much more upright geometry, that might work better with Jones bars. The Sonder wheels are a bit on the lower end of quality and weight though.

Agree with Scud, I'd not get a Tripster because of the 3 year warranty. Too short for such a spendy frame. Also saw his Gradient the other weekend and it is stunning. Geo to long and low for me though.

[Tango]

Just spoken to Alpkit re the Sonder and been advised against a Jones H Bar as they felt that the back sweep would come back too far to be usable, so flat bat or drops

[johnnystorm]

Just spoken to Alpkit re the Sonder and been advised against a Jones H Bar as they felt that the back sweep would come back too far to be usable, so flat bat or drops

If you weren't in a rush can't you get custom sizing for £150 extra?

[Tango]

Will pop into Ambleside Monday and have a word