voodoo_simon wrote:Have you looked at the Specialised Sequoia and the Genesis range as well as bombtrack would be worth a look too.

Do like the look of the bomb track bikes but can't remember the prices off hand

I've seen both the spec and the genesis, will check out bombtrack.
Cheers

The Marin is out cause the harlequin colour scheme is a no for me. There doesn't seem to be a uk dealer near me for the bomb track. I guess back to the Camino or the Pinacle.

dlovett wrote:The Marin is out cause the harlequin colour scheme is a no for me. There doesn't seem to be a uk dealer near me for the bomb track. I guess back to the Camino or the Pinacle.

Yrah, I'll give you that. It is truly horrific to look at, however the one at my lbs is last year's model I believe. So grey with orange forks.

I've got the base model sequoia....it's steel, if that makes a difference to your choice?

I really like it....it's very capable. The only thing worth mentioning is the hubs didn't have too much grease in from new, necessitating a new front wheel via warranty. It can run 700c with 42mm tyres, or 650b with at least 2.1's.

Well today I saw a Boardman CX Team, http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -team-bike which has the right specs apart from coming with 700c wheel. It seemed pretty nice and good value for the money. Its on a par with the Camino price wise. I tried shifting with there rival1 1 groupset today and to be honest they seemed fine. The gears changed ok and the brakes stopped the wheels. I might test the bike during the week, so I can see what they are like on the road.

dlovett wrote:Well today I saw a Boardman CX Team, http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -team-bike which has the right specs apart from coming with 700c wheel. It seemed pretty nice and good value for the money. Its on a par with the Camino price wise. I tried shifting with there rival1 1 groupset today and to be honest they seemed fine. The gears changed ok and the brakes stopped the wheels. I might test the bike during the week, so I can see what they are like on the road.

What's the tyre clearance like on the Boardman?

It had 700x35’s on it and it looked like you could go a fair bit bigger, perhaps 45-48 ish.

Cheers.

You made a choice yet ?

The Marin I looked at is xl only at that price. I'm about to flip a coin on a Camino al, or Arkose 2...

No not yet, I've just revitalised my old trek 7500 and with 35c Maxis Locusts on it really moves quite nicely on tarmac. I might even scrap the idea if the brakes can be tweaked a bit.

Charlies having a bike & everything else sale.

Well I've been riding round our local streets on my old 2003 Trek 7500FX for the last couple of weeks (250 sit KM) and come to the conclusion that I really don't need a new bike to replace it and the road bike for the time being. It's got 700x35 Maxi Locust tyres and so it is actually quite a bit more comfortable than the road bike on dodgy road surfaces and feels a lot nicer in the wet. It's proper old skool 3x8, BUT it all works really well. It turns out to be almost the same speed as the road bike for most of the time.

However as I have very good brakes on the road bike and 203/180's on the other toys, v-brakes really don't cut it especially with that silly shimano power reducer on the front. The back has been adjusted so it's pretty good, but the front is scary. AS a result I'm now looking for a pair of cheap disc forks for it that are 1-1/8 and can take a 700x35 tyre. Full details are in the classified section.

Thanks to everybody for all the suggestions of bikes.

d

Number 2. Gentle ITTs YD200 BB 200 !!!!!!!!!!
Gentle?????

Well there were people on cx/gravel/Adventure whatever they are called bikes at the last one!

So after doing all good the sums and gear ratios I actually would rather a 2x setup rather than the sram 1x and if I do that I might only need a frame/forks, HS/BB.

Does anybody know if I can use a pair of Shimano 105 10 speed shifter/levers (ST-5601) with any cable operated hydraulic disks or if not with any cable operated disks.

Many thanks

5600's will work with Road BB7s

Well I have made a decision. Alpkit were kind enough to lend me a Camino to ride the YD200 on. It was the Apex1 spec with a 40-11/42 and WTB tubes byways.

It was a great bike and the YD200 is the ultimate test ride really. As a result I have now ordered one and once it's been built and shipped I look forward to blasting round my local roads and occasional off road on it.

Many thanks for all the suggestions.

D