is it any good

NorwayCalling wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:53 pm

is it any good

- yes and rides nicely - however its not in anyway "light" or "responsive". Load it up with bikepacking kit and this becomes a moot point anyway. Also frame size is a bit non-standard, you do need to get a leg over one before committing.

I liked my time with this bike

Thisisnotaspoon wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:17 pm I agree with the NorwayCalling about it not being light or responsive. Although I didn't get on with it. Always felt like Id pedal as hard as I could and it just went "and what do you want me to do about it".

Conversely my CAADX is an over excited spanniel yelping "again, again, come on, lets GO, is that all we've got, come on!"

I kept the CAADX (and a conventional steel 29er hardtail) and sold the Vagabond.

Max Effort wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:25 pm
I already have a hard tail/rigid (depending on which forks I fit), On-One Inbred 29er. If this isn’t even as good as that, would there be much point in getting one?

NorwayCalling wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:59 pm

Max Effort wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 8:25 pm
I already have a hard tail/rigid (depending on which forks I fit), On-One Inbred 29er. If this isn’t even as good as that, would there be much point in getting one?

You would not notice any significant improvement over the ridged Inbred - both would be about the same weight and TBH ride characteristics would not be poles apart. Its all depends on if you are desperate for the drop bar look and feel.

jaminb wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2020 12:48 pm Love mine

jaminb wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2020 2:48 pm Max Effort

My Vagabond suits my local riding conditions and my style of riding. I live a 15 mile ride of tame trails and minor roads to the Surrey Hills. My Arkrose is too uncomfortable, when loaded, to tackle the off road sections, my Longitude too slow and boring getting there. I have done several off road tours in Brittany and Belgium. Brittany was 120 mile round trip for a working holiday carrying 45kg of gear.

The Vagabond is heavy but in my mind this is offset by the level of comfort it provides. I think the steel frame and forks and high bar position all contribute to this. Once up to speed it just bowls along not. I often commute 20 miles each way on mixed surfaces into London or Beconsfield and I reckon it is about 5 mins slower over an 1 hour 40 than the Arkose but a more enjoyable ride.

Spec wise mine is still standard off the peg. Spyre brakes are adequate, the bottom bracket was replaced after 6 months, bar end shifters just work and I have just replaced the tyres with 2.1 ThunderBurts but I am not sure these are an improvement. The originals and new went tubeless fine. Some cheap plastic SKS mudgaurds fitted easily (with a bit of adaption), as did a Spesh Pizza rack.

I am 5'10" and went medium. I do occasionally catch my toe on the front wheel/mudgaurd

Anything else let me know

Ben

Thanks for the detailed reply.
That sounds pretty good.
The one I’m after is a large & should fit fine (I’m 5’10”).
It’s had very little use and has been well looked after.
The current owner wants £500 for it, which includes a Topeak ST rear rack, a Specialized front Pizza rack and a Topeak expanding rack pack.
I think it may be worth a punt?