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New Bike Dilemma

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IronMac:
Hi all, sorry if this seems a bit rambling but I need to make a decision.

I have a Rohloff equipped touring bike and I can no longer tour in the traditional sense of a week away hauling everything with me. At best, I can only now do 3-4 days.

So, I have been looking into bikepacking or, more specifically, fast long distance rides with a minimum of gear. Trips such as Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu or Pusan to Seoul or blitkrieg through the Ardennes.

The current bike rides like a tank and isn't comfortable for distances of greater than 70 kms per day or more. I know because late last year I completed a 9 week challenge where I could only manage 3700 kms on smooth, flat pavement. A couple of months back I changed the front tyre to a Durano and love the speed of it. The rear still has a Marathon Plus because I dread the thought of a flat.

I am now looking for a replacement and the philosophy behind the new Mason Bokeh bike seems up my alley. Unfortunately, they only come with a derailleur system.

Should I search out a frame builder with Rohloff experience to build a Bokeh clone or should I order in the new BokehTi and go back to a derailleur system?

P.S. Yes, I have been and will also be looking at the Thorn offerings. I'm enamoured by the idea of 650b but not wedded to it.

Thanks for listening and any and all input. No hurries since I still need to find the cash.

Danneaux:
Hi Mac!

Well...you'll probably get the best advice here on Thorn bikes, not Bokehs.  ;)

If what you are after is a lightweight and fast adventure bike that accepts wide 650B tires and does so with an aluminum or Ti frame, that is not going to be a Thorn.

I'm a little confused about your trip time constraints. If a week away is out of the question but 3-4 days is okay, that's asking a lot of your body to complete such rides in only two days while jet lagged. Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu by the most direct route is only 291km, but would typically require at least a full day's air travel each way from Europe or North America (20 hours' flight time alone from Montreal, for example).

Or, is the problem one where the current bike is not comfortable for fully loaded week-long trips? Or not fast enough to complete the rides you'd like in the time allotted?

If you're looking to get into bikepacking with minimal gear and bike weight, perhaps something in the way of a lightweight Raven (Rohloff) or Sherpa (derailleur) build would do the job for you. They can be amazingly light if unemcumbered by racks and mudguards and equipped with optional forks and lightweight components. The default wheels would be 26in, of course.

At the other end there's the Audax, but it isn't really oriented toward this sort of all-road and off-road use. I suppose a Club Tour fitted with fairly wide tires might work to a degree, but it is more a general tourer in the traditional sense.

How is the present bike uncomfortable? Is it excessive weight of the bike as currently setup? Carrying too much? Perhaps peeling off racks and mudguards would help. Is it a matter of poor fit, or is it just not as fast as you'd prefer? Gearing or tires can account for much of that unless optimized for your needs. I recall you had a problem with uneven tire wear and mentioned it might be a Marathon Plus. If so, those are not very fast tires and a change might well make your present bike not only faster but more pleasant to ride. For comparison, my Nomad Mk2 weighs 20kg and uses Schwalbe Duremes and I find it good for riding unladen on 200m days on mixed surfaces with no problem. In comparison, when I tried Marathon Plus tires on a lightweight commuter bike, it felt like I was riding across mattresses...just a real slog.

650B wheels/tires are now an option for the Nomad, but it is a robust bicycle designed for carrying heavy loads (expedition work). It sounds like you are looking for a raid bicycle to do all-road riding with minimal loads as fast and light as possible?

Best,

Dan.

IronMac:
Wow Danneaux, that's some really insightful stuff there! Especially the last part about a raid bicycle (had to look that up again) and all road with a small 10 kg load in the shortest period of time.

Ok, some more detail so please bear with me. I currently live in SG and my wife's health is so poor that I cannot leave her for more than a few days. It's only going to become worse in the future. The biking has turned from touring to keeping in shape so that at least one of us is healthy enough to look after the other.

The bike is so heavy that the last person to try lifting it gave up and exclaimed that it weighs as much as an old school mountain bike. I ride with a rear rack and fenders. I have an Arkel Tailrider bag stuffed with first aid kit, snacks, tools, etc. Equipped with both dyno and 16850 battery lights because I ride almost solely at night while my wife sleeps.

I do about 250 kms a week and my average speed is about 18-19 kms/hr. Age 50 and I've been cycling for over 30 years now.

Not sure about the gearing but I totally agree with the bit about tires. Like I said, I changed the front tire from Marathon Plus to Durano and the effect was astounding. I can ride faster for longer distances now. It's a real change for the better!

As for uncomfortable, it may be the tires but it's a folding bike with 20-inch wheels so I suspect that may have something to do with it too. I think it's probably great for those who do short tours and commutes but consistent and constant long rides is not its forte.

Another reason for a change is that the bike is exhibiting great beausage as someone would say. It's showing a lot of wear after eight years; the left brake handle lever needs replacing, handlebar tape too, wheel rims are very worn, all the cabling needs changing, the SON is over halfway through its expected lifespan (although I hear conflicting stories about that), there's a nasty rust streak down the front fender from somewhere inside the frame, knobs and screws are all pitted with rust and that includes the Chris King headset, etc. I'm not too crazy about throwing in hundreds of dollars in repairs/replacements into a not so fast not so comfy bike. I do some maintenance but I have yet to find a trustworthy shop that can do all of the above work. The local Rohloff dealer doesn't even answer emails or else I wouldn't be fretting so much about getting a new wheel built or work done.

Sigh, sorry...just not a happy camper here.

Danneaux:
Hi 'Mac!

I can surely offer my empathy to your wife and yourself in dealing with her ill health. I once had a fatal prognosis of my own and bad as it was, it was far more difficult when beloved family members' health went bad. Really hard, so all support! You're doing well to cycle as you are, given the constraints.

Yes, I can better see your bicycle issues now and your geographic location makes it easier to better understand your travel and cycling goals. Perhaps we can find a solution for your needs.

If air travel will be a regular component in your brief tours, then S&S couplings could save you money when flying with a bike larger than your present Folder. A dynohub will again be essential for your nighttime rides between tours. Faster tires for sure....

I own a couple of small-wheel bicycles and have found while they fill a very useful niche, tire choice is very important and seems to make an even bigger difference than on my bikes with larger diameter wheels.

If possible, the easiest way to cut weight while touring is to go the credit-card route, buying meals and staying in lodging instead of cooking and camping. This can range from very expensive to remarkably cheap depending on exchange rates and locale. Another way, of course, is to go truly ultralight and it sounds like you're headed that direction with thoughts on ditching panniers in favor of lighter bikepacking bags and of course lightweight tent, cooking gear, bedding, and the lightest of everything.

Yes, with your current bike is facing a host of issues, it may well be time to look at starting fresh compared to pumping more money into comprehensive repairs.

Best,

Dan.

mickeg:
If it is discomfort from 20 inch wheels, perhaps Dan should elaborate on the Thud Buster.

Schwalbe Marathon tires (the ones with Green Guard) may be faster than the Marathon Plus, but would have slightly less flat protection.

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