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Mason Definition is £895 and not available yet. Looks nice but this thing is going to get fucked up so buying a 'pretty' bike isn't on my todo list. I've mentioned Kinesis to Bike Whisperer so will see if they can source me one, otherwise CRC should be able to supply it and whatever else I need.
I'm going from rim brakes so 140mm probably won't make any difference to me. Do they suggest 140 on both front and rear or is it only the rear that has trouble fitting 140? So I could run 160 up front if I wanted to? Not even sure what flat mount is available in so the choice might be removed anyway.
I normally get someone else to build my bikes. Even if I wanted to (I don't) my flat is not really conducive to doing any serious work on bikes.
I used a small Deuter frame bag on PBP but don't really like frame bags. Anything that might cause me to change the way my knees track is a VERY BAD thing. The Apidura bags, for example, are way too wide for me to use. I'll likely have a top tube bag (maybe one near the seat post too) and large saddle bag. I've got some low-mount cages already that allow me to fit 1L bottles on my TT frame - @BringMeMyFix suggested the type to me years ago. I think my Elite cages also allow low mounting.
hippy-
Yes, they recommend 140mm for the rear brake, because a 160mm gets very little clearance (tried with two different wheels and rotors, also @TurtleRecall had same problem):
But the front accepts a 160mm without problems:
The rear with a 140mm:
Yes the Apidura and other brands make framebags too wide for guys with big calfs, that's why as soon as I get the low-mount cage adapter I'll write to a local framebag tailor to get one that fits me well. I've measured that with a maximum width of 5cm it would be enough to fit inner tubes & spares, powerbank, mobile, etc... and it won't get in the way while pedaling.
I'll use the seatpost bag just for items with low weight and big volume (spare clothes, night lenses, medkit...) so it won't wobble too much. And the top tube bags just for food and things that need to be always at hand. I've chosen the Lezyne Flow Cage SL after seeing Mike Hall used the carbon version with some SIS 1L bidons (I was worried that they could fell off in bumpy descents)
I would be great to discuss bikepacking on its thread since I've seen many options:
Mike Hall winning the Tour Divide (saddle, fueltank, handlebar bag):
In the TransAm without handlebar bag:
But Josh Ibbett changed to framebag + fueltank on his winning TCR.. more aero?
Jesse was very minimalistic:
And Kristoff prefers handlebar + seatbag:
bertocq
You don't need the brake calipers to be flat mount, but it will get the frame a "nicer look". They sell the frame with 160mm flat mount to post mount adapters (but then recommend the rear should be a 140mm... maybe asking them beforehand you can get a 140mm rear adapter like me)
This is what my frame came with:
And this is what they answered me about your question Aithein vs 4S:
The Mason Definition was my #1, since Dom was the designer of my previous Kinesis Decade Convert2, but he refuses to order a 62cm size (not enough buyers or some bullshit like that) and the Kinesis 4S Disc has almost the same geometry like the Convert2...
But you should have no problem with the size if the framesets arrive in time from the builders, anyway the claimed weight for the Mason Definition is about the same as the 4S Disc... I asked him and got this response:
I've just came back for my first real ride with it, couldn't get into any serious climb/descent because of the weather (still snowing in the Sierra of Madrid), but the 160/140 brakes where really great and I'm using mechanical calipers (TRP Spyre).
The need for a 140 rotor its the only "problem" that I could see in the 4S, but with some decent rotors it should be good. Also the internal cable is a pain in the ass while building! but maybe it's just me that haven't built a bike in 4 years... and you can get someone to do the job.
The top tube internal routing (for a rim brake caliper) its really nice to guide the rear dynamo light cable (Supernova Tail Light). Also the lack of sloping in the top tube gives more room to use a framebag using along with a bottle cage dropper to be able to use 750ml or even 1l bidons