Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Has anyone ridden a Planet X Tempest, any impressions would be greatly appreciated.

Interesting, and very helpful!

That seems like a mad bargain (both the entry level one and the full carbon frame with Rival).

However, it doesn't look like it comes with a 3rd bottle cage. Is that right?

Not necessarily a deal breaker (I'd rather have mudguard mounts than a 3rd bottle cage), but then the Arkose does seem to have it all .....

Loads on STW, https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/psa-px-tempest-rival-1-for-1299/

Not sure if resolved but I’m considering a Fyxation Sparta.

Not sure if resolved but I’m considering a Fyxation Sparta.

There's the Rodeo Spork, sadly not cheap.

Advantage of the Fyxation is I can get it on trade from big mama. I also don’t mind an alu steerer.

Anyone heard much about thses guys: https://bivibikes.com/buy

framesets are pretty cheap and hit a lot of the feature points: smooth cable routing, front and rear thru axles, tonnes of bottle bosses everywhere. If I didn't have an Spesh AWOL that was too similar I'd probably give one a go. I'm also tempted to swap the current fork on the AWOL for there offering which has triple cage mounts on the legs and 12mm thru axle to make swapping over to my dyanmo wheel set much easier.

The Vitus carbon is an entire different bike, looks like more a traditional cross bike. The alloy is more like a gravel truck, but with a more aggressive position.
You don't get any extra bottle mounts, but the frame is a few hundred grams lighter than the Arkose, nice if you ever have to shoulder it

What size is the one you have? Looking at the geometry chart I think I might actually be a size they have in stock (xs)

Thank you, useful for sizing if nothing else, a little wary of planet x.

intrigued to see the integrated bivi shelter that goes with the bivi+ frame...

Their bikes are very very good in my experience, and I know many many other people who have their bikes and have nothing but good things to say. That combined with the VFM makes them hard to beat.

Where they fall short sometimes is in after sales help/support. I guess it’s somewhat of a trade off with the VFM of their bikes.

Best thing if you’re curious but unsure is probably to phone them and try and speak to someone.

I have an XL, I'm 6'2". Be careful with the sizing, the stack is very low for this kind of bike and the reach is very long, but that is to compensate for the short stem.

Yeah, I'm struggling to decide a size. My current bike fit on my more relaxed bike is 389 mm reach and 579 stack. I ride an 80mm stem on that, so should match the Vitus.

For the Vitus Energie VR an XS would be almost a perfect reach - 386 mm. However the stack is 531 mm, almost 50mm less than my current bike. I'm worried that's gonna leave me with a huge saddle to bar drop. If it were a racing bike I'd be fine with that (I have a stack of 508mm on my racing bike), but I worry that won't be comfortable for what I'm intending would be a relaxed, all day endurance kinda bike ...

You can always put some spacers, use different stem angle AND there’s this Specialized handlebar with a bit of rise

Yeah, for sure. But by that point I'm spending money on it and I feel like I might as well have just gone for an Arkose X or Grail AL. If only the Grail AL had proper mudguard mounts, and the Arkose X didn't come in a horrible colour!

Ah .... choices!

50mm is a long way down, I don't think you even get that many spacers. We have an Arkose X in the shop, looks much better IRL

I got one and it’s pretty cool, it’s not in the same league as my whiskey no9 but it’s a lot less £££ and I’d happily buy another if required

Steerer/overall build on whisky is a bit too lightweight for a heavy weight like me.

Did you get alu steerer?

Can you confirm if the dropouts are aluminium, and that the mudguard eyelets/dropouts are one piece of alu?

Really important that I can fit a pelago rack/rasket, which mounts to dropout eyelets and crown.

Nah. I’m 90-100kg... it’s on my off road bike, can confirm have done plenty on it to scare any carbon flappers.

Yep, let me work out some measurements for you though ie. how big the drop out is etc.

Alu steerer yes.

Not sure I would want t mount a rack tbh, the lower mounts are pretty small, I just have guards on mine, let me have another look though

Cheap Arkose in Tower hamlets here

I have a spork.

Frankly. The finishing on it is questionable. None of the mounts are perfectly straight.

Strengthwise tho. It's fine. I ride my bike like a dickhead. I'm not that light. Today took it round a jump track. Fully loaded. Didn't die.

Where do you work? I'd love to come see one in person

I work in Evans. Just go to the closest one if you're in the UK and get them build you one for a test ride.

saddle needs adjusting... but here's my D3 on its maiden voyage