2015 Bikes

Haha! Yup our own mould, made for us by a Far East factory that makes for many other big, well known brands. Frame design/engineering was done in consultation with a well known Belgian brand (happy to admit we're still finding our feet with carbon). With FEA/3D, etc most of the design can be done/issues ironed out before committing to a 3D print out (physically bolt on parts, check clearances, etc). The 'who makes it?' carbon conundrum is a hot topic, TBH if you stick to the reputable big name factories (ADK, Carbotec, Carbonage, YMA, Tentech) you can't really go wrong - all of a similar very high QC/engineering standard. The trouble with a lot of the online Chinese-bought carbon frames is that you're not entirely sure as to the source, a lot will advertise as 'having their own factory' but in reality be trading agents with the product having changed hands many times previously. That's when you roll the dice.

Semi-related, LOOK claim to have their own factory, do they? or is it as above- they have a trading agent?

LOOK make their own frame AFAIK.

Goodie :) I've got one coming and wanted to know whether it'll be "steeped in heritage" or not

LOOK have a factory in north Africa don't they? I remember seeing a while back on another forum a fairly in-depth tour of the whole operation.

I'm not too sure whether this has been covered but this is rather tasty!

1 Attachment

http://www.tour-magazin.de/technik/test_center/raeder/rennraeder/franzoesische-rennraeder/a30851.html

noticed Charge have changed the geometry of the Plug range since the days of 09,

a little more angled than flat, a little more Road, than urban City?!

They did change it, but it's still pretty similar handling wise.

hmm, must say i prefer the look of a horizontal top bar (parallel to the ground), the downward-sloping thang all looks a little more sporty than urban/commuter to me (!)

/just-saying

Me too and the geo was a little better, the seat tube is now steeper on the smaller model effectively making it felt longer than it look.

I need some help please!

Currently commuting on a 56cm 2014 Day one disc with 32mm tyres, longboards and rack. It's pretty much the perfect commuter for me.

However, literally a few days after it arrived I smashed my shoulder to bits thanks to a pot hole related incident on one of my track bikes.

6 months later physically I'm fine but mentally I now have an irrational fear of potholes and subsequently an unremitting desire for fat touring tires but with full guards.

I'm lost in a see of Awols, Disc truckers, Fargos and Vayas. tripster Atr probably a stretch too far money wise.

Ideally I would want single speed, clearance for 42mm or even 50mm WITH full guards and drops. But I appreciate I'm probably going to have to compromise, or sell my current bikes and go custom.

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?

Was even thinking of building a drop bar karate monkey. Hoping to pop down to Brixton cycles this weekend for some inspiration

You can go 2" + mudguards on a 26" Long Haul Trucker... 650b conversion for your genesis might also give you room for more tyre and still keep the guards...

Get a Boris Bike

Surly Ogre with drops?

Soma wolverine, Surly straggler, Singular Peregrine...

... Or build something from an old mtb frame.

^^ actually those guards don't look like they cover the tyre brilliantly

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-singlespeed-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec071310

These come with 40mm tyres?

Day One with 650b wheelset.

Thanks for all the replies, good stuff.

Did laugh at the Boris Bike suggestion.

What's the likely effect on the handling with the 650b?

How much extra clearance am i likely to gain?

I hadn't thought of that as an option

What's the likely effect on the handling with the 650b?

If the circumference with a larger tyre is roughly the same then minimal: just the typical benefits of using larger, lower pressure tyres.

So, should I get a crash replacement Kinesis or build something custom?
http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/racelight/4s
http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/racelight/t2

If Kinesis, which one? The 4s didn't exist when I got my T2. What's the go with it? No, I don't have time to read their website blurb right now.

Get the 4S

Why?

Newer/better/faster than T2 .. essentially the same thing tbh but comes as frameset.