Thinking about chopping in my Kona Rove (which I love) as I need a bike to ride with my 3 year old and to do nursery trips, shopping etc.
It will be tough to let the rove go but at £720 the boot zipper gearing and hydro brakes tip the balance.
Any real life experience?
I've got a Bootzipper. I really like it so far (had it about 3 weeks, have ridden it about 100 miles off-road so far). Decided to get it after realising that a gravel bike wasn't for me. Think the Bootzipper falls nicely into the niche between gravel and 'proper' MTB. Plan to use it for getting out and about off road close to home, and bike packing.
Re. the brakes and gears, it's bottom of the range stuff but has worked fine so far. The gear range is basically the same as I had with 2*10 on my old MTB, and I'm not missing the in-between gears yet. The brakes work fine for what I've used the bike for. They squeal like anything in the wet, but suspect that might be more down to me not bedding the pads in properly, and having to ford a couple of streams recently.
It's not light (but then you wouldn't expect it to be), and it does feel like it takes a while to get up to speed (but then I'm comparing it to my 26 inch wheels MTB and road bikes, so I'm probably not the best judge).
Basically I'm enjoying it a lot, but it is just what I expected for the money. (Have already changed the tyres and saddle, and added a dropper though, which adds a bit to overall price)
Great to hear. Love my gravel bike but it's not getting any use at the minute, mainly because it's shite to tow the kids trailer, looks stupid when I'm out with my lad on his balance bike, and too nice to hook up a trail gator! The boot zipper looks spot on for all riding bar what I use my FS for
is the Rove about to appear in the classifieds?
Well it's gone now but what wrong with it for towing a trailer. Its great at towing our croozer trailer.
@trailrat u don't live in Sheffield at the top of a hill mate with a massive 3 year old and a less than small 1 year old.
Brakes were rubbish too!
I built up a frame for commuting and it’s a great utility type bike. Run it with 2.6 Mezcals on local canal towpaths. No complaints from me. Lock it up and don’t worry about it.
u don’t live in Sheffield at the top of a hill mate with a massive 3 year old and a less than small 1 year old.
Brakes were rubbish too!
True I live in a hilly part of Aberdeenshire at the top of a hill
Take it they downgraded the brakes on later models as the Hayes cable brakes are pretty good certainly coped with a 200lb all up load off the cairn o mount from 55mph
But as I said irrelevant it's gone now.
Had mine for about 6 months, done a lot of mixed riding. Nice and comfy with some big volume tyres and a carbon flat bar!!
It isn't light but very stable when loaded. Brakes aren't top draw but they do work really well, as does the gearing. Easy to spin out on fast descent but no real dramas.
I like it, as mentioned it's a good fit between a gravel and proper mtb!
Works for me!
@trail_rat you certainly are a hero dude, good forbid someone had different thoughts to you eh 😘
Anyway I liked the king's but it didn't fit my needs so I got rid 👍
New bootzipper is hopefully coming this week, Robert project skewer bought for the trailer, frame bag ready to go on. Looking forward to not riding drops 😘😘 and bring able to sit and spin up the bike rather than look like competitive dad!
Actually not worth it with that response. Enjoy your new bike.
It's here, super impressed for £700! Shifting is light as and the bike isn't that heavy. Tyres are obviously a bit shite but they are an easy sort.
The i29 rims are Tubeless ready so will bang some schwalbe of some flavor on.
Frame bag and lights on, axle arrives tomorrow so nursery journeys start on Friday 😄
^ the paintjob looks great! What are the bars...?
@luv2ride On-One OG V2 Handlebar / Black
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HBOOOGV2/on-one-og-v2-handlebar
How big a front tyre can you whang in one of these? Thanks
Got a 2.35 in and their is loads of room!
At least 15mm either side and that plus more under the crown
looks really good for £699, if I didn’t have a rigid Inbred 29er already I’d get one.
Tempting, very tempting! The rocky road also seems great value at the moment.