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I’m getting very close to putting down a deposit on a Fairlight Faran, but before I do is there anything similar I should be considering? Will prob go for the full build 2x GRX800 at 2.5k approx so I guess that’s the budget.
Cheers.
I had my heart set on a Faran when I got a gravel bike 2 years ago but there was no stock and no sign of anything coming soon. I ended up with this. I built it myself and it was about £1650. It's amazing.
https://sour.bike/en/candy-shop/bikes/purple-haze/
I got mine a few weeks ago, wife unexpected put the deposit down as an Xmas present and I think I got lucky with an earlier than expected delivery.
I went GRX600 2x base build and so far it's been absolutely brilliant. Feels a lot faster on the road than I expected, quite sprightly and properly zips along once you get it up to speed.
Not done a huge amount of gravel yet but ventured offroad a few times (south downs ish area) and so far so good. The maxxis raddlers are surprisingly good in everything but thick mud. Not quite got the hang of descending off-road on it yet mind. Feels terrifying compared to my cotic!
Any questions fire away.
I have spent a lot of time looking at this type of bike. Which may or may not be what i need
There is very little that is similar. Most 2x bikes like croix de fer and ribble cgr have much less tyre clearance
The monster cross bikes are either 1x only with bigger tyre clearance or 2x but need an mtb chainset like the bombtrack beyond 2
So as a gravel bike they therefore very versatile
But in my size the head angle is a degree steeper than my Arkose. Which I think would make the steering a bit fast as I'm on a very short stem
That Sour Dough looks fab
Agreed its a niche within a niche and I can’t find much if anything similar. Added to that it seems very well thought out - the dyno lighting in particular, finding it very tempting indeed!
I’d usually buy frameset only and build up but the full builds look great, not sure i could do better for the money. Give me the option and I’d have slightly fewer mounts on the fork though.
It's not a slow steering bike. I think in the design notes they say it was designed to feel nippy unloaded but a lot more stable with a front rack/bags.
So far I would definitely put it in the super versatile roadbike end of the gravel spectrum not the surprising fast MTB end.
I looked really hard at the Ribble as well but maybe luckily the wife made the decision for me!
Go on then what colour do you get?
Went for the green in the end. If I'm honest I was initially a little underwhelmed with the colours but it's nice in the metal.
Does that work? Have always struggled with photos on here
I've got a Secan,love it.
But in my size the head angle is a degree steeper than my Arkose. Which I think would make the steering a bit fast as I’m on a very short stem
Has 10mm more fork offset too. Meant as a low trail bike for front load carrying ability as I understood it. Interested to hear what people think of the short trail geometry once there's a few out there.
The low trail is the other thing which appeals, good for a bit of front load.
Not seeing pix wildhunter, tempted by the ‘winter bracken myself
That Sour Dough looks fab
Second that, it's lovely.
Back in the day I road a ladden bike quite a bit. But only loaded at the back. Once laden I think I liked slower steering. I think I'm far from understanding all of this