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Frankly the stem looks ridiculous
Let's not kid ourselves about monstercrossers not looking ridiculous, it's part and parcel. It was born a wrong 'un.
Also I find it's often worth reminding myself that 97% of the population (if in US, Uk or Aus) just see an adult on a bicycle and think that you look/are 'ridiculous' whatever 'flavour' of stuff you hang off it. That, and I don't really GAS what others think as bought it to ride and enjoy.
Practically speaking - I took possession of the bike with the stem flipped as pictured. It doesn't need any more rise IMO, especially with the spacer stack and mad-long head-tube. I tried the stem flipped in riser mode and didn't get on with the feel of it so wel as flipped low as shown.
Here pictured in both winter road mode (35c, SKS Bluemels guards) and summer rough stuff load-lugging mode (2.1") with Freeload/Thule racks. I also use an Alpkit love mud rear pannier-rack and fit it for local shopping when the need arises. It's just four M5 bolts so is on and off in no time. Future plans include upgrading pedals to decent flats, and also trying some cork bar tape.
That looks pretty normal to me. Okay a bit steep in the TT but nothing ridiculous. Not like some the pics I've seen with the riser stem.
Looks rather lovely in that colour. Would you consider a trade for a broken Playstation?
Looks pretty good to me 🙂
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Apologies if this has already been asked, but is there much difference between the Vagabond and the Fugio?
I'm after a new commuter, will be 70% on-road. But I also want something that can be used for cross style rides plus simple trails, for example, Thetford and even South Downs Way.
I don't like the gearing on the Fugio though, its 50/34, I'd prefer a sub compact. But I like the 650b x 50mm and hydraulic disc brakes. I know I can change the gearing, but as its mainly going to be a commuter I'd rather not.
Reading Malvern Riders description I might be better off getting a hardtail. I have a Trek Fuel Ex, for the majority of my riding its just too much bike. I did Thetford on it yesterday and it really is overkill.
(I'm limited to bikes, I also have two road bikes, so my choice seems to be Vagabond, Fugio or hardtail)
Fugio has front and rear through axles where the vagabond in qr.
Get yourself a Trek Superfly. I've the 9.7 Carbon version and its taken a beating!
Both on and offroad!
Woodster if 70% road and the rest forest and odd trail then sounds like a road/gravel bike + a decent hardtail would make sense. The Fuel seems like the fool in the pack. You need two aces in the hand - for the 2 jobs at hand.
Hi Marlvern Rider, 70% road is commute.
I ride lots of places, fuel is useful for Snowdonia and even Woburn which I ride most weeks. But it’s too much bike for Thetford,too good to leave at the station but I’ll be keeping it as it’s the one bike I had to justify to Mrs W (I’m a roadie really and she couldn’t understand why I’d want a reasonably expensive full sus)
I ride Thetford twice a week (drive past it on way home), I also use my Trek Domane with CX tyres for gravel rides (South Downs Way and Ridgeway type). The Domane is the wrong bike and I’m in pain for a few days after (I’m 46 had a few falls over the years and my body hurts)
I was looking at the Vagabond / Fugio as a decent commuter to leave at station, have fun on the way to the station, and the days when driving past Thetford using it for the Red Route (it’s a gentle red). Plus when the opportunity arises for my longer (100 mile+ gravel days).
The 2018 Fugio is available in my size for £1200, very tempted until i read earlier post, that swayed me towards a hard tail. Being so sore after long off road days is pointing me towards that.
The 2018 Fugio is available in my size for £1200, very tempted
The croix de fer and a couple of sets of wheels might suit you better and are even cheaper, since there are some of last year's kicking around for £800 is for the 20. I'm sure I read about a guy that was running 650 with fairly large tyres (50mm ish?) but of course cannot find it now. Run the 700 with 30ish tyres when you are going road only. That was my rough plan until Malvern came along with his vagabond.
I had the Croix Der Fer for a few years back in 2014 (ish). Never thought it could take 650b with 50mm tyres though.
Only thing putting me off the CDF is the brakes on mine were pants. (Tiagra with Avid mechanical brakes, swapped for Trp Hy Red, but still not great.
Never thought it could take 650b with 50mm tyres though.
I did a lot of research on bikes that could do both because I thought it would be a good way to go for me. Obviously mountain bikes that did 27.5+ or 29 would do the other most but I found a bunch of drop bars too, which I was mostly interested in. I can find a lot of them including the guy doing it on a ridgeback panorama but I can't for the life of me find the guy that did it on a CdF. I know the forks changed from year to year so maybe you need the right year to do it.
Edit: it was a picture of a 2014 with 650b and 2" panaracer comets and a guy who fit 2.25 mtb tyres in but rubbed too much to ride. He was going to try 2" but never posted the outcome.
I'm also local to Woburn. Usually once a month or more.
Welcome to take my Vagabond for a spin. See how you like it.
Just reread your comments. A £1200 bike to leave at the station? Sod that!
Thread resurrection 😜
I have just ordered a 2019 Vagabond which will be used initially for a Hebridean bikepacking trip in a few weeks and then as a jack of all trades. I have a Croix De Fer but wanted something a bit more forgiving for off road and this looks ideal. I have a long low HT and a FS for trail riding.
2 questions please, Trp Spyre brakes - I am used to 105 and Ultegra hydraulics, what do I need to know about these ?
Similarly bar end shifters ? Never used them before and used to STIs.
Many thanks
2 questions please, Trp Spyre brakes – I am used to 105 and Ultegra hydraulics, what do I need to know about these ?
Similarly bar end shifters ? Never used them before and used to STIs.
The Spyres aren’t too bad, but I find myself adjusting for pad wear every few rides. It’s a tiny bit fiddly but not too bad. If I could justify the cost I’d change them for a full hydro set-up just to avoid that fiddling.
Bar-end shifters - I wasn’t expecting to like them but I genuinely love them. They suit the character of the bike.
I agree pad wear is worse than my 105's although I am still on original pads so maybe an easy fix.
Idlejon have you stuck a 3mm allen key in the hole on the side of the caliper - turn till the pads binds and then wind back a fraction.
Bar end shifters - no probs once you stop banging your knee on the lever. You will only do it a couple of times! Also mine hit the crossbar on full lock (not whilst riding only crashing / maneuvering)
Just to be annoying 😉 I don't get much pad wear on my Spyres and really like them,but they get more road than off road use ,and the off road that I do doesn't require big handfuls of brake.
I am also running bar-end shifters just now.
As good as they are,they do sometimes get in the way on off road climbing if it gets technical.
Idlejon have you stuck a 3mm allen key in the hole on the side of the caliper – turn till the pads binds and then wind back a fraction.
Yes, that’s what I meant about being slightly fiddly. Despite having boxes full of tools I haven’t quite got the right shape and length of 3mm to get through the spokes! 🤔
As good as they are,they do sometimes get in the way on off road climbing if it gets technical.
Never had a problem with that, or with hitting my knees on them because I’ve managed to avoid nasty crashes on mine. However I still change gear almost every time I dismount!
Thanks for info, any links to setting up and adjusting the Spyre’s or is it pretty intuitive ?
Just also double checking on size, I’m 5ft 10 and a little bit, with 30.5 IL. Pretty sure medium is right for me as am on a medium Croix De Fer, and similar size to Malvern rider, though short legs, long back.
Afternoon... Long time lurker on this thread and getting close to putting a Vagabond together.
Does anyone have opinions on carbon forks and the Vagabond? I'm planning on putting WTB Resolutes on so won't get all the squidgy benefits of a 2.2/2.3 tyre but not convinced slapping a carbon fork on top of what will be, essentially, a budget(ish) build is worth it.
Having said that, I have thought about the Redshift Shock Stop Stem...
Sorry, thinking out loud here.
And re: TRP Spyres, my experience of them has been pretty good but the last pads I bought, Clarkes I think, seem a bit rubbish. I'm wondering about Spykes next time out, if the price is right.
Just also double checking on size, I’m 5ft 10 and a little bit, with 30.5 IL. Pretty sure medium
You sound the same height as me, with slightly shorter legs - 5ft 10” and a bit (179cm), 32” IL. Medium is the perfect fit for me.
****
I had thought about upgrading the fork to something carbon, when I first bought the bike. I don’t find the standard fork too harsh, so haven’t really thought more about it. Mine gets used quite a lot off-road.
^^^ many thanks for that.
Spyres are great. Far and above the best mechanical oùt there in my opinion. Unlike the awful HyRd brakes.
Put bar and shiftes on mine and am really happy with them. Never hit my knee and they are super easy to use
Can you recommend any particular pads you use with the Spyres? I'm looking at some Swiss Stop, I think, organic pads but they are 15 quid a wheel...
I think I put uberbike pads in mine last time. The front one whistles..
Anyone using mudguards and recommendations ? May just put a mucky Nutz on the fork crown .. and a quick release thingy on the seatpost..
well, just been out for a spin up and down the street on it , and think it's going to do me well ! Weird feeling, drops and mtb tyrer, hops off kerbs a treat !
One question - the bar end shifters and cable tension adjustment for indexing - is it just a case of nipping up the inner allen bolt on the microshift a wee bit ? I do have small barrel adjusters too on the top tube, so tightening them would also work.
^^^^ scrub that silly question - I just watched a setup video 🙂
Stealth ad - my medium is for sale after all seeing as I'm still out of action. 2x 20K rides since summer last year. Sod it.
^^^^ 🙁
Malvern Rider - how much are you thinking, and where are you?* I’ll mention it to the guys I ride with.
* I guess somewhere near the Malverns, just maybe? 😁
^ pm'd you, thnks, it's in classifieds.
Can you recommend any particular pads
I just changed my organic pads for these semi-sintered ones. Not squealing, not properly bedded in yet and already giving slightly better stopping than the factory-fitted organic pads. They should last a good deal longer too. I did a fair bit of forum-scouring and many recommend EBC Gold (sintered)
The stock pads, as mentioned, required adjusting almost after every long descent!
20 gravel miles tonight round nearby windfarm. Surprisingly fast and very comfy and stable. I dropped the stem 10mm and it still feels really high so think I might turn it over and see how that feels.
Impressed overall 👍
Though on reflection it only feels high on the tops, the drops are perfect...
Stealth ad now retracted. Have never had a bike that was so hard to sell yet so happy to keep. Turns out that I was re-tearing an old ab injury (from gym) by climbing seated and hyperextending. After 6 months healing re last re-injury (from seated hill-climb on the Vagabond) pretty sure now that I made a big mistake by raising the seat to optimal in one go, rather than incrementally. Stripick me that I used my SS MTB in the same period and it gave me no probs. Then I thought - I mever climb seated on the MTB. Penny-drop.
Now using the Vagabond more as a gadabout/mountain bimblebike with stem flipped to riser and seat lowered, 35c and guards removed for summer tracks/trails/towpaths mode. Nano 2.1s refitted. Also refitted the old, wide Spesh Sonoma seat as the Phenom doesn't suit upright posture nearly so well.
3hr Wyre forest blast one night last week, fire roads, railway line, bridleways, gullies/ruts, rock-gardens, streams and a bit of road work, no probs. No re-injury. It wasn't the bike, it was my riding-style/config.
Amazingly versatile and fun bike. It obviously has good taste in rider too 😎
I promised it was a keeper when first bought, and (despite repeated efforts to sell owing to injury/thwarted touring plans) it seems that it really is. Firm plans now to use the Vagabond carefully as my recovery trainer with a more hopeful future, hoping to avoid surgery.
Anyone recommend 10 speed shifters? I might try some flat bars and hydros at some point🤔
Hebridean bikepacking sounds ace, iainc. What's the loadout looking like?
^^^ cheers, yes, cannae wait ! I haven't had a trial load up yet, though here's the kit on the other gravel bike. I think I'll drop the frame bag as I don't think there's space for it, and bottles, on the Vagabond, so will likely take a small backpack.
@Malvern Rider
Can't go wrong with SLX at the price mate.
If anyone's looking for one of these, I've actually just put mine on eBay.
Medium frame in white.
Titled Genesis Vagabond - Medium - Steel - Adventure Cyclocross Bikepacking on eBay if anyone is interested. Open to offers
Did 50 miles on mine today in road/gravel mode. First time out on it since Xmas. What a great bike 😎
My actual road bike hasn't been used since I bought it over 2 years ago now.
Mine is ready and waiting for it’s maiden trip to the Outer Hebrides on Thursday. 3 gravel rides in since picking it up 10 days ago, and about 80 miles covered. Swopped saddle and post to an ISM and layback, popped on some Time SPDs and tweaked the gearing now that cables have stretched.
I am hugely impressed with it. On fireroads it is a bit, but not much, slower than my Croix De Fer and when it gets proper bumpy it is a gem. Slow on the road but still good compared to my other MTBs.
I think it’s going to get used quite a lot !
You can see a pic now. Cheers
First decent trip done, loving it, very capable and comfy :
I am picking up a pair of secondhand Hope Pro 2/Mavic 719's from a pal which will I think make a significant difference, as the stock wheels and tyres are weighty. Will put folding tubeless versions of the WTB Nano's on.
Anyone know if 719s need the full Stans conversion kit or will they go up and hold with tape and tubeless valves ?
Kinda stealth add, not sure whether it's being kept or not but I'm not getting much time to use it as I've already got a CX, SSCX and a rigid MTB. The sensible option would be to sell three and keep the all rounder, but I'm not sensible.
Large purple frame, hope wheels, Thompson post and stem, xtr cranks, trp spyres, setup single speed with a doofer. Anyone want to make a sensible offer on it or the frame?
Slim chance I'd consider a swap for something lighter/racier but I do have those bases covered so it would need to be something really nice like a pickenflick or cannondale slate or something dedicated single speed and disk braked.
Nice one iainc, look fwd to the report on lighter wheels. Which cassette?
Am still running the stock cassette, wheels + tubes but these will be the second place I'll be looking to upgrade (losing 20kg off self being the first 😬*)
No real complaints about the Volares tho', decent enough on the strength-weight-cost ratio. Funnily enough, pretty sure this is the first decent (stock) bike I've owned and not upgraded the wheels within first year of owning. Probably a budget-related exception to be fair.
*Working on the (probably faulty notion) that heavier bikes make lighter work of personal weight-loss
Onwards and upwards...
PS anyone else messed about with flat bars or some type of swept bars on a Vagabond?