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quick update- the small block 8 tyres are absolutely terrible in fending off spiky stuff hidden on the dark streets of south manchester; I've had 4 punctures this past week whilst commuting!
either that, or there's something bizarre going on... nowt lodged in the tyre and the rim seems to be fine too.
so, i need to change the tyres for something a bit more durable- any suggestions? i may just return to the marathons i used without issue for 2 years on my roadrat...
I have both smallblock 8's and conti crossspeed 35's. The contis are faster and less punctures
SB8s, Contis, all pretty similar ime in that you either have a belted puncture-protection tread or a std tyre. Looking at varying the std specs with Kenda in TW last week actually after another autumn of hedge-cutting and tubeless vs std tyre rides. 6 flats in 100 miles is a useful reminder.. The Arkose 3 and 4 have TLR rims though so get some tape on there and you're halfway there.
Rik, cyan Arkose 4 blue for the geared f+f, late Dec delivery now.
Awesome Jameso - is there a final price yet?
£325 frame, fork and headset.
Just bought a 2015 Arkose 1 and can't stop looking at it. What a beauty. looking forward to putting it through it's paces.
£325 awesome! I'm in
How small is the smallest size? Would it fit 5' 3 inches?
Any news on the frame only option? Seen the 2014 on Evans but want the 2015 with the smooth welding.
Same question again as above :
How small is the smallest size? Would it fit 5' 3 inches?
Cheers
I'm going to get a cyan 4. I presume frame is the same throughout the range; dived in Chill Factor Evans to look at the range but no 4 in, so if I size up on a 3 it's the same? Only had 2 mins so couldn't chat to staff. Geometry on Evans website is for older models.
Although, 15% off the 5.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-five-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec071309#features
I'd want a double though...
Just got an arkose single speed on c2w. Very impressed with it and Evans Reading were excellant. Will post up pics after xmas.
Ok, so they are all in the sale.
Other than the one I want,
Feeling your pain, took my xmas money to evans yesterday and they don't have my size until March 🙁
The frames going to be arriving soonish? I'm considering a cyan one.
i fitted SKS longboards to my arkose 4 for winter commuting duties; how easy is it to fit pannier rack(s) too?
i fitted SKS longboards to my arkose 4 for winter commuting duties; how easy is it to fit pannier rack(s) too?
Very easy. I have the topeak Super Tourist DX Disc Rack and took me 15 minutes to put on.
sweet, quick check of google image search and yeah that looks simple enough. thanks!
Just subitted the paperwork to get an Akose 3 2015 on C2W. Too good a deal to miss with the current 15% off... will be a tad brighter than my current all black Boardman CX comp...!
The setup is finally complete.
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cgreggers - is that front mudguard not rotated too much anti-clockwise (i.e. the mudflap isn't supposed to be so near the ground)?
i'm guessing they're longboards. mine are about the same tbh.
Hello all.
I have bit the bullet and bought a set of SKS Chromoplastoc P45:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000X5ZL9W/ref=pe_385721_51767431_TE_dp_1
I knew that I would have to do some modifying for the front guard to fit the crown of the fork but what I hadn't expected to be sucj an issue was the rear guard.
As discussed briefly on page eight of this thread the guard interferes with the front derauiller. What has everyone else done regarding this?
Any help is appreciated.
My Arkose 3 did a great job of carrying me and all my gear around the way of the roses this week, cracking dual purpose bike
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http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Way%20of%20the%20roses/IMG_20150301_083805_zps4o6rtf3o.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Went to pick my 4 up this morning. They'd ordered the wrong size.
Another week.
Anyone ridden the Five with the 1x11?? Really like the simplicity of it!
I was nearly going to get one instead of a Four, but it seemed the top end gearing was a bit low maybe for proper road rides.
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Picked myself up an Arkose 5, after I saw it in the flesh and had a spin around it was hard to resist. I had a go on a CAADX Cannondale and although the 'Dale was a cheaper model the Arkose rode much, much better.
Done 100 miles this past week on it and it's really comfortable. I love the 1x11 and I don't find the lack top end gearing a problem at the moment but I am not that strong in the leg department.
Front fork disk brake mount is a touch out of alignment with the rotor but now the pads are bedded in it seems ok. Set up the tyres tubeless (removed the tape that is on there and replace with Stans) to protect against punctures.
This is my first drop bar bike and so far I am really enjoying it! Well done to the MK store, young lad in there was very helpful and enthusiastic.
Ordered an Arkose One today. First drop bar bike so should be interesting. Planning on using it to commute and for longer rides on the weekend taking in some bridleways.
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@thedude - what size alpkit bag is that? And what size frame? Looks a good size
I picked up an Arkose 2 yesterday, really wanted hydraulic brakes. Trade in discount, plus the sale price, plus tesco vouchers mean just over £500 in cash, mostly funded through the sale of my old bike. Bargain!
Have just fitted a rack, have ordered a baby seat for the rack and a crate for local shopping trips
Not sure what mudguards to get yet, was leaning towards the SKS road wides
Any thoughts on commuting tyres?
Only been ron d the park in it with the dog, but so far so good!
i've been using schwalbe marathon plus tyres for 8 mile round trip road commuting on my 4, but i was going to ask what everyone runs (or recommends) as a more useful CX style tyre since i moved house and my commutes now are going to be around 19 miles, partially towpaths/lanes. the stock small block 8s were awful on the road (5 punctures in the space of a week, none in 6 months on the marathons!)
It's a large frame with a large possum frame bag and the fit is perfect. I'm not ashamed to say that it had socks, underwear and some salad stuffed in there in the above picture.
Got it today, took the photo as soon as I got it out the car so the reflectors etc are now in the bin and I've changed the pedals. What pressures are you all running? I'm leaving the small block 8s on for the time being but that may change.
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I've got my eyes on the 2 when my current C2W expires. How's the old style shifter? I need to get one into local Evan's store to have a proper look, but some real world feedback would be ace.
SB 🙂
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Call me biased .. but I do like my Arkose 2. The old bar-end shifter's great imo, simple and effective. Mainly there due to the brakes (which I think are brillaint) but the shifter / 1x10 has grown on me. Thinking of a new tour/bikepacker build using the same set up. If there were F+R bar-enders and I had to make compensation shifts at the back along with the front changes I may not be so keen but a wide-ratio 10s means usually no more than 2-3 clicks at a time.
Bar end shifter is fine. Needs a bit of getting used to, as you need to drop your hand to change gears, and unless you're conscious of it you can end turning the bars a touch as you change gear
That said, the gears are fine for both road commuting, towing two kids and stuff in a trailer, and doing a supermarket run.
i really like it so far
Ta for the info chaps. Now hurry up May and have my current C2W elapse! 😀
Herbivorex - carry on with the Marathon+ and run them at the low end of the pressure recommendations - the towpath and lanes will be ok, you'd only need full on block treads for grass or thick mud. You'll be glad of the slick for the rest of the commute
Hello All,
I popped into Evans and an Arkose Five caught my eye today. I've never really considered them before because I'm a bit of a bike snob, and I'm not that keen on Aluminium frames. However, I really liked the look of it and the CX1 kit seems to be brilliant. Reviews seems to confirm this.
Just wondering about sizing. They had a large that looked about right - 57cm top tube, but are there any people of 6'1" in stature that ride a large or medium with any feedback?
Cheers.
For what it's worth, I'm dead on 6' and the large is near perfect sizing for me. I'm a bit leggy, so if you're a normal 6'1" then I reckon a large may be slightly on the small side.
Since this topic has been revived; does anyone know the max rotor size this bike can take (front and rear)?
I'm 6ft1in and I've gone for a large. Fits fine, XL would have been a bit much but they may have one you can sit on to make sure.
Thanks for that feedback. They had a Large in stock so I might try it sometime soon if I can get down there.
Do these bikes ride quite smoothly? I'm concerned about the aluminium harsh ride, but from what people have said, it doesn't seem to be a problem.
I like the look of the Two too. I've got a bar end shifter for a bike with and alpine 8 hub, and although it can be a bit awkward changing in technical places, it id not too bad. It seems good value.
6'2" on a large here, like the fit, XL would have been a bit stretched for me I think.
As for ride, I find it significantly smoother than my previous Boardman, carbon forks help at the front but also noticeably more forgiving at the rear too...
6'3 here and on an XL. You could put a shorter stem on the XL if you want a bit more adjustment
It's strange that some of the arkoses come with the Kenda SB8s, and others with the WTB nanos
Having said that my nanos are off and marathon pluses are currently on