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Right then I’ve a Large (19 inch) Cotic soul that is simply the best bike I’ve ever owned. It’s built up with 100-130 revalations, pretty light wheels and slx/xt 3x9 and brakes. It’s the first bike I’ve ever owned that I don’t want to change after a couple of years.
I’ve also got a 20.5 inch Genesis IOID with alfine 8 and rigid fork. I’m looking to replace the IOID – it’s great for towing my daughters trailer, but it’s other use as my no maintenance winter bike, well it just feels a little bit too big, too tall, but fine for length. I want to replace it with something similar that will ride a bit more like the Soul, but still be able to be run rigid and with the Alfine (I don’t really want to use a chain tensioner), but I also want something that will take a mudguard and rack for when it’s on trailer towing duties. I’ve looked (on the internet) at the Surly Troll and Ogre, the Genesis IOID in a smaller size, and I’ve had a ride on both a 19 and 20.5 Genesis Fortitude. The ride on the fortitude made it clear that the 19 is too short front to back, but the 20.5 feels unwieldy, too tall in the seat tube.
I guess It’s the “long and low” of the Cotic I like. So, what’s out there? What have I missed? Looking for frame only in an ideal world and would lean towards a 26er as that would mean minimal extra cost as I could just use my existing alfine wheels.
Simple. A Cotic Simple
Or, my current fave, Evil Sovereign, but that might not be what your after or slidey dropout Inbred
Inbred or this bargainous Kona if you like orange:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75351&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom
Or this if the 18's long enough...
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/frame-forks/frames-mtb/sanderson-frames/sanderson-soloist-singlespeed-frame.html?utm_campaign=googlebase-GB&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shopping&utm_term=Sanderson+Frames
Buy another Soul and get one of them modified to take the Alfine and mudguards etc.
An Orange P7 ticks every one of your boxes. I've been riding one for over 6 months now and its eclipsed my old Chameleon as the best do-it-all bike I've ever owned
Simple, yes would love one of them, but I really want to be able to bolt some mudguards and a rack on from time to time.
Kona, I could cope with the orange (the IOID is bright yellow)! But it doesn't look like it would take rack/guards.
Sanderson, yes very nice, but back to rack and guards. Also, the 18" has a 22.5" top tube, the Soul has (I think) a 24".
Modifying my existing soul - well I have looked at doing this, but by the time I've had new dropouts and the other bits and bobs, and a respray (which it could do with anyway) it's fast approaching the cost of a new frame. I also want to keep my existing Soul as it is.
Never thought of the Orange. (Wanders off to peruse internet).
Does the P7 have rack mounts at the dropout?
Might be worth looking at Thorn Raven frame, designed for Rolhoff, but with EBB would take Alfine.
My older Inbred geared frame has chainstay bridge and rack / mudguard mounts on dropout and chainstay, might be worth seeking out an earlier SS track end one for use with Alfine. My sliding dropout Inbred doesn't have chainstay bridge or dropout rack mounts. If you could get around the lack of chainstay bridge current slot dropout inbred would work do what you're asking.
If you could live with a tensioner a lot more options open up eg Surly Long Haul Trucker for 26" wheels.
Probably worth getting a ride on a Troll as they're designed for just what you want. I think the 1x1 has the same geometry and might be easier to find someone with one to try.
My P7 is currently sporting a pannier rack.
My P7 had pannier eyelets, but when I changed the dropout to stop the slipping issue I had to drill the NDS one for the additional bolt. I suppose you could have a rack there as well, but I wouldn't. Especially if I was using the sliding dropout to tension the chain, which is when they seem to slip.
I am sure you could get a rack onto a simple somehow if you really wanted too.
P7 has rack and mudguard mounts. My 2009 manages a non-disc rack with a small 3mm spacer on the disc side.
Modifying my existing soul - well I have looked at doing this, but by the time I've had new dropouts and the other bits and bobs, and a respray (which it could do with anyway) it's fast approaching the cost of a new frame. I also want to keep my existing Soul as it is.
I still think you should buy another soul and get the one you have modified... it's the only way to get exactly what you sound like you want... which is a soul with some extras which would only be available by going full custom or by the cheaper option of modifying a soul.
I am sure you could get a rack onto a simple somehow if you really wanted too.
I'm sure I could too! In fact I probably could for pretty much any frame, there's enough axle mount kits/seat stay clamps etc on the market. It'd just be nice to have proper mounting points.
I can live without the rack mounts I reckon, but [i]do[/i] need to be able to put a guard on, little Miss really doesn't like muddy spray!
One other concern I have is the actual trailer hitch bracket, it's one of these [url=
]Chariot bracket[/url] and it's fairly bulky - it only just fits under the cowling on the Soul's dropout, so, for example the Sanderson, I'd be worried that it may not fit. (Though the Sanderson website refuses to show me pictures at the minute).Whilst modifying my existing soul is a nice idea, I really would want to have another Soul with, erm, real gears, and that's just going out of my budget, £500 for a new soul, plus a couple of bits like seatpost etc then the cost of renovating my old Soul looks like it might be in the region of £300 ish.
Thanks for all the replies so far, there's a fair bit to think about here.
Another P7 fan here (but having never ridden much else I am a bit biased).
Size wise I went for a 19" initially, based on my height/inside leg etc, but changed down to 17" after about 12 months. This proved to be a good move as the 17" seems to fit me much better.
Mines got a set of Fox Van R's on it, which along with SLX/XT components make it about as low maintainance as it can be.
All of those mudguard fitting points add a bit of weight, but TBH I cant see it making any difference to the actual bike once its built up.
Bomb proof bike and I love it...but I have heard a few people compliment about a certain Soul...