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Surly Karate Monkey got stolen last week and insurance is giving me some replacement cash.
I've already got an audax/gravel light bike which will take up to 38c tyres and which i used to ride to istanbul in 2019 and I ride as my road bike.
The surly got used for offroad touring, some trails in the south-east, heavy loading and that kind of shit. I loved it to pieces, but instead of doing the sensible thing and buying a direct replacement, I really fancy something else.
This year I to ride the Highland Trail 550 this year and also do some touring in Armenia/Georgia with this bike. Do you think i'll feel under biked on the HT550 or not?
And do I want 27.5 inch wheels on this thing? Is it a travesty to put a 100mm suspension fork on it? Suggestions...
Well in the age old tradition of recommending what you’ve got, I can’t fault my Kona Sutra LTD. Currently got 29 x 2.25’s on it and it’s great, still fast rolling but good on singletrack too. The ULTD goes a bit slacker with a dropper post too.
Brother Cycles worth a look, I'd say
I'm lucky enough to own a few bikes - one of which is a fargo - did the NC500 and Hadrian wall and the border reivers on it - its heavy but bombproof - I had it fitted with front and rear racks - it can carry all sorts. Although the are lots of other choices now - bought mine in 2012. I like the look of the fairlight range.
Fairlight looks cool. Will take a long.
Brother Mehteh or a Bombtrack?
i had a fargo a few years ago. it did what it was designed for very well.
i now have a Ti fargo and it is pretty ace.
https://www.pedalsbikecare.co.uk/products/2020-bombtrack-hook-adv?_pos=1&_sid=8ba7f6c0f&_ss=r
Someone buy this before I steal it
Hadn't seen the bombtrack. Cool also! Mehtah too square for me.
Nah, they're rubbish.
Genesis Longitude (if you can find one) comes with 27.5+ and Gorilla fork cages. QR axles and horizontal drop outs. It will take 29" wheels too.
There is a bombtrack hook in large on the gravel marketplace fb just now.
Fargo will be fine on the HT550 with the right tyres. You may have some trouble on the steepest descents depending how confidently you descend (thinking bits of Torridon and Fisherfield). I’ve done it on a hardtail el mariachi, then on a fully rigid Jones. I’m pretty sure it’s been done on something akin to a Fargo - there was definitely drop bars in 2017 anyway.