[Closed] Show me your adventure bikes

well i'd post a pic of my fat bike as i do just what you describe, but i'm thinking you are expecting something else.

Strictly speaking it's a cyclocross bike (Kinesis Crosslight Pro5) but it's the closest I have. Over the past week I've done two extremely muddy woods rides and a 47 mile road/bridleway ride. It has no guards, no rack mounts and cantilever brakes. I'm planning to do the C2C on it this year. It cost me the grand sum of £240 off here and it suits me down to the ground.

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rOcKeTdOg - Member
well i'd post a pic of my fat bike as i do just what you describe, but i'm thinking you are expecting something else

Pretty much this.

bikes that take you on long journeys on mixed terrain

Oh, go on then.

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Not the best pic but my Peregrine after a bothy trip a couple of weeks ago.

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/732/23729252105_b41cf90b6d_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/732/23729252105_b41cf90b6d_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/C9SBWi ]20151212_123349[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/82598458@N05/ ]jamesanderson2010[/url], on Flickr

@ Nipper99 ...same place 2 years ago
[URL= http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Bike%20packing/DSC03180_zps9af9e74a.jp g" target="_blank">http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Bike%20packing/DSC03180_zps9af9e74a.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Now use this for my adventures
[URL= http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Bike%20pics/IMG_20141029_111028_zps3pontukv.jp g" target="_blank">http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Bike%20pics/IMG_20141029_111028_zps3pontukv.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
to do this [URL= http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Way%20of%20the%20roses/DSC03902_zpsgjznrbpl.jp g" target="_blank">http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/Way%20of%20the%20roses/DSC03902_zpsgjznrbpl.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

rOcKeTdOg no, as I said anything. I'm torn between a fatback and a cx bike.

[img][url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1456/24111425315_c5023e0ad5_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1456/24111425315_c5023e0ad5_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CJDmHz ]IMG_20150615_111651353_HDR[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/54929817@N02/ ]rents2[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[img][url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1616/23815795540_adbf952ff0_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1616/23815795540_adbf952ff0_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Chwbhu ]IMG_20150904_095740584_HDR[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/54929817@N02/ ]rents2[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Kona Minute! I bought this a few years back to take my lad about with me and since then it has become the #1 bike in my stable.
Its good for everything. Club runs, chain gangs, touring, gravel roads and the odd bit of singletrack (with the little'un)
I commute on it everyday all year round and it never lets me down.

I have this
[URL= http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/firestarter4075/20150813_133418_zps7tmd8ph7.jp g" target="_blank">http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/firestarter4075/20150813_133418_zps7tmd8ph7.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
And this
[URL= http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/firestarter4075/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0070_zpsyxnvzoor.jp g" target="_blank">http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/firestarter4075/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0070_zpsyxnvzoor.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Both very different in every way but both a great deal of fun

as I said anything. I'm torn between a fatback and a cx bike.

Tommid, with your record Pugs, Wednesday or Straggler. 🙂

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Firestarter- what guards have you got on that lovely shand? What size tyres are you running? Looking for some for my cotic escapade.

There's this
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3911/15054211751_5b1e39ce61_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3911/15054211751_5b1e39ce61_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oWhLF2 ]P1010490[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
I no longer have this
[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14458348996_1db4313796_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14458348996_1db4313796_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/o2CPrf ]Calm morning on Loch Spey[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
I definitely still have this
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8540729384_ffe240aa09_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8540729384_ffe240aa09_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/e1HthU ]P1050319[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
I'm selling this
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/682/23180139393_1a22e8a3e7_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/682/23180139393_1a22e8a3e7_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BjmgRK ]IMAG0204[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
I'm keeping this forever
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3065/2844771429_a79665bfc5_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3065/2844771429_a79665bfc5_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5kocrg ]PICT3465[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
and now there's also this
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5680/22982612360_8f7c0a5f12_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5680/22982612360_8f7c0a5f12_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/B1TTXf ]DSC_0332[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

My point (if there is one) is that you can have an adventure on almost any bike 🙂

firestarters mudguards are PDW Full Metal Fenders, I have them on my Tripster as below

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Stumpy_M4, is that the Coast 2 Coast on the Trans Penine Trail ? Thats on my to do list for 2016.

They are 45mm pdw guards and tyres are 35mm conti cx speeds

This was the initial set up. I've now changed to a shorter stem and layback post to get the weight over the back wheel.
Surprisingly fast and comfortable, but also capable on and off road.

Gearing is 36 - 11-25 soon to be changed for 38 - 11-28.
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xyeti - Member
Stumpy_M4, is that the Coast 2 Coast on the Trans Penine Trail ? Thats on my to do list for 2016.

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It's just like a normal bike, with stuff attached.

Go with your heart op. As Scotroutes says, you can have an adventure on any bike.
I've got a cx, 29er, full suss and road bike. The cx sees the most use and is perfect for most things but I'd sooner be on my 29er for routes like the Cairngorm loop etc. The cx is great for touring on road and mixed routes like Sustrans tracks. The 29er is just as capable but slower...

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Sort of adventurous.

Stumpy, Just Googled Both the way of the roses and the TPT Southport to Hornsea, i'ts the TPT i think i have foolishly agreed to do, in 2 days.

xyeti - Member
Stumpy, Just Googled Both the way of the roses and the TPT Southport to Hornsea, i'ts the TPT i think i have foolishly agreed to do, in 2 days.

I did have a genesis fortitude adventure

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14406238976_663c4d3a37_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14406238976_663c4d3a37_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://flic.kr/p/nX2JWC ]Parking spot with a view[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

Then I changed it for a genesis longitude (that was awesome)

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/17043453452_60dd580ef1_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/17043453452_60dd580ef1_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://flic.kr/p/rY59VJ ]Believe it or not I'm carrying a lot less this time! #bikepacking #microadventure @apidura[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

I've done a couple of trips on my Tripster, though they were more roadie in nature

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/444/19490912324_d956227139_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/444/19490912324_d956227139_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://flic.kr/p/vGm2bu ]Tripster ATR[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

But I've sold three of my MTB's and bought a Travers Rusty, which is the best mix of my longitude and my sync. I'm doing the Tour Divide this year and this is going to be the beast for the job. Incidentally I'm raising money for cancer research, Jenn inspired me to do it and gave me loads of great advice, if anyone wants to give me some extra motivation my justgiving page is here: [url= https://www.justgiving.com/jim-tom-tour-divide ]https://www.justgiving.com/jim-tom-tour-divide[/url]

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5653/23752491381_a31535c72b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5653/23752491381_a31535c72b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://flic.kr/p/CbVJat ]DSC00514[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5640/23335141613_447af27871_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5640/23335141613_447af27871_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://flic.kr/p/By3GBP ]Black grips, merry Christmas![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1666/24108201215_54ef002377_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1666/24108201215_54ef002377_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://flic.kr/p/CJmQiD ]Just wired up the electronics on my @traversbikes #rusty to make sure it's all working for the #bearbones #bach2bach #bikepacking event next weekend. Flashing lights means it's all good 🙂 @use_exposurelights #revo #cinq5 #plug #spdynamo #BarYak[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/ ]Jim Barrow[/url], on Flickr

First proper outing will be at the Bear Bones Winter Event next weekend.....

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15672217445_4d6b1d5aff_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15672217445_4d6b1d5aff_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pSUdeB ]IMG_0545[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/24645633@N08/ ]thom1984[/url], on Flickr

big heavy tyre mode.

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/19863463141_03b89d2749_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/19863463141_03b89d2749_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/wggryr ]IMG_0780[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/24645633@N08/ ]thom1984[/url], on Flickr

in touring mode.
every time i post a photo i say must take another.

hummerlicious - whats the frame bag on the Fortitude?

That was a Uraltour, great value finners. I've had a custom Alpkit one made for my new Travers, it seems a little more robust.

Lazy link (still much the same today except has XT thumbies, Spesh BG seat and Schwalbe Land Cruisers atm)

[url] http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/touring-bike#post-6216464 [/url]

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xyeti - Member
Stumpy, Just Googled Both the way of the roses and the TPT Southport to Hornsea, i'ts the TPT i think i have foolishly agreed to do, in 2 days.

Used my kafenback to ride that route in 21 hours last summer. Superb ride, and the bike worked a treat. No pics on my phone, but I'll try to put some up tomorrow. Email me if you need tour help.

Paule, thanks, I will take you up on the offer of assistance. Mostly in the form of route guidance around the back of Liverpool towards Halewood as this area seems to be a bit misguided, spoke to a few people recently ALL of whom got lost in that same area.

We looked at the route and made the decision that we could definitely do it in 20 hrs, Man maths dictates when we actually get on the ground we can achieve it in 30. It looks a cracking route and mostly off road.

I think I'll start a seperate thread

My merlin malt is my tool for pedalling of into the sunset...
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Looks like my bike doesn't fit in to this marketing niche 🙁

But it's the only bike I have and I have adventures on it

I've had some interesting trips on my bike over the last 7-8 years, although I'm not sure they qualify as adventures. It started as an Inbred frame, bought to ride through Scandinavia and Eastern Europe to Istanbul.
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Following a respray and extra braze-ons, I eschewed full pannier loads for subsequent trips (this is 3000m up in NW China):
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Ditching shredded panniers, these days I'm pursuing a lighter approach, enabling trips such as an offroad LEJOG this summer.
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Montgomery, I think it's fair to say your rides feature on the 'adventure' scale. 😀

I don't, tbh. I'm wary of using terms like 'adventure,' Over-use of words like 'epic' cheapens them and deprives them of meaning. What is 'adventure?' It's not a relative term. To me, an adventure must involve significant time, commitment and risk, with no bail-out options possible. Something should go wrong which you then have to solve. If you're able to maintain a blog while doing it, for instance, it's probably not an adventure...

I'm kind of in agreement, hence putting 'adventure'. In the context of riding off tarmac being an adventure, your rides count. The snow picture is great BTW.

I think we all realise it's not adventure in a 'Lewis and Clark' sense. But I think you can cut a little slack, it's a pretty healthy outlook to have on life to travel about by bike and explore places new to you.

But let's face it, it's perfectly possible to make an unsupported trip pretty much anywhere on the planet and still fill in a blog. It's only really when you add in a high risk activity that ability stops.

Fair dos on "epic" mind you.

Anyway, more all terrain travel bicycles of various configurations please!

Well said Monty, I'll say this though!

Looking at some of the contributions on this post makes me realise that there are those who do actually get out there, NW China, another embarking on the Tour Divide and the wilds of Scotland makes my jaunt across the pennies pail into insignificance.

I'd like to add that the term Epic sums up a generation and a cross Atlantic bond with America, there's nothing wrong with this however it is over used, and as for adventure that depends on the individual, I like to think that anywhere there is a risk of death becomes an adventure.

It is true that the Bike is a magnificent thing, it does take us to destinations far beyond what must have been first imagined and then there are those who ride these magnificent creations, from great adventures to conquering personal ambition.

I just use my only MTB - a Cotic Solaris - for trips that are mostly off-road but I've got a Genesis Croix de Fer for trips that are mostly on-road.

I suppose "adventure" is really just stepping outside your comfort zone with a dollop of the unknown added for good measure, there needs to be uncertainty about completing the goal, it shouldn't be guaranteed. An "epic" is when such things go wrong and the uncertainty is more about survival than completing the goal. Sadly the advertisers/Red Bullsh*tters have taken over these and other terms.

There are fewer "blanks on the map" and the world's become much smaller and more homogenous so we can't all be Wally Herbert, Eric Shipton or Bill Tilman.

What is 'adventure?' It's not a relative term.

It is though, really it is.

Pedantry aside, it also seems to be the marketing buzzword of the year for everything from touring bikes to Shimano's new XT groupset.

Doesn't bother me TBH, and "adventure bikes" certainly sounds more appealing than "gravel bikes".

It's great the variety of bikes in this thread innit?

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My all-terrain bike. I think a bike like this needs to work well on any terrain you're likely to ride over - 150 miles of tarmac at a time, days of mix-terrain ground or fun Alpine tech downhills, and not be a dull, cautious ride while loaded up. It needs to put a smile on my face as well as cover ground effectively.
For me the rigid 29er does it best. It's a bit 'steady' on road or on genuinely severe trails but so am I carrying 5-10kg and a few days / a couple of weeks of fatigue, or when thinking of getting through the full ride rather than day-ride risk taking. Comfort starts to win over any drop-bar bike road efficiency on longer, easier rides. It won't take fatter than a 2.4 tyre on a big rim but that's ok, I'd keep the more nimble feel of tyres in the 2.0-2.4 size and the geometry that goes with it for touring. It's a good balance ime.
*note uncool triple : )

OP, you mention CX vs Fat .. quite a range? Depends on the terrain you ride right? Both are quite terrain-specific, but if most of your riding is either road/very easy off road or very rough ground/trackless wilderness they could be a good option.

@montgomery

enabling trips such as an offroad LEJOG this summer

Is there a published route or are you making one up ? I bet there's a load of folk on here (me included) who'd be keen on this...