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I've heard good things about these forks:
https://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?productid=1251&catid=206
I'd recommend [url= http://shop.upgradebikes.co.uk/Catalogue/Forks/Kinesis/Kinesis-Tripster-Disc ]these[/url] 🙂
OK - long overdue update on mine...
Following a very enjoyable five day lanes / gravel / cycle path tour to Snowdonia and back towards the end of the summer, I was off the bike for a couple of months through injury and am now really only just getting back into the swing of it. The injury has forced my hand in making a decision on running alt bars on it - Somafunk (and others') inspiration and advice got me curious and finally tipped me over the edge - thank you! I never really used the drops an awful lot but, until now, couldn't really justify the investment as it was fine as it was, but hey - any excuse...
Here's a pic of it during my Welsh holiday, loaded up with Alpkit Koala, a small frame bag and Topeak bar bag:
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Since then, I've fitted some PDW guards for it (highly recommended; just don't forget you need the longer rear stay). I'd never had any particular issues with SKS ones having run them for years, other than fitting the little blighters, but these just seem sturdier, quieter and well, nicer. The big cassette from the tour has stayed on, but of course the change to flat bars necessitated new brakes and shifters (though again, I could have just found some flat bar levers and kept the excellent Spyres on...) so the 9spd rear mech required to work with 10spd road STIs is in the parts bin and a new 10spd MTB mech in its place. The 32mm Schwalbe Durano winter tyres are also fitted now (28mm versions through the 'summer' apart from 37mm Contis for the tour). Other kit is as was - Ultegra compact on the front, 11-36 out back, carbon Ritchey post, Spesh saddle, latest spec Kinesis wheels which have been flawless, fancy dan Time carbon-Ti pedals, trusty Hope BB and QRs, TRP rotors... think that's about it.
The new bars are 660mm wide Titec J-bars; so pretty similar to a Cut Jones H-Bar shape, but with more limited space after the weld. I'm glad I went for i-Spec shifters / brakes as I struggled to place them on the extensions where everything was in the right area, so have put them below the weld and gone for a Spesh half lockon Ergon stylee grip that extends about 1cm beyond the end of the bar, hence being glad about the minimal clamp footprint. Looking at pics of the Jones', I think I'll probably swap these out for them if they feel like they're working as I'd like a bit more space on the lower part of the bar. Initial impression after about 50 miles is I'm pretty pleased. The Tripster's always felt like you're riding in a commanding position anyway; this is moreso.
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Apologies for all the paraphernalia on the bike in the pic... I liked my diddy Zefal mirror but can't seem to accommodate that - it's been getting in the way of the extended hand position - so that's being retired for now - the lights were necessary, the front hose will get chopped soon...
I'm caught in two minds about the bars. I do like the way they feel, but I'm still not sure about the aesthetics of it all #biketart. The Tripster is a wonderfully functional, capable and assured bike - that's only some of it's great charm and appeal in so much as it just works, almost whatever you want to do with it. In almost 8,000 miles, mine's run in loads of guises - 42mm wide knobblies along bridlepaths, to ragging about on 25mm slicks, to all-weather, year round super-commuter, to the aforementioned multi-day tours with frame, seat and bar bags, and now the current setup - all of it very competently.
Needs must at the moment, so I'll see how this version goes, but rest assured - I still love it to bits 🙂
I've just ordered a frameset, now to order groupset... anyone successfully fitted di2 internally?
Welllll I was just having my monthly browse for ATR frames dreaming as I do and Merlin had an extra 10% off so I ended up ordering one and now I'm out of my misery.
monkeycowboy
I've just ordered a frameset, now to order groupset... anyone successfully fitted di2 internally?Yes been running mine for just under a year drilled a hole on right side of down tube, 1 on seat tube then opened up the breather hole on the drop out. It's nice and tidy 5000 miles on and off road later still going strong. Does void the warranty though. Pictures on page 37/38
Dc
Still tinkering with my setup and as I'm sticking (for now...) with mtb gear shifters, I'm wondering what people have done about front mechs? As far as I can see, the shimano mtb 10 spd ones have a limit on the front chainring - and I'm keen to keep my ultegra 50/34 on there. Any advice appreciated please!
What's the widest tyre the Tripster fork can take with and without mudguards?
I think someone here has tried 40mm tires under PDW guards.
Mine are 35mm and as you can see there's quite a lot of space left - this is the back, but clearance under the fork is similar:
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Any thoughts on how much difference a good set of tires makes?
At the moment I'm running some (very) cheap 35mm Schwalbe tires, with heavy sealant-filled inner tubes and I'm not terribly comfortable off-road. Other contributing factors might be narrow bars, clip-less pedals, and my relative lack of off-road experience.
Would I notice a lot of difference by swapping to 36mm tubeless Clement X'Plors? It's a fairly pricey change but I'd be happy to do it if it is worthwhile.
Apparently those on-one tyres are pretty good.
I have 40mm wtb nanos and they are excellent and much more confidence inspiring than the 33c tyres I was using before.
Another help for off road is flared bars like the salsa cowbells, instead of tucking your elbows in they encourage them to take a more stable position in line with the flare of the bars.
My Hunt 4Seasons Disc wheels and tubeless tyres are due for delivery on Monday! Hoping to shave almost half a kilo of weight compared to the current set up.
HELP PLEASE! SEAT CLAMP ISSUES...
Hi! I'm new to the forum, but have been enjoying my Tripster on and off road for about a year. I've gone and rounded out the seat clamp bolt. Does anyone have any recommendations for alternative seat clamps? Very many thanks in advance
The bolt head for the original seat clamp was made of soft cheese and rounded out/splayed out very easy so don't be too hard on yourself, I have a very high quality Ti bolt in my box o' bolts that will fit and i can guarantee you will zero chance of ever rounding this one out.
My email address is in my profile so drop me a mail with your address and i'll get it in the post to you t'morn.
Somafunk, that's fantastic! Very many thanks. E-mail to follow.
ATRthanks, I have the first every pair of Mason X Hunt 4 seasons wheels on my Tripster ATR you won't be disappointed. Im justing converting mine to 12mm thru axle to fit my new ENVE cross disc fork.
ATRthanks - re tyres, off-road I use 42mm Continental Crossrides, which I'm really pleased with. I find them much more predictable than the CX tyres I had on previously. At about 420g they're pretty light for a tyre of that size too (and that includes a puncture resistant layer/make up).
Chucking this in here, as seems relevant. My Tripster is for sale, std build kit + cx70 chainset and Ultegra shifters. Used about 10 times, the chainset twice. Must be collected from EN4 £1500 no offers. Oh, size 57cm
Hi
Can you send me a few pictures of your tripster please tsmado?
Also I am just over 6 foot tall normal ride a 58 so I am guessing 57 will be fine?
Jeremy at wheelgates dot com
Thanks
Ah Tripster thread my old friend.
Just about to head out on mine. 2 years later and 3 different builds it's still making fun...
Hi all, long time follower of this with interest and close ish to a decision to get one. Does anyone have a 51cm frame they could tell me the stand over measurement please?
cinnamon_girl on here has a 51cm - I'm sure a reply will be posted soon.
See [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/kinesis-tripster-atr-standover ]this page of the thread for standover on my 54cm[/url]
Hi
Tsmado please can you email details on your bike please.
Or if anyone else is looking to sell a 57 frame set or complete bike.
Cheers
@ mikehod67 - soma is right, mine's a 51cm. Not sure how to measure standover but took the tape measure to the top of the top tube besides the seat post, measured in a straight line to the ground and it was 74cm. Tyres are off road Conti Cross Rides, 42mm. If it's any help I'm 5'5" with long legs. Shout if you need any more numbers!
Many thanks Cinnamon Girl, I'm 5'7" with inside leg of 30". The rest of the measurements are pretty much as my current bike, do you think I would get away with it? Other comments have said how longer they feel so didn't want to go 54 with such a wide range of rider height of not needed.
I'm 5ft 6" (used to be a few inches taller but lost height in spine) with an inside leg of 32" and i went for the 54" as it had a higher front end so i'd not have to put up with a 51" with stacks of spacers under the stem to get the front end to a height where i'd be comfortable, i run an 80mm stem on mine but on advice from Dom & Rory at upgrade they recommended running with a shorter stem anyway.
Mmmm, really wouldn't like to guess. What will you be using it for?
There's plenty of us with them - whereabouts are you as it may be easier for you to throw a leg over one to try it for size beforehand.
Close your eyes soma, you won't like the spacers!!
I'm very short in the body hence the set up.
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Sod the spacers….look at the state of your lawn 😯 …..ferchrisakes get it sorted with an edging cut at least
😉
😆 That was me upsetting the locals in a posh village, oh look a bag lady has arrived. 😆
Any Tripster riders going to battle on the beach this year?
VERY late to the party, but had the pleasure of building this up for a friend's Wedding gift 6 months ago... And yes, he's quite tall!
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Zero spacers?.. chapeau to his flexability - you'd have to snap me in half to get me onto the top of the bars never mind the drops
Will be using it for winter bike, cross for fun not race and light touring. I think it could be the bike eventually with enough wheels.
Somafunk when I say 5 7 that's if it's warm and I'm expanded to full height, equally short arms.
I'm close to Sheffield but travel everywhere north of for work if that helps.
Thanks for all the help by the way.
There's plenty of us with them
No kidding, there were three Tripsters (out of about 10 bikes) on my Audax last weekend.
Most of the rest were Genesis of some description 😀
Zero spacers?.. chapeau to his flexability - you'd have to snap me in half to get me onto the top of the bars never mind the drops
He's 6ft6 but very flexible. His Scott road bike head tube is about 20mm shorter than on his Tripster, run with no spacers and a -10deg stem. He was investigating looking at a -17deg stem for his Tripster a while ago to get the front end even lower!
bluesmartie: I have the first every pair of Mason X Hunt 4 seasons wheels on my Tripster ATR you won't be disappointed.
I took them out for a test run yesterday, fitted with tubeless Sector 28s, and they are lovely.
The new set up is much more comfortable and seems to be more efficient (not least because of the removal of 1/2kg of rotating weight) - new PRs all over the place, including up Swain's Lane.
ATRthanks - re tyres, off-road I use 42mm Continental Crossrides, which I'm really pleased with.
Cheers! I will take a look at fitting them to my old Kinesis wheelset for off-road use. Have you managed to squeeze them under mudguards?
I picked up a pair of the Widget mudguards as seen on the previous page (part reflective on the road Ti frame), and while the larger size is advertised as fitting 28mm - 45mm tires, the rear does not fit my Tripster with Nano40c. Front is OK.
Can anyone recommend mudguards that would fit 40?
I am mostly running Gatorskins 32c on the road, so they will work for that.
Should one even be using mudguards for lots of off-road or just suck it up and get muddy, or move to MTB guards?
EDIT: When I removed the fenders I replaced the cap-head bolts into the two rear mounting positions just to plug the holes - it turns out one of those bolts was rubbing the 40c tire, so that may be the issue. Can anyone recommend a type of screw which has a flatter head - is there something specific that should be used for bicycles? Is there some bad karma around philips or flathead VS hex?
Has anyone tried using the Tripster for any CX racing?
I'm currently undecided between two different frames to build up and I want to use it for winter road riding, longer distance off-road stuff and possibly one or of the summer CX races.
Can anyone recommend a type of screw which has a flatter head?
I use ti brake rotor bolts for the inside of my PDW guards where they attach to the seat stay bridge and chain stay bridge and no rubbing at all/plenty of clearance for 40mm tyres, similar to [url= https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/view-product/Uberbike-12-Piece-Titanium-Disc-Brake-Rotor-Bolt-Upgrade-Kit-Raw-Polished ]these ones[/url]
Does anyone in the Surrey/Berkshire/North Hampshire area by any chance have a Tripster in a 55.5cm or 57cm that they'd be happy to let me swing a leg over to try it out for size?
So far I'm not having much luck locating a demo bike anywhere.
I've got a 54cm in sussex if that helps bumpy
Bumpy if you can make it as far as Winchester on a Saturday morning you'd be welcome to demo mine (55.5cm). Would be happy to go out for an hour with you (I'll ride my other bike) so you can get a proper demo.