i am going to be ordering a fairlight secan 3.0 tomorrow hopefully for a september eta time (am going to get the cheapest bike option shimano 1x12 in the desert cream colour in 51t size as i'm 5ft 5 and they recommend that size). it will be my first gravel bike.
am just wondering how others find them for all round use (eg road, canal towpath and offroad like the ridgeway/marlbrough downs etc) do you find them comfy to ride etc on the rough stuff (i may invest in a redshift bar and seatpost if neded after paying off the bike).
my plan is to use it for a bit of everything but especially the towpath and maybe looking for new offroad routes where i live via riding the road (where my chisel fs is not the quickest on tarmac or the towpath). am hoping i will be faster on said towpath and road on the secan.
i may even try some of this backpacking mlarky on it too as i am definitely interested in all of that just never tried it myself (thinking overnight on the ridgeway/marlbrough downs etc). if i can ever get fit enough i would like to try the whole ridgeway too on the bike.
anyhoo i will shut up now just very excited about getting the bike when it arrives (am not too fussed about waiting till sept as it will enable me to hopefully pay off a big chunk of the bike before getting it lol).
Nothing useful to add and don't have one yet but I ordered a root beer one 4 weeks ago, hopefully for an August delivery and am really looking forward to it!
oh very nice i hope you enjoy it when it arrives 🙂Nothing useful to add and don't have one yet but I ordered a root beer one 4 weeks ago, hopefully for an August delivery and am really looking forward to it!
offroad like the ridgeway/marlbrough downs etc
backpacking mlarky
the whole ridgeway too on the bike.
It's a lovely area of lanes and tracks (I was there last weekend again) and it's a great bike to explore it on, you'll love it. I used to live at one end of the RW and rode it regularly. I was in the Marlborough and Winchester Downs area with a bivi bag on the bike last weekend. A beautiful area to ride.
But don't sell your Chisel yet : )
IME of riding that area a lot over the years on gravel bikes and rigid 29ers, loaded and unloaded, I prefered a rigid 29er for the RW e2e. If a gravel bike is good as a road/lanes bike (as the Secan will be, and I like gravel bikes that are) they eventually wear me down off-road. But that's ok, it's the price of feeling so fast and agile and you just pop onto a lane and spin along for a bit for a break, enjoy the contrast. That's why I think they're so good for mixed terrain exploring - and imho you're in one of the best areas in the south for that kind of riding.
They are great bikes (I actually have two!) and Fairlight are very good to deal with.
I've used mine exactly as you've described. In fact was out on the Ridgeway a couple of weeks ago and it take it all in its stride. I've a second wheelset so I swap between road and gravel guises and it'll do either without bother and you'll enjoy the riding. I do a lot from the Lost Lanes series of books and it is perfect for that type of back lane riding with various grades of gravel. I'll happily turn up for a club road ride and be able to cope too.
I have a 2.5, you'll love it. I got two sets of wheels with identical hubs and discs so swapping is a dream. 700c with 32mm tyres and 650b with trail king tyres.
I love both, have found a new joy in road riding that I never especially enjoyed before, and as for gravel and gravel bikepacking, it's just sublime.
I loved my 2.5, beautiful thing to ride. Their sizing worked spot on for me too. It was great for bikepacking, but the flex when fully loaded touring was too much for me. I was truly gutted, but it had to go.
