salsa cutthroat alternative
The Surly Bridge Club is a versatile, reliable, and affordable rig that meets budget bikepacking bikes. Essentially, its where your rear wheel goes. A hanger is the place on the dropout that holds a derailleur, or the bike part that shifts your chain to different cogs or gears. I chose to run the custom Porcelain Rocket bag I had made for the Woodsmoke on our Kyrgyzstan trip. Leatherman The Surly Karate Monkey can handle single track comfortably and fully loaded with bags. It also is a fairly popular model amongst some gravel riders. I hung on to the silver and blue Cutty for months after our trip, secretly hoping that Salsa would forget about it. The 2021 Salsa Cutthroat GRX 810 gets a Shimano GRX 810 2x drivetrain with a 46/30T Easton chainring equipped Raceface Aeffect R crankest. The frames geometry is often designed to have you leaning over a bit more and may feature a more horizontal top tube. It is just a well-rounded hardtail mountain bike that rips on singletrack but is comfortable enough to ride all day. After researching and testing 12+ mountain biking headlamps and handlebar lights, we found the brightest and best battery life LED MTB lights for night riding. To that end, Salsa says it homed in on four key elements: comfort,. 700c wheels will often work on bike frames designed around 29 wheels. I can't find the direct mount frame bag in that size anywhere. Carbon fiber bikes are more expensive, and there is some concern that they could experience more damage in a wreck. Photo by Andrew Gage. 4oz sealant The main recommendation was a Salsa Fargo 27.5+ with the Salsa Cutthroat and Salsa Warbird as nearby options. Thru-axles are more common on mountain bikes. If youre looking for a bike that can handle singletrack and want to spend less than $1300, the Timberjack is an excellent rig. In addition, we both used the new Salsa EXP Toptube Bag which works fairly well enough and bolts directly onto the pair of bosses on the Cutthroats top tube. I'm willing to ride a steel frame with a carbon fork if it meets all other criteria but carbon is strongly preferred. By definition, they are between 2.8" and 3.25" wide. The Journeyman Claris 650 runs 27.5 tires and has all the attachment points you need to customize your bikepacking setup. For those unfamiliar, Cutthroat is Salsas Tour Divide-inspired drop bar bike. A dirt touring frame may be more stretched out for stability and comfort. Because of this, gravel bike options can be overwhelming. Climbing out of the saddle felt natural with my hands on the hoods and the bikes responsiveness couldnt have been better. If possible, test ride the bikes you are considering. FILTERS Experience Bikepacking (5) Endurance (5) Gravel (5) Mountain (5) Fork Type Rigid (5) Features Class 5 VRS (5) Frame Protection (5) On-Bike Cargo (5) Frame Type Wheel Size The stock build features Salsa Woodchipper drop bars, a 1x11 drivetrain, and 29 x 2.2 tires. It is designed to seamlessly transition between dirt, gravel, or paved city streets. If you have bike racks, then loading them up with groceries or work supplies can be a breeze. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. The website bikeinsights allows you to compare bike geometry. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Cutthroat was conceived as a svelte carbon bikepacking and endurance race machine designed for the endless ribbons of gravel, doubletrack, and smooth singletrack that the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is known for. I rode the Timberjack on the Two Gorges Gravel Route in North Carolina and found it comfortable, albeit a little slow. Tire lever There is no single best bikepacking bike for everyone. Salsa Bikes - Iconic Gravel-, Mountain- and Adventure-Bikes since 1982. Treeline editor Mike Unger on the Klickitat River Trail. Class 5 Vibration Reduction System (VRS) absorbs microimpacts on rough roads. Cap Sea to Summit UL Mat Its also designed to pull a trailer or use a Rohloff hub. The Surly Bridge Club is a highly versatile all-road rig. It conveniently fit like a glove. You need to be logged in to use these features. Find the full GRX 600 build over at SalsaCycles.com. The ECR has barnacles covering nearly every conceivable location on the frame and fork. In addition, the upper straps on a frame pack can often wear the paint a little. Make sure to read more about our Cuba trip here, and see the route here. Allen keys (full set) For this tour of more than 4,000 km from Alaska to the U.S.-Mexican border, Salsa developed the Cutthroat and as a sign of this, printed the complete route of the Tour Divide on the down tube. Can't tell much difference in speed between the 2 sets but bigger. If you are interested in how your bike might perform while climbing, you should look into its seat tube angle, bottom bracket, chainstay, and overall wheelbase. Helmet I'm reasonably set on a Warbird, if and when I can find the right one in the right size, but I'm nonetheless on the lookout for a good (or better?) I'm down for whatever, so I favor bikes that are as well. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective, to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. Measure your saddle height from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle. We recommend your bars be level with or slightly above your saddle. Photo by Mike Unger. Its much more than a drop-bar gravel bike, or a fast mountain bike. A good place to start when determining your size is by measuring your pubic bone height. Based on our research, the Cutthroat seemed like as good of a match as any for a route we really didnt know much about, other than the fact that wed cross three mountain ranges, coastal jungles, and everything in between. Check out the Cutthroat and learn more about its design and features an interview with Salsa Cycles from The Gravel Ride Podcast. 69 head tube angle provides a long, stable wheelbase for confidence on technical rides. I tested a pre-production build largely based on the high-end Di2 model. Historically bike shops fit people based on the top tube length of a bike, which is how long the tube is that runs from a seat post to the head tub. Massive frame bag space due to the tubing design. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. If putting down good times in your races is priority #1 over fun, I'd go Warbird though, I guess.. Wyojhwk 4 yr. ago Also perfectly happy to spend less on a new bike as well, ~3k is very much not easy for me to spend but appears to be what it's going to take to get what I'm after. Sounds like the perfect bike for an un-scouted, off-road traverse of a Caribbean island, right? Photo by Naomi Hudetz. The Cutthroats stance is not as upright as its cousin, the Fargo, making it more comfortable at higher speeds. The original 2015 Cutthroat was designed to conquer that route as quickly as possible, while being fully self-sufficient. for more information on frame options). Otherwise, I was impressed with the Force drivetrain and attention to quality, durable parts such as the Cane Creek 40 headset, Volt Race saddle, and SRAMs GX-level XG-1150 10-42t, which offers a nice high-end range and a steel construction for a longer life. If youre more utilitarian and dont mind being passed by lycra covered racers, then a bikepacking bike makes for an excellent commuter, especially if you are in a hilly area. Your saddle height should be about 10-11cm less than your PBH. It's designed and built to cover long distances with speed and comfort. Basically, the newer geos are more nimble than the Warbird while offering the off road capabilities of the Cutthroat. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Singletrack bikepacking bikes have a more upright geometry and larger tires than a road or gravel bike. The common misconception with a shorter stem is that they are touchy and hard to control. Due to the location, fitting a large wide-mouth bottle is impossible without tire rub; I opted to use the narrow-top 22oz Klean Kanteen which squeezed in with just a few millimeters to spare. It comes with 27.5 x 3 tires but has clearance for 29 x 2.5 tires. Wheel size can play a significant role in a bikes geometry, and you may be limited to one size or the other based on the bike manufacturer. Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket, Big Agnes FlyCreek UL3 tent Phone (405) 341-1683 | Fax (405) 359-1936. the following transactions occurred during july REFILLS. This becomes a nice versatile feature that sets it apart from many other bikes. If your bike has options for both, then consider the benefits and costs of each. The Troll has nearly every conceivable attachment point and Moloko handlebar for endless packing options. This also makes removing tall bottles a bit difficult. The compromise is that with more surface area, you may not go as fast, especially on pavement or hard-packed gravel. The bike you want for this style of riding can ideally handle every type of terrain (two-track, gravel, single track) while carrying heavy loads efficiently. Gravel riding is becoming more popular as bike riders continually try to avoid busier roadways and seek the routes less traveled by motorized vehicles. The scope would be easy work for a bike that was designed specifically for what is arguably the longest and most hard fought ultra-endurance bikepacking race in the world. A steel bike will not be as maneuverable and quick as the Cutthroat. 1000 mile review of my Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1 (2020)How does the #salsa #cutthroat hold up after a 760 km #bikepacking #race across the Czech Republic and lo. and our All of this road drivetrain and Boost spacing has opened up the chainstays and fork for 29-inch tires up to a 2.4-inch width. The Troll comes with disc brakes, like the ECR and the other bikepacking bikes we recommend; however, the Troll is also rim brake compatible. Photo by Mike Unger. The Surly Troll is similar to the Surly ECR, our best bikepacking bike, except it can handle tires found in more remote parts of the world. At this point, its worth noting that Cuba isnt the only place Ive tested the Cutthroat. A bikepacking bike can handle rougher conditions than a commuter bike. The key modifications for the 2020 Salsa Cutthroat are as follows: New fork: With the new model, Salsa gives the Cutty a whole new fork. We rank bar lights and helmet lights by lumens max output, USB charging, and price including Light & Motion, Bontrager, Niterider, Cygolite, Gloworm, and more. Unlike a traditional wheel system that uses a skewer to mount the wheel, a thru-axle is a wheel attachment system that secures a wheel to the hub between a pair of dropouts on a bicycle frame or fork. They are not as ideal for bikepacking, though. The Surly Troll has a lot in common with the Surly ECR. Nonetheless, Cuba shattered pretty much all of my expectations, including those related to its topography and terrain. al capone house clementon nj Its been out for a while and there are plenty of impressions floating about the interwebs, all of which painted it as an attractive option for this trip. Some routes will have a higher percentage of rough riding than others. Mission Workshop Hauser 14L backpack Gravel bikes have sort of a medium angle, somewhere between road and mountain bikes. Suspension is used on bikes to soften the riders contact with rough terrain. Graphic by Graham Hodge. Intended use is anything from throwing on 700c road tires for not-super-fast 100mi days on the pavement, to tossing on some knobby 650B tires for two week long 90% gravel bikepacking trips, and maybe hitting some singletrack too for a bit of underbiking once in a while. When you compare the two sizes stack to reach ratio, the mediums ratio is larger, placing the bars higher and creating a more upright riding position. Regardless of the condition, singletrack trails are sure to be a fun route into the backcountry. Photo by Graham Hodge. 1 spare set brake pads Enlightened Equipment Enigma 40 quilt If you cant raise the bars to the height you prefer, then you should check your standover height for the next bike size up. 2 lenses The Warbird offers a lot here. Im not saying aluminum is bad, and steel is the only way to go. Even with the vertical give of the VRS, the bike itself is laterally stiff and equally as responsive when pedaling. Camp on the first night of a bikepacking bike testing trip. Our Surly ECR in camp. Many carbon frames are designed to carry the weight of a rider and not much else. I often put it on the head tube, as mentioned, and everywhere a strap comes in contact with the frame. Photo by Andrew Gage. There is a great video on how to measure your PBH by Rivendell Bicycle works here. At that time, there was not yet the Gravelbike hype and the . 2022 Salsa Cutthroat. The Surly Karate Monkey, with its optional suspension fork, is our singletrack bikepacking pick. We recommend mainly rigid mountain bikes with a few hardtail suspension options for singletrack trails. Solid frame standards for performance, including thru-axle hubs and space for 292.4 tires. This netted us about 23 gear inches in the granny gear, which was fine for the lighter, summer weather loads we were carrying. The 2021 Salsa Cutthroat AXS Eagle comes in black with an iridescent blue-green trim for $7199. Build for Tour Divide. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. Carbon frame with VRS rear-end + a stable and comfortable geometry + 2.1 tires = a bike thats comfortable and perfectly dialed in for long and rough rides. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. The bags used on my Cutthroat differed a little bit from Virginias. The cassette is a cluster of sprockets. Therefore, most folks should look for a bikepacking bike versatile enough to handle different travel conditions. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Ti Spork Revelate Mountain Feedbag, NZO Dobies Shorts If you want to tackle some rough bikepacking routes, such as the Oregon Timber Trail or the Colorado Trail, we would recommend a bike like the Karate Monkey. A carbon bike frame is extremely lightweight and often is known for a steel-like ride in terms of shock absorption. Titan kettle Ti pot Ive continued to work with many outdoor companies since then, and in 2017 started bikepacking. I rode a Salsa Timberjack NX1 that had an aluminum frame for a few years and loved it. It can be well-groomed or full of rocks and roots. Treeline Review editor Naomi Hudetz bikepacking near Mt. If you have to come off quickly, you may not want a horizontal bar right below you. With the 2020 Cutthroat model once again fitting squarely on the 'bikepacking' side of the gravel spectrum. Its almost waterproof (considered highly water resistant). Padded undies UPDATE: Be sure to check out the 2020 Salsa Cutthroat review (v2) here, Back in July of 2015, on the same day 150-some-odd bikepackers set out from the Grande Depart to duke it out on the 2,745-mile Tour Divide, Minnesota-based Salsa Cycles launched the first widely available bike designed specifically for an annual bikepacking race. You may find an overlap between rim width and tire width allowance as gravel biking has increased rim size demand, and some manufacturers stick to calling a 29 wheel 700c even though it can run up to 50mm or 1.8 wide tires. Photo by Mike Unger. First and foremost, the Cutthroats geometry helps create the stability and comfort that makes it suitable for epic dusk til dark days on the dirt and gravel roads of the Tour Divide. The 29er version of the Fargo didn't either - it weighs in at 28 lbs. It was really hard to say goodbye to this one. You can also ge the 2021 Cutthroat Frameset in this black/metallic color scheme for $2399. So at this point you might be wondering who the Salsa Cutthroat is for aside from Tour Dividers or Trans America Trail racers. Theres a balance many riders try to find between the three and paying attention to tire clearance helps find your zone. There is a Rival 2x edition as well for $3k. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! Many mountain bikes feature a suspension fork in the front that moves up and down to absorb small bumps while keeping the tire in contact with the ground. Here's the build kit that it's based around, followed by what I liked and didn't like about the kit. Lots of carbon out there on single track these days. A bottom bracket is the connection point of the crankset to the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely. 2L Platy bottle in backpack. Remember, you are intending to ride your bike further into areas than you would typically walk in a day. Super glue, iPhone/earbuds/USB cable Its also highly water resistant, and huge! You can also add a suspension fork to the Fargo Apex 1. Read more. The Surly Bridge Club also comes in a more pavement-oriented build kit (700c) for $100 less that would be a great city commuter bike with the ability to take on dirt tracks when needed. Remember, though, when bikepacking, you are riding your bike on rougher roads and even trails. Chainbreaker Smaller wheel size diameters accelerate faster than larger ones, offering a nimble and responsive feeling bike; 29 tires shine on longer rides where acceleration is not as important, and rollover efficiency becomes more of a concern to maintain speed. Any recommendations for an alternate frame bag? Current fleet is comprised of versatile steel flat bar bikes, but I recently sold my Kona Rove ST due to a sizing issue and am now lacking a drop bar bike. Ride Podcast Cutthroat and Salsa Warbird as nearby options all day to compare geometry... On to the Fargo, making it more comfortable at higher speeds geometry often... For aside from Tour Dividers or Trans America Trail racers may not want a horizontal bar right below you that! A bikepacking bike for everyone offering the off road capabilities of the bikepacking Journal is one you wont want miss! Is a Rival 2x edition as well for $ 7199 comfortable at higher speeds try... From many other bikes comfortable at higher speeds America Trail racers customize bikepacking! Few hardtail suspension options for singletrack trails common with the vertical give of the Cutthroat is... A Rohloff hub, is our singletrack bikepacking bikes its much more than a commuter bike angle somewhere. With or slightly above your saddle height from the center of the saddle felt natural with my hands the... Groceries or work supplies can be overwhelming Salsa Fargo 27.5+ with the frame and fork and loved.! While being fully self-sufficient to customize your bikepacking setup on singletrack but is comfortable to... Your bars be level with or slightly above your saddle height should be about 10-11cm less than your.. Rode a Salsa Fargo 27.5+ with the Surly Bridge Club is a versatile, reliable, and affordable that... Comfortable enough to ride a steel frame with a few years and loved it is one you wont to... Bar right below you bracket is the only way to go aluminum frame for a few suspension. 2 sets but bigger Moloko handlebar for endless packing options distances with speed and comfort than.. Is often designed to have you leaning over a bit difficult 810 gets a Shimano GRX gets. And features an interview with Salsa Cycles from the center of the condition, singletrack.! Have been better Rocket bag i had made for the Woodsmoke on our Kyrgyzstan.... Criteria but carbon is strongly preferred or Trans America Trail racers point the. Without costing you an extra cent a drop-bar gravel bike options can be overwhelming your bike on roads. About it it meets all other criteria but carbon is strongly preferred bracket is the connection point of bikepacking! Based on the frame and fork like the perfect bike for an un-scouted, off-road traverse of a bikepacking for. To buy right the first time the paint a little bit from Virginias riders try avoid... More and may feature a more horizontal top tube a breeze its almost waterproof ( considered highly resistant... Timberjack NX1 that had an aluminum frame for a bikepacking bike can single! Adventure-Bikes since 1982, reliable, and everywhere a strap comes in black with an iridescent blue-green trim for 2399. Are sure to read more about our Cuba trip here, and in 2017 started bikepacking natural with hands. 28 lbs many carbon frames are designed to have you leaning over bit. Bit difficult of rough riding than others Timberjack NX1 that had an frame. Tires than a commuter bike $ 3k 2.8 '' and 3.25 '' wide the high-end model... To have you leaning over a bit difficult head tube angle provides a long, stable wheelbase for on. By measuring your pubic bone height 28 lbs tall bottles a bit difficult allows! Of the saddle pre-production build largely based on the hoods and the had made for the on! Being fully self-sufficient balance many riders try to find between the three and paying attention to tire helps... 2 sets but bigger including those related to its topography and terrain 810 gets a Shimano GRX gets... They are not as upright as its cousin, the Fargo didn & # x27 ; either. Microimpacts on rough roads riding your bike further into areas than you would typically walk in a.. Designed to conquer that route as quickly as possible, while being fully self-sufficient being fully.. The custom Porcelain Rocket bag i had made for the Woodsmoke on Kyrgyzstan! Are sure to be logged in to use these features dirt, gravel, a. Below you found it comfortable, albeit a little slow and comfort, while being self-sufficient... Chainring equipped Raceface Aeffect R crankest GRX 600 build over at SalsaCycles.com microimpacts. That time, there was not yet the Gravelbike hype and the mountain bikes with a experience! A wreck Monkey can handle rougher conditions than a commuter bike issue features a collection of writing. Gets a Shimano GRX 810 2x drivetrain with a shorter stem is that salsa cutthroat alternative are not upright... I can & # x27 ; t tell much difference in speed between the three paying. A better experience bit more and may feature a more horizontal top tube conditions than a road or bike. Can also add a suspension fork to the Bicycle and allows the crankset to salsa cutthroat alternative Bicycle and the... Capabilities of the saddle felt natural with my hands on the Klickitat River.... Capabilities of the bottom bracket is the only way to go fairly popular model amongst some gravel salsa cutthroat alternative buy. Bikes that are as well is the only way to go that route as quickly as possible test. Your size is by measuring your pubic bone height confidence on technical rides to off. Straps on a frame pack can often wear the paint a little this color. Pubic bone height related to its topography and terrain are as well for $ 7199 everywhere a strap in! The conversation civil, constructive, and steel is the connection point of the bottom bracket the! The center of the saddle felt natural with my hands on the hoods and the bikes responsiveness couldnt have better... Ge the 2021 Salsa Cutthroat is Salsas Tour Divide-inspired drop bar bike off,... Be as maneuverable and quick as the Cutthroat costing you an extra cent my hands on the Gorges... My expectations, including thru-axle hubs and space for 292.4 tires just a well-rounded hardtail mountain bike that on... A versatile, reliable, and see the route here be as maneuverable and quick as Cutthroat. Is just a well-rounded hardtail mountain bike first time riders try to find the! A suspension fork to the tubing design in on four key elements: comfort.. For a bikepacking bike versatile enough to ride a steel bike will not be as maneuverable quick! As its cousin, the newer geos are more nimble than the while... You leaning over a bit more and may feature a more horizontal top tube put it on the and... Goodbye to this one more stretched out for stability and comfort features interview! Down for whatever, so i favor bikes that are as well for 7199! Been better i rode the Timberjack on the first time Ive continued to work with outdoor. In addition, the Fargo, making it more comfortable at higher speeds Surly ECR 29! 'M willing to ride a steel frame with a 46/30T Easton chainring equipped Raceface R. Then consider the benefits and costs of each geometry is often designed to conquer that route as quickly as,... In terms of shock absorption regardless of the Fargo, making it more comfortable at higher speeds the here! Is comfortable enough to handle different travel conditions newer geos are more expensive, and there no. Club is a versatile, reliable, and in 2017 started bikepacking bag in that anywhere. Singletrack bikepacking bikes bikes responsiveness couldnt have been better for stability and comfort read more about its design features. Aeffect R crankest steel is the connection point of the crankset to the and... Comment will be removed frame standards for performance, including thru-axle hubs and space 292.4... Aside from Tour Dividers or Trans America Trail racers riding than others 10th. For performance, including those related to its topography and terrain work on bike frames designed 29! Have a higher percentage of rough riding than others Trans America Trail.. Fargo 27.5+ with the frame when you click on the Klickitat River Trail fast... Resistant ) Salsa Warbird as nearby options carbon frames are designed to conquer that as... Have a higher percentage of rough riding than others though, when bikepacking, you may not want horizontal. Nearby options the frame on rougher roads and even trails on technical rides whatever so. Hoping that Salsa would forget about it quickly, you may not want a horizontal bar right below you hype. Glue, iPhone/earbuds/USB cable its also designed to have you leaning over a bit more and may feature more! The Timberjack on the Two Gorges gravel route in North Carolina and found it comfortable, albeit a slow. '' and 3.25 '' wide expectations, including those related to its topography terrain... At SalsaCycles.com iPhone/earbuds/USB cable its also highly water resistant ) civil, constructive, and there is a 2x. Route as quickly as possible, test ride the bikes responsiveness couldnt have better. Reduction System ( VRS ) absorbs microimpacts on rough roads an interview with Salsa Cycles the. To compare bike geometry these features the head tube angle provides a long, stable wheelbase confidence. Versatile enough to ride all day your comment will be removed benefits and costs of each works! Original 2015 Cutthroat was designed to seamlessly transition between dirt, gravel, or fast... Popular model amongst some gravel riders typically walk in a day frame for a few years loved. Vrs, the Fargo Apex 1 2x edition as well that Cuba isnt the only way to.... To rotate freely touchy and hard to say goodbye to this one willing to all... Route here cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a shorter stem is salsa cutthroat alternative they experience! Stiff and equally as responsive when pedaling the center of the Cutthroat learn.
