Life In The Saddle

A single speed bike is a beautiful thing: as simplistic and straightforward as they come. Every pedal stroke equates to the same distance travelled; every revolution turning a single chainring and a single cog that moves two wheels forwards. The Steed Bikes Thoroughbred Single Speed bike is one of the most stylish and well-built single-speeds that I have ridden to date. Ian Steed set up Steed Bikes fuelled by a passion for superior design and faultless functionality. He wanted to create a bike that could nip through the city streets every day of the week, while looking and feeling like a premium steed. The Steed Thoroughbred is an affordable but first-class level single speed bike. Based around a steel frame, and with a strong choice of components; it is a real pleasure to ride. The ultimate single speed bike Many single speed bikes you find in the city will be worn-out 'spares bin' bikes, formed of cast offs from other bikes, or bodged together with random parts. The St...

For the last five years, I have toured across the European continent on a Kona Rove Titanium or Kona Private Jake. The trans-continental rides—including 3000+ kilometre epics , have mostly been on asphalt or light gravel trails. This year, a new machine came to be—one intended to 'Go the Distance' on real off-road bikepacking adventures… meet 'The Sergeant'. The Sergeant is a 2020 Kona Sutra Ltd. He earns his badge because I view this bike as a beefier, more outbound version of the fantastic Kona Private Jake —still my favourite bike to be built and ridden to date. This bike though, is the next rank above… With its army green paintwork and Reynolds steel tubing, the Sutra LTD is a bombproof adventurer. It will take 2.15 29er tyres for comfort and grip, and the 36x42T gearing is enough for the steepest dirt road passes. With mounting bosses across the frame and fork, there should be more than enough scope for laden luggage carrying too. 'The Sergeant' is...

There is a beautiful Zen-like feeling to riding a single speed bicycle. The Quella Varsity Single Speed is a British designed and built single speed / fixed gear bike; perfect for city life or running errands around countryside lanes. My Quella Varisty Cambridge has just clocked over 5000 kilometres — so it seemed timely to write a review of the ride. My first road bike was a steel framed Peugeot, for which I paid £50 to a family friend. I have a great emotional connection to that bike and frame — to the simplicity and retro looks that it has, and the adventures that it has taken me on. Yet, when the bottom bracket seized in its shell and the forks were mangled by a white van man, I decided it was time to look for another classic looking steel frame commuter bike that would uphold the Zen and do the 'Steel is Real' club proud. My search led me to the London based company Quella Bicycle. Their range of urban inspired single speed bikes came to my attention because of thei...

There are some bikes that are different. They buck the trend, and allow adventures that previously hadn't been possible. The 3T Exploro, as the name suggests, is one of those; enabling an exploration and ride versatility that I haven't experienced before in a 'road' bike. This is my test report... The Design The 3T Exploro is the design work of Gerard Vroomen, a Dutch engineer who was largely responsible for the incredible innovation and development seen in the Cervelo range of road bikes. The Exploro is a bike of a different kind though, and more similar to the Open UP that Gerard also designed. With an aero frameset tested in the wind-tunnel, and the capability to take both 650b+  and 700c wheels, this is designed to be a go-anywhere do-anything bike. A bike that is just as capable on the tarmac as it is off-road. The Exploro Team model I have been riding is kitted up with a 1X SRAM Force drivetrain, featuring a 42T single chainring and a 10-42T rear ca...

The Neil Pryde Bura SL is made to climb. The super lightweight 750 gram frame delivers that golden balance of being stiff and strong in the fore-triangle and bottom bracket; yet surprisingly forgiving on the rear seatstays, to aid long ride comfort. This season, I have two fairly mammoth climbing challenges: my #EquinoxEversting and the '5 Maratonas Challenge' . Ahead of the first of these, later this month, I wanted to share my current build set-up on the Neil Pryde Bura SL. Bike Specification: Frameset:   Neil Pryde Bura SL (56cm) Bike weight: 7.3kg Wheelset: Mavic R SYS SLR Wheels Groupset: Campagnolo Record (mechanical) Crankset: Rotor 3D24 52-34T Cassette size: Campagnolo Chorus 12-29 Handlebars: Fi'zi:k Cyrano R3 42cm Bar Tape: Lizard Skins DSP 1.8mm Handlebar Tape Stem: Fi'zi:k Cyrano R1 120mm Seatpost: Fi'zi:k Cyrano R3 Saddle: Fi'zi:k Arione VS with K:IUM rails Tyres: Mavic Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace 9000 Bottle Cages...

I'll admit that I wasn't quite sure how the Kona Rove Ti would turn out, when I first started building it. Would it be a 'Gravel Bike', a touring bike, or just another cyclocross bike?  The answer has been a satisfying yes, to all of the above. This bike is incredibly versatile, and incredibly capable. From the Dirty Reiver , to bikepacking expeditions ; it is a bike is built for adventure. I haven't quite got the set-up dialled to how I want it yet, so there is quite a mix of components in the below specifications. I'll post an updated profile once the set-up is nailed.  Bike Specifications: Frame: Kona Rove Ti 56cm (Large) Fork: Lauf Grit Carbon Headset:  Chris King Inset Stem: fi'zi:k Cyrano R1 Road Stem Handlebar: USE Summit Carbon 44cm Front brake:  SRAM Force HydroR 160mm rotor Rear brake:  SRAM Force HydroR 160mm rotor Rear derailleur: SRAM Rival Clutch Mech 11spd Shift levers: SRAM Force 1X HydroR Cassette:  SRAM PG11...