Looking for recommendations
 

I lost my Kona Jake the Snake 2008 which I loved in a move & looking to get another cross-bike. Main purpose of the bike would be:

1) go on 40-60 mile rides on the weekends (mix of road & trails)
2) ride with the road bikers .. so speed is needed. I was only able to go upto 13mph on Kona. I read that cross-bike tires can be swapped with road tires, so that's my plan for the road rides (instead of buying a road bike). Aiming to ride faster and attain upto 18-20 mph to keep up with the road bikers
3) go on 2-3 days of lightweight touring so the bike needs to be able to mount a carrier & rear panniers
4) Price range $600-1200
5) alumunium frame, shimano gears, upto 22 lbs, 53-54cm frame size

Any suggestions for a cross-bike that meets the above? Thanks!

Narrower tire fit, but there's a couple of 54cm alu Synapse (one SE) on ebay:-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-Cannon...MAAOSwj9hcNVzo

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-Cannon...4AAOSw8KJbymCd

not sure there is a cross bike available that will net you 7 mph faster on pavement versus your Kona.
Tires can account for some speed, but 7mph is huge.

https://www.raleighusa.com/willard-4-141
this is $1140 shipped to you if you use the free discount code.
carbon fork, 105 shifting, quality crank and good general gravel gearing.

thanks for the excellent suggestion .. very tempting to get this bike :)

This is the answer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Cannon...53.m1438.l2649

Thanks for the recommendation. How does one get the discount code?

Thx .. nice bike though no rear eyelets for carrier :(

Ritchey Swiss Cross bikes? drive train of your choice

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...76fcbd4224.jpg

Disc frame & Carbon fork .. https://static.modernbike.com/Produc...1105040821.jpg

Rack mounts on heavier bike, = with roadies, you go off the back , right?

right not planning to mount the rack when riding with the road bikers as that would get some speed. To also mstateglfr's point
Some other adjustments to ride faster I'm thinking of is narrower tires (e.g. 28c) .. vs 35c that Kona had. Although I am not sure if 28c would work for multi-day touring or light gravel/trails in terms of going flat. Also planning on using clipless pedals and shoes which should get some speed. Used to ride on platform pedals before.

The readers of Bike Quarterly have seen the publisher's tire comparison tests and so will offer the Compass tires can be fast , without being thinner ..



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