harvillo

1 year into riding. I love my Synapse but would like something that I could use for lightweight touring that can handle big hills yet not be a 25 lb bike. From what I can guess a CX bike May be it? I have my revelation bags. My biggest issue now is gearing. The compact just does t get low enough on the big hills for this aging man.

Any advice would be great. I知 not concerned with the whole steel/carbon. I love my Cannondale. It looks like those wide cassettes mitigate the need for 3 rings? I e also looked at the standard touring long haul trucker, Kona sutra etc. I値l never be hauling around 60 lbs of gear but do need something more upright.

thsnks.

tangerineowl

Well, that's not a good start

Seriously, if you want something more upright you'll need to compare the frame stack and frame reach against your Synapse, as that bike isn't too bad in the stack height.

A carbon bike would be a good place to start weight-wise once you hit those hills. Could be tricky finding low-enough climbing gears on a production bike though (might need to mod something). CyclingAbout has a list of carbon 'touring' bikes.

shoota 

I think you already own the bike you need. A cx bike isn't going to be more upright. Just install the gearing you need onto your Synapse.

RStowe

I recently swapped out my original Kona Rove drive train to Microshift 11-42T with a 36t Wolf Tooth Narrow Wide and it was like getting on a new bike on the big hills. If I had to do it over I might have kept the compact up front, but I can't complain. On a big hill I often have another gear when I think I'm grannied out.

pnsathyan

what is the wheels you have on it ? drivetrain ?