Without Question The Best Bike
09-07-19, 11:09 AM
#1
For The Fun of It
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,845
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2134 Post(s)
Liked 1,643 Times
in
825 Posts
Without Question The Best Bike, Lynskey Backroad
I have spent a year with my Lynskey Backroad now, and I can say without hesitation it is unequivocally, by far, the best bike I have ever owned. For those that are bored, you can read about the build and my initial impressions here https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1...oad-build.html
In that year I have only put 1000 miles on it. A shoulder surgery and spreading my mileage out over several bikes kept it down. But some of those miles have been quality miles. I have not yet done any real touring on it, so I can't speak to how it tours. I have done day tours, and it really shines in that capacity.
This morning as I left the driveway and started picking up speed on our rough concrete road, I smiled. For a heavier bike, it spools up nicely. It's real virtue though is in the way it eats up road irregularities without ever feeling mushy. It is plush, planted and handles brilliantly. It's like a 7 series BMW in that it feels luxurious and sporty at the same time. It's surprisingly fast too. I have held a 20 MPH paceline for a pretty good distance. This morning with a slight tailwind I was cruising along at 18-19 without much struggle. I have done some gravel road and single track with it. The 32mm tires aren't ideal for that, but when I connect 45 miles of asphalt with 15 miles of gravel, they are a good compromise. A few weeks ago some guy on one of those fragile carbon fiber bikes came up from behind. He was friendly. He said "man, you aren't supposed to be hard to catch up to on that bike." It is comfortable too. My longest ride has been 68 miles. I did that in the mountains of Colorado. I wasn't squirming near the end.
There are only two things I don't love about it. It has a good bit of bottom bracket drop. Coupled with the 175mm crank arms I have suffered a few pedal strikes. Descending at 40+ MPH the front end feels a bit lighter than I would like. Not twitchy at all, just light.
Let's take a look over that first year of service. It's the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship.
In that year I have only put 1000 miles on it. A shoulder surgery and spreading my mileage out over several bikes kept it down. But some of those miles have been quality miles. I have not yet done any real touring on it, so I can't speak to how it tours. I have done day tours, and it really shines in that capacity.
This morning as I left the driveway and started picking up speed on our rough concrete road, I smiled. For a heavier bike, it spools up nicely. It's real virtue though is in the way it eats up road irregularities without ever feeling mushy. It is plush, planted and handles brilliantly. It's like a 7 series BMW in that it feels luxurious and sporty at the same time. It's surprisingly fast too. I have held a 20 MPH paceline for a pretty good distance. This morning with a slight tailwind I was cruising along at 18-19 without much struggle. I have done some gravel road and single track with it. The 32mm tires aren't ideal for that, but when I connect 45 miles of asphalt with 15 miles of gravel, they are a good compromise. A few weeks ago some guy on one of those fragile carbon fiber bikes came up from behind. He was friendly. He said "man, you aren't supposed to be hard to catch up to on that bike." It is comfortable too. My longest ride has been 68 miles. I did that in the mountains of Colorado. I wasn't squirming near the end.
There are only two things I don't love about it. It has a good bit of bottom bracket drop. Coupled with the 175mm crank arms I have suffered a few pedal strikes. Descending at 40+ MPH the front end feels a bit lighter than I would like. Not twitchy at all, just light.
Let's take a look over that first year of service. It's the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship.
Likes For Paul Barnard:
09-07-19, 11:27 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 5,122
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1580 Post(s)
Liked 1,187 Times
in
604 Posts
Good to see another flat-earth bar road bike person!*
One now-confirmed and indisputable benefit: we do not have to participate in 'debates' about where, exactly, we should be holding our handlebars, illusory or otherwise.
*Full-disclosure: my bike is one of those fragile crabon ones.
One now-confirmed and indisputable benefit: we do not have to participate in 'debates' about where, exactly, we should be holding our handlebars, illusory or otherwise.
*Full-disclosure: my bike is one of those fragile crabon ones.
09-07-19, 11:30 AM
#3
Non omnino gravis
After just a thousand miles, I can't tell if I even like a bike yet.
__________________
Likes For DrIsotope:
09-07-19, 11:34 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,857
Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 298 Times
in
214 Posts
Flat bars are not bad. Especially when they are at saddle height.
This makes me want to modernize my flat bar bike. My Schwinn steel is comfy, but at 27 pound and noodles... it leaves a bit to be desired.
This makes me want to modernize my flat bar bike. My Schwinn steel is comfy, but at 27 pound and noodles... it leaves a bit to be desired.
