Franc Franclin

Background: Late 50s male, 6'1” 200lbs, total knee replacement in December of 2017, always been active (tennis mostly, but that's off the table for now) and got back into cycling about 4-5 years ago. My bikes are both hybrids (we have a house in two states) – one is a '15 Trek FX 7.3, the other is a '16 or '17 Bianchi Torino. Both bikes have flats (as will my new bike), one has a 3x9 drivetrain the other is 3x8. Both have bar ends (what can I say, I like them).

I am ready to get something that's a little more comfortable for some longer distances mostly on patchy asphalt and the occasional gravel/dirt road or Rail Trail. The terrain where I will use this bike is not overly hilly. I realize I'm probably going to buy a dropbar bike.

I want to go through my LBS for my purchase. Here's what I am thinking about...

Bianchi Volpe

Breezer Doppler Team

Surly Midnight Special

***I'm not allowed to post URLs until I have 10 posts. Otherwise, there'd be links***


Any thoughts from the collective mind of BF are greatly appreciated. Anybody ride the Volpe? Right now that's the early favorite...

Thanks in advance!

bcpriess

It's hard to go wrong with bikes like the midnight special. Anything in the adventure road dropbar segment will give you a good balance of comfort and efficiency and versatility for mixed surfaces. As long as you look for tire clearances that support up to 50c, high stack heights, longish wheelbase,and triple gearing to handle hills, you will have a comfortable bike you can ride all day anywhere.

Franc Franclin

Thank you for your reply.

Koyote

Agree with all of the above, though 50mm tires are pretty big -- Probably don't need tire clearance for more than 42mm or so, but that's a judgment call, really. Though wider tires will (at appropriately low pressures) be slightly more comfy.

Midnight Special in the right size would probably satisfy you, but you should have no illusions about speed - that's a relatively heavy bike. But hey, I spend a lot of time on an All City Space Horse (which you might also consider), which is heavy, and I love riding it!

Good luck with the process and decision.

Maelochs

Volpe | Bianchi USA

https://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/a...pler-team-plus

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/midnight_special

Hiro11

Hard to argue with the Midnight Special. It's a well designed and practical bike. I'd likely just get that.

Lots of other options here for steel allroad bikes, depending on what your LBS carries.
Salsa Journeyman
Norco Search
Bombtrack Hook EXT
All-City Gorilla Monsoon

Note that these are all 650B bikes, so very on trend right now.

Franc Franclin

Thanks for the links, Maelochs... someday I'll have 10 posts and be all grown up!!! ( I can't even quote the links you provided)

Phil_gretz

All three seem well equipped for what you describe. They're at different ends of the same price point, with Surly at the top and Bianchi at the bottom. How much better is the performance for your use? Disc brakes are nice, but do you need them? Ride in the rain much? Or in muddy conditions? That might drive me away from rim brakes.

It appears that all three have mid-fork mounts for a front rack. That's a nice feature if you decide to do some touring or utility riding. Any would support fenders, although the Breezer supplies them. An easy add for the Volpe. Clearance might be tighter for the Surly, but I can't tell.

I'd ride any of the three. My daughter has a Volpe and it has worked well for her. It's a bit long in the top tube, which fits her well. Can you try them out before deciding? That might help you decide...

Franc Franclin

You make a good point concerning the brakes. I don't ride much in foul weather so discs are not a priority, especially hydraulic discs. I am happy with the rim brakes on both my hybrids.

The LBS does not have any of these bikes in stock, so a test ride seems out of the question. I think I'm leaning towards the Volpe with possible upgrades to rims and tires.

JerrySTL

I just bought one a couple of months ago and love it. I'm also 6'1" but have 20 more lbs than you. I've also have a few more years on you.

It's the first bike that I've owned with disk brakes and really like that they are fully hydraulic on the Team. I've already ridden it on a few gravel roads with mud where I would have walked my road bike or just turned around.

The 650bx47 tires are overkill; however, it will be easy enough to go to narrower tires when the originals wear out.

I appreciate the fenders although they do buzz a bit. I'd fitted my touring bike with plastic fenders and it made a difference on wet or dusty days. In fact the Doppler having fenders was one of the first things that caught my eye.

There is also the Breezer Doppler Pro for less money; however, I think the better components make the Team worth the extra money.

I don't have any experience with the other bikes that you mentioned, but I bet they are great bikes also.

Franc Franclin

Thank you so much for your review of the Breezer. One of the first things that interested me about the Doppler Team was the WTB Horizon tires (same tire comes standard on the Midnight Special as well). Interesting that you say they are overkill.

What kind of pedals do you use? I've started using the Pedaling Innovations giant platform pedal and I have some overlap because of the way the foot sits on the pedal. If I go the Doppler route I'd probably have to go with another platform.

JerrySTL

The tires are just a little too big for what I usually ride on which is the relatively smooth Katy Trail in Missouri. I think something like 650b x 41 would fit my needs.

I use Crank Brothers Candy pedals. I have them on my touring bike also. I like that they are easy to clip in from either side of the pedal. Also the cleats work well in shoes that take recessed cleats such as touring or MTB shoes.

jefnvk

Wait I got this one: buy exactly what I have, it is obviously the best!

But in all seriousness, just take each of them on a ride, and pick the one that feels the best to YOU. Equipment wise, I'd prefer the Volpe, but I like triples and don't have a love affair with 650.

Kapusta

For what you are describing 42mm tires are easily all I think you will need or want, so I would not worry about a bike clearing more than that. I use 38s for exactly what you are describing. My bike (Soma Fog Cutter) will clear 42s, but unless I was going to be riding strictly dirt roads and some double track, I would not bother with anything over 38.

Of course, a lot of frames that clear up to 700cx42 also clear 650bx47.

There are a ton of “gravel” bikes out there which will fit the bill. All City Space horse is one that I like a lot (a good friend of mine got one).

BirdsBikeBinocs

Have fun with your choice. I like all 3. Bianchi's are great bikes and it's the lowest price of the 3. Tiagra is a good groupset. That Doppler is really cool. Shimano 105 is a very good groupset. I guess the Surly would be my last choice. But that's just me. The downfall for you is none of the bikes are available to ride before you buy. THAT is not cool. Do your homework. Fit is everything.!!

If there is a Specialized dealer near by.?? They might have a Diverge in stock that you could ride before you buy. Lots of great bikes out there. Visit as many shops as you can. But even I would have a hard time setting that Doppler aside. Sweet bike. Put some 38c tires on it and be happy.

Kapusta

What is the max tire clearance on the Bianchi Volpe frame? It looks like it comes with 32s. Personally I would want bigger tires than that.

puma1552

Does your LBS sell Specialized?

If so, I'd buy a Diverge and call it a day.

63rickert

Volpe and get some top end tires to mount on it from beginning. Compass or Panracer Gravel King.
Simpler brakes are better.

You can't lose with any of your original choices.

Franc Franclin

Bianchi website says there's clearance for 42's. It comes with 35mm tires.

I was thinking of doing just that. I will not be riding on extreme gravel, mostly it's on bad, patchy asphalt. So I'm thinking about Schwalbe Marathon Supreme in 40mm.