European Style Trekking Bikes
12-05-21, 06:40 PM
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European Style Trekking Bikes
I mean the type of bike commonly sold in Europe (mainly the Netherlands and Germany I believe) as a commuter/on & off road touring bike with an alloy frame, 63 mm travel RockShox or Suntour forks, flat bars, and increasingly commonly, an integrated rear rack and mudguard (fender) combo.
Just wondering is anyone can shed any light on the following questions:
Is there a 470 mm axle-to-crown rigid fork available to swap out for the Suntour fork? It would need to have a flared 1 1/8 - 1.5 " steerer tube, or else you'd have to find a whole new headset etc. (Note: The forks are heavy and they absorb energy, I'm aware of that. Thing is, the bike I like the look of has the NCX-E RL model, which is an air fork, rather than a cheaper coil fork. I know all the objections to short travel suspension forks, I'm just checking options. While a lot of riding would be paved, I'd like the option to ride light off road trails & roads, so the fork is not a big problem).
If you retained the Suntour NCX forks, what is the maximum tire size with mudguards (fenders)? There is an adapter for SKS Bluemels trekking mudguards (fenders) to be run on Suntour forks, and while the max tire size without fenders is 700x50C, does anyone know the max tire size with SKS Bluemels trekking fenders?
With butterfly/trekking handlebars, the controls can be quite close together. Has anyone ever mounted the brake levers and shifters on the edges of the "wings" of the butterfly bars? I.e. Moved the controls up past the first bend, so they're at the widest part of the bar.
TIA.
Just wondering is anyone can shed any light on the following questions:
Is there a 470 mm axle-to-crown rigid fork available to swap out for the Suntour fork? It would need to have a flared 1 1/8 - 1.5 " steerer tube, or else you'd have to find a whole new headset etc. (Note: The forks are heavy and they absorb energy, I'm aware of that. Thing is, the bike I like the look of has the NCX-E RL model, which is an air fork, rather than a cheaper coil fork. I know all the objections to short travel suspension forks, I'm just checking options. While a lot of riding would be paved, I'd like the option to ride light off road trails & roads, so the fork is not a big problem).
If you retained the Suntour NCX forks, what is the maximum tire size with mudguards (fenders)? There is an adapter for SKS Bluemels trekking mudguards (fenders) to be run on Suntour forks, and while the max tire size without fenders is 700x50C, does anyone know the max tire size with SKS Bluemels trekking fenders?
With butterfly/trekking handlebars, the controls can be quite close together. Has anyone ever mounted the brake levers and shifters on the edges of the "wings" of the butterfly bars? I.e. Moved the controls up past the first bend, so they're at the widest part of the bar.
TIA.
12-05-21, 08:28 PM
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Maybe you should give us enough info to look at the bike you are looking at?
12-05-21, 10:24 PM
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Probable/possible accessories:
SKS Bluemels Trekking mudguards (fenders) w/ SKS adapter for Suntour Fork. I want full fenders, rather than MTB or trekking fenders, and I know the Bluemels will fit the suspension fork. Here, I am interested if I can run 700x38C Schwalbe Little Big Bens below SKS Bluemels trekking fenders (BLUEMELS MATT 28" 45 BLACK SET - SKS GERMANY (sks-germany.com)).
Surly ECR 29" fork (Questionable. Axle to crown is just right for a 63 mm travel fork, but it has a straight steerer tube and the ECR is discontinued. Also, the Suntour may be just fine. Hence the fork question. Just wondering what's out there in steel or alloy with an axle to crown of 470 mm that I haven't been able to find.)
Tubus or Topeak Rack(s) with Ortlieb or Topeak racktop bag.
New (or reconditioned existing) Wheelset (Probably DT Swiss H 1950 Classic), internal rim width 25 mm.
BBB (MultiBar OS / Handlebar - BBB Cycling) or Ergotec/Humpert Butterfly type trekking bar with High Charisma stem. Here I wonder if T-8000 Shimano XT shifter and Deore brake levers can be moved around the first bend in the butterfly bars to be mounted on the side edges of the bars, rather than being mounted on the ends of the bars, closer together.
Plestcher rear kick stand mounted on dedicated mount. This would help with the brake lever mounting, in that the bike would stand freely without being leaned against walls etc., scratching the levers and bending them out of position.
Last edited by PDKL45; 12-05-21 at 11:40 PM.
