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Novara Mazama

Old 05-12-16, 11:21 AM
  #1  
eyemkeith
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Novara Mazama

I'm infatuated with this bike. I went to look at one at the REI kinda sorta close to my workplace, but alas, they did not have it in the small size, only medium. As I know sometimes bikes can look radically different depending on what size you need, I'm wondering if anyone has one in a small size and could post a picture, or seven, here. All the photos I've seen are of the medium. Can anyone help out? Big thanks!
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Old 05-12-16, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by eyemkeith
I'm infatuated with this bike. I went to look at one at the REI kinda sorta close to my workplace, but alas, they did not have it in the small size, only medium. As I know sometimes bikes can look radically different depending on what size you need, I'm wondering if anyone has one in a small size and could post a picture, or seven, here. All the photos I've seen are of the medium. Can anyone help out? Big thanks!
The one good thing about REI is that you can have them order the bike in without obligation to buy.
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Old 05-12-16, 11:54 AM
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https://www.rei.com/product/875003/n...zama-bike-2016

looks like a lot of other bikes made to do the same thing .. touring/gravel grinder commute , or what have You.

https://www.rei.com/product/875003/sizechart#mazama

Tubes are Just Shorter.

Mazama Is the name of the Volcano that blew its top (around 5677 BC, ± 150 years) and is Now Crater Lake NP.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mazama

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Old 05-12-16, 12:03 PM
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Note that it's described as a light tourer. That may be what you want. Just thought I would point that out in case it's not.
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Old 05-12-16, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by eyemkeith
I'm infatuated with this bike. I went to look at one at the REI kinda sorta close to my workplace, but alas, they did not have it in the small size, only medium. As I know sometimes bikes can look radically different depending on what size you need, I'm wondering if anyone has one in a small size and could post a picture, or seven, here. All the photos I've seen are of the medium. Can anyone help out? Big thanks!
No help on a small size pic.
Just adding to the discussion that its a really cool spec'd bike. I chuckle each time I am in REI because I built a gravel bike up from an early 90s steel hybrid frame that has the identical look to a Mazama. The Mazama has disc instead of canti brakes, but effectively thats the major difference.
Geometry is mostly same, cromoly frame, same tires, splayed bars, mounting for racks and fenders, bar end shifters, and basic but solid shifting components.

I didnt realize I had effectively copied the spirit of a Mazama until after the fact.


Be sure to post some pics and review for how you use it, if you pick one up!
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Old 05-12-16, 05:35 PM
  #6  
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This looks a lot like the Raleigh Sojourn - same basic idea, similar spec, a bit lighter. How long have they made the Mazama? I don't remember seeing it on the market when I bought my Sojourn in 2009. Another bike to look at (but it has a better spec and the price to go with it) is the Salsa Fargo.
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Old 05-12-16, 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by gorshkov
This looks a lot like the Raleigh Sojourn - same basic idea, similar spec, a bit lighter. How long have they made the Mazama? I don't remember seeing it on the market when I bought my Sojourn in 2009. Another bike to look at (but it has a better spec and the price to go with it) is the Salsa Fargo.
Mazama came out last year I believe
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Old 05-12-16, 08:22 PM
  #8  
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Very nice looking bike, especially in the red color. I personally don't like the mountain bike cranks - the wide Q-factor messes with my runner's knees - but other than that (for me) it's spec'd very nicely. It has a nice steel frame, but it's on the heavy side, like any $1100 touring bike.. I did pick it up. But should be very durable.

Last edited by mtnroads; 05-12-16 at 08:28 PM.
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Old 05-16-16, 02:51 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by mtnroads
Very nice looking bike, especially in the red color. I personally don't like the mountain bike cranks - the wide Q-factor messes with my runner's knees - but other than that (for me) it's spec'd very nicely. It has a nice steel frame, but it's on the heavy side, like any $1100 touring bike.. I did pick it up. But should be very durable.
I like the looks for this Mazama bike. Sort of similar to the Surly Fargo.
Who has ridden this bike off road and what's it like to have your hands on the hoods at that angle impacting rough road? How did it perform? Are the tires overkill? Could you get this bike with STI shifters instead of barends?

Is anyone else bothered by the meaning of surly? Perhaps its just me, but the definition is "bad-tempered, unfriendly". Why would I want to travel and have this word on my bike? It is the opposite of where I'm coming from. That said I like their market niche, value and steel frame.

What's a Q-factor?
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Old 05-16-16, 09:07 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by meyers66
I like the looks for this Mazama bike. Sort of similar to the Surly Fargo.
Who has ridden this bike off road and what's it like to have your hands on the hoods at that angle impacting rough road? How did it perform? Are the tires overkill? Could you get this bike with STI shifters instead of barends?

Is anyone else bothered by the meaning of surly? Perhaps its just me, but the definition is "bad-tempered, unfriendly". Why would I want to travel and have this word on my bike? It is the opposite of where I'm coming from. That said I like their market niche, value and steel frame.

What's a Q-factor?
1- While I havent ridden a Mazama off road, my gravel bike with bars that are the same flared angle are comfortable on the ramps, hoods, and drops. Drop bars that flare this much arent designed for riding on the hoods like a normal road bike. You can ride on the hoods, but it isnt the intended primary hand placement. Regardless, hood riding is comfortable, even at the angle.

2- The tires that come stock on the Mazama are the same ones I use on my gravel bike and I love em. They are relatively light, have low rolling resistence for the size and design, and are durable(so far). I have probably 300mi of them so far from about 15 rides. These have mostly been gravel roads, but I have been on county highways and paved bike paths too and the tires are great on pavement.

3- You could switch the setup to be STI shifting, sure. I dont think it would be as comfortable since STIs basically require you to ride the hoods most of the time, but you could swap em out. The TRP disc brakes are compatible with STI shifting.
You would have to pay for the swap. The bar end shifters and TRP brake levers would probably net $120 on ebay which would help offset the STI change.

4- I am not bothered by the name Surly. Its marketing. Its an attempt to give the company a vibe that is edgy and non-conforming since they try to market their products as being on the edge of mainstream. If you bought a Surly, you could just scratch the letters off. Surly decals are easily removed.

5- Q factor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_factor_(bicycles) Basically, its how far apart your crank arms are at the pedals. I have bikes with narrow Q factor and wide Q factor. Its never been an issue for me, to the point that I hadnt even thought about it until just now and I recently build a bike! Q factor never crossed my mind when I was selecting the bottom bracket and crank.
Apparently, it affects some people.
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Old 05-16-16, 11:09 AM
  #11  
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Yeah, I have micro tears and other damage to my medial meniscus in both knees, from years of running. Both have been 'scoped' for tears previously but I just live with it now as I don't want to lose more cartilage. As a result, pedals that are too far apart cause me pain. Tested repeatedly, with many bikes, lol. Wider mountain cranksets cause problems, narrower road cranks do not. There's roughly an inch difference between the two, in width. That's a lot with a repetitive motion like cycling.

Most people don't have issues. Heck, 20 years ago when I was 41 I rode my Stumpjumper from San Francisco to LA in the AIDS ride without issues.. 80 miles a day.. but that was then and this is now, haha. Sorry for the long reply.
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Old 05-16-16, 12:22 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by meyers66
...Is anyone else bothered by the meaning of surly? ...
Yes.

The name and the accompanying 'prickly' graphic are terrible.

I do like my Krampus though. A lot.
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Old 05-17-16, 10:25 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
3- You could switch the setup to be STI shifting, sure. I dont think it would be as comfortable since STIs basically require you to ride the hoods most of the time, but you could swap em out.
I don't think that is true. This is the reason they put the 3rd party bar end shifters on there in the first place - to address the lack of OEM compatibility from Shimano. In other words, starting with 10-speed, Shimano road and mtb shifters and derailleurs are no longer interchangeable. So you can't have a 10-speed 11-34 mtb cassette and derailleur with a 10-speed road STI shifter. And if you went with an all-road 10-speed setup you'd lose the gear range you need for a touring bike.
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Old 05-17-16, 11:28 AM
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The bars resemble the On-One Midge bars which are very difficult to come by. The specs list them as Novara Aluminum. I wish REI would sell them as a separate item.

Nice looking bike for all around use but I question if the chain stays are long enough to provide adequate heel clearance with most rear panniers.
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Old 05-17-16, 11:46 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by HiBoost
I don't think that is true. This is the reason they put the 3rd party bar end shifters on there in the first place - to address the lack of OEM compatibility from Shimano. In other words, starting with 10-speed, Shimano road and mtb shifters and derailleurs are no longer interchangeable. So you can't have a 10-speed 11-34 mtb cassette and derailleur with a 10-speed road STI shifter. And if you went with an all-road 10-speed setup you'd lose the gear range you need for a touring bike.
Good point, I forgot about the whole 10 speed compatibility issue.

So a 9 speed long cage rear derailleur and a Tiagra triple front derailleur mated with Tiagra shifters. That would allow the 10speed cassette, chain, and crank to remain. The 9 speed RD doesnt care if its mated to 10 speed STIs and the road FD would have the correct pull for the front.

Or get some Tiagra STIs and add a JTeK Shiftmate 7 connected to the FD and a JTek Shiftmate 6 to the RD. This would allow the stock Deore components to remain.
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Old 05-17-16, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by badger_biker
The bars resemble the On-One Midge bars which are very difficult to come by. The specs list them as Novara Aluminum. I wish REI would sell them as a separate item.
Agreed on selling the bars as a separate item.

They look like my Origin8 Gary Sweep bars. Standing over them, they have similar drop and flare.
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Old 05-17-16, 02:00 PM
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Here are a couple of photos of my wife on her new size Small Novara Mazama a couple of months back. We are headed on a week-long tour around the Puget Sound/San Juan Islands in a few weeks here. Doing a 3-day tour of the passes surrounding Leavenworth, WA over Memorial Day Weekend.

We have swapped to an SPD pedla setup, Compass Barlow Pass 38c tires, and added a Swift Industries Paloma Handlebar bag. When we bought it I added some SKS Longboard P50 Fenders, a Brooks C17s saddle, Gum TRP hoods, and an Axiom rear rack.

An SP Dynamo hub will soon be laced into the front wheel. The stock wheelset is pretty dang good for the price. Bar-end shifters work well.

She loves this bike. Her speed increased substantially when we swapped on the Compass Barlow Pass tires. Maybe we're just biased towards Seattle companies?
Attached Images
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Old 05-18-16, 02:39 PM
  #18  
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I need to get into REI one of these days and spend my 4 dollar dividend. Hopefully they'll have one of those in stock.

Surly doesn't make the Fargo, the deliciously-named Salsa does (both companies have the same owner though).
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Old 05-18-16, 07:59 PM
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If you are gonna buy one, wait until the 20th. All Novarra bikes go 15% off for ten days as part of their anniversary sale.
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Old 05-19-16, 03:08 PM
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Cool bikes. I like the bars. I have some drop bars that flare out on my Univega Gran Turismo, but definitely not that much. They're pretty comfortable though.
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Old 06-13-16, 08:22 PM
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Thought this is interesting since the debate of 'no name' 4130 is never ending.

Per REI, the tubing used is Reynolds and is .9 .6 .9 butted.

The Mazama frame has butted Reynolds tubing. The thickness at either end of each tube is 0.9mm and the thickness in the center is 0.6mm. The bottom of the seat tube (near the bottom bracket) is a bit thicker at 1.2mm.
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Old 06-13-16, 10:08 PM
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I kinda dig the bike. They made a good choice on the brakes and levers and the DT isn't too shabby. All in all if I were in the employ of REI and didn't have my Co-Motion this wouldn't be a bad little jobber, though 10 speed should be a 2X5 drivetrain not the number of cogs a the rear ; )
Maybe it is just the pain meds talking or maybe I truly do like much of this bike.
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Old 06-19-16, 11:57 PM
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Mazama is da mama

Got my Mazama about 3 weeks ago. So far, so good. Handlebars are interesting. Still haven't decided how well I like riding them on the hoods, but in the drops they're not bad... I don't normally ride down in the drops, but this bike is set up such that drops riding isn't so aggressive as to be uncomfortable. Will be replacing front wheel / hub with a dynamo hub / wheel shortly. Other than that, no need for changes as far as I can see.
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Old 06-20-16, 12:30 AM
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Seriously sad lack of pics in this thread.
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Old 06-20-16, 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by meyers66

Is anyone else bothered by the meaning of surly?
No. It speaks to me.
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