Did I Buy A "Good-enough" Bike for Bikepacking?

[Lmike6453]

I just purchased a hybrid bike, Diamondback Trace Sport since it's a $700 bike on sale for only $400 currently and seemed like best bang for the buck.

https://www.diamondback.com/trace-sport

I want to be able to ride on paved trails with friends, but also be able to bike pack.

It has a front suspension fork, 45mm tires that I think can be upsized to 50mm/2"? 28" tires. 8 speed on the cassette, 3 on the sprocket.

I have 30 days to return it if needed. Should I keep it?

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[Biggus Duckus]

If your budget is $400, yes I think it's good enough. If your budget is $1000 there are better options.

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[Lmike6453]

If your budget is $400, yes I think it's good enough. If your budget is $1000 there are better options.

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Thanks. What is a typical base bike weight range that most ppl bike pack with? Mine is 32lbs with the front suspension fork and I wonder if it's worth it to go with no fork to save weight?

Also I just got a 15% off REI coop item and am thinking of buying a $600-$700 bike of theirs, only if it's worth the extra bit of money.

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[Biggus Duckus]

Thanks. What is a typical base bike weight range that most ppl bike pack with? Mine is 32lbs with the front suspension fork and I wonder if it's worth it to go with no fork to save weight?

Also I just got a 15% off REI coop item and am thinking of buying a $600-$700 bike of theirs, only if it's worth the extra bit of money.

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I would recommend always having a fork on your bike, it's not worth the weight you save.   Mine weighs about 31 lbs, I'm happy with it, but it depends on your type of riding. I have no need for a suspension fork, I stick to gravel roads.

Using the discount and getting an REI bike would probably be a better idea than the Diamondback.

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[Biggus Duckus]

And keep an eye out on REIs Labor Day sale, looks like they will have 40% off their clearance bikes. Probably about to unveil the 2018 models.

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[vermont]

You have a 700 dollar Diamond Back.  I'm not sure how much more sense it would make to buy a 700 dollar bike of a a different brand.  It will still get you the same fork and the same quality drive train and the same quality wheels.  Your bike is listed as a city bike opposed to a mountain bike.  That would be my concern.  There is a 500 dollar Diamondback that may be better if you intend to go off road.  If you want the best bang for the buck, then look at Craigslist for a used bike.

[Lmike6453]

You have a 700 dollar Diamond Back.  I'm not sure how much more sense it would make to buy a 700 dollar bike of a a different brand.  It will still get you the same fork and the same quality drive train and the same quality wheels.  Your bike is listed as a city bike opposed to a mountain bike.  That would be my concern.  There is a 500 dollar Diamondback that may be better if you intend to go off road.  If you want the best bang for the buck, then look at Craigslist for a used bike.

Yeah I'm looking at rei bikes considering that they will be 40% off starting tomorrow.  I put in a search on their site and filtered by "bike touring" category which resulted in just 3 bikes, listed for $1000 = $600 on sale:
https://www.rei.com/b/co-op-cycles/c/bikes?r=c%3Bb%3Bbest-use%3ABike%20Touring&origin=web&ir=category%3Abikes&page=1&sort=min-price&version=c-rei-co-op&fx=stores%3Anull

Please excuse my ignorance, but would one of those be better than mine for a $200 difference...or is there another bike they offer that would be better for bike touring thatI'm not seeing?

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[Iowagriz]

Lmike - what is your definition of Bikepacking and what type of riding/roads do you plan on tackling?  Singletrck vs. Gravel vs Paved roads will get suggestions for different bikes.  I'd argue that a mountain bike would be the most versatile, but if you are planning on bikepacking across country via paved roads, I'd give a different answer.

What type of riding for 90% of your trips?  Short term and long term ambitions.

[Lmike6453]

Lmike - what is your definition of Bikepacking and what type of riding/roads do you plan on tackling?  Singletrck vs. Gravel vs Paved roads will get suggestions for different bikes.  I'd argue that a mountain bike would be the most versatile, but if you are planning on bikepacking across country via paved roads, I'd give a different answer.

What type of riding for 90% of your trips?  Short term and long term ambitions.

Good question, thanks for reaching out to help.  90% of my riding will be on paved roads and trails for probably 30-50 mile single day outings.

Since I'm new to the idea of bike packing, I imagine that I would need to find some new friends that are seasoned in bike packing and I just want to be able to keep up and go where they go.

I am unsure of where my adventures and interests will take me and my initial impressions is to have a bike that is enabled enough to join others (bare minimum gravel and dirt roads) while still being practical enough to move somewhat quickly on paved roads.

Maybe the answer is to keep this hybrid and get a separate mountain bike in the future for serious stuff? Or maybe I can put on 1 size wider tires on the hybrid, to increase the width wider than 45mm?

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[mapster127]

So given you don't know what bikepacking will feel like to you until you try it and you don't know where the bikepackers you hope to meet will ride, then starting with a $700 bike at half price and learning is not bad. Likely all of us will give advice from our use perspectives and could well still not give you the ride you end up wanting. I'd keep it ride it and learn.

That said most of my bikepacking is split between a steel Fargo, 35 lb Pugsley and an old 25 lb rigid Rocky Mountain Hammer. By the time you load gear you won't notice a 2-3 lb bike weight difference. It's a Diamondback and they still make some decent bikes, so you won't be getting a dog. Geometry, wheel choice and suspension life and tune may all be factors you discover over time you may wish to change.  You have money saved to change saddle, bars and pedals as you feel the need plus invest in your bikepacking bags. You might notice the ally frame to be tiring on long days but by that point you will be out enjoying long days bikepacking you hope. At 30-50 miles it's not likely to be a major issue. If you are still not sure do some back to back 20+ mile rides before the return time is up and see what you learn and feel. It won't be the last bike you buy and it won't likely meet your bikepacking needs in 1-2 seasons but you will know more about what they are by then. My 2c


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[Lmike6453]

So given you don't know what bikepacking will feel like to you until you try it and you don't know where the bikepackers you hope to meet will ride, then starting with a $700 bike at half price and learning is not bad. Likely all of us will give advice from our use perspectives and could well still not give you the ride you end up wanting. I'd keep it ride it and learn.

That said most of my bikepacking is split between a steel Fargo, 35 lb Pugsley and an old 25 lb rigid Rocky Mountain Hammer. By the time you load gear you won't notice a 2-3 lb bike weight difference. It's a Diamondback and they still make some decent bikes, so you won't be getting a dog. Geometry, wheel choice and suspension life and tune may all be factors you discover over time you may wish to change.  You have money saved to change saddle, bars and pedals as you feel the need plus invest in your bikepacking bags. You might notice the ally frame to be tiring on long days but by that point you will be out enjoying long days bikepacking you hope. At 30-50 miles it's not likely to be a major issue. If you are still not sure do some back to back 20+ mile rides before the return time is up and see what you learn and feel. It won't be the last bike you buy and it won't likely meet your bikepacking needs in 1-2 seasons but you will know more about what they are by then. My 2c


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Well said, thanks for putting it in perspective! That really calms the nerves about my purchase decision making.

Yep the bikepacking bags are interesting to research, and costly where I'll be shelling out some bucks for decent ones.

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[Lmike6453]

Ok guys yesterday I went on a 50 mile ride that was 80% smooth paved trails / roads, 10% gravel, and 10% singletrack with rough parts.

It was crappy on single track and I felt like I want a bike that can handle it regardless of cost. Is the answer to have a different bike for that terrain, or have 1 bike that can do it all?

Can a 29er perform well and roll fast on paved roads if I get a good one?

[vermont]

You will not get one bike for everything.  Just not possible.  If you are looking for mostly pavement, with as much dirt roads as possible and a smidgen of "trails" then most people are going with modified road bikes, basically a cyclo-cross bike.  If you want to go single track regularly and don't need speed or efficiency on the road, then you are looking at a mountain bike that might be modified slightly.  It appears currently that that bike is a 29er, like the Surlys and Salsas.
To answer your question directly, a 29er will roll smoothly on roads if you have a tire with less tread.  Less tread will affect the off road abilities so choose your tires carefully.  There are tires made to balance the two.

[Lmike6453]

I ended up buying a REI ADV 3.1 from recommendations on another forum and am probably going to ditch the diamondback.

It rides so much better and the only thing I'm unsure of about it is the bar end shifters. They don't bother me but I hope it's not annoying to try to change gears while climbing a hill.

And I read that they are durable compared to brifters, but then I wonder if brifters are even sketchy durability.

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[Lentamentalisk]

No issue shifting while climbing with bar ends. Only issue is in technical singletrack when you need to shift fast and can't take your hands off the bars. On any type of road, paved, unpaved, or even really class 4 unmaintained, you'll be totally fine with bar ends.

[Lmike6453]

No issue shifting while climbing with bar ends. Only issue is in technical singletrack when you need to shift fast and can't take your hands off the bars. On any type of road, paved, unpaved, or even really class 4 unmaintained, you'll be totally fine with bar ends.

Cool thank you! This eases my worries of it being not practical. Going on the first real ride with it tomorrow.

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[Lmike6453]

So I took it for a couple of mixed types of rides and think that I would prefer brifters for being able to keep 2 hands on the handlebars at all times. This showed especially when on the shoulder close to traffic and I swerve a little when shifting on long inclined roads.

With that in mind, I am starting to think of upgrading to a 29er and the practicality of a 29er for paved trails, as well as off road performance without suspension.

I have my eye on the Salsa Fargo, with the ability to put road / hybrid tires on for better paved stuff when needed.

With it being rigid without any suspension, when would it be limited off road vs a mountain bike? Pretty much, What is the off road boundary of needing full suspension vs a 29er rigid with 2.4" tires?

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[Lmike6453]

Well guys I took the plunge and ordered a 2018 Salsa Fargo in Cream White for $360 off of the MSRP of $1800. The deal was good, so going to try it out. Also having the LBS upgrade the brake cables for $80 per their recommendation of being worth it.

Hopefully this is the one that I will be happy with. It should be ready on 9/28 and will post back after some usage.

Now it comes down to what should my spare wheel sets be for it, since I can go as big as a PLUS 3" tire, or skinny as a roadie tire for communiting.

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[RonK]

Well guys I took the plunge and ordered a 2018 Salsa Fargo in Cream White for $360 off of the MSRP of $1800.

As a Fargo owner myself I commend your choice. Welcome to the global Fargo family.

You don't really need skinny tires for a fun ride on a Fargo. But if you do opt for another wheelset I'd be considering a gravel tire of around 35 -40mm. These will cover all the types of surfaces you are likely to encounter when commuting.

[Lmike6453]

Please post a picture of those gleaming brake cables when you get back from your communiting.

Haha will do! I learned that it's compressionless shift and brake cables, these ones:

http://www.yokozunausa.com/recasy.html

As a Fargo owner myself I commend your choice. Welcome to the global Fargo family.

You don't really need skinny tires for a fun ride on a Fargo. But if you do opt for another wheelset I'd be considering a gravel tire of around 35 -40mm. These will cover all the types of surfaces you are likely to encounter when commuting.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I have been looking up how ppl are happy with the knobbie like 2.4 inch tread on paved surfaces and am astonished by their avg speed on rides.

Ill definitely try not swapping out the tires, but am preparing as if I'll need to.

Are the stock rims and tires tubeless ready? Maybe that will make them ride like a dream.

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