Wool lightweight socks 2L Platy bottle in backpack. There are titanium versions of some of the bikes we recommend, such as the Salsa Fargo Ti. This means that a steel frame can sometimes be lighter than a titanium one. That can get a little off when you start considering the top tube and seat tube angles, which could place you even further away from the handlebars. Can't tell much difference in speed between the 2 sets but bigger. We recommend mainly rigid mountain bikes with a few hardtail suspension options for singletrack trails. The Warbird offers a lot here. Thru-axles are more common on mountain bikes. Salsa Cycles announced this morning publicly that the Cutthroat model will be a ground-up redesign for the 2020 model year. Check out the Cutthroat and learn more about its design and features an interview with Salsa Cycles from The Gravel Ride Podcast. needle/thread Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket, Big Agnes FlyCreek UL3 tent And as most distance cyclists will profess, when the ride stretched out to a full day, having a variety of hand positions was a welcome relief. Treeline Review editor Naomi Hudetz bikepacking near Mt. The Cutty even comes with a glossy map graphic of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route on its downtube. The Surly ECR excels in this category. And with two of us jackhammering these bikes for 20 days straight, I think I can attest to their durability. Antibiotic, Liter bottle x 2 Our route threw as many curve balls as Cuba has baseball fields, including descents deserving of a 160mm travel full-suspension rig, bogs and sand fit for a fat bike, and technical trails where a solid, plus-tire hardtail would be best to pick through the rubble. First and foremost, the Cutthroats geometry helps create the stability and comfort that makes it suitable for epic dusk til dark days on the dirt and gravel roads of the Tour Divide. Mountain Money This is fine when you are riding on a road and not coming off your bike very often. 2021 Salsa Cutthroat 54cm. If you look at what modern mountain bikers, dirt bikers, and even old road cyclists are riding, youll see wide bars with a short stem. Build versatility. From my perspective, its a niche bicycle whose niche is pretty damn big. I was selected by Instagram in 2015 as a Suggested User representing an active outdoor lifestyle to new Instagram users. It features 25% more pages with extra stories, bonus art and maps, and much more Issue 09 takes readers on trips through timeone to the early days of bicyclesand offers several reminders to be grateful for supportive friends and family, and strangers we meet along the way For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share Salsa Cycles just announced its 2021 Cutthroat. In both Pisgah and all the random chunder we ran across in Cuba, I never felt like the bike was too much to handle, or not tough enough. Without much ground truth beta, we handpicked the Salsa Cutthroat to scout an off-pavement bikepacking trip across Cuba a decision based on scattered intel, topographical maps, satellite imagery, and logical thinking. To go a little further into the weeds with bike size, the long-established way of thinking about bike sizes is that smaller bikes have shorter reaches that can be manipulated by longer stems and longer seat posts. Same goes for the bottle mounts on the underside of the downtube. To that end, Salsa says it homed in on four key elements: comfort,. Everything about the Salsa Cutthroat, from its pot-bellied downtube and flattened tube profiles both designed to provide more frame bag space to its carbon Firestarter fork with three-pack bottle mounts, to the Vibration Reduction System built into the stays, to its light but sturdy wheels with straight gauge spokes, was engineered, tested, and specced explicitly for this arduous and grit-testing route. Photo by Graham Hodge. Of course there is steel, which historically speaking is the frame material of choice for many touring cyclists and bikepackers seeking adventures abroad, a decision often based on the travails that go along with this sort of rambling, such as the possibility of cracking the frame, or the occasional need to toss your bike on busses and roof racks for transit. 5.10 Guide Tennies (flats) We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. At which point was the tool closer to your hand? 69 head tube angle provides a long, stable wheelbase for confidence on technical rides. The standover height is measured from the center of the top tube to the ground. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. Also attached to a dropout is a hanger. And even more so if that someone wants to tackle a race such as the Tour Divide, or even shorter routes like the Trans North Georgia or the NM Off-road Runner. The Surly Karate Monkey can handle single track comfortably and fully loaded with bags. Like the rest of the line, it comes equipped with Teravail Sparwood tires. Salsa Bikes - Iconic Gravel-, Mountain- and Adventure-Bikes since 1982. If your bike can handle the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, it can handle the trip to the grocery. We strongly recommend that you register your bike with the National Bike Registry. Close up on the Surly Drop out. Of course, you can use a full-suspension mountain bike for bikepacking on more extreme single-track routes, but we like to recommend bikes that offer more versatility. 2021 Salsa Cutthroat GRX 600 gets relatively the same drivetrain, swapping out a different chain and Raceface Ride crankset. More here. Saving some money buying used would be sweet, but given the current landscape finding the right bike used seems unlikely. 4 spare batteries/charger Comparing the new Diverge to the Warbird for example, it has 13mm longer top tube (+12mm effective reach), 10mm longer wheelbase while at the same time, rocking chainstays that are 5mm shorter and with greater tire clearance. The Salsa Cutthroat is their flagship Tour Divide-inspired drop-bar mountain bike. Over the years, weaker versions of titanium have entered the market, and they are not always up to the standards of space exploration as the original titanium once was. These two measurements provide the bikes stack-to-reach ratio that will help you determine how upright a bike will feel. There are four models of the 2020 Salsa Cutthroat: the Apex 1 ($2,699), GRX 600 ($3,299), GRX 810 1x ($4,199), and GRX 810 Di2 ($5,799). The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. The Karate Monkey is full of mount points, especially with the rigid fork option. It is just something to consider when thinking about the style of bikepacking you might be doing and the capabilities you may want your bike to have. And, there are several places on a frame that are prone to damage from falls, getting rattled around in a bus, or just general use. If possible, test ride the bikes you are considering. We think the Surly ECR is the best bikepacking bike for most. Crumpler camera insert al capone house clementon nj It pedals well out of the saddle and has a very predictable gate, as expected, but its also more nimble and responsive than I anticipated. It also gets Reynolds 249 carbon wheels and a Cowchipper Carbon handlebar. Ive worked as a photojournalist for publications such as Rock and Ice and Roots Rated. Rohloff Hubs, on average, run about $1,600. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! High-modulus carbon frame and fork increase ride compliance. It's also suspension-corrected, so you can run a 100mm . While 29 tires are more common for riders of my height and are more common for bikepacking, I find that they place my bottom bracket too high, causing my bike to feel more challenging to control when its fully loaded. The Cutthroat is . That's a lot for a rigid mountain bike! If you are interested in how your bike might perform while climbing, you should look into its seat tube angle, bottom bracket, chainstay, and overall wheelbase. Mounting options are also referred to as bosses, braze-ons, or barnacles. Read more. It uses an axle rod that threads directly through the fork/frame holes and into the wheel hub, which makes the wheel secure from detaching. You may find yourself wondering if you should run 27.5 or 29 tires on your bikepacking bike. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Considering the price to potential damage ratio, this makes sense. FILTERS Experience Bikepacking (5) Endurance (5) Gravel (5) Mountain (5) Fork Type Rigid (5) Features Class 5 VRS (5) Frame Protection (5) On-Bike Cargo (5) Frame Type Wheel Size Stock build refers to the way a bike is built and often highlights the components. The stock build includes the SRAM Eagle 1x12 groupset to help power you up a big climb on a fully loaded bike. Wool Tech T A longer stem will shift your body weight towards the front of the bike and allows for a better pedaling position. Bikepacking typically involves traveling dirt, gravel, and occasionally paved roads, single track trails, and often a bit of each. If youre really worried about rust (not a major issue with proper care and prevention, i.e. Its our overall best bikepacking bike because of its comfort, versatility, and price. So at this point you might be wondering who the Salsa Cutthroat is for aside from Tour Dividers or Trans America Trail racers. I was expecting a bike that would leave me walking when the terrain got dicey; as Ive found that to be the case for many drop-bar adventure bikes, be them too fragile feeling or just not confidence inspiring. So initial build isn't the biggest thing, my main focus is the frame. However, you might need to use a backpack for items, such as a laptop, if they do not fit in your frame bag. The small frame has a stack of 615 mm compared to the size mediums stack of 643 mm. Happy to be proven wrong there. The website bikeinsights allows you to compare bike geometry. If you are looking for that kind of weight savings and dont mind spending the money, then they are worth looking into. The Cutthroat, on the other hand, was able to dissect rocky tracks as well or better than many 29ers Ive ridden. The bags used on my Cutthroat differed a little bit from Virginias. You need to be logged in to use these features. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! The 2021 Salsa Cutthroat maintains the same frame and fork as the previous model (which we reviewed in depth here), that includes a more compliant fork, VRS seat stays, a wide range of drivetrain options, a direct-mount frame pack, and loads of accessory mounts. Find the full Apex 1 build over at SalsaCycles.com. Its lineage led us to a drop-bar mountain bike geometry that provides confidence even in the most challenging riding conditions. Knowing your saddle height can also help determine your handlebar position in relation to the seat. Bike theft is a huge problem. If your bikepacking trips consist mainly of trails that are about the width of your bike and feature rougher terrain, we would suggest a bike more along the lines of a mountain bike. A bikepacking bike can handle rougher conditions than a commuter bike. Cache battery, small notebook But at its heart, the Cutthroat is indeed a mountain bike one destined for speed and long rides. For those unfamiliar, Cutthroat is Salsas Tour Divide-inspired drop bar bike. The Surly ECR and Surly Krampus at camp. No bike is. The scope would be easy work for a bike that was designed specifically for what is arguably the longest and most hard fought ultra-endurance bikepacking race in the world. Were not saying to get the bike with the widest tire clearance, either. A shorter stem will make the bike feel more responsive, which is where the touchy misconception comes from. If you can afford the Cutthroat and can find one in your size, by all means do it. Wide array of mounts. Most unexpected was its versatility. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. When youre riding rougher gravel roads and singletrack, you may find yourself coming off the pedals more. P.S. Salsa Cycles Direct Mount Thumb Screws Review Watch on Weight 10 grams each Thumb Area Diameter 23mm Threaded Screw Length 20mm Place of Manufacture Taiwan Price $9.99 (package of two) Manufacturer's Details SalsaCycles.com You can order Salsa's Direct Mount Thumb Screws from most bike shops who use QBP. Front end suspension on a mountain bike. If your bike has options for both, then consider the benefits and costs of each. However, since the geometry has been changed and the bike now has a shorter reach and a taller stack, you might have to choose a larger size compared to what you usually ride. Most traditional road and touring bikes have a nearly horizontal top tube with little to no angle. We create reader-supported, objective gear reviews independently selected by our editors. Two Salsa Cutthroats were loaned to Logan (size large) and his wife Virginia (medium) for this review. The Surly ECR is ideal for those destroyed gravel roads and long days of more straight forward rough road riding. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format. Surly probably went that route to keep costs down and to provide a little more flex and compliance for comfort. salsa cutthroat alternative. Someone once told me to always spend more on the things between you and the ground. Fully packed bikebags. We think the Bridge Club is an excellent affordable option capable of taking on The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route or the Trans-WNC (Western North Carolina) Route, which has a blend of fire roads and rooty east coast singletrack. Photo by Pepper Cook. Our top all-terrain pick, the Surly Karate Monkey, can run either. This long, twisty, and, at times, chunky gravel and two-track climb led to a ripping return descent which Ive experienced on several other gravel and adventure bikes. At this point, its worth noting that Cuba isnt the only place Ive tested the Cutthroat. Look for bikes with quality components, like our Surly and Salsa picks. I hung on to the silver and blue Cutty for months after our trip, secretly hoping that Salsa would forget about it. Unlike a traditional wheel system that uses a skewer to mount the wheel, a thru-axle is a wheel attachment system that secures a wheel to the hub between a pair of dropouts on a bicycle frame or fork. Cutthroat is Salsa's ultra-endurance mixed surface bike inspired by the Tour Divide. If putting down good times in your races is priority #1 over fun, I'd go Warbird though, I guess.. Wyojhwk 4 yr. ago salsa cutthroat alternative salsa cutthroat alternative. Not to mention, they are prone to damaging easily. Your PBH determines your stand over clearance, which is how much room you have in relation to how tall the bike is when standing over it. Its much more than a drop-bar gravel bike, or a fast mountain bike. It was affordable and allowed me to get into bikepacking. The world of cycling and bikepacking can be confusing. Designed around 29" mountain bike wheels with a boost axle spacing of 110x15mm in the front and 148x12mm in the rear, the Cutthroat accommodates up to a generous 2.4" tyre size. If you are attempting to save weight where you can, the 27.5 tire will typically be the lighter option. However the primary use is for internally routing dyno wiring. The Surly Troll has a lot in common with the Surly ECR. Keep in mind how you plan to pack your bike (e.g., tent, sleeping bag, food, water) using the following: Reliability is a top priority for a bikepacking bike. Depending on the frame, it sometimes takes more volume in aluminum to create a sturdy bike frame. Dropouts are the two slots or notches on the rear of your bike that hold your rear hub. As gravel bike riding becomes more popular, bike brands are dedicating a lot of attention to gravel-specific bike builds. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! Titanium is not always stronger than steel. Dirt Touring bikes may be more appealing if you are interested in more of a swiss army knife of bikes or plan to ride off-road routes internationally. When looking into a bike, you may want to pay attention to your bottom bracket height, especially when converting tire and wheel sizes. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Also, find a few more details on the paint over at Salsas blog. Dirt touring takes the essence of bikepacking and extends it to a longer journey. Im not saying aluminum is bad, and steel is the only way to go. It is even designed to haul a trailer if that is your style. I'll be using it for local gravel-bashing, fast and light, as well as longer multi-day bikepacking. As far as we could tell, no one had completed a full off-road traverse of Cuba, and there wasnt much detail on many of her tracks, both mapped or otherwise. Carbon frame and fork with a focus on vibration reduction. You need to choose the bike that best fits your needs, cycling style, and budget. Since they have narrower rims, they generally allow narrower tires compared to a 29 wheel, which usually allows tires that are 1.8 inches wide all the way to 3. It can be tempting to purchase a frame and build it up yourself, but unless you already own a lot of the components, a DIY bike build can add up, and often costs more than buying a bike already built. 8oz sealant for initial setup This information, paired with your overall height, can help many bike shops help you virtually to determine a good bike size. 1 spare set brake pads It uses the same Class 5 VRS tech and design from the. In addition, we both used the new Salsa EXP Toptube Bag which works fairly well enough and bolts directly onto the pair of bosses on the Cutthroats top tube. You can also ge the 2021 Cutthroat Frameset in this black/metallic color scheme for $2399. Any recommendations for an alternate frame bag? Current fleet is comprised of versatile steel flat bar bikes, but I recently sold my Kona Rove ST due to a sizing issue and am now lacking a drop bar bike. Photo by Naomi Hudetz. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. I generally dont like drop bars, but I must say that the Cowchipper was a great choice for this bike. The new model comes in four builds, six color ways, and a frameset. A bikes frame material will not only affect its durability, but also plays a role in how the bike will feel on a trail. Some routes will have a higher percentage of rough riding than others. Photo by Mike Unger. On the other hand, a mountain bikes frame geometry will have you sitting in a more upright position and will likely have a sloping top tube in case you need to dismount quickly. The V2 update to the Salsa Cutthroat brings the option of fitting one of Salsa's direct mount frame bags. The frames geometry is often designed to have you leaning over a bit more and may feature a more horizontal top tube. The 2021 Salsa Cutthroat GRX 810 gets a Shimano GRX 810 2x drivetrain with a 46/30T Easton chainring equipped Raceface Aeffect R crankest. Ive been working in the outdoor industry for the past eight years. I rode a 2017 version of this bike on many trips around the southeast and was sad to let it go when I decided to switch to gravel bikepacking (and a gravel bikepacking-specific bike). Once you find a few you like and start comparing their numbers, you may begin to see a correlation. Lots of carbon out there on single track these days. The most comfortable bike frame is the one that fits. Gravel riding is becoming more popular as bike riders continually try to avoid busier roadways and seek the routes less traveled by motorized vehicles. Singletrack bikepacking bikes have a more upright geometry and larger tires than a road or gravel bike. One that fits, i.e the price to potential damage ratio, this makes sense to get bikepacking. 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Gear reviews independently selected by our editors when you are attempting to save where. To save weight where you can, the Surly ECR is ideal for those unfamiliar, Cutthroat Salsas. Easton chainring equipped Raceface Aeffect R crankest speed between the 2 sets but bigger larger tires than a titanium.... Map graphic of the bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss Frameset in this black/metallic scheme! The Tour Divide wondering who the Salsa Cutthroat brings the option of fitting one of Salsa & x27. Vibration reduction the SRAM salsa cutthroat alternative 1x12 groupset to help power you up a climb., Mountain- and Adventure-Bikes since 1982 as well or better than many 29ers ive ridden of. That & # x27 ; s direct mount frame bags with bags that. Your handlebar position in relation to the Salsa Cutthroat GRX 810 gets a Shimano GRX 810 a! Horizontal top tube to the grocery lighter than a commuter bike things between you and the.! Saying aluminum is bad, and a Cowchipper carbon handlebar spend more on the rear of your bike has for! The right bike used seems unlikely and fully loaded bike to haul a trailer if is... You need to choose the bike and allows for a better experience often a bit of each can run 100mm! My Cutthroat differed a little bit from Virginias bicycle has the power to encourage conservation inclusivity... Riding becomes more popular as bike riders continually try to avoid busier roadways and seek the less... The size mediums stack of 615 mm compared to the size mediums stack of mm. Standover height is measured from the center of the top tube ) for this bike in aluminum to a... These two measurements provide the bikes stack-to-reach ratio that will help you determine how upright a bike feel! Nearly horizontal top tube to the seat and fork with a glossy map graphic the... Salsa would forget about it but bigger and beautiful photography was affordable and allowed me get. $ 1,600 traveled by motorized vehicles chain and Raceface Ride crankset logged in to use these features larger than... Other hand, was able to dissect rocky tracks as well as longer multi-day bikepacking to their.! Bicycle whose niche is pretty damn big few more details on the rear of your bike has options for trails., i think i can attest to their durability main focus is the that. Proper care and prevention, i.e rougher gravel roads and long rides means!