What's In The Box? (Brad Pitt Voice) An Early Bontrager OR! **Finished Photos Page 11**

I have serious peddle envy...
$20......🙄 Wanna make $10 profit?
Those tyres....my brain reads phonetically......hump two lips...🤣
Looks a great build ✌️ a proper thrasher ..enjoy it!

Only on here could pedals like that, in the condition they’re in, provoke feelings of envy! Hahaha.

It really is a proper thrasher. And I love it.

Fun story:

It was leaning up against the Phoenix and the Brodie in the living room upon completion, and after a few drinks and a little devil’s lettuce, my wife, out of the blue, turns to me and says, apropos of nothing: “I don’t want to like the Bontrager the most but I do. That bike fucks.”

Quite.
 
That's come out very nicely Phil!👍
What do you think of it?

Cheers Ben! And for all the help, advice and inspiration along the way!

I’ve only taken it on a few shorter rides so far as it’s been a busy couple of weeks at work, but initial impressions:

It’s aggressive! And quick. I really like the bigger size, it feels more akin to a rugged cross bike when I ride it. The front end is pretty squirrely, which is taking some getting used to. That’s down to the relaxed top tube angle, combined with the steeper, shorter hesdtube, the straight fork with a more aggressive rake, and the short, steep stem. It’s a little scary going hands-off, that’s for sure! That said, it makes it really quick to maneuver on the trails and very responsive. Just interesting being on a bigger bike that feels that way.

Overall, I really, really like the geometry, and feel like it may have an outsized influence on future purchases and builds as a result.

Mechanically, and I don’t know why, but it’s comfortably the best performing of all my bikes. Everything feels really dialed-in and solid. Every shift feels accurate and you can really feel the cable tensions working beneath you, if that makes sense?

Looks like a machine, feels like a machine.

Also: it fucks.

Anyway, I’m actually taking it on an overnight camp ride this weekend, so I expect I’ll have a lot more to say about how it rides after the 60-or-so miles there and back.
 
Cool👍🙂
Your set up is not a million miles away from mine, definitely a responsive front end, accurate and goes where you point it! I find it extremely comfortable as well, seems to take the edge off the bumps very well for a rigid bike.
Did you do your ride at the weekend? How'd you get on?
 
She coped admirably, I thought...

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(Spotters badge for anyone that can name the handful of non-strap, bottle, or bag-related changes that were made prior to the ride!)

Anyway, I have to say, seventy-seven miles over thirty-six hours as a first real shakedown ride was a nice way to test out a new bike!

I enjoyed every minute in the not-very-comfortable saddle, and it was a blast to take down the mountain the morning after the campout.

It was also really great going up it the night before. But I can't say I loved the five-or-so miles of continuous, gradual, torturous climbing (and we took the supposedly "easier" route) that it took to get up there, at the end of a long day riding, drinking and sunbathing!

Anyway, some views to go along with the bike:

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All-in-all it was an absolutely amazing weekend with a great bunch of people, bikes, an epic beach hang, some great trails, and a beautiful campsite at the end of it all. Nothing not to love when the bike you're riding also rides like a dream!

Gotta go clean the f*cker now!
 
Well that's turned out rather well, and looks great in that scenery! Visually I always prefer the look of a smaller bike but this one somehow doesn't have that gate look to it.
Apologies in advance as I probably missed it in the thread but is the big headset spacer there to achieve the desired riding position or did you just not want to cut the steerer down?
 
That fecker looks filthy. 🚵🏻‍♂️

Love the matching yellow handlebar bag.

That right there is just my sleeping bag!

Although I can't say I was mad about it coming in a little yellow sack as I was strapping it to the handlebars!

Next time I might even take a tent...
 
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