Sunday 31 May 2015

A bike built for distance

My recent day out riding the Mosstrooper Audax gave me further opportunity to play with my Shand Stoater.

With a potential ride time of around 14 hours and my usual desire to be as self sufficient as possible I added a few bags to trial working toward what I think will be a lightweight multi day set up.

The Shand was always built with distance in mind so even in its most basic of guises without luggage it is still very comfortable and importantly feels very efficient.  The Ultegra CX gearing and hydraulic brakes go some way to contributing to the overall feel of the bike with the Genetic bars and Brooks saddle affording comfortable contact points.

In long day mode I added a small Alpkit frame bag which held my True Mountain waterproof and spare socks and gloves.  Then for food a top tube bag and stem mounted bag were added for ease of accessing food on the fly.

The Mack Workshop tool roll mounted under my Brooks Cambium C15 held the tools and spares required for a long day.

Unsure how long the day may take I added my Supernova front and rear dynamo lights to ensure I wouldn't be caught out by darkness.

The Garmin out front on the bars ensured that I was always on course and the switch to Halo Twin Rail Tyres in 29c width made my progress feel always quick.









At the end of the day on reflection I had rarely used the frame bag and top tube bag and to some degree they had been middle obstructive in an efficient pedalling stroke so the next course of action is to trial load at opposing ends of the bike with a bar bag and larger saddle bag with a view that for multi days then some micro panniers can be added to the front of the bike for sleeping and cooking gear.

4 comments:

Sebastian said...

Awesome bike! Would you mind telling me what colur the frame is? Is it a custom one or from the palette @shandcycles?

Happy riding!

paul.e said...

Apologies Sebastian on my delayed response ... its a standard Shand Colour .. Pigeon Blue

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