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| Last ride on the Stormchaser |
Bicycles sent to me for review are often seen by me as a necessary evil. One more bike kicking around the Lab and one that demands to be ridden, that maybe isn't quite your cup-o-tea. I mean, if you are a responsible bike reviewer, you have to put in the time and effort. I just don't see it any other way. So, that's why some bikes I get in are kind of a drag until they disappear, wherever review bikes end up. I've heard stories......
Anyway, there are times when yes- the bike is actually fun, and maybe it is one you think you should keep around. I remember such a bike back in the old MTB daze when I was reviewing 29"ers. It was a Milwaukee Bikes hard tail, and it just had that certain something. I cannot put my finger on it, but I miss that bike to this day. They actually offered it to me to buy at a very nice price, and I passed on it. Ah! Well, you know......I have a thing for single speed bikes. That was a single speed 29'er, by the way. Anyhow......
This Stormchaser is a very nice bike. I could get along with it well for quite a while, I think. Maybe I'd change a couple of things, but really, for the most part, this is one nice single speed bike. Not that I need a single speed gravel bike, but this is a well thought out piece that would make my single speed gravel experience a better one. I'm convinced of that after my ride Saturday when Steve was up here.
But no..... This bike is "returning to the Mothership", as my friend Grannygear says when he sends review stuff back. It's the less than glamorous part of doing these reviews. You have to clean the rig up, make sure it is as it was sent to you, which in my case means remounting the 42mm Teravail tires. Then you have to pack it back up, which takes a good hour if you do it right. The manufacturer/brand generally sends a 'call tag', which you print out and affix to the (hopefully) original box for the bike which you have had stored safely for up to three months. Then you take it to be shipped, and off it goes to never-never land, not to be seen or heard from again. (More often than not)
I'll admit it. I'll be a bit sad to see this one go. It was a good one. But it is how things are as I review things. Comers and goers. I thought y'all might like to know a bit of the 'behind the scenes' story on how these things typically go.
Your thorough and unbiased review of the Stormchaser should really be helpful for someone who is thinking about taking the single speed gravel plunge. I can imagine it would be difficult to avoid getting attached to it based on the findings of your review. A local Salsa dealer had one in the shop but it sold quickly. I was not looking for one but knew of your starting to evaluate one.
ReplyDeleteI want to hear the stories/speculation about what happens to review bikes when they get sent back?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your long list on fork substitution for this bike, specifically as an event rig- not a bikepacking pub crawl dirt jumper. I am considering purchasing one, despite not being able to find a small to test ride.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's the trouble, there is no list at all. The Stormchaser has a 420mm axle to crown height, so that's a full 20-30mm longer than most anything else on the market now for cross or gravel. That's why I didn't suggest I'd change the fork out, but rather I would go with a RedShift ShockStop stem or just run the big 700c X 50mm tires, or use both things together.
ReplyDelete@rth009 - Maybe someday......
ReplyDeleteIt was really good hearing your thoughts on this as we rode on Saturday. My only mistake was not asking if you wanted to swap bikes for at least a few crank turns. ;)
ReplyDelete@S. Fuller - Yeah, I should have been thoughtful enough to have requested that you ride it. I'm sorry!
ReplyDelete