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| Image courtesy of Trek Bicycles |
I'm going to share my thoughts here. So, let's dig in....
I'm going to cut right to the chase here and say the Trek Checkout is a compromised full suspension 29"er mountain bike. Yes.....it has drop bars, but it doesn't take much imagination to see this bicycle with a flat bar installed. And when you do "see it" , it is very difficult to "unsee it".
I already went into fine detail concerning this opinion of mine in a post last September HERE.
Secondly, I shared in the podcast we may not be wanting, or needing, a "Trek Checkout" if standard steel frames weren't so overbuilt. Now, it may be hard for younger riders to relate to this, but the seasoned riders amongst us probably will understand where I am coming from quite easily. See, steel frames and forks don't ride like they used to.
I know this sounds like some "Unc", Boomer thing to say, but hear me out. There are reasons behind this opinion which, when you know what has happened to steel frames, may help you see the wisdom in the statement.
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| A 2007 Salsa El Mariachi |
The steel frames of 20 years ago weren't held to the same testing standards as steel, aluminum, and carbon frames are held to now. I'm going to limit my comments to the steel frames and forks, but it is obvious the testing standards have affected other materials as well.
Steel frames could be made to have flex/compliance in ways which are impossible to do today due to testing standards. Standards which must be met in order for frames and forks to be sold internationally. My opinion is that today's steel frames are so stiff, as is also the case with other frames in other materials, that the idea of suspension is now valid in a way it wasn't decades ago.
Since this was the case, the Honeman Flyer rides like those older 2000's steel frames. It is smooth, but not flexy, which you really have to watch on a single speed. This comfortable ride comes despite the fact I am using a Thomson seat post, which is not a paragon of flex by any stretch of the imagination. Had this been a frame built for a major brand?
Ha! Forget about the ultra-smooth ride this bicycle has. It would be a much stiffer, much less forgiving ride. My point here is that IF we could have those older standards in play for steel bicycles in 2025, maybe we wouldn't be thinking a Trek Checkout would be necessary.
And this goes for the carbon and aluminum materials as well. Take my Salsa Cycles Waxwing fork, a stiff board of a fork which makes me run the ShockStop stem to keep my hands, arms, and shoulders from getting jackhammered.
Of course, all this is a pipe dream for a company like Trek. They have to have their frames manufactured in a way which will pass the tests for certification. It is an advantage to their bottom line as this testing helps to reduce, and hopefully eliminate, frame and fork breakages, the resulting recalls, and potential lawsuits. So, on one hand I understand, but there is another way, and maybe we don't really need the complexity, cost, maintenance schedules, and proprietary parts this sort of full suspension "gravel bike" engenders.
10 comments:
What frame testing standards are there? Is it UCI or some private organization or is there a governmental agency? ISO 4120 standards are not governmental. In theory the bike industry could ignore them.
I’m not aware of a U.S. testing standard but there is in Europe. Frame and fork. Frames are tested for a specific/maximum length A-C fork.
Generally, the forks, DT and TT have been beefed up to pass.
Also from the Pod, regional names for unpaved roads.
“Fire” road is mostly a California term ( officially). I think it came to widespread use because of Mountain Bike Action magazine in the ‘80-‘90s, which was based in SoCal.
In the PNW logging road or forest road is used in mountain/forested areas. I hear fire road often, but they are very different in intent and routing.
In central Washington State “primitive road” is used for roads that see fewer than 100 vehicles per day. May be smooth and graveled, graded dirt or a rutted double track. “Primitive Road. No Warning Signs” is the most common road sign in many counties.
In Eastern Washington, and especially the Palouse, there are “Summer” roads. Often wide graded farm road but not graveled. Usually totally impassable in the wet. The soils are loess. Ultra fine. Moondust when dry and wet concrete in the wet
Found it. https://www.iso.org/standard/78075.html
I am pretty sure in the EU bikes have to meet ISO 4120 to be put into market. A custom frame and fork can be made for your weight, production have to be a
lot stiffer for the max allowed weight. When I swapped my Ritchey carbon fork for a custom steel one it was noticeably more compliant. Having said that, it isnt in the same league as a suspension fork. What would stop me from something like the Checkout is the complexity, additional maintenance and propietary parts. Plus I dont care for carbon due to its much higher environmental footprint.
The Thomson post is about as unforgiving as possible. The difference between that and a carbon post was easily noticeable on one of my bikes, even without too much exposed post and on smoothish roads.
I also have a low trail/60mm steel fork withe curved blades on a different gravel/adventure bike. It’s amazing how much it moves on washboard descents. I try not to think of the consequences
@N.Y. Roll @shiggy person - There are also German standards, such as the DIN 79010 standards, which frames and forks must pass if a company wants to sell bicycles in Germany. Since the strictest standards will pass everywhere, this is what companies shoot for when designing product. So, while you might get away with selling in the USA without passing the ISO 4120, you wouldn't be able to sell into the EU, or Germany.
I'm sure we've got details incorrect on this, but suffice it to say, my point was that mass produced Aluminum, carbon, and steel frames and all forks ride too stiff now due to testing standards which may or may not be relevant to actual cycling.
@shiggy person - Thank for the rundown of names. It is fascinating to hear what regional name differences are for rustic, dirt byways elsewhere.
@Kranky Wombat - I agree. Complexity and extra maintenance are turnoffs for me.
@shiggy person - I thought I had inadvertently published Monday's post when I read your comment on Thomson posts. (You'll get it when you read the post.) ;>)
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