STC67 wrote:Hi Ron, gearing aside, how do you find the difference in geometry between the Sabbath Silk Route and the VN Pioneer. I know they are different bicycles for different purposes, but for an all day rider, if they had similar specs, How would you compare. I note there is not a lot of info (that I could find) on the specs on the Sabbath site. I have emailed them but they are yet to get back to me.
Thanks
I did get the geometry chart from Sabbath, but I dunno what I did with it 'cos I can't find it now. But its a fairly conventional drop bar geometry measuring 58cm cc along the effective horizontal top tube. This is the same as my previous tourer, and pretty spot on for me as I normally ride a 56cm roadie, but the higher front, i.e. bars at the same level as the saddle effectively shortens the bike.
The Pioneer was a little more difficult to fathom as I don't have much experience sizing flat bar bikes. However it seems that frames designed for use with flat bars are longer, so it's no surprise that the Pioneer is 61cm cc along the effective horizontal top tube. I think the head tube and seat tube angles are a little more relaxed too. A flat bar touring bike was a real experiment for me as I've never been able to get comfortable riding an MTB over any distance - lots of problems with numbness in my hands. So far I still have them, even with the ubeaut Ergon grips fitted. I have cut down the bar as narrow as possible, but I think it's still too wide.
Both are nice bikes to ride, but with the Rohloff hub and SON dynamo hub the Pioneer is quite a bit heavier. To my mind the Sabbath is the nicer ride, possibly because I'm more accustomed to drop bars.