Very nice setup. I’m riding a Trek 1120. I have two years before I retire. At 65 I’m going to hit the open road for as long as I am able. How well I embrace the suck is yet to be determined. In life I have embraced it well I hope it’s not a problem by bicycle !
Great presentation and a good showcase for Alpkit and their Sonder bikes. I do hope you claimed your member rewards. Looking forward to the Desert video too. Cheers.
It's a nice bike! It's the Topeak MTX 29er disc rack and you'll need a clamp like this - www.jejamescycles.com/product/14137/system-ex-systemex-seatpost-clamp-w-rack-mount/option/
Two screw in pannier mounts at the bottom but that’s it. I mention in the video about the rack and how to fit it. You need a Seatpost collar with rack mounts to make it work
27.5 means you can fit fatter tyres. That’s basically the point of getting them vs the 29ers. I do have both wheelsets if I want to swap but for sandier, boggier terrain I’d go for the smaller wheels and fatter tyres. I have a broken road steel walkthrough video coming out on Sunday evening which might help you choose! Thanks 🙏
Hi, love the setup and thanks for sharing. I am interested to know what handlebars you have fitted and how they compare to normal straight MTB ones. Thank you, Marcus
Cheers mate! I did record a snippet of the bars but obviously didn’t make the Final Cut!! 🤦♂️ they’re Planet X Geoff bars with nukeproof bar ends. Much much more comfortable than straight bars in my opinion!
Hey 👋 quick question on the front rack. You mention the slippage but remedied it by adding the Tailfin mounts. How are they doing that, just purely by being there on the fork stop it moving….the racks not actually connected to them? Fellow frontier rider here 😊
It’s only an issue if you carry lots and lots of stuff like I was but the tailfin mounts clamp to the forks underneath the topeak clamps to provide extra support. Not attached in any way 👍
@@Cycling366 it won't 'damage' your forks, I think what @mphillips meant was that the actuation of the suspension will be affected. Maybe try altering the preload and/or rebound if you think that the forks action is different? Lovely bike btw 🚴♂️👍
Great video Tom and a fab bike & set up too. Are your mtx topeak panniers waterproof Tom or do you have the additional rain covers that topeak sell? Cheers Simon
Thanks Simon! They’re not waterproof unfortunately, but I do have the waterproof covers for them. Never actually used them in all honesty! They’re pretty water resistant as they are so not properly had to
Thanks Tom - maybe something to put on my Christmas list just as a back up. Looking forward to your next video and in the meantime have a great Christmas 🎄
Awesome! Exact same spec? That would be a major coincidence. I forgot to mention them even though I had a clip where I talked about them, it got lost in the edit! They’re Planet X On One Geoff bars
@@Cycling366 well almost the same - just the SRAM SX on my (cheapest spec). Also - do you find that those Level brake levers send the lines on a very "out front" path? Always concerned I'm bending them round too far to avoid a roll bag.
Very nice setup. I’m riding a Trek 1120. I have two years before I retire. At 65 I’m going to hit the open road for as long as I am able. How well I embrace the suck is yet to be determined. In life I have embraced it well I hope it’s not a problem by bicycle !
Cheers mate! Sounds great :) never too old to get out there!
Loving the videos Tom!
Cheers Joe! Hope you’re doing well mate! :)
What a great travel tank enjoy it
Thanks mate! It’s been great so far so it’s looking positive!
@@Cycling366 I love mixed bikepacking with rack and frame bag I did the same on my Fargo
Great presentation and a good showcase for Alpkit and their Sonder bikes. I do hope you claimed your member rewards. Looking forward to the Desert video too. Cheers.
Thanks very much! I’ll send it to them and see if they share it 😛 stay tuned for the desert stuff!
Lovely bike.. Ive been riding the Camino Ti for just over a year now and its by far the most pleasing bike ive owned.
Nice one! A Ti bike would be great I’m sure 👌
Great video man. Gonna steal a few items 😛
Haha cheers man. Go for it!
Hi mate , thinking of getting a Sonder Frontier myself , which Topeak rear rack did you fit and the extra little bracket ? great vids btw
It's a nice bike! It's the Topeak MTX 29er disc rack and you'll need a clamp like this - www.jejamescycles.com/product/14137/system-ex-systemex-seatpost-clamp-w-rack-mount/option/
ordered a sonder frontier but they dont list info for rear rack mounts specs on the frame? whats your rear rack? and is there brazeons?
Two screw in pannier mounts at the bottom but that’s it. I mention in the video about the rack and how to fit it. You need a Seatpost collar with rack mounts to make it work
just interested why you went for 27.5 over 29 wheels?? I'm abbout to order a Sonder Broken Road and have this quandry.....
27.5 means you can fit fatter tyres. That’s basically the point of getting them vs the 29ers. I do have both wheelsets if I want to swap but for sandier, boggier terrain I’d go for the smaller wheels and fatter tyres. I have a broken road steel walkthrough video coming out on Sunday evening which might help you choose! Thanks 🙏
After many months now, how did you find the switch to front sus?
Does it add any benefit in a bikepacking scenario?
Nice! It just takes the battering out the rough stuff and takes pressure off my wrists. I really noticed it doing the Gran Guanche this year
Not sure I could go back to a bike with suspension though I still have an old MTB but never use it no matter the terrain.
Yeah depends on what you’re after I suppose! Not used suspension myself for a very long time so it’s all new to me haha
Hi, love the setup and thanks for sharing. I am interested to know what handlebars you have fitted and how they compare to normal straight MTB ones. Thank you, Marcus
Cheers mate! I did record a snippet of the bars but obviously didn’t make the Final Cut!! 🤦♂️ they’re Planet X Geoff bars with nukeproof bar ends. Much much more comfortable than straight bars in my opinion!
@@Cycling366 excellent, thank you. I have just ordered some. Cheers.
Very nice .
Cheers mate!
Hey 👋 quick question on the front rack. You mention the slippage but remedied it by adding the Tailfin mounts. How are they doing that, just purely by being there on the fork stop it moving….the racks not actually connected to them?
Fellow frontier rider here 😊
It’s only an issue if you carry lots and lots of stuff like I was but the tailfin mounts clamp to the forks underneath the topeak clamps to provide extra support. Not attached in any way 👍
Is the front rack connected to the fork sliders? If so, coupled with the side bags, the unsprung mass could be an issue for the suspension.
It is indeed, I don’t think the weight will be significant enough to do any damage to them. Thanks for watching
@@Cycling366 it won't 'damage' your forks, I think what @mphillips meant was that the actuation of the suspension will be affected. Maybe try altering the preload and/or rebound if you think that the forks action is different?
Lovely bike btw 🚴♂️👍
Great video Tom and a fab bike & set up too.
Are your mtx topeak panniers waterproof Tom or do you have the additional rain covers that topeak sell?
Cheers Simon
Thanks Simon! They’re not waterproof unfortunately, but I do have the waterproof covers for them. Never actually used them in all honesty! They’re pretty water resistant as they are so not properly had to
Thanks Tom - maybe something to put on my Christmas list just as a back up.
Looking forward to your next video and in the meantime have a great Christmas 🎄
Very nice, is the frame aero enough though?
Thanks! Aero enough for carrying two pannier bags, frame bags, fork bags and camera tripods hanging off the back? Yes.
@@Cycling366 Hehe about the drag coefficient of a shipping container but it looks bloody awesome.
Did you mention the bars? I've got exactly the same setup only my Frontier is green!
Awesome! Exact same spec? That would be a major coincidence. I forgot to mention them even though I had a clip where I talked about them, it got lost in the edit! They’re Planet X On One Geoff bars
@@Cycling366 well almost the same - just the SRAM SX on my (cheapest spec). Also - do you find that those Level brake levers send the lines on a very "out front" path? Always concerned I'm bending them round too far to avoid a roll bag.
Why no mudguards?
Never felt I’ve needed them, plus they’d be a pain to get on and off when taking the bike on the plane with me!
Soon it will be me too in this traveling life
👍
Lush bike....enjoy.
Cheers Alan! Will do :)
3inch tires is perfect for trails supprized your not using stem bag
It’s ideal! Nah not needed really as I have so many other bags/boxes
@@Cycling366 strange as water bottles one under the frame just means covered in dirt a lot