Falcon Explorer 12

[biggs682]

I'm somewhat surprised at that given the number of machines that seem to pass through your hands!.

I suppose the nearest similar machine i have are either the old 50's Raleigh or the Hercules bikes i have at the mo .

Must admit i normally prefer the relaxed ride of the 70's Road bikes with 27" wheels to the more chattering ride that the newer machines can give you .

I am intending to run this through and just keep clocking the miles up on it

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I suppose the nearest similar machine i have are either the old 50's Raleigh or the Hercules bikes i have at the mo .
Must admit i normally prefer the relaxed ride of the 70's Road bikes with 27" wheels to the more chattering ride that the newer machines can give you .

Is it really the 27" wheels or is it the more relaxed geometry often found on older frames? I can't honestly detect any noticeable difference between 27" x 1 1/4" and 700c in ride feel, although I do notice some difference between 26" Roadster, 26" MTB, and 700c.

 

[biggs682]

27" just seem to roll nicely for some reason , this one is on 700's

Yes re geometry being relaxed has got to help

 

[biggs682]

Well i gave the Explorer a nice 30+ mile ride this morning i think at times i would have been better of using a canoe !

The roads were wet and some huge puddles all over the place but we survived and enjoyed it .

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Many older hybrids adapt well to the touring lifestyle..

Same can be said for 80's/90's rigid MTB frames. People keep going on about how great Surlys are with racks and panniers, but it's blindingly obvious that the 26" wheel versions are clones of what MTB's used to look like 25-30 years ago. Yet a Surly is strong money whilst an almost identical looking MTB can be had for the cost of a few beers. Figure that one out.....

 

[Gravity Aided]

Same can be said for 80's/90's rigid MTB frames. People keep going on about how great Surlys are with racks and panniers, but it's blindingly obvious that the 26" wheel versions are clones of what MTB's used to look like 25-30 years ago. Yet a Surly is strong money whilst an almost identical looking MTB can be had for the cost of a few beers. Figure that one out.....

I already have, working on a Trek 950 with oversize True Temper tubing and custom lugs. A potential 650b candidate. I got some 27.5 rims this morning. I dunno, so may ways to go forward with this bike. Lighter and nicer than a Surly, frame cost but a little, and I think 26" through 700c may fit.

 

[biggs682]

Another 37 miles this morning and i even managed to get up Hardwater on it !!!
Still rides smooth and slick
Even managed a full scalp this morning

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Even managed a full scalp this morning

On a flat-bar steel hybrid!!

 

[biggs682]

On a flat-bar steel hybrid!!

Must admit the other guy looked a bit naffed off as i went flying past him

 

[biggs682]

Here's a stone that has stopped rolling and has no moss on it .

 

[biggs682]

After 42.5 miles into what felt like a headwind most of the way I have decided that this bike is a Chieftan tank in disguise .

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

headwind most of the way I have decided that this bike is a Chieftan tank in disguise .

It's not the bike, the wind was horrible yesterday and today wasn't that great either. I cut my ride short yesterday after only 8 miles and even so, my legs were still complaining about it several hours later. I was really struggling to even get into double-digit MPH figures on good stretches of road where I would normally manage 15 or 16 mph easily.
Oddly enough, since you got your Explorer, I have seen two of them in the flesh. The latest being when I went for a beer by bike earlier, when I returned to my Pioneer, there was an Explorer locked to the railings right next to it! Not a bad bike I thought, I wouldn't turn one down if it came my way.

 

[biggs682]

It's not the bike, the wind was horrible yesterday and today wasn't that great either. I cut my ride short yesterday after only 8 miles and even so, my legs were still complaining about it several hours later. I was really struggling to even get into double-digit MPH figures on good stretches of road where I would normally manage 15 or 16 mph easily.
Oddly enough, since you got your Explorer, I have seen two of them in the flesh. The latest being when I went for a beer by bike earlier, when I returned to my Pioneer, there was an Explorer locked to the railings right next to it! Not a bad bike I thought, I wouldn't turn one down if it came my way.

It was fun on this mornings even windier ride as a couple of the times i saw 25 mph showing on the garmin with the wind behind me and then go around a corner and the speed dropped that quick it was like pulling a parachute .

Must admit not seen another one

 

[Glasgow44]

Can I ask:


There was mention about Reynolds frames on this thread. I’ve put another posting on here about what bikes I’ve narrowed it down to and one of these is a Genesis Croix de Fer 30 and the bike shop told me this has a steel Reynolds frame. Would that be a good alternative to an aluminium frame/carbon forks. I went for a spin on the Croix de Fer and I was really surprised at how light the steel was. If you look at my other posting on this site, it’ll make sense!


Thanks again for all your replies.


J

 

[Gravity Aided]

Being in the States, all I can say is that bikes branded Genesis in the U.K. seem to be really fine bikes. Those in the U.S. are Wal*Mart specials. Reynolds tubing seems to have several variants. The Croix De Fer is Reynolds 725, a very fine steel for bicycle production. Their site takes a while to load, so be prepared to look at the throbbing G for a minute or so.