I like my Topstone alloy 105 quite a lot. I've done basic overnighter backpacking with friends. I just added a Tubus rack and a couple panniers. I like your idea of wide TT bars for more comfort options. I have the king cage on the fork with 3 adhesive patches and some zip ties, so I only put lightweight items there. My goal is to do a week long tour next year with my friend, we're in our 50's. I'm rambling, I meant to comment that once the bike is not usable, you should strip it and hang the frame on the wall, and put some photos from its best trips inside the triangles.
I've got a alu105 which is now 5 years old and gave upgraded everything except the brakes. Its a great bike and has done me proud. Im realising im doing more road and lighter gravel so am looking at a sonder colibri as a little treat, will keep the TS for proper gravel rides and bike packing.
Really good video, thanks. Great to see your "mix & match" approach which focuses on value for money. PLEASE say more about the device you use to attach stuff to your forks....I'm facing the same problem. Cheers.
I really like the Old Man Mountain Axle Pack kit. I used one to add front fork mounts to my Kenesis Tripster AT. Much cheaper than getting a new fork with cage mounts!
Super Nice bike @cycling366! Great to see that you’re favorite bike is a bike that you use a couple of years. I like you’re set-up, very lightweight. Can you do longer tours with t his set-up? Longer than a week? Greetingz
Cheers! Yeah you can do long tours on this for sure. I cycled the length of Britain on this - ua-cam.com/video/qcJyxTQ9qj8/v-deo.htmlsi=xOty6nwYg1vscvig
Well done. You may consider to put a split adaptor for a bottle cage. I have already 2 bikes fitted with this adaptors. This give me the opportunity to put 2 bottles instead of one or 3 bottles total. Regards.
Also have a Topstone (Alloy 1) and found it comfortable for touring, although orginally only intended it for day gravel rides. On the advice of my wheel builder I changed to 36 spoke wheels, Ryde Sputnik rims on Hope Pro hubs, and a Brooks B17 saddle. The original WTB wheels regularly needed minor truing. I almost never need to true the Sputnik rims. They are not tubeless but I wasnt using tubeless before. Seems a nice touring bike as well as a gravel bike. I was interested in the Old Man Mountain mounts for a fork cage or bag. Are they okay with the Cannondale carbon fork? I have read you are no supposed to put anything round a carbon fork although Im not sure if that just applies to clamps. Are the cable ties okay on carbon forks? I have been using my old Carradice saddleabag, ive had this for over 40 years, with a topeak handlebar bag for day stuff and an extra dry bag with sleeping bag mat, down jacket on the back but would like to put that stuff on the forks to distrubute the bags better. Hoping to use the Topstone for LEJOG next year.
How? 😂 this bike has been discontinued and so have many of the other bits I’m talking about. I don’t even have links to any of the components so there is no way of me monetising this… not everything is an advert…
Let me know what you think about the bike below 👇 🙏
I like my Topstone alloy 105 quite a lot. I've done basic overnighter backpacking with friends. I just added a Tubus rack and a couple panniers. I like your idea of wide TT bars for more comfort options. I have the king cage on the fork with 3 adhesive patches and some zip ties, so I only put lightweight items there. My goal is to do a week long tour next year with my friend, we're in our 50's. I'm rambling, I meant to comment that once the bike is not usable, you should strip it and hang the frame on the wall, and put some photos from its best trips inside the triangles.
Nice! It’s a cracking bike. Yeah I like the sound of that very much 😂
I've got a alu105 which is now 5 years old and gave upgraded everything except the brakes. Its a great bike and has done me proud. Im realising im doing more road and lighter gravel so am looking at a sonder colibri as a little treat, will keep the TS for proper gravel rides and bike packing.
Nice! Yeah it’s a good bike when it’s upgraded! The colibri is a good choice as well!
great video - thanks. I was just looking at potentially upgrading my topstone 1 (2021) but now, no need.... just a few mod cons.
Cheers! Yeah definitely. Only thing I don’t like about this is the tyre clearance options but otherwise it’s perfect
I have a 2021 TS 3. There’s something special about these alloy Topstones.
Nice! This is 2019 so getting on a bit now. They are good bikes for sure
I love mine, such a capable bike!
Nice! I agree obviously 😂
Looks good, nice bit of inspiration. The redshift suspension is a great idea for gravel bikes.
Cheers! Yeah it’s nice kit actually
A sweet ride indeed ... thanks for sharing the details with us.
Cheers! About time I did really :)
Really good video, thanks. Great to see your "mix & match" approach which focuses on value for money. PLEASE say more about the device you use to attach stuff to your forks....I'm facing the same problem. Cheers.
Have a look at the Old Man Mountain Axle Pack. That's what I used on my gravel bike. If you're in the UK then SJS Cycles were stocking them.
@@DavidMackenzie Thanks.
That’s it!
I really like the Old Man Mountain Axle Pack kit. I used one to add front fork mounts to my Kenesis Tripster AT. Much cheaper than getting a new fork with cage mounts!
Yeah me too! It’s a great option for that
Are there any issues with the cable tie on a gravel fork? I am thinking of buying these for my older Topstone that does not have fork mounts.
@@stuartwilson1268 I haven't had any issues, and they provide protective tape for the forks.
@@DavidMackenzie Thanks
Super Nice bike @cycling366! Great to see that you’re favorite bike is a bike that you use a couple of years. I like you’re set-up, very lightweight. Can you do longer tours with t his set-up? Longer than a week? Greetingz
Cheers! Yeah you can do long tours on this for sure. I cycled the length of Britain on this - ua-cam.com/video/qcJyxTQ9qj8/v-deo.htmlsi=xOty6nwYg1vscvig
@@Cycling366 that’s al long ride indeed. Very nice documentary!
Cheers!
Well done. You may consider to put a split adaptor for a bottle cage. I have already 2 bikes fitted with this adaptors. This give me the opportunity to put 2 bottles instead of one or 3 bottles total. Regards.
Nice, not sure I’d need that personally but sounds like a good idea
Also have a Topstone (Alloy 1) and found it comfortable for touring, although orginally only intended it for day gravel rides. On the advice of my wheel builder I changed to 36 spoke wheels, Ryde Sputnik rims on Hope Pro hubs, and a Brooks B17 saddle. The original WTB wheels regularly needed minor truing. I almost never need to true the Sputnik rims. They are not tubeless but I wasnt using tubeless before. Seems a nice touring bike as well as a gravel bike. I was interested in the Old Man Mountain mounts for a fork cage or bag. Are they okay with the Cannondale carbon fork? I have read you are no supposed to put anything round a carbon fork although Im not sure if that just applies to clamps. Are the cable ties okay on carbon forks? I have been using my old Carradice saddleabag, ive had this for over 40 years, with a topeak handlebar bag for day stuff and an extra dry bag with sleeping bag mat, down jacket on the back but would like to put that stuff on the forks to distrubute the bags better. Hoping to use the Topstone for LEJOG next year.
Nice! Same sort of story as me really. Was bought as a gravel bike but realised it was great at most things!
I like the Topstone. The current model is on my list if I end up with a gravel bike.
What did you mean about using 650b for less punctures ?
Cool, 650bs generally mean you can fit wider and beefier tyres so they’re likely more puncture resistant
any recommendation for good bikepacking routes in the northwest?
Got to be honest, I’m not a fan of the North West, lakes obviously are amazing, but always prefer Yorkshire and the Peaks
Gravel bikes 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Must be wonderful having such a great sense of humour…
This is mostly an advertisement, you really should say this in the intro.
How? 😂 this bike has been discontinued and so have many of the other bits I’m talking about. I don’t even have links to any of the components so there is no way of me monetising this… not everything is an advert…