My dream build (Sonder Camino Ti)

[dimrub]

Back when I was riding in Poland, I had plenty of time on my hands, and no better way to fill time while on a bike than dreaming up the next bike.

I started from what I want the bike for. Moderate duration trips - Europe - mix of roads and gravel, plus commute back home (30k of 2/3 road and 1/3 gravel). I found out I prefer credit card touring over camping, but wouldn't want to rule out camping altogether, so a flexible setup in terms of amount of gear. I wanted something light yet durable. A modern setup, but one I'll feel comfortable tinkering with (so no Rohloff and such). Gradually, a list of features began crystallising.

• Gravel Titanium frame
• Dropbar
• 1x gravel transmission
• Hydraulic brakes
• Carbon wheels with 45mm tyres (tubeless).
• Brooks B17 FTW
• Light rear rack with rack-top drybag (Tailfin or similar)
• Partial frame bag, 2 bottle cages, lock attached under the downtube, top tube bag
• Handlebar bag, double mount with GPS + front light, and a rear radar completes the picture.
• Light partial mudguards - the rear mainly to protect the drivetrain, the front to protect ma face.
• Optional pair of drybags on the cages installed on fork mounts.

I started by using the opportunity of visiting the UK, and bought the bike - Sonder Camino Ti, answers all of my requirements to a tee.

I'm putting on dual purpose pedals I'm taking from an MTB my son is riding (he only uses flats anyway). The rear rack and bag are on their way to me, and so is the rear dry bag. I've got my new Wahoo Roam - haven't tested it though yet. The mudguards are on their way too. Once everything is assembled, the only thing missing is the radar - I'm looking at the Wahoo Trackr, but it's pretty expensive where I live, so maybe I'll wait with it for a bit. I mean, I'm at a place where my main remaining concern is how to attach the duck.

 

[sevenfourate]

……duck tape ?


***Great looking / purposeful machine. Enjoy !

 

[Windle]

I could really fancy one of these, they get good reviews and seem very popular.
I've been thinking about another gravel bike, crucially with the ability to run tyres wider than the 38mm ones that my Checkpoint has, as a lot of my local routes are a bit rough. I think the Camino will take 50mm tyres. I spotted an ex-demo one in Alpkit, Keswick last month but I think it was a large whereas I'll need a medium. A chap I watch on YouTube (The Rad Gravel Rider) has one and did a video about the build and subsequent reviews after he'd been running it a while.

 

[All uphill]

Looks great!

Does that weird front mudguard protect your face, or just the headset?

 

[dimrub]

Looks great!

Does that weird front mudguard protect your face, or just the headset?

I'm not sure what it's even supposed to protect, but I got one for free, so I put it on. A proper replacement, front and rear, is already in the post. I don't care about some water getting on my face or clothes, but I do care about my drivetrain, especially on longer trips, where regular degreasing and relubing is not feasible.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

but I do care about my drivetrain

The front one isn’t going to stop spray hitting the drive train

 

[dimrub]

I'm not entirely happy with the triangle - the frame bag is too short, and the seat tube bottle cage is too damn high (a surprising oversight on the part of Sonder folks - there should have been a third eyelet there). So I've ordered a bottle cage adapter that will allow me to move the cage lower. As for the frame bag - Sonder have the Deluge, which at 6L is supposed to provide a snag fit into the L frame - sounds perfect. I even have Alpkit credits or dividents or whatnot to buy with - I just can't get them to ship the bag here, so will have to wait for an occasion. Well, it's aesthetics mostly - I certainly don't lack storage space, what with my new Ortlieb drybag (16L).

I also got the mudguards, but am in no hurry to install them - we haven't had the first rain yet, and it might still be a while.

Put the old dual pedals on her. SPD for longer rides close to home, regular shoes for either short rides within the town, or for touring abroad (no sense in touring with SPD, then lugging around another pair of shoes for off the bike). I was surprised the other day when GCN did a video of a noob trying out clipless for the first time - and they equipped her with these dual pedals. They are a faff, and an entirely unnecessary one for a beginner.

The cockpit is kind of ok - I have this double-sided mount, and I managed to put the Wahoo on top and a rather weak front light on the bottom. I don't mind it being weak - it's there for emergency only, I never want or plan to ride in the dark. I do mind that it interferes with that Ortlieb handlebar bag. I mean, it kind of works, but just barely. It's a known issue with them. I also have a nice bell there, but with the Wahoo it became redundant, so maybe I'll take it off.

On that 145k ride we did I did feel my palms getting numb - that came as a rather unpleasant surprise. It happened pretty quick into the ride too. At the very least I want to replace the bar tape with something softer (pity about that Brooks tape), but I'm afraid more drastic measures are called for - perhaps, the horror, a raised stem.

Oh and I did order a radar. Ended up ordering a Chinese one - apparently quite a reasonable option in terms of bang for the buck ratio, but it appears to be stuck at the customs.