Titanium Croix de Fer, Enigma Etape or Mason Resolution?

[cougie uk]

There are a lot of hills in Cornwall. I am always going up or down, like being stuck in a game of snakes and ladders, so the overall weight could be an issue. Useful data on the relative speeds though. It confirms what I suspected. I really like the look and feel of the CdF though. Maybe I need more than two bikes....! I read your thread on the CdF and it was incredibly useful. There is an argument for consumer reviews of bikes on this site, rather than reading 'professional' reviewers.

If you think about your weight then the difference in weight between individual bike is probably negligible. Would you tell if your water bottle was full on a hill or not ? That's probably the difference.

 

[wafter]

There are a lot of hills in Cornwall. I am always going up or down, like being stuck in a game of snakes and ladders, so the overall weight could be an issue. Useful data on the relative speeds though. It confirms what I suspected. I really like the look and feel of the CdF though. Maybe I need more than two bikes....! I read your thread on the CdF and it was incredibly useful. There is an argument for consumer reviews of bikes on this site, rather than reading 'professional' reviewers.

That's a fair point about the hills; although again to put the mass into perspective on a relatively optimisting value of 80kg all-up (rider, bike etc) a difference in bike mass of 2kg is only 2.5%, so on a fairly steep hill where aero isn't a factor you'll be 2.5% slower or have to put in 2.5% more power to maintain the same speed.

Don't get me wrong, all things being equal I'd always rather have a lighter bike.. I find lightness makes a bike feel tangibly more agile / "lively" / responsive especially when out of the saddle and over rough ground when you need to throw it about underneath you. Of course this needs to be balanced against other factors such as robustness and longevity since improvments in one area will always mean a price is being paid elsewhere.

Personally I love my CdF but it doesn't feel as agile as the road bike. Granted some of this will be down to the more "stable" geometry as well as the weight. IIRC the CFRP fork (as used on the Ti variant) loses maybe 1kg, however being tight and prone to anxiety I was more than happy to take the mass penalty on the fork for the peace of mind it brings in terms of robustness / predictible failure characteristics.

I don't want to come across as one of those owners who attempts to railroad others into making the same choices as they did. I've only ridden the steel CdF so my observations can only really be confined to geometry and general build relative to your situation, so is only partially relevant - while I've no experience of the other two models you mention so can't give a valid comparison.

I'm glad you found my CdF review of interest anyway; while I make no claims about my skills as a reviewer I'm a firm believer in the value of unbiased owner reviews to help those in the market for a new bike make a fair and informed decision on where to go

 

[footloose crow]

If you think about your weight then the difference in weight between individual bike is probably negligible. Would you tell if your water bottle was full on a hill or not ? That's probably the difference.

I have read this a lot (weight is less of an issue than we think) and agree in terms of physics that the work (watts?) required to lift 80kg through 100m of height is not significantly less than the effort for 82kg - c.2.5%. So why does it feel easier going uphill on a 2kg lighter bike? And why are the climbing specialists in the TdF all around 60kg and on 6.5kg bikes? Is it all about marginal gains? If you are cycling uphill at a steady (for me) 150w, does the 4.25 w extra effort slow me much? It seems too! The great French TdF winner Jacques Anquetil allegedly moved the water bottle from his bike to his jersey pocket saying it made his bike lighter and thus he could go faster. Is it all psychological?

 

[footloose crow]

You're welcome to try it out next time you are passing through SW London

(presumably you mean arms not prams )

I did mean 'arms' and now edited. I have dyslexic fingers. Kind offer - thank you. It is a long way from here though!

 

[vickster]

Sonder do the Camino gravel bike in Ti too

 

[footloose crow]

Sonder do the Camino gravel bike in Ti too

The Ti versions are already sold out, no demos available and Alpkit huddle in the far north anyway. Prob more interested in Ti Colibri but that also unavailable. Great prices - are they less good than Enigma or Van Nic??

 

[vickster]

The Ti versions are already sold out, no demos available and Alpkit huddle in the far north anyway. Prob more interested in Ti Colibri but that also unavailable. Great prices - are they less good than Enigma or Van Nic??

Depends how you define good?
I test rode Enigma, J Guillem and Van Nic. The Enigma and Guillem were lovely bikes to ride (the vN Skeiron just didn't feel right for whatever reason) but they didn't feel or look any better to justify spending another £1-1.5k over the Sabbath.
Yes, the Sabbath has QR wheels rather than TA but that didn't bother me enough to spend so much more (indeed at the time the Etape had QRs, TAs now perhaps)
The Sabbath was clearly finished much better than the Spa Elans I saw (another I tried) to justify an extra ~£500 though.

I visited Reilly but I got put off by some bad feedback from an ex-forumer (and also the price, although I liked the idea of supporting a small UK company, I guess a bit like Spa and to a lesser extent Enigma [yes I know they make the frames in the Far East]).

I also looked at Pearsons, my LBS (I have one of their older CF bikes), but their Ti was even more expensive and I didn't like the aesthetic

 

[footloose crow]

For those of you kind enough to respond to this (now rather old thread) - an update. I test rode a Mason Definition and Resolution (loved them both) and an Enigma Etape a couple of weeks ago. Liked the Etape just a little bit more - fast, comfortable, better fit.

So I ordered an Enigma Etape. GRX 800 drive set (48/31 x 11-34), Hunt 4 season gravel wheels, 32mm Conti 5000TL tyres, saddle yet to be chosen, mixture of carbon and alloy posts, stems and bars.

Delivery early December - have been assured pandemic will not stop production.

Looking forward to it.

The demonstrator - 105 set up, 35mm Panaracer gravel kings.

 

[Goldenretriever]

Interesting that the demonstrator has 35mm tyres? I thought maximum is 32mm without mudguards and 28mm with. Unless things have changed in the twelve months I've had mine. I to decided on the GRX, but 46/30 and a 11/34 cassette. Lovely and comfortable, purchased mine for longer multi day rides which obviously hav'nt happened.

 

[ianrauk]

Good choice. Look forward to seeing some pics

 

[footloose crow]

Interesting that the demonstrator has 35mm tyres? I thought maximum is 32mm without mudguards and 28mm with. Unless things have changed in the twelve months I've had mine. I to decided on the GRX, but 46/30 and a 11/34 cassette. Lovely and comfortable, purchased mine for longer multi day rides which obviously hav'nt happened.

The new version will take 32mm with mudguards and 35mm without although you can see in the picture there is plenty of space even with 35mm. I believe it is a new fork that has made the difference.

 

[Tripster]

Thats a fine looking machine 👍

 

[Johnsop99]

Good choice, I have a 6 year old Enigma Echo described as a fast endurance road bike. Does what it says on the tin, fast and comfortable over longer distances. Running on 25mm tyres and a low gear of 36/32 for the wonderful Cornish hills. Great bike that I hope to keep forever. Hope that you enjoy your Enigma as much as I enjoy mine.

 

[footloose crow]

Good choice, I have a 6 year old Enigma Echo described as a fast endurance road bike. Does what it says on the tin, fast and comfortable over longer distances. Running on 25mm tyres and a low gear of 36/32 for the wonderful Cornish hills. Great bike that I hope to keep forever. Hope that you enjoy your Enigma as much as I enjoy mine.

Agree with the need for low gearing down here in Cornwall. Will look out for your bike when I venture closer to Devon!

 

[Tripster]

Those Masons are really nice. I was surprised to see one of their most highly rated bikes, The Bokeh, is an Aluminium frame.
The resolution looks beautiful. Never looked at Mason before.