Specialized AWOL and new European race

[BrianP]

More here http://wearegoingawol.tumblr.com/THE%20AWOL

[Bearbonesnorm]

More here http://wearegoingawol.tumblr.com/THE%20AWOL

Old post about the race here:
http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... bul#p14431

That AWOL looks a little odd, I kinda like it but I'd much rather have a Vaya

[johnnystorm]

I realise that a bike is a bike, and that a steel tourer isn't anything new but looking at Specialized's Fatboy and the Awol I can't help thinking they've looked at Salsa's Schtick and thought "we'll have some of that". I also realise thats how you make money, by selling what people want to buy, but the whole AWOL thing (tattoo'd blokes on rusty, scruffy bikes) seems a blatant rip-off of the Salsa "Plaid, not lycra" image. They did it with the Stumpy so no surprise they did it again I guess.

/biased fargo rider

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'll be dead honest here (so feel free to shoot me down) but the main reason I wouldn't buy either an AWOL or a Fatboy is the fact it says Specialized on them.

[restlessshawn]

I'll be dead honest here (so feel free to shoot me down) but the main reason I wouldn't buy either an AWOL or a Fatboy is the fact it says Specialized on them.

Same, the z instead of an s annoys me...but then the missing ' in this very forum's title also bothers me

[johnnystorm]

I'll be dead honest here (so feel free to shoot me down) but the main reason I wouldn't buy either an AWOL or a Fatboy is the fact it says Specialized on them.

Same, the z instead of an s annoys me...but then the missing ' in this very forum's title also bothers me

Stu's forum would be correct if we were saying it belongs to him, Bikepackers forum is also OK as it's a forum frequented by bikepackers (plural). Oh, and wannabes like me. :D

Cambridge Uni advocates -ise, Oxford Uni advocates -ise, Oxford University press advocates -ize.

[FLV]

I'll be dead honest here (so feel free to shoot me down) but the main reason I wouldn't buy either an AWOL or a Fatboy is the fact it says Specialized on them.

I like specialized bikes and kit. I think it's cos I used to want / need a stumpy back in the day.
I know they're picking up on other people's ideas but thier input and sales will make the market bigger and drive more companies to make parts like fat tyres. It will get a little less niche maybe, hopefully prices might come down a bit as a result?

Hipocritically I would buy a trek, or a giant cos of the brand though...

[restlessshawn]

I would prefer Bikepackers' forum as a possesive plural

[Bearbonesnorm]

Bloody hell ... thought I'd fallen a sleep and woken up in STW land for a minute

I have to say that the ' was deliberated over and an executive decision made to leave it out.

Hipocritically I would buy a trek, or a giant cos of the brand though...

FLV, should that say wouldn't rather than would ?

I like specialized bikes and kit. I think it's cos I used to want / need a stumpy back in the day.
I know they're picking up on other people's ideas but thier input and sales will make the market bigger and drive more companies to make parts like fat tyres. It will get a little less niche maybe, hopefully prices might come down a bit as a result?

I've no issues with Specialized making stuff which may or may not be very similar to what other companies are doing. What I find ironic is the names they're giving stuff.

Fatboy - is a Harley Davidson and has been for many years.

AWOL - is a UK custom motorcycle magazine and has been for many years.

Considering that Specialized forced Revelate to change their company name from Epic ... I think they're taking the piss somewhat. Do they not employ anyone with an imagination ? Even a small one :?

[ScotRoutes]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_spelling

Anyway, the Fargo is just a copy of a 2005 Kona Sutra.

Specialized have been using Fatboy for both bikes and tyres for years (a quick google suggests 1994)

[Bearbonesnorm]

Specialized have been using Fatboy for both bikes and tyres for years (a quick google suggests 1994)

First year of HD Fatboy production was 1990.

I just think it would be so much better if they called it a Specialized Lardarse

[restlessshawn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_spelling

It's so wrong I found that interesting

[didnothingfatal]

Wasn't the stumpjumper ripping off Gary Fisher and the Klunkerz? I own two Specialised a steel Langster and a SWorks Langster frame I'm amassing bits for, both cheap to buy, ordinarily I wouldn't bother giving them my money though!

[johnnystorm]

I think it was Tom Ritchey's bike they had cloned in the Far East.

[BrianP]

Ok, so if I like my Fargo a lot, but would like to go Rohloff or Alfine and even possibly belt drive, what choices do I have?

I need the high front end at my age, tyres up to 2.2 which the AWOL gives me plus carrying capacity.

Cannot afford very high end expepensive solutions.

The AWOL frameset in a nice Reynolds tube set meets these needs, what else does.

Strangely enough, my own Kona Big Unit meets all these needs if I discount belt drive and use seat, frame and handlebar bags. I bought the Big Unit very cheaply on eBay and its a turned out to be the bike I ride most.

Brian

[Bearbonesnorm]

Ok, so if I like my Fargo a lot, but would like to go Rohloff or Alfine and even possibly belt drive, what choices do I have?

The belt drive may be an issue but possibly a Gryphon.

http://www.singularcycles.com/shop/inde ... yphon.html

If the budget was there and I had your criteria to meet, a Shand Stoater FT would be on order right now ... it's reet loverrly

http://www.shandcycles.com/frames/fat-t ... -overview/

[FLV]

Aye it should have said wouldn't. bloody spelling correction.

Oddly, I hadnt made the connection of spesh forcing the name change of epic. Thats a shame...

[FLV]

http://www.shandcycles.com/frames/fat-t ... -overview/

All nice bikes the shands, havn't really looked at them before