Jamie R.’s 650b light tourer

I had a deadline for this bike which was a famous ride here in New England called the D2R2. It is known for its steep climbs on bucolic roads of mostly dirt and gravel. Held every year in August, riders come from all over to see what “new” roads have been added to the route. The right bike for this ride depends on the rider. And if you’ve ever been, you know that there is no right bike. I’ve seen people do it on road bikes, touring bikes, vintage steel bikes, mountain bikes, CX bikes, and even fat bikes. Jamie’s bike wasn’t designed specifically for this event but it is exactly the type of bike I would want for this ride.

He picked his bike up the day before the ride so it turned out that the D2R2 would be the shakedown ride! I was confident I assembled it properly but a shakedown ride is a shakedown ride and I was a little concerned. It turns out that I had nothing to be worried about. Jamie started that day around the same time as us but we never ran into him again. He was decidedly faster than our group and he didn’t seem to let up all day. All in all he had a great ride and his new bike performed well.

With accommodations for a rear rack, low riders, and lighting, Jamie’s bike is pretty versatile. There’s not a whole lot of color on this one but it definitely shines on the climbs. It is light at 23lbs with fenders and front rack. The 42mm Compass tires make you feel like you’re floating even on the roughest of roads. The 1×11 SRAM drivetrain has a 38t chainring and a 42t low gear in the rear. Even on the steepest climbs of the D2R2 he wasn’t searching for another gear. The finish is a dark gray metallic but it direct sunlight there is an earth tone that will pop out. PPG’s CeramiClear scratch resistant clearcoat is on top of the basecoats to keep it looking fresh for years to come.