NOT What I was Expecting

[@Joeyfleshman757]

I’m having this bike built up as we speak but a straight BQ build (same wheels, lighting and bag with Paul’s canti brakes, RH tires, fenders and drop bars). I’m pretty excited to try it out and this just adds to it:). Thank you Russ, Matt and Wayne (Velo Classique).

[@waisinglee1509]

Yep, that is what I would do too.

[@keithbasham2413]

how is riding? im thinking of evasio vs romaceur vs the bolt....for commuter

[@keithbasham2413]

how is it riding? i want to build one for a commtuer

[@keithbasham2413]

how is it riding? i want one man....

[@eggplantstar914]

hows is it riding? i want one man...

[@starmichaelbuilds]

Heck yeah little shout out to the Norther Lyon! Best frame for the money ever offered. Shame so few of them were made.

[@slopetechno]

Just get a L'avecaise from Jeff Lyon directly! Mine is the best bike I've ever had.

[@jomo4751]

I really appreciate weight details in kg ! cheers from metric side of life ;)

[@christopherwatts8904]

Been riding mine for a couple years. I have the first brown version. Light, supple, fast, fun. Ridden with drops and now on Jones Loops which is my preference for comfortable ride and my ageing body!. Not a lot wrong with canti's. As a long distance rando day ride I doubt there's a lot out there that can beat it!!

[@bimmerfan729]

This is a pretty darn cool looking bike! Would make a great everyday ride

[@lukenicholls2522]

Just got mine built up and rideable last night, the paintwork really is amazing when the sun hits it. I'm super stoked to get some miles in!

[@madisondeans5566]

Any thing Matt builds is awesome!! Big fan of Crust!! Fun Co.,Fun bikes! Great video Russ!!ok,ok,time for more patches & stickers 🤣😉

[@The1trueDave]

4:09 220lb for rider *and* luggage? That's pretty tight! I mean at 180lb I *probably* wouldn't exceed that but I've never thought of myself as being heavy! I know plenty of people over 220lb and not all couch potatoes either...

[@sneedincowboy6357]

probably not a bike for fatties or body builders unfortunately

[@sneedincowboy6357]

or super tall people. but thats okay! not everything has to be for everybody :)

[@Gallywomack]

Weight limits are there to be ignored

[@cjones7854]

So slick, I would run some kind of alt bar on this probably, but besides that it's a sweet build.

[@markthorrowgood3266]

I'm planning a flat bar CX build in the same vein, just much more low end, with a cheap steel frame, a cheap mtb groupset taken off my mate's mtb when he upgraded to deore (exactly...) and some mismatched wheels. Nothing as supple, but fun nonetheless.

[@fifthcircle1]

"upgraded to deore (exactly)" 🤣 That cracked me up!

[@JoakimGarde]

I would probably run in to the weight limit quite soon as I weigh about 200 pound, but I love a good light weight bike

[@fancytyme]

I have those Dia-Compe shifters on the DT of my 11-speed Athena road bike and they rock.

[@jonahbert111]

The folding ZIZZO bike [Liberte] is also about 23 lbs. A blast to ride. You should review one of those.

[@darrengarvie8832]

I do love your channel and the party pace is also good even though I'm a racer at heart I do love the different independent brands you show 😁

[@mackyrobiso7795]

The shade in the "plastic bikes" 😎

[@whirving]

That bike is like and updated version of my old Fischer Pro-Caliber that I converted to a flat bar touring bike. Traditional early MTB geometry, very light tube set that made it "springy" but not mushy or a dog. It was a good bike for touring or commuting but I'm more of a racer (whether I like it or not) and it was just too retro for me. That being said, I really miss that excellent bike. I could see liking this Crust Lightning Bolt, especially on a long tour.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

You can tour on it but it’s no long haul trucker. Too much weight and you’ve got a wet noodle and shimmy.

[@whirving]

@@PathLessPedaledTV There was a little of that with my old Fischer, but I did to some tours in the 4-500 mile range. Too bad, shimmy is sketchy touring.

[@-MacCat-]

Quirky, interesting and worth a ride to try out. Yes. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[@SMenkveld]

I've got a set of Campagnolo Record OR Tandem cantis (the wide ones) that need a frame to call home...

[@manji001]

wow! That Rear derailleur! its a unicorn!!!

[@jacobashton3955]

Even though I'm usually that weight limit, including stuff, I have a problem with breaking frames. Lightning Bolt is a hard pass. I'd have to go with the Surly Midnight Special for the durability.

[@ryand121984]

I have been debating about this frame and the Borbora as my gravel all rounder bike. I just like the build from Anton K's Lightning bolt singlespeed. thank you for the review.

[@chriscohlmeyer4735]

First look - where are the down tube shifters? The whole design reminds me of the 60's and 70's 10 speed go everywhere bikes, single track, gravel, corn fields, pastures, you name it except slick deep mud. Nice to see an update to the old geometry with "modern" options.

[@alexhelling4128]

I want one with the Ritchey break away frame.

[@brettlopresti]

Love this and the greenway will too

[@jaex9617]

I want to love this bike so much that I'm afraid to watch the video to the end. 😄

[@mattvanderwalt6220]

Looks like the bike I've been building on and off for a few years. Those bars are awesome - need them...

[@birdsswim]

slowly building mine up now. bars... well waiting on a wheeler to ship out to know what I really want to do so I can feel things out. got the frame with the hope to use my boy mick (100 tacos) collab simworks 100mm stem on but we shall see.

[@jamiecox2506]

As recent as 10 years ago Campag made a Centaur 10sp triple - hence the long cage rear mech.

[@fredhenderson6303]

Can you review the Crust Romanceur, and compare it to the Lighting Bolt?

[@soundbites1152]

I run 28/44 on my 2016 Ritchey Ascent build! :)

[@davidreidy5750]

I love this bike!Crust rips!🤖⚡

[@eddieallen6401]

I would trade a body part for a Crust Lightning Bolt Canti.

[@ronwhite8503]

$1250 just for a frame! Good job there are loads of classic steel bikes going for a song. I bought a 531st tourer for £75...... Just saw the $575 for the wheels.....aye carumba!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

This isn’t a touring bike and your £75 bike likely doesn’t ride the same. So you don’t have a less expensive version of this bike you just have a less expensive bike.

[@mitmon_8538]

Interesting that those v-brakes are basically Mini-Vs as they are short pull. They do look pretty small compared to the mid-sized 48C tire. Moot point though as that chain stay and tire clearance looks miniscule, so regular v-brakes won't help since bigger tires would probably be a no-no. The brake arms look like the pads have enough vertical adjustability to be used on either 650B or 700C wheels. Very weird bike, but cool!

[@sagehiker]

It would be a toss up between this bike and the VO Polyvalent for me as 25-25 build. The wheel set is a big deal and interesting.

[@charlesr.carney6297]

Love the bike, probably would use Nitto Albatross bar

[@rickute1458]

yes i like the bike and we like you doing reviews on weird bikes like this,

[@heathenshaunt681]

I'm curious how these tires compare to the terevail Washburn's I like fast rolling but I have to agree with the fact the Washburn tires can lose grip on loose silt and don't do well on chunky and the fact I keep finding those on random back roads I want more grip but we'll behaved on pavement too cuz I spend 75% of my time on it at least cuz I like smooth cruising 😎

[@JakeLuke308]

What I'm happily surprised by is how many component manufacturers are producing these "off the main road" components. A bike like this would not be possible if designers and the brass at the top didn't agree that different folks want different bikes for different tasks. I'm smiling currently that such a one eyed kitten, like this bike, got the green light from all the companies involved. As in nature, diversity is good.

[@michaelhayward7572]

My God, that is an attractive bicycle.

[@jceduarte5491]

awesome review, but the size looks like small sizes of lightning bolt!

[@Generic_Username_0331]

This is basically the build I am trying with a 90s mtb because I’m poor.

[@timothymcdonough27]

I don't think you're poor. I think you're smart!

[@WaveformWanderlust]

Sounded really good until the weight limit part 😢

[@joelungaidon]

26? Did Russ say 26? I thought I'll never hear that number again (sheds tear)

[@thatcarguy1UZ]

Please do not take this the wrong way because I am legitimately not trying to sound like a jerk when I ask this. I honestly want to know, how is this bike functionally different from a decent mid-level 90s mountain bike? One of the biggest issues that I've had with derailleur bikes has been with shifters that constantly seems to be out of sync and skipping gears. Back in the 90s when I did have a mountain bike, that was one of the things that I hated about it. I could adjust the shifters to be absolutely flawless, and after just an afternoon of riding, the indexed shifters would start to skip gears. Then I would tune the cables and derailers again and have everything shifting flawlessly for another couple of days, and then it would start to do it again. That was one of the reasons why when I first started riding again as an overweight adult trying to lose weight, I went with a 3-speed hub because I didn't want to deal with constant adjustments to my shifter cables to keep the shifters working correctly. Thanks to watching your Channel and discovering friction shifters, I think the one issue that I've always had with the railers can now become a thing of the past. I've seriously considered finding an old 90s mountain bike and fixing it up and just using friction shifters for the front and rear derailleur. It seems to me like I would be able to get a similar riding experience from something like that.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Lighter tubing. Low trail. Different wheel size. Completely different geometry from a 90s mtb.

[@thatcarguy1UZ]

@PathLessPedaledTV thank you for the reply! I still kind of struggle with the whole geometry thing and I do understand what you mean about the lighter tubing. I guess I don't have much of an eye for just looking at it and determining what the geometry is. It would probably be more obvious to me if I was looking at a specification sheet. For what it is worth, I'm just graduating from the last 10 years on a beach cruiser bike with a coaster brake that I upgraded with a 3-speed Hub about 6 years ago.

[@bob9496]

Great review Russ! Did the bike actually plane? Also, did the Soma Grand Randonneur plane?

[@fordtimelord8673]

It seems to me that planing is just another term for frame flex. I have ridden bikes with lots if frame flex. Very unnerving.

[@pedaldriven417]

Looks like my Peugeot u.s express build 👍

[@shaunhilliard6895]

That frame could be built into a baller commuter bike

[@nthonyholden]

What pedals were you running on this? Are they Matt's choice or yours? The platform looks so wide and comfy!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Mine. Issi thump.

[@nthonyholden]

@@PathLessPedaledTV haha! I have a set of those. Love them! (Don't know why I didn't recognize them.)

[@jp93309]

Don’t hate on me but I’m going to say it. For less money, you could get a good condition 90’s steel mountain bike or hybrid and load it up with the same components as what’s on that Crust. And it’d have rear rack eyelets!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yeah but you’d have a 90s steel mountain bike or hybrid with racks. Geometry and handling is night and day different. Putting drops on a 90s mountain bike doesn’t make it a road bike.

[@jp93309]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Silly! You know putting dropbars on a 90’s mountain bike makes it a gravel bike (I kid). I have old Treks and GTs that have the same low trail, short chainstay dimensions of that Crust, all without the 220 lb weight limitation as well. Just not convinced of the overall value of a new Crust vs old steel.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@jp93309 there's nothing wrong with 90s mtbs but they are more trouble than they are worth IMO and you get a mediocre riding bike. The 90s mtbs I've tried and seen don't have low trail, not to mention NORBA geometry that uses stupid low stack and long stems making it comical at best to get bars even with the saddle. Old steel is just that, old. Funky weird standards in 90s and the amount of time you'd have to spend on craigslist or ebay hoping you don't get a junker or isn't rusted out. I'd pay for something new to not have to deal with that headache.

[@river2200]

Hi Russ, how does this bike compare to the new all city space horse?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Lighter and more twitchy than the Space Horse which is more of a mid weight touring bike.

[@event4216]

These steel, mechanical shift, wire brake bikes will be still repairable long after their original owners will bite dust....I have to accept this, looking at my no-thrills bikes which also give me most of riding pleasure.

[@u.der_e]

This channel is like the r/xbiking subreddit

[@Dellvmnyam]

Pretty MTB'ish in terms of bar width. From the chest-mounted camera it looks like your riding an actual MTB with a flat handlebar ^^ And I've never heard of sport-touring being used as a push biking term ^^

[@river2200]

Russ, do you feel like the medium fit you?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

There wasn’t much seatpost but yes.

[@river2200]

Thanks again Russ. One more question please. How do you think it compares to the Riv Roadini?? Have you done any Roadini reviews yet. Guess it’s also way different from a Hilsen? Sorry, that’s 3 question.

[@zu_1455]

One of these days I'll afford a Crust. EDIT: THOSE WHEELS!! TAKE ALL MY MONEY!!

[@zeke3327]

Are they going to bring back the break away SS lightning?

[@devoidbmx1]

I have one! It’s a fun and simple bike.

[@zeke3327]

@@devoidbmx1 honestly it looks super nice and a great option for commuting or traveling.

[@keithbasham2413]

how compared to Bombora or Evasion? just curious

[@acbarnard]

Very cool frame. I understand they’re trying to appear edgy with the graphics, but as a graphic designer myself I could never live with that kitschy Miami Vice look. I’d strip it and have it powder coated, sans decals. I just might do that…

[@kylehoover114]

@RollinRat funny because custom frames don’t go through qc

[@Watt_Li_Crew]

Hi Russ! On a low trail bike how would drop bars vs swept back bars affect the handling?? Drops more ‘responsive’

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Opposite. The more forward of the headset the more stable.

[@marinoviskovic7083]

curious about the seatpost with huge offset, what brand is it, does it come in 26.6 mm for vintage Bianchi frames for example?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

It has regular offset. It’s a Velo orange post.

[@mohawkpathology]

If I remember correctly your pbh is close to mine. How was the size medium for you?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Well, if you look at how much seatpost is showing, it was tight :)

[@hehecheesy]

can you remind us what your pbh is? thank you!!

[@kibbee890]

Try standing that bike on the back wheel to make it easier to get in and out of the garage with such wide bars. Should make it easier to maneuver.

[@davetbassbos]

Finally, a normal looking bike!

[@davetbassbos]

...except the bars

[@donttouchthisatall]

Planning on using 26'' Tubeless rims. Anyone knows a good supplier? No need for dynamo hubs.

[@WordupG]

Velo Orange Voyager

[@rauli386]

This channel is definetely not for weight weenies

[@kylehoover114]

The bike suited for lighter riders, there are plenty of other bike Russ as reviewed that a comparable

[@GeekonaBike]

How do you find 650b rims w/ brake tracks? Could these be 650c rim w/ the more limited tire selection?

[@kylehoover114]

Crust, soma, pancenti, velocity, make 650b rim brake

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

They are 650b. Link in description. They had them made.

[@adhunt1]

@@kylehoover114 Also Araya and Grand Bois!

[@eugenedebruin3694]

Is the Campy derailleur still available?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Nope.

[@stuartdilts2729]

Does this mean that the Romanceur is next?

[@NinthwaveThe]

That would be nice. That's the one I am looking at.

[@kylehoover114]

@@NinthwaveThe the geo is really similar, I think the big difference is it a name brand tubing and lugs

[@SergHooley]

😍

[@hehecheesy]

is this a 52 or 55?

[@VeloObscura]

Not one for the.... Kinderkoppen is it? Kinderklompen?

[@j2cooper]

All I hear is that low trail made the bike less capable.

[@sk8a]

What did you say the handlebars were called? Martines? You said it too fast.

[@Ey_up]

Juan Martín bars from Crust

[@sk8a]

@@Ey_up Ok. thank you.

[@pisto_run_cycling]

220 lbs.. my fat as cant even ride the bike.. lol makes me wonder wth the weight ratings are on all my bikes..

[@whiskeyssmile3082]

Does he never talk about the “big” bike company bikes because they’re that bad or because he supports smaller businesses? Honest question bc I’m wondering if I should no be considering things like the diverge or domane or not

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

He/I never talk about “big” bike companies because they don’t respond to emails.

[@whiskeyssmile3082]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Fair nuff! I gotta ask and hope you have time to respond... do you have an expert opinion on belt driven bikes? I'm looking hard at the Priority Apollo and am considering upgrading my whole family to belt drive.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@whiskeyssmile3082 haven’t ridden it. They’re one of the brands they haven’t responded :) I wouldn’t buy a bike because of the drivetrain alone. The geometry and utility has to suit your needs as well. If it does then 👍🏼👍🏼

[@p49N]

Suntour PowerShift ratcheted friction: Foundations in Perfection copied by everyone

[@wanderingjim7402]

Lovely, but I would run drop bars.

[@veloaa-montreal6924]

DID you say those wheels come in 26"!?!? haha

[@SLOWVERT]

Who is Matt?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Founder of Crust.

[@jawjuk]

GODAMNIT, just put rack mounts on frames. It costs pennies. If the customer doesn't want a rack on the back, they won't fit one; if they do want a rack... "cAN i iNtEreST YoU iN THis tALefiN?"

[@danmicklethwaite5585]

It has fork mounts for the classic randonneur front rack and is designed geometry wise for the weight to be up front. Takes front bags and panniers beautifully. Rear racks would ruin the designed handling of the bike

[@idahoverland_208]

The weight limit may have been a factor in not adding more mounts

[@outtatrex]

Totally agree with you, so many bikes I really like, don't have proper rear rack mounts on the frame. So stupid that bicycle manufacturers haven't figured this out. This has nothing to do with weight savings, but this is just a matter of cost cutting, and not listening to their customers.

[@crustbikes]

@@outtatrex It has nothing to do with cutting cost. The vast majority of our frames have rear rack mounts. Cost never comes into the frames I want to put out, despite what most keyboard warriors wanna think. This frame is not designed for a rear rack, hence no rack mounts.

[@Donovangulya]

You and GCN are not on the same level of content quality even though you far less subscribers

[@finks1]

Sorry but ummm who is Matt?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Owner of Crust Bikes.

[@TerminallyWack]

Good looking fella & Crust bikes founder, Matt Whitehead

[@drifterdogs]

cannot imagine paying $575 for wheels on what should be a beater bike..

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Who said it’s a beater bike?

[@waktosha7378]

I think it's a cool bike.

[@seanmccuen6970]

is that larry poppins' bike?