The longtermers collection takes a have a look at Biking Weekly’s employees and contributors’ private bikes.
I’ve had my Fairlight Faran 2.0 since late 2020. I don’t keep in mind why I used to be drawn to the Faran initially, however since we had 1-year-old twins after I positioned the order, I can’t keep in mind a lot in any respect from that point. It seems your physique isn’t able to forming recollections if you happen to don’t get sufficient sleep. I’ve since managed to atone for sleep, principally, and located time to trip extra once more. I’ve loved placing miles on my Faran throughout North America.
Fairlight Cycles has made a reputation for itself by providing up to date metal bicycles with distinctive design particulars. The corporate highlights these options on its web site, with notes concerning the design course of and intent behind every facet of its frames. Poring over these notes was one among my favourite elements of the ordering course of and I promptly put my identify down for the primary batch of those up to date frames once they have been launched. After just a few months’ wait, it arrived on my doorstep in Seattle.
Different reviewers have been equally smitten with Faran’s choices, which appear particularly well-equipped to match the using circumstances of the Pacific Northwest as they carefully mirror these of many elements of the UK, the place Fairlight is headquartered.
The Spec
(Picture credit score: Eszter Horanyi)
- Frameset: Fairlight Faran 2.0 56R (modified by Rodriguez Bicycles in Seattle, WA)
- Groupset: Shimano 11-speed 1x (a mixture of GRX, Ultegra and 105, with Paul Parts Klamper cable-actuated brakes)
- Stem: Specialised S-Works SL stem
- Handlebars: Zipp Service Course 70 Ergo, 40 mm width
- Saddle: Ergon SR Professional M/L
- Seatpost: Deda Elementi Zero 100
- Wheels: DT Swiss GR 1600 Spline
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One 45 mm
- Pedals: Shimano SPD M8100 XT
- Bottle cages: King SS
- Bell: Spurcycle Unique
A do-it-all construct
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
The great thing about this bike is that it might probably do the whole lot. And mine has accomplished so. Initially, I constructed my Faran with 700 x 35 mm tyres and fenders and used it as an all seasons street bike. Someday later, I made a decision to buy a devoted winter street bike, and morphed my Faran right into a extra commuter-friendly rig with extensive 650b tyres and a 1x SRAM construct. Then, when Shimano’s 11 velocity GRX groupset was launched, I used this bike to check out that groupset, all of the whereas switching forwards and backwards between wheel sizes and tyre profiles relying on the terrain at hand.
Regardless of these many modifications, some issues have stayed the identical. Like many longtime riders, I’ve discovered sure merchandise that work excellent for me, which might be discovered on practically all of my bikes. They’re as follows: My favorite Zipp SL-70 Ergo handlebars, which mix a lovely prime profile and brief attain with simply the correct quantity of drop; Ergon’s SR Professional saddle within the M/L width; Zipp’s CX particular bar tape, which is skinny and grippy, and lasts; Spurcycle’s Unique bell, Shimano’s XT SPD pedals, and my favorite aluminium gravel wheels, the DT Swiss GR 1600 Spline which mix DT’s bombproof 350 hubs with a 24 mm inside width rim.
(Picture credit score: Eszter Horanyi)
My Faran’s present iteration—I received’t say closing—was prompted by my altering schedule. As I began to journey extra typically as a motorcycle journalist, I made a decision to make this bike simpler to interrupt down and pack, and switched from Shimano’s GRX hydro levers to 105 7000 collection cable-actuated levers paired with Paul Parts Klamper brakes. With this mixture I don’t have to fret about points with pistons or hydraulic fluid whereas I’m shuttling between planes, trains and vehicles on the street. Since 11-speed Shimano elements are cross-compatible, the change was seamless.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, evaluations and knowledgeable shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
Across the similar time I made a decision to change up the groupset, I additionally occurred to cease in at R+E Cycles close to my home in Seattle. R+E is a long-time (50 + years) bike store that builds {custom} bicycles beneath the Rodriguez identify and does all its personal portray and restore work in-house. The store typically has the capability to tackle enjoyable initiatives within the slower winter months, and since that they had the time to squeeze me in, I made a decision to have them rebuild the entrance half of my bike to enhance the match. By including a few centimetre to the attain I used to be in a position to nearly completely match the geometry of a {custom} body I personal, which inserts me like a glove.
Although this rebuild appears drastic, it was surprisingly inexpensive, and Rodriguez had it accomplished in a few week’s time. The builders have been even in a position to match the {custom} tube shapes of the Fairlight to keep up the ovalized down and prime tubes of the unique.
What I couldn’t resolve on, nonetheless, was paint color, so I made a decision to go away the entrance half of the bike uncooked. I plan to trip it like this for some time (don’t fear, it’s coated with boiled linseed oil) till I select a color I do know I’ll be pleased with for some time. Within the meantime, it ought to patina properly. I used to be fairly tempted to have R+E add couplers to the body, however the price would have been vital.
(Picture credit score: Eszter Horanyi)
What makes the Faran so helpful as a journey bike is that it rides very effectively with a variety of tire sizes. For journeys the place I’m using chunky gravel, it might probably match 48 mm tyres with out difficulty. And for journeys the place many of the using is on roads, 35 mm tyres really feel nice. The metal body and fork are sturdy and, though heavy, are up for no matter I can throw at them. It’s outfitted to hold all method of racks and baggage, but in addition rides properly unencumbered. With none carbon elements (save for the seatpost) I don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about this bike, even within the arms of less-than-cautions baggage handlers or overly zealous customs brokers.
So far, I’ve ridden this bike hundreds of kilometers round my dwelling state of Washington, in addition to on journeys to Oregon, Colorado and Utah. I’ve additionally ridden it on a number of journeys round New England, with and with out bikepacking baggage. I’m unsure what the longer term holds with this bike (perhaps one thing loopy like a entrance derailleur?!) however I’m pleased to have it alongside for the trip.
