Anyone ride a Fairlight?

CantGetNoSleep

I'm looking at a new gravel bike to replace my Genesis Croix de Fer. Ideally it would also be my winter road bike so I'd reduce the fleet from three bikes to two.

Looking online the Fairlight Secan seems highly recommended everywhere. I don't have a lot of faith in cycling reviews though, I remember the thread about Bowman on here while cycling media were **** off about them.

Does anyone have them and are they as great as they sound? Looking at 2k delivered for a frameset so not the cheapest, but I haven't found anything else that gives similar geometry with big tire clearance. Other option under consideration at the moment is something like one of the new Cube Nuroads which will work out a bit cheaper but not the same. Also not sure I have the time or space for another bike build.

(Last time I posted one of these threads, the bike was on the way to me a few days later, will try be more patient this time)

fat bloke

Jaysus, a quick scan of the reviews and I wanna buy one myself ! :D

Lotta beans though. Given the (non) value of second hand bikes now I'd be reluctant to shell out rrp for frames and bits for a build. It must be the far the most expensive way to get a bike at the moment.

joey100

I've always liked the look of the Mason bikes, nice looking bikes, have a decent range and a bit different too. Not sure how brexit has affected their prices though, but I'd say they definitely worth a look.

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122628416#Comment_122628416

I'm looking at a Di2 build and I reckon I can get it a good bit cheaper than buying the full bike from them. I think I'd save over 1000€ excluding labour. It's a bit hard to calculate the prices as they are in sterling excluding VAT, but it looks like it would cost around 5300€.

I think I'd get the same maybe spec for 4300. Frameset about 2000, 1500 for the groupset 600 for wheels and tires, then another 200 for bars, bartape, stem, seatpost and saddle.

The wife will kill me if she sees another bike being built in the garage though. Usually it is a process that takes me months although on paper this should be quite a simple build. Whereas I'd sneak a new bike in hidden away. Seems too much of a saving though

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122629581#Comment_122629581

Also very nice bikes but even more expensive than the Fairlight

ARX

FWIW, a Secan build thread in German:

[A]ufbau: FAIRLIGHT SECAN - Black | MTB-News.de | IBC Mountainbike Forum

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122633194#Comment_122633194

Thanks, still tempted

mh_cork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058369474/anyone-ride-a-fairlight

I have the road version (Strael), but have been thinking of getting the Secan for awhile. I presume you have gone through the web-site and seen the look-books and design notes?

They consistently win "best of year" bikes. The chief designer previously worked in Genesis, so there is a long history of working on steel bikes. I followed a similar path to you and went from a Genesis bike (Equilibrium) to the Strael and it was a huge upgrade.

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636966#Comment_122636966

Thanks - I also have an Equilibrium but I'd probably also try to replace it by the Fairlight. It is my winter bike and the geometry of the Secan seems fairly ok for road use. I have a Giant TCR which I would keep so I would be going from three bikes to two. I'd love a Strael too of course

CantGetNoSleep

Your Fairlight Cycles order has been received!

Not due until late November so I have a bit of time to pick the components.

I will probably go with alu Ritchey gravel bars, stem and seatpost.

Groupset is most likely Shimano GRX Di2 - mechanical 1x GRX has worked perfectly well on my current bike but I want to pay the extra. Considered SRAM Rival XPLR but I found the brake hoses and connectors a bit messy last time I tried that. Some great deals on the old 11 speed but 12 speed also available for 1500€ or so in places. The wireless installation and latest model might be worth losing compatibility with existing wheelsets without swapping cassettes.

Wheelset is much more of a dilemma as I'm looking for two with minimal hassle swapping. DT Swiss GR1600 is my ideal spec for gravel with 45mm tires. Then I'd like a road set like Zipp 303s or Campagnolo Shamal - but worried about rotor spacing & indexing. I might just find a set of DT Swiss 350 hub carbon wheels. Alternatively I'd go for two sets of Zipps. Any ideas from anyone successfully swapping wheelsets?

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122653902#Comment_122653902

Would you mind linking to the deals you saw on the 11 speed grx di2?

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122653992#Comment_122653992

Cheapest I found was 999 on bikable.com - I've never heard of or used that site so would look into it before ordering

Cheapest from a big retailer was Alltricks - 1249 but I have 5% discount. Comes with the 46-30 chain set which isn't ideal