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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)

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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

Kildare11111

Hi,

Was looking at getting a Secan or Strael in the near future. Any tips, or how did the bike turn out?

What wheelsets did you go for. Thanks

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123046176#Comment_123046176

I actually only received it on Friday. There were a few delays after ordering which they kept me updated on, then they launched the new Secan 3.0 in early December. My order got upgraded to the new version free of charge.

I don't have a groupset yet, I was waiting to see if Shimano would launch GRX Di2 1x (which still should be imminent).

Also didn't buy a wheelset, I was waiting for a promotion on the new Zipp 303 XPLR S which never game. Having reviewed all options, I definitely think something with DT Swiss 350 hubs would be best for this sort of build though.

My bike builds tend to go on for weeks if not months, but there is an LBS near me that has one GRX Di2 groupset in stock for the same price as buying it online and will fit it for that price, so most likely I'll drop it over to them and build it up with an existing wheelset.

I'll add photos later and update once I've done the build. Not riding outside for a few more weeks but will take it for a quick test spin

Alanbt

fair play to the LBS for selling and fitting the groupset at the online price

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123047463#Comment_123047463

Yes not sure where they got it to be honest. Another dealer was showing me the portal he has to order his Shimano parts from & comparing it to Bike Discount. Dealer had to pay 20% or so more every time

CramCycle

To be fair to my LBS got me an Ultegra full group set for the price of the upgrade on BD but for alot of stuff, there buy in price is more than the retail price is of big retailers.

CantGetNoSleep

This is being dropped in to a shop to build up over the next few days

Final spec will be GRX Di2 2x12, Zipp 303S carbon wheelset, Zipp Service Course XPLR alu bars and stem (and seatpost for now, but that is only until I figure out how to manage a Di2 battery with a Canyon / Ergon style carbon seatpost)

Total cost is coming in at about 4750, which is steep but about 550 less than ordering the Di2 full build model directly, and with Zipp carbon wheels rather than Hope alu on the full build.

I will post photos once it is ready

CantGetNoSleep

Ready to go

Weight is 9.9kg on-the-road (so including pedals, Garmin mount and bottle cages) with current tires. Managed to get a very good deal on a set of the new Zipp 303 XPLR S so will use those for gravel with 45mm Pirelli Cinturato M, and change the current tires to 35mm Panaracer Gravelking Slick for road

Next photo will be in its more natural environment rather than in a garage (colour is completely different in daylight)

CantGetNoSleep

Here is the latest version of this bike. I had been using it as a road bike since I bought it, which it did well but it wasn't my intention.

Converted to GRX Di2 1x and new Elite Aero+ Gravel wheelset direct from China, running 50mm tires.

I'm left with most of a groupset and a wheelset left over - so ordered myself the new Fairlight Strael 4.0 but will have to hide that from the wife for a few months.

CantGetNoSleep

Hidden in the shed which I told the wife is full of spiders

Gasco

In awe of the finish of your shed floor. I use a similar ploy to disencourage visits to the attic…

fat bloke

Thought that might have been you today. Saw my first ever Fairlight, going up Glenmacnass today. Black like yours with some nice orange bits -headset etc, but the "Fairlight" decals were bright and easily legible.

Nice looking bike.

CantGetNoSleep

Wasn't me, I went for blue headset and seatpost clamp on this one. Not easy to make out that it is a Fairlight in this colour with this logo

andyd12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766619#Comment_123766619

What colour is this Secan frame?

andyd12

I am getting very tempted/close to buying a Secan frame.

Is there any way of avoiding having to pay VAT though? If shipped to the North, would that avoid it?

CantGetNoSleep

It's Iridescent Plum - not sure if they sell it anymore but there are still a few left in their outlet store.

Not sure if you can get them any cheaper. If you got them delivered to NI, you would have to pay UK VAT so you might save the carrier handling fees but not a lot else

andyd12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565547#Comment_124565547

Thanks. They still have a plum colour however not sure its Iridescent. Yours looks much more blue, which I prefer, than the purple hue I see elsewhere.

Undecided between it and the Iridescent root beer colour.

For the VAT, I thought as much. I might just suck it up