Dawes Sardar review

Am I the only one that thought this review was missing the point?
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... r-08-24163
The bike is aimed at touring, yet the authors carped on about it's weight. 14.5kg sounds pretty reasoble to me. My Kalahari weighs more than that.
They also complained about the Shimano mtb shifters. These are perfectly standard, and I cannot believe that the authors were not able to use them right.
Lighter pair of wheels. Bah!
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... r-08-24163
The bike is aimed at touring, yet the authors carped on about it's weight. 14.5kg sounds pretty reasoble to me. My Kalahari weighs more than that.
They also complained about the Shimano mtb shifters. These are perfectly standard, and I cannot believe that the authors were not able to use them right.
Lighter pair of wheels. Bah!
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Reviews are subjective. Most folk buy a bike without reading its reviews. I'd not lose sleep over it.
a serious case of small cogs
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3 ... =3244&v=5K
Leaving aside the ability of a stronger frame to carry wieght better - there is a weight / abuse ratio withthese machines.
LIghten the bike and you will compromise the ability to be abused by roads, baggage handlers, trains and all the other abuses that a touring bike will undergo.
Personally I am not fast or efficient enough to let it worry me and the reasurance of a "bombproof" frame led me to buy the NOmad.
A diet and foregoing the pleasure of testing local Ales when on tour would soon compensate for the 2kg or so excess weight on the bike!
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
(Unattributed Trad.)
a serious case of small cogs
Mine now has an LX groupset, decent wheels and Kona P2 forks, compared to a work colleagues Kenesis maxlight you can hardly tell the difference in weight (there is maybe 500g or so in it. If i spent another £100 on it (superlight pedals, tyres, saddle etc..) i could easily knock another 1kg off it.
It makes a fine commuter, tourer, shopping bike, is comfy yet very stiff. However i have to say i would by no means swap it for a new sadar, which looks a little odd.
Going by my frame, dawes make good solid frames at the expense of a few grams...but these bikes are never meant for racing...and like i say my steel version is not so heavy.
I'm using Campy 10spd ergos with 9spd Shimano inc' Deore top swing front mech & V brakes, it all works perfectly !
See SPA Cycles, but be quick.