Bike

Co-Motion Divide Rohloff: A Long-Term Review

Quest for a ‘Heavenly Horse’

Is the Co-Motion Divide Rohloff the right expedition touring bike for you? Read here and find out.

Over 2000 years ago in 130 BCE, Emperor Wudi of the Chinese Han Dynasty sent an army numbering 60,000 men deep into the heart of central Asia to the fertile Ferghana Valley, an important conduit along the old Silk Road located in modern day western Uzbekistan to acquire the fabled, almost mythical and much desired blood-sweating ‘Heavenly Horses’ of Dayuan to help fight the Xiongnu who threatened China.

Just as Emperor Wudi was in search of legendary Ferghana Horses, I was in search of a hardier breed of bike, a stalwart steed, a ‘Heavenly Horse’ of sorts that would confidently carry me to and from distant lands and the fringes of my imagination. At the end of my search, I settled on a Co-Motion Divide Rohloff, which I’ve owned and ridden for fourteen months and ridden over 10,000 kilometers.

Tweaking the Divide: Rocking the Pletscher Twin-Legger Kickstand

by Johnny Isaak ·

No respect, often slighted. To most, the lowly, rarely respected kickstand is the Homer Simpson of cycling components and a sure mark an inferior bike that adorns virtually all lower-priced bicycles, while most higher end bikes tend to come without.

Rolling up on a group of roadies enjoying a post ride espresso at the local chichi coffee shop and popping out the kickstand on a modest cruiser will almost certainly ignite a flurry of eye-rolling intermixed with a cackle of muttering and under the breath derisions and holier than thou stotting about in regard to that “bicycle” you just rolled up on.

Anti-kickstand sentiment is not completely unfounded. Performance bikes that don’t normally carry any gear and are built for speed and agility with a premium on achieving the lowest weight possible most likely won’t benefit from the capabilities the humble kickstand has to offer.

Frames constructed of exotic carbon and epoxy or those with chainstays fashioned of wafer thin tubing may even be damaged by clamping on a kickstand or permanently tweaked from the torsional forces placed on the frame when leaning a heavily loaded bike to the side.

Negative biases against kickstands are rare things that both roadies and mountain bikers agree on but is mostly unfounded.

Like a Rolling Stone: Co-Motion Divide Rohloff Follow-Up Review

by Johnny Isaak ·

Check out my updated long-term review of the Co-Motion Divide at https://johnnyisaak.com/co-motion-divide-rohloff-a-long-term-review/

I’ve been rolling on my Rohloff/Gate CDX equipped Co-Motion Divide for about two months now, logging in over 2,500+ kilometers, using the bike as my primary form of transportation and daily commuter to and from work. I’ve had the bike on several short and longer distance multi-day micro-adventures ranging from 200-500 kilometers. With the saddle, handlebars and other adjustments pretty much set, I’m now settling into the bike and getting to know the subtle nuances of life on the road with an internally geared hub and carbon belt drive.

Gear Review: Brooks Cambium C17

by Johnny Isaak ·

In the market for a new touring or trekking saddle? You may want to check out the Brooks Cambium C17. I recently replaced the stock saddle on my expedition bike with one and now have about a thousand kilometers on it, enough to get a general idea of the saddle’s quality and performance.

Co-Motion Divide Rohloff

by Johnny Isaak ·

Check out my long-term review of the Co-Motion Divide at https://johnnyisaak.com/co-motion-divide-rohloff-a-long-term-review/

In my ever-evolving search for the “perfect” trekking bike, I finally took the plunge and purchased a Co-Motion Divide Rohloff late last spring before departing on two-month cycling odyssey through central, western and southwestern China this past summer. I took delivery of the new Divide a couple of weeks ago upon returning from the Middle Kingdom and have used the new bike as my daily commuter and primary form of transportation, where I’ve put a little over 500 kilometers on it, traveling over the pavement, gravel and some single track. Here are my first impressions:

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