MATT’S SONDER BROKEN ROAD NX1 REBA £1,899

Some choice upgrades have really complemented the Broken Road

The Broken Road continues to impress as an extremely versatile platform for long days in the saddle. Not only is the titanium frame difficult to fault, offering a great level of comfort thanks to both its geometry and the buzz-absorbing rear-end flex allowed by this wonder metal, but the carbon fibre fork and bar I’ve fitted are the perfect match.

Plus tyres can feel vague, but the super-responsive and precise Niner fork gives the front end a tighter-tracking feel, with the squish of the rubber providing the bump absorption that the rigid fork lacks. With its nine degrees of backsweep, the Ritchey WCS Bullmoose bar/ stem adds even more comfort. I doubt that there’s a lighter cockpit solution that would benefit bikepackers as much.

My dual-piston Rever mechanical disc brakes are now fully bedded in and have made for an interesting upgrade. Super-simple to set up and easy to fettle out on the trail, I’ve been more than happy with their performance. There’s a noticeable lack of all-out power compared to hydraulic brakes, but for me, their good modulation, easy adjustability and simple maintenance make up for this. I might be disappointed with them if I was racing or riding bike parks, but for the relatively low-intensity braking needed for bikepacking, they make the grade. www.alpkit.com/sonder