The Standert Pfadfinder Endurance frame made of Columbus steel is made for long days in the saddle. In principle, there is of course a weight disadvantage compared to carbon frames – but a steel frame is hard to beat in terms of durability and comfort. The approximately 900 grams are also irrelevant on flat terrain. With a tyre clearance of up to 700x38c, the Pfadfinder is also suitable for gravel roads, making it an excellent basis for an all-round road bike. There are eyelets for mudguards, making the frame suitable for all weather conditions.
Pfadfinder.
Extend your ride.
The totally mechanical idea: Disc brakes with cable pull and 12-speed gears
The idea was simple: to build a road/gravel bike exclusively with mechanical components without sacrificing shifting or braking performance. This is no longer quite so easy because fewer and fewer manufacturers are offering mechanical groupsets (in the higher-quality range). There should be 12 gears and no fluids in the brakes. The ingredients are as follows:
- SRAM CX1 Force levers and rear derailleur
- Growtech Equal mechanical disc brake
- Ratio Technology 12-speed Road Ratchet & Spool
- Jagwire Road Elite Link cable housing and cables
SRAM CX1 Groupset
The groupset, which is now getting on in years, is still rather lightweight, and the rim brake version also looks OK. However, the great advantage of the groupset is the possibility of converting the 11-speed groupset into a 12-speed by means of simple conversions. The English manufacturer Ratio Technology offers conversion kits for this purpose, including one that has been available for some time to mechanically shift SRAM AXS components with flattop chains. In this particular setup, C-Bear Pulley Wheels for SRAM AXS were also installed – a top combination for both shifting performance and the longevity of the drivetrain.
Growtech Equal mechanical disc brake
Mechanical disc brakes are certainly exotic components, but there are now many mostly Asian manufacturers: TRP, Paul Klamper, Yokozuna and now Growtac! The latter come from Japan and are completely mechanically actuated, with one fixed and one moving pad. The brake callipers are lightweight, beautifully made and most importantly: the braking performance is really good. Certainly on a par with the TRP HY/RD and they even have hydraulic actuation. The manufacturer tells this story:
The mechanical disc brake calipers from Equal are among the best in the world when it comes to braking power and low weight. They offer the ease of maintenance that only mechanical systems can provide, for troubleshooting on long rides.
Jagwire Road Elite Link Cables
The Elite Link cable housing uses a series of aluminium links to create a compressionless system for better braking and shifting performance. But unlike other compressionless systems, the aluminium sleeves are much lighter than conventional steel sleeves and more durable at the same time. Combined with Teflon slick-lube liners and ultra-smooth polished Jagwire Elite cables, this is the ultimate mechanical system.
To summarise: the Standert Pfadfinder impresses with its robust construction and high-quality workmanship (the frame is now protected against rust on the inside). The mechanical components offer rock-solid performance and are easy to maintain and lightweight. Gear changes are precise and effortless, especially thanks to the extremely good Jagwire cable housing. Overall: traditional aesthetics with modern technology.