Ferry Verwijk was already the proud owner of a 2014 Rove AL when the Sutra Ltd first caught his eye. He’d been using the Rove as both a commuter and a gravel bike but realized he wanted something a little more burly. After seeing Jordan Semblers My Kona video he just knew exactly what that would be.

From his first ride he was in love with it. “It did not matter what I did do with it, Gavel, touring or bikepacking, it was a joy.”

It is so versatile! I ride it with no rear rack, just with bike-packing bags (handlebar and saddle) and with a front rack (Ortlieb Gravelpack bags) and a saddlebag.

It handles so great that I sold my handbuilt steel Rohloff travel bike. Vacation, touring, gravel, singletrack, it does it all, and I love it!

I call my Sutra LTD Obelix, like the figure in the Astrix comics. I did mount an Obelix figeruine on the bike. Why Obelix? Well, it is big and strong! I like to think my bike is not a bling build, but a strong users build.

The strong and light Easton Haven wheels (I did have to machine the front hub to make it fit the fork, and use a 15mm/12mm adapter) are a really great upgrade for the bike. It feels so much more alive! I run the wheels with tubeless Maxxis Ikon 2.2’s, great tires and they just do fit, just… But they suit the bike so well.

The group is stock, love the Sram Rival shifters and derailleur. I use a golden KMC X11 chain, light and strong, and great looking.

I wasnt a fan of the stock brakes so I mounted a set of sweet Hope RX4 calipers in purple, to give the bike some color, in combination with the 34th Race face chainring. The Shimano XT pedals are on the original RaceFace Aeffect crankset, which I like a lot (but a White Industries crankset is high on my wish list). 

The seat post is a Thomson Elite, with a Brooks B17 all-weather saddle, and a gold Hope seat post clamp.

The cockpit is a Velo Orange Tall-Stack stem, with the great Ritchey Venturemax WCS bar with Fizik Terra Tacky bar tape and a Profile Design T2+DL aero bars. This cockpit makes a comfy ride with a lot of options in position.

I use Tubus racks, they are the best out there I think. Up front you’ll find a Tubus Disco Disc rack. Sure, I know, it is a back rack, but love it being slim and makes it possible to ride with the front panniers in a high position.
If I could choose just one bike right now, it would be the LTD again.

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