Loren’s new Kona Sutra ULTD frame arrived late last fall, well packaged and pretty as can be. It’s early July now and he’s finally pieced together the bits to make for a truly epic bikepacking rig.

“In the bike industry, 2021 is the year that needs no explanation – there just isn’t “stuff.” Each month another component seems to have been magically vacuumed up into the abyss. From right shifters for road bikes (how are there only lefts?!) to 11-speed chains and cassettes, standard bike parts and replacement products are simply not to be found. And this, the year I decided to build up not one, but two frame-up builds. Good move, Loren, good move.”

“I planned to build it around Astral Cycling wheels with a SONdeluxe generator hub and Sinewave Beacon light for endless powering day and night. But the high-end specs didn’t’ stop there. Though it’s a little bling-y for my budget and normal preferences, I had to make do with what was around. In this case, that meant moving up. Now I’ve got a Shimano Di2 and carbon-bit kitted Sutra that is truly Unlimited.”

Loren’s drivetrain features a Shimano XT Di2 rear derailleur mated to a 10-42 cassette, the cranks are some classic SRAM XX1’s sporting a 36t chainring. The rear wheel is a Astral Cycling Wanderlust rim laced to a White Industries CLD rear hub and then shod with a Schwalbe Thunderburt tire.

Up the front, you’ll find an Astral Wanderlust rim laced to a SONdelux generator hub and again shod in a Schwalbe Thunderburt. The hub is connected to a Sine-Wave Beacon light and charging system. Up in the cockpit, the Ritchy Dirt Drops are home to Shimano D12 Ultegra levers, a Wren Cycles Ultralight stem holds it all in place and a White Industries headset ensures it will all be spinning smoothly for years (maybe decades).

Stopping is taken care of with a set of Shimano Dura Ace flat mount disc brakes with 160mm rotors and the build is wrapped up with an Enve carbon post and a titanium Sage Cycles saddle. 

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