Bike test: Pinnacle Chromium 2 Mixte hybrid

The Chromium’s defining features are its 47mm ‘balloon’ tyres on 650B wheels. My wife Sarah wanted larger-volume tyres than her traditional tourer’s to cope with deteriorating country lanes and off-road trails. We put it to the test by riding the 102-mile Devon Coast to Coast with our 3-year-old and 1-year-old in child seats.

Frame and fork are aluminium. A diamond-shaped frame is available but Sarah chose the mixte version for easy mounting and dismounting, especially with a rear child seat fitted. The tall head-tube and swept back handlebars gave her the relaxed, semi-upright riding position she favours. Twin braze-ons on the fork blades mean Monkii Gorilla bikepacking cages can be fitted.

On medium and small frames, the seat stay rack mounts may be too low to fit a rear rack level but a seat-clamp with rack mounts is a cheap solution – and some racks have extra long attachment struts available.

Lower gearing

Hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power, while the drivetrain is a no-frills Shimano Sora with a bottom gear of 28 inches. That’s low enough for most things except loaded touring in hilly terrain. For our tour, we fitted a mountain bike rear mech and replaced the stock 11-32 cassette with a 12-36.

Kenda Koast tyres offer good puncture resistance but the 30tpi casings make for a leaden ride compared to a more supple tyre such as Compass Switchback Hill 47mm or Panaracer Gravel King 42mm. For anywhere other than glass-strewn urban streets, a tyre upgrade would be money well spent.

Mudguard clearance is fine. These unbranded full-length ones are sturdy though perhaps not as durable as SKS Chromoplastics.

Verdict

Overall, the Chromium is a clever and capable reimagining of the hybrid, at a very attractive price.

Other options

Cube Travel Pro £699

700C wheels with large 2.25in tyres, Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, hydraulic disc brakes, integrated dynamo lighting. Diamond frame also available. 15.95kg.

Genesis Borough £699

700C wheels with 35mm tyres. Steel frame with twin top tubes and 1×9 drive chain, includes rear rack. 13.3kg.

First published in Cycle magazine, October/November 2016 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.