With a road geometry, clearance for a 45mm tire, longer stays and the zippy, lightweight feel of titanium, the Routt 45 is a contender for one of my favorite, production drop bar bike on the market. Over the years, we’ve seen Moots make large leaps out of the traditional, doctor and lawyer marketplace of high-end performance road machines into more back-country oriented exploration vehicle market. That’s not a great surprise either, as even the automotive and motorcycle markets have seen a shift from speed-centered experiences to more “adventure-driven” vehicles. People want to get out more, away from the crowds and away from the confines of asphalt-driven transportation.

With that in mind and as we touched on earlier this week with Kyle’s Cosmic Stallion, living in a city like Los Angeles means you’re still racking in 10-20 miles round trip on asphalt to get to the real mountains. Our beloved San Gabriels are home to hundreds upon hundreds of miles of dirt roads, beckoning for our exploration and challenging our wits, muscles, and skills. Getting out into the backcountry on a reliable, comfortable and confidence-inspiring bike just makes that escapism easier.

Also mentioned in Kyle’s Cosmic Stallion post was the notion that a traditional cyclocross bike might not be up to snuff when it comes to these longer rides, and Tom, like many of us, has learned this over time. The first time I rode a road geometry with clearances for bigger tires, I was sold over the twitchy and responsive handling of a ‘cross bike. A more traditional road fit, with a road geometry, descended better for me, climbed more predictably, offering a better riding position on steep roads and still felt great pedaling home amidst the traffic and congestion after a 40 mile dirt ride in LA.

Tom’s upgrading from a steel ‘cross bike that was a little short on him in terms of reach, had a higher bottom bracket, steeper angles and a shorter chainstay to Moots’ Routt 45 platform, a bike that addresses each of these geometric concerns with their own take on what it means to be a road bike tailored for all roads. I can only imagine the joy Tom’s going to feel on tomorrow’s maiden voyage. Tom, it better be a good one!

The build was done by Mike at Golden Saddle and all of the parts were swapped over from Tom’s previous bike, save for the new Easton EX70AX bars and thru-axle end caps for the White Industry hubs. If you’d like a similar build, holler at the boys!