Traitor Luggernaut 3 Speed

The Traitor Luggernaut 3spd is on-trend on two fronts, with its lugged steel frame and Sturmey Archer hub for clean retro looks with gearing options. It's a good all-rounder too, happy to be pressed into service as a sturdy do-it-all machine, and it doesn't shy away from winter-ravaged roads and unsurfaced excursions. The bike's let down a bit by the savage drop bars and average brakes and saddle, but those are quick fixes and overall it's an enjoyable urban runaround that'll handle the longer haul too.

The frame and fork are the same as the singlespeed version of the bike: you get a lugged Columbus Thron (more or less the equivalent to Reynolds 520) mainframe, and the fork is Traitor's Katana lugged affair, fashioned from Cromoly steel. The build quality is good and the finish tough (white and baby blue and black are available); there's some nice detailing around the bottle bosses and on the rear dropouts. You get mudguard and rack mounts too, though you'll need to double up on the single eyelet at the back if you're running both.

Sturmey Archer supply not only the rear hub and classy bar-end shifter, but also a very pretty FCT chainset and front track hub. The wheels are built up with semi-deep Alex rims; on the Traitor website they're shown without decals and removing them would certainly add to the aesthetic appeal of the bike, with otherwise is very clean and classy. Silver alloy stem, brakes, seatpost and bars with black bar tape and a quilted black saddle complete the monochrome effect.

Hopping onto the bike for the first time in lumpy Bath and the first thing I noticed is that the gears are a bit long. With the supplied 42/16 transmission you get 53", 70" and 94" gears, probably just about right for London duties but on the high side for puffing up the sides of the valley, especially if you're loaded up. I swapped the 16T sprocket for an 18T and the 47", 62" and 83" gears that gave were a much better match for the terrain.

Because of the name I was expecting the Luggernaut to feel a bit heavy duty but at 10.8kg (23.9lb) for a 59cm bike it's hardly busting the scales. A lot of weight is in the wheelset so it's a bit harder than some to get up to speed, but once you're cruising along it's a very enjoyable ride. The bike feels nice and roomy without being overstretched, and the steering is firmly neutral: a bit slow in tight traffic but just right for rumbling along at no great pace. The three speed hub never once slipped or missed a shift - though you have to back off the power when changing down on the hills - and it doesn't feel lossy or vague. It also makes all the right clicky and whirry noises. Ah, nostalgia.

Blasts to work on my 6-mile commute were despatched in style, and the Luggernaut was happy to take the unsurfaced shortcuts through the woods and along the canal. The 29mm Halo tyres are excellent all-rounders, fast enough for road excursions and hardy enough for anything short of proper off-road. They also add a good deal of comfort which is a bonus as the saddle is a bit of a plank. Set out on a longer ride and you'll soon revert to touring pace. You can ride the Luggernaut fast but it doesn't feel that rewarding, and it's much happier rolling along at an easy clip. Point it downhill and there's plenty of stiffness in the chassis and wheels, although above 30mph the big air chambers can make the handling feel a little vague.

What's not so good? Well, the brakes. They're average at best, although since they're the same callipers that I have on my Genesis Equilibrium I can attest that a change of pads is all that's really needed: the stock Tektro ones are pretty low-rent and it's that which affects stopping power rather than any mechanical deficiency. And then there's the bars. How deep are those drops? Honestly, it's the best part of a foot down to race position. The bike is long enough that the position on the tops isn't that upright - I'd swap the stem for a shorter one in time, I'm sure - but you need a stepladder to get down to the drops. They're much too low and I never used them. They look a bit odd too, in my opinion. I'd be much happier with a standard drop bar.

These are fairly minor quibbles though. Swapping out the bars, saddle and brake blocks for something better wouldn't cost you much, and at £749.95 the Traitor represents decent value for something that's low volume and a bit esoteric. Okay you'll get more for your money if you buy a standard Alu hybrid, but this is a machine that'll outlast an off-the-shelf commuter and it makes much more of a statement. And it's a very likeable and usable bike, that'll handle day-in-day-out commuting duties with no fuss and very little maintenance.

Verdict

Classy and likeable steel all-rounder that's decent value and different alternative to a standard commuting iron