The Foundry Overland Ride
The Overland is intended by Foundry to be “versatile and timeless.” Based on frame material choice and details such as tire clearance and fender mounts, the bike looks like it could fulfill that promise. Our test rides cover every type of terrain on long and short rides. Since our review period is generally limited we did not face long periods of inclement weather, but that might be more a test of our mettle and component durability than of bike versatility and timelessness! So we hit the roads, both paved and unpaved, as well as singletrack through forests and over rocks—at least within the means of our equipment. Of course, we put it through the paces under cyclocross conditions—twisty fast tracks with rises and falls, sand pits, pavement transitions and sprint drag races.
Titanium might be an ideal material with its balance of durability, corrosion resistance, and weight savings. © Cyclocross Magazine
Like any bike, its ride characteristics are a combination of the material, tube diameters and butts, gauges and construction. The Foundry Overland certainly has a springy titanium ride—not super lively or jump-out-from-under-you snappy, but smooth. Over the roots and rocks, it’s not jarring, and in that transition from pavement to off-road, it holds its line. The Overland is easy and comfortable in the long off-road haul, and handles easily in tight courses too, but doesn’t match some top-tier Ti rigs that give you all that plus get-up-and-go. It doesn’t matter, because the Overland is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. Equipped with the SRAM Force 22 Hydro-R WiFli and such excellent tire clearance, it seems there’s nowhere the Foundry Overland can’t go.
However, full cable housing was not really required for the derailleurs. Open runs along the top tube would look better and perhaps save some weight, and shift better with less housing to compress. Sure, running full rear housing down the seatstay keeps the muck out, but the top tube portion could still be eliminated. But if that’s our only complaint, there really is no complaint.
Continue reading for our verdict, spec highlights, and full images.
