The Hobo is a lot of bike, weighing over 30lb, but it’s built for comfort over speed, and it’s kitted-out for full-on
touring: Tubus racks with a 58kg payload (40kg back/18kg rear), 38mm tyres and 27 gears, the largest sprocket
eight teeth bigger than the inner 26t chainring. It even has a spoke holder with spare spokes. The gearing means that in spite of its mass there should be a gear low enough to keep you in the saddle and pedalling rather than off the bike and pushing. The tyres cope with the abuse of British roads, the central strip rolling reasonably on tarmac, with a broken tread for towpaths, tracks and gravel. Bar-end shifters and cantilever brakes are old-school but work well, and the shifters can be adjusted to work in friction mode (rather than STI) in case of mechanical problems.
The over-a-metre-long wheelbase ensures stability, complemented by comfort from the steel frame and big tyres. If you’re looking for an expedition-friendly beast of burden, Cinelli’s Hobo will leave you feeling like a king of the road.