I don’t really believe the perfect bike exists. There are simply too many variables in riders and their demands for any manufacturer to build such a beast. My Norco however comes close. Wanting a rugged touring bike, a category which no longer seems to exist, which would double as a day explorer on local trails I decided I wanted a quality steel frame, Shimano GRX components, drop bars and plenty of mounting points for gear. The relatively new category of gravel bikes seemed to offer most of what I was looking for however the Norco Search XR S2 came closest and at an excellent price in what was a limited field. There being only limited steel options and few gravel bikes have sufficient mounting points. But what clinched the sale was the deep lustrous blue finish. The S1 version is a bit of a gear upgrade but in a morning after a curry beige sort of colour. The ride was everything a steel frame should be, cushioning many miles of road vibration whilst handling gravel fire trails with ease. The GRX performs flawlessly. The perfect bike? Well, no. Gravel bikes generally are too low on the front end meaning fatigued neck and shoulders, particularly after long days in the saddle on gravel back roads. A low front is really about an aero position, but aero on gravel or loaded with touring gear? Also being down low means it’s difficult to enjoy the view. After the first ride I swapped the -6 deg stem for a Pro +37deg high riser and RITCHEY COMP BEACON shallow drop gravel bars. Now I have the perfect bike!