Gravel bike up to £1400
Discussion
I thought I'd better start my own thread on this as I'm ready to order...I'm looking for a gravel bike, budget up to £1400 and through cyclescheme (so I think that rules out planet x.
I'm 6foot4 so will be an XL.
These seem good but I've really no idea!
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59810/products/sa...
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59765/products/ge...
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/855/products/meri...
The last one seems great value (its on sale) but only in large - which hopefully will be ok.
Thoughts? Any others I should be considering? Thanks!
I'm 6foot4 so will be an XL.
These seem good but I've really no idea!
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59810/products/sa...
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59765/products/ge...
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/855/products/meri...
The last one seems great value (its on sale) but only in large - which hopefully will be ok.
Thoughts? Any others I should be considering? Thanks!
Or maybe this one as its xl:
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59811/products/sa...
new favourite:
https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-search-xr-a2-202...
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59811/products/sa...
new favourite:
https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-search-xr-a2-202...
Edited by ozzuk on Wednesday 13th May 13:46
I know it's £100 over budget but you will be getting far better specs from either of these bikes. They do however have waiting times before dispatch.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFRRIV1700/on-one... - Planet X Free Ranger
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/gravel-bik... - Canyon Grail AL 6.0
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-al-orang... - Ribble with Shimano 105
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFRRIV1700/on-one... - Planet X Free Ranger
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/gravel-bik... - Canyon Grail AL 6.0
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-al-orang... - Ribble with Shimano 105
I really like the canyon - but its Oct delivery and I want one for the summar 
This is in stock and I currently have a GT that has been faultless for 8 years...
https://cycletowork.wiggle.co.uk/gt-grade-al-exper...
This is in stock and I currently have a GT that has been faultless for 8 years...
https://cycletowork.wiggle.co.uk/gt-grade-al-exper...
Blink982 said:
I like my Topstone 105 and the Tiagra model is in budget and has hydraulic brakes. I'd rather have hydraulics for the ease of maintenance and auto adjustment. Mechanical discs are a faff IMO. The new Diverge is £100 over budget but when it will be available is anyone's guess.
There is a topstone 105 in stock at 1500, quite nice. I take your point about the brakes. I think I have two good options, the top or the saracen at 1400 - its quite tempting at only 10kilos.Sora and mechanical discs when you are spending £1200 doesn’t really cut it! I think you will struggle to get a good deal at the moment as bikes everywhere are sold and with big waits on builds.
I would say canyon are pessimistic with their lead times, mine came in under a month when they said it would be nearly 2. But that was before Covid!
I would say canyon are pessimistic with their lead times, mine came in under a month when they said it would be nearly 2. But that was before Covid!
Have a look here for some inspiration:
https://off.road.cc/content/buying/the-best-gravel...
I think the Sonder Camino is a great buy at £1,300. I’m looking at doing similar - i.e. a gravel bike for about that price as it seems to be enough to get you 1x SRAM with hydraulic discs - and the less mainstream manufacturers seem better value than many of the big name brands.
https://off.road.cc/content/buying/the-best-gravel...
I think the Sonder Camino is a great buy at £1,300. I’m looking at doing similar - i.e. a gravel bike for about that price as it seems to be enough to get you 1x SRAM with hydraulic discs - and the less mainstream manufacturers seem better value than many of the big name brands.
Just came across the Cannondale Topstone AL with Shimano 105 for £1500.
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-topstone-al...
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-topstone-al...
I’ve currently got a 2016 GT Grade which I’ve converted to full hydros and updated various other bits on it.
It’s a great bike and owes me about £450.
In my mind I’m toying with updating it and replacing it.
My suggestion would be to follow some of the advice here and take a look at the Camino, Topstone AL and Grail AL as these would be a like-for-like upgrade to what I have now.
All get excellent reviews and tbh I would struggle to choose as they all have their own great attributes.
The new Grade seems to have moved “upmarket” and hence pricing has moved with it, it gets great reviews, but I would aim for a decent group set and hydro brakes as a minimum.
It’s a great bike and owes me about £450.
In my mind I’m toying with updating it and replacing it.
My suggestion would be to follow some of the advice here and take a look at the Camino, Topstone AL and Grail AL as these would be a like-for-like upgrade to what I have now.
All get excellent reviews and tbh I would struggle to choose as they all have their own great attributes.
The new Grade seems to have moved “upmarket” and hence pricing has moved with it, it gets great reviews, but I would aim for a decent group set and hydro brakes as a minimum.
I also think the Pinnacle Arkose is a good choice - good spec for the price and versatile. I suspect it is often overlooked because of some Evan’s own brand snobbery, but my wife has one and I’m actually quite envious.
Things I think are worth looking out for on a gravel bike purchase:
Hydraulic discs - better than mechanical and it’s an expensive upgrade at a later date.
A gravel focussed groupset such as SRAM 1x or Shimano GRX. A lot of the more budget bikes have Tiagra or the like but the “clutch” which SRAM and GRX have is a big improvement for off-road.
Easy gearing - I’m surprised at how many “gravel” bikes have a regular compact chain-set with a max 32 sprocket on the back.
Big tyre clearance - as with gearing, some gravel bikes seem to be more limited than you might expect. Even if you don’t want to use 650bx50 tyres now, it’s nice to have the option if your riding changes.
Decent tyres from the start - upgrading isn’t massively expensive but still a reasonable proportion of the total cost of the bike. Think, realistically, how much your riding will be on/off road, and what sort of off-road so you know whether relatively thin tyres with little tread are right, or whether you are near enough using MTB tyres.
And don’t spend too much (for your interpretation of too much). A couple of my friends who have spent a lot on their regular road bikes (expensive frame, Di2, really light wheels) have gone for much cheaper gravel bikes on the grounds that they don’t want to be precious about stone chips or other minor damage when riding off-road.
What have I missed?
Things I think are worth looking out for on a gravel bike purchase:
Hydraulic discs - better than mechanical and it’s an expensive upgrade at a later date.
A gravel focussed groupset such as SRAM 1x or Shimano GRX. A lot of the more budget bikes have Tiagra or the like but the “clutch” which SRAM and GRX have is a big improvement for off-road.
Easy gearing - I’m surprised at how many “gravel” bikes have a regular compact chain-set with a max 32 sprocket on the back.
Big tyre clearance - as with gearing, some gravel bikes seem to be more limited than you might expect. Even if you don’t want to use 650bx50 tyres now, it’s nice to have the option if your riding changes.
Decent tyres from the start - upgrading isn’t massively expensive but still a reasonable proportion of the total cost of the bike. Think, realistically, how much your riding will be on/off road, and what sort of off-road so you know whether relatively thin tyres with little tread are right, or whether you are near enough using MTB tyres.
And don’t spend too much (for your interpretation of too much). A couple of my friends who have spent a lot on their regular road bikes (expensive frame, Di2, really light wheels) have gone for much cheaper gravel bikes on the grounds that they don’t want to be precious about stone chips or other minor damage when riding off-road.
What have I missed?
£1499.. https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/59669/products/or...
Orro
All 105 incl hydraulic discs
Hi
My company cyclescheme is also via cycle solutions. Do you get 10% off?
Then cyclescheme, thats what mine do using cyclesolutions
So £1499 = £1350
= £704 via the scheme Higher tax.. nuts
They never ask for anymore, extend the ‘hire’ by 4 years
Also I can opt for a voucher, managed by cyclesolutions. Which can be used in numerous small shops.
Orro
All 105 incl hydraulic discs
Hi
My company cyclescheme is also via cycle solutions. Do you get 10% off?
Then cyclescheme, thats what mine do using cyclesolutions
So £1499 = £1350
= £704 via the scheme Higher tax.. nuts
They never ask for anymore, extend the ‘hire’ by 4 years
Also I can opt for a voucher, managed by cyclesolutions. Which can be used in numerous small shops.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 15th May 09:28
I like Orro bikes. I have an Orro Gold and I live near their Ditchling HQ.
I was really tempted with their gravel bike, but it fails at least two of my tests for a good gravel bike - has regular 105 rather than gravel specific groupset, only has a 30 sprocket in the back, and can take max 35mm tyres.
I was really tempted with their gravel bike, but it fails at least two of my tests for a good gravel bike - has regular 105 rather than gravel specific groupset, only has a 30 sprocket in the back, and can take max 35mm tyres.
MockingJay said:
Just came across the Cannondale Topstone AL with Shimano 105 for £1500.
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-topstone-al...
Thanks for all the advice everyone - this cannon is looking the favourite as it works out around £1.1k - just waiting for the voucher!https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-topstone-al...
Looks like youve found your answer, but I'll add that the 2016 carbon Norco Search I've been riding has been excellent - just coming up to 10,000kms on it. Fitted with full 105-spec brakes and drivetrain its been used over all sorts of terrain with the only problem being the relatively poor rims - a set of 29" mtb wheels has solved that.
Having the 2x11 gearing has meant its a great bike for a 100+km road ride, as well as having enough low-speed range to get up some tricky rocky climbs.
Mine can only fit up to 38c tyres, but I know newer frames can go to, I think, 42c or poss 45c. 35c has worked well as a road/off-road compromise for me.
Will echo what others have said about brakes - get full hydraulic if poss - the consistency of control off-road makes them worth while, as well as the consistency in all weathers on road.
Regardless, they are all fun and I think a garage with a gravel bike and an FS mtb are all one needs to have two-wheeled pedal action fun anywhere.
Having the 2x11 gearing has meant its a great bike for a 100+km road ride, as well as having enough low-speed range to get up some tricky rocky climbs.
Mine can only fit up to 38c tyres, but I know newer frames can go to, I think, 42c or poss 45c. 35c has worked well as a road/off-road compromise for me.
Will echo what others have said about brakes - get full hydraulic if poss - the consistency of control off-road makes them worth while, as well as the consistency in all weathers on road.
Regardless, they are all fun and I think a garage with a gravel bike and an FS mtb are all one needs to have two-wheeled pedal action fun anywhere.
Zigster said:
I like Orro bikes. I have an Orro Gold and I live near their Ditchling HQ.
I was really tempted with their gravel bike, but it fails at least two of my tests for a good gravel bike - has regular 105 rather than gravel specific groupset, only has a 30 sprocket in the back, and can take max 35mm tyres.
Snap. I have a Gold and brought a Terra Gravel 105 as a winter bike. I was really tempted with their gravel bike, but it fails at least two of my tests for a good gravel bike - has regular 105 rather than gravel specific groupset, only has a 30 sprocket in the back, and can take max 35mm tyres.
Fantastic bikes and its more comfy than the Gold and nearly as fast
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