Please recommend me a road bike that goes off road or ......
Discussion
a gravel/adventure bike that is quick on the road.
I currently have a Genesis CDF which has been brilliant, as most of my cycling is an 80/20 mix of road and off road. However, It feels hard work on the hills at times, and isn't particularly rapid on the smooth stuff.
I plan to keep the Genesis as a winter bike and buy a new bike for the warmer months.
Are there many road bikes out there which have a fairly 'robust' wheelset'? and/or are there any gravel bikes that a light/quick on the road? I would want disk brakes, either TRP's all full hydraulics.
Budget is about £1k (knowing full well that this will end up closer to £2k
)
I currently have a Genesis CDF which has been brilliant, as most of my cycling is an 80/20 mix of road and off road. However, It feels hard work on the hills at times, and isn't particularly rapid on the smooth stuff.
I plan to keep the Genesis as a winter bike and buy a new bike for the warmer months.
Are there many road bikes out there which have a fairly 'robust' wheelset'? and/or are there any gravel bikes that a light/quick on the road? I would want disk brakes, either TRP's all full hydraulics.
Budget is about £1k (knowing full well that this will end up closer to £2k
)Depends what you are classing as offroad really. If you mean like canal towpaths or hardpack/cinder/gravel tracks or proper bridleways across fields etc
Most road bikes can be made to go on the former with larger volume tyres. If its the latter then you're more in the realms of cyclocross/gravel but something like a hardtail MTB might be better suited
For a good all-rounder perhaps a cyclocross frameset with Schwalbe G-One tyres would suit you. For disc brakes if you don't want to splash out on full hydraulics I can highly recommend Juintech calipers which are cable operated hydrauilics, as a cheaper alternative to the TRP HY/RDs. The Juintech's come in both post and flat mount options
For wheels something like Hunt 4 seasons are very adaptable and easy set up tubeless with the Schwalbe G-Ones
Frameset options - maybe one of these would suit you https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/cyclocross-frames...
Should be able to build a sub / low 8Kg bike for less than 2k if you shop wisely, here's mine I built from frameset
Most road bikes can be made to go on the former with larger volume tyres. If its the latter then you're more in the realms of cyclocross/gravel but something like a hardtail MTB might be better suited
For a good all-rounder perhaps a cyclocross frameset with Schwalbe G-One tyres would suit you. For disc brakes if you don't want to splash out on full hydraulics I can highly recommend Juintech calipers which are cable operated hydrauilics, as a cheaper alternative to the TRP HY/RDs. The Juintech's come in both post and flat mount options
For wheels something like Hunt 4 seasons are very adaptable and easy set up tubeless with the Schwalbe G-Ones
Frameset options - maybe one of these would suit you https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/cyclocross-frames...
Should be able to build a sub / low 8Kg bike for less than 2k if you shop wisely, here's mine I built from frameset
snobetter said:
As much as I like bike purchases, have you thought about 2 wheel sets for CDF? Chunky with chunky tires and aero with road? Even if you get a new bike in the future they'll be an upgrade.
I had considered that option, but more with a road spec bike, but 'upgrade' the wheelset.How much difference will a lighter set of wheels make to this bike (steel frame and relaxed geometry)? If it will make a significant difference then I will investigate.
itsnotarace said:
Depends what you are classing as offroad really. If you mean like canal towpaths or hardpack/cinder/gravel tracks or proper bridleways across fields etc
Most road bikes can be made to go on the former with larger volume tyres. If its the latter then you're more in the realms of cyclocross/gravel but something like a hardtail MTB might be better suited
For a good all-rounder perhaps a cyclocross frameset with Schwalbe G-One tyres would suit you. For disc brakes if you don't want to splash out on full hydraulics I can highly recommend Juintech calipers which are cable operated hydrauilics, as a cheaper alternative to the TRP HY/RDs. The Juintech's come in both post and flat mount options
For wheels something like Hunt 4 seasons are very adaptable and easy set up tubeless with the Schwalbe G-Ones
Frameset options - maybe one of these would suit you https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/cyclocross-frames...
Should be able to build a sub / low 8Kg bike for less than 2k if you shop wisely, here's mine I built from frameset
Thanks itsnotaraceMost road bikes can be made to go on the former with larger volume tyres. If its the latter then you're more in the realms of cyclocross/gravel but something like a hardtail MTB might be better suited
For a good all-rounder perhaps a cyclocross frameset with Schwalbe G-One tyres would suit you. For disc brakes if you don't want to splash out on full hydraulics I can highly recommend Juintech calipers which are cable operated hydrauilics, as a cheaper alternative to the TRP HY/RDs. The Juintech's come in both post and flat mount options
For wheels something like Hunt 4 seasons are very adaptable and easy set up tubeless with the Schwalbe G-Ones
Frameset options - maybe one of these would suit you https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/cyclocross-frames...
Should be able to build a sub / low 8Kg bike for less than 2k if you shop wisely, here's mine I built from frameset
In answer to the first question, yes more bridleways, woods and farm tracks. But 80% is on road and this can be 150miles a week, so I'm not considering an MTB, and its why i'm leaning towards a road spec bike that can handle a few kerbs, roots and rocks.
Your bike looks quality btw!
Hydraulic shifters on gravel/road bikes start to appear on bikes costing around £1k. The likes of Trek Checkpoint, Spesh Diverge, Cannondale Topstone and Giant Revolt (Defy with fat tyres) should be able to handle both on/off road. I've got G-One tyres on my Topstone for on road/light trail/gravel road use and it's fine by me. I'm sure GP5000 tyres might be a bit quicker but I'm not racing. For a fast gravel bike you're probably looking at a bigger budget eg. 3T Exploro or Cervelo Aspero, both of which are marketed as racing gravel bikes.
I just take my Road Bike off road, but depends on what you mean like has been said.
I think people think road bikes are diaphanous weedy things, and I think they certainly used to be a bit more fragile. I have a carbon Trek Domane and have commuted on it and been off road on it, obviously the tyres are key but when its dry it copes very well.
They have to be strong to cope with the roads, some utterly horrendous surfaces to navigate, pot holes, dodgy grids etc, it being a road bike I find doesnt seem to limit me on unmade roads, tow paths etc.
I think so many buy Mountain bikes thinking they need one, most dont, similar paradigm to SUVs used exclusively on road, trouble is with bikes you have to pedal it yourself unlike a Range Rover.
Amuses me seeing people commuting on cheapo full suss mountain bikes, must be horrible.
I think people think road bikes are diaphanous weedy things, and I think they certainly used to be a bit more fragile. I have a carbon Trek Domane and have commuted on it and been off road on it, obviously the tyres are key but when its dry it copes very well.
They have to be strong to cope with the roads, some utterly horrendous surfaces to navigate, pot holes, dodgy grids etc, it being a road bike I find doesnt seem to limit me on unmade roads, tow paths etc.
I think so many buy Mountain bikes thinking they need one, most dont, similar paradigm to SUVs used exclusively on road, trouble is with bikes you have to pedal it yourself unlike a Range Rover.
Amuses me seeing people commuting on cheapo full suss mountain bikes, must be horrible.
Dr Murdoch said:
snobetter said:
As much as I like bike purchases, have you thought about 2 wheel sets for CDF? Chunky with chunky tires and aero with road? Even if you get a new bike in the future they'll be an upgrade.
I had considered that option, but more with a road spec bike, but 'upgrade' the wheelset.How much difference will a lighter set of wheels make to this bike (steel frame and relaxed geometry)? If it will make a significant difference then I will investigate.
Whilst I’m happy to admit, a.) I’m not the fastest rider and b.) the Domane isn’t the lightest or fastest road bike, it will take 32mm tyres, so if on gravel etc, you could run something like Panaracer gravel king tyres for some grip, they roll quite well on tarmac too. The 2021 spec bikes run T47 bottom brackets, so less propensity for creaking.
Edited by bigdom on Saturday 6th June 16:32
Dr Murdoch said:
a gravel/adventure bike that is quick on the road.
I currently have a Genesis CDF which has been brilliant, as most of my cycling is an 80/20 mix of road and off road. However, It feels hard work on the hills at times, and isn't particularly rapid on the smooth stuff.
I plan to keep the Genesis as a winter bike and buy a new bike for the warmer months.
Are there many road bikes out there which have a fairly 'robust' wheelset'? and/or are there any gravel bikes that a light/quick on the road? I would want disk brakes, either TRP's all full hydraulics.
Budget is about £1k (knowing full well that this will end up closer to £2k)
Doc, with an 80/20 mix of terrain, I'd be on my road bike. It's done a heck of a lot of off-road stuff, from New Forest gravel trails, to chalk downland drovers roads, via gravel-topped sea walls and some pretty lumpy bridleways and byways.I currently have a Genesis CDF which has been brilliant, as most of my cycling is an 80/20 mix of road and off road. However, It feels hard work on the hills at times, and isn't particularly rapid on the smooth stuff.
I plan to keep the Genesis as a winter bike and buy a new bike for the warmer months.
Are there many road bikes out there which have a fairly 'robust' wheelset'? and/or are there any gravel bikes that a light/quick on the road? I would want disk brakes, either TRP's all full hydraulics.
Budget is about £1k (knowing full well that this will end up closer to £2k
)The bike is a 2015 Trek Emonda, getting on for 14,000 miles ridden, on it's original wheels and rim brakes...
...you'd be surprised where you can get away with taking a road bike, even on 25c tyres.
I do have a "gravel" bike, and a MTB, but a lot of my off-roading is either unplanned exploring while on a road ride, or it's while I'm hunting for Veloviewer Explorer tiles at the far end of a 100+ mile road ride. It's cost me a couple of torn tyres and some pinch flats on the more extreme excursions off the tarmac, but in general it just means taking a little more care picking your lines on a track/trail.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff