Spec me a gravel bike - £1k (cycle2work)
Discussion
Started biking a few months ago as the gym shut down and this gave me an excuse to dust off the Bike in a box that I got from Costco a few years ago for £250. It's an aluminium hybrid bike, nothing special though I am feeling the lack of speed and general refinement now and it's time to step up to a proper bike.
Requirements:
Ribble CGR AL
Triban RC520
Requirements:
- Mix of tarmac and gravel riding (Wimbledon and Putney Heath and then to Richmond Park) - so thinking of a gravel bike.
- 1x Groupset - to keep it simple as gears still confuse me a little(!)
- Frame wise - really tempted by carbon though not sure I can swing it in my budget vs a good Alu one.
- Comfortable/Relaxed geometry - I'm relatively fit though not really looking to get super aero or enter road races just yet.
- Ability to swap between 650b and 700c tyres - this is more of a good to have. Thinking of starting with 650b tyres first to build up confidence on a fatter tyre and then upgrade to road specific ones when I'm better.
- Disc brakes - probably won't get hydraulic at this level
- £1k limit as I'll be using the work Cycle to Work scheme which is capped at that - so that means I'll look for at least a good frame and groupset that I can tinker with later.
Ribble CGR AL
Triban RC520
Edited by OttoMattik on Monday 30th November 14:08
I'm very happy with a boardman I bought a couple of months ago. 2x groupset though..
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2332-...
£1k
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2332-...
£1k
This looks pretty good - hadn't seen that one before.
Been doing a bit more reading on 1x vs 2x, and tbh - could go either way. The riding I do will be a mixture of both tarmac and gravel, so a 2x also works as most of the online articles seem to suggest going 1x only when you're doing full on gravel and speed and range of gears at the top end isn't that important.
Does the Boardman have hydraulic disc brakes as well?
Been doing a bit more reading on 1x vs 2x, and tbh - could go either way. The riding I do will be a mixture of both tarmac and gravel, so a 2x also works as most of the online articles seem to suggest going 1x only when you're doing full on gravel and speed and range of gears at the top end isn't that important.
Does the Boardman have hydraulic disc brakes as well?
I run a 1x (SRAM Force1) on my Gravel Bike.
I chose it for mechanical simplicity and ease of cleaning - I'm 100% happy with the choice. I use my bike 30% off road, 70% on-road (as a winter bike). I'v never been left wanting.
I went out yesterday and did a 100km ride with a friend on his Road Bike, all on road. I still dragged him round, and with the exception with one steep downhill when I couldn't pedal faster at 52km/h and so had to tuck in and freewheel, I didn't have any issue.
I chose it for mechanical simplicity and ease of cleaning - I'm 100% happy with the choice. I use my bike 30% off road, 70% on-road (as a winter bike). I'v never been left wanting.
I went out yesterday and did a 100km ride with a friend on his Road Bike, all on road. I still dragged him round, and with the exception with one steep downhill when I couldn't pedal faster at 52km/h and so had to tuck in and freewheel, I didn't have any issue.
AJB88 said:
I wanted a 1K gravel bike recently through cycle2work.
Was all set to get a Giant Revolt 2 and then found they had no stock, I added £300 to the total out of my own pocket and got the Giant Revolt 1 instead.
I'm checking on this option with my work benefits team - a lot of conflicting advice online. Was all set to get a Giant Revolt 2 and then found they had no stock, I added £300 to the total out of my own pocket and got the Giant Revolt 1 instead.
Work for a very large organisation so a change in the rules for my scenario is out of the question, but a lot of articles online seem to suggest that it is possible to add from your pocket on top, or some retailers allow you to do it anyway - i.e. pay the first grand out of the voucher scheme and then pay for the uplift yourself.
Has anyone got experience of the latter?
OttoMattik said:
This looks pretty good - hadn't seen that one before.
Been doing a bit more reading on 1x vs 2x, and tbh - could go either way. The riding I do will be a mixture of both tarmac and gravel, so a 2x also works as most of the online articles seem to suggest going 1x only when you're doing full on gravel and speed and range of gears at the top end isn't that important.
Does the Boardman have hydraulic disc brakes as well?
Yes hydraulic brakes. When I bought it is was the best I could find for the money without a massive wait.Been doing a bit more reading on 1x vs 2x, and tbh - could go either way. The riding I do will be a mixture of both tarmac and gravel, so a 2x also works as most of the online articles seem to suggest going 1x only when you're doing full on gravel and speed and range of gears at the top end isn't that important.
Does the Boardman have hydraulic disc brakes as well?
OttoMattik said:
I'm checking on this option with my work benefits team - a lot of conflicting advice online.
Work for a very large organisation so a change in the rules for my scenario is out of the question, but a lot of articles online seem to suggest that it is possible to add from your pocket on top, or some retailers allow you to do it anyway - i.e. pay the first grand out of the voucher scheme and then pay for the uplift yourself.
Has anyone got experience of the latter?
Thats exactly what I did. The seller asked the manager and he "authorised" it. Work for a very large organisation so a change in the rules for my scenario is out of the question, but a lot of articles online seem to suggest that it is possible to add from your pocket on top, or some retailers allow you to do it anyway - i.e. pay the first grand out of the voucher scheme and then pay for the uplift yourself.
Has anyone got experience of the latter?
davidd said:
OttoMattik said:
This looks pretty good - hadn't seen that one before.
Been doing a bit more reading on 1x vs 2x, and tbh - could go either way. The riding I do will be a mixture of both tarmac and gravel, so a 2x also works as most of the online articles seem to suggest going 1x only when you're doing full on gravel and speed and range of gears at the top end isn't that important.
Does the Boardman have hydraulic disc brakes as well?
Yes hydraulic brakes. When I bought it is was the best I could find for the money without a massive wait.Been doing a bit more reading on 1x vs 2x, and tbh - could go either way. The riding I do will be a mixture of both tarmac and gravel, so a 2x also works as most of the online articles seem to suggest going 1x only when you're doing full on gravel and speed and range of gears at the top end isn't that important.
Does the Boardman have hydraulic disc brakes as well?
Still want one as an upgrade to my current gravel bike.
I'm picking up a Boardman ADV 8.9 at the weekend after having had a go on my Dad's a while back.
Really couldn't find anything better for the money out there! It's a smart-looking bike for £1k (or £580 on C2W if you're a higher rate tax payer) too!
Tempted to get a 1x GRX chainset and BB adaptor with a bigger cassette a little bit down the line but just going to enjoy it to start with!
Really couldn't find anything better for the money out there! It's a smart-looking bike for £1k (or £580 on C2W if you're a higher rate tax payer) too!
Tempted to get a 1x GRX chainset and BB adaptor with a bigger cassette a little bit down the line but just going to enjoy it to start with!
Edited by dirtbiker on Tuesday 1st December 09:49
So my HR team hasn't come back with a response on whether the £1k limit was movable or not, and I doubt it will be. They're sticklers for rules and it won't change for an individual - as it becomes unmanageable for a large org
Slept on it and convinced myself the Boardman was the right one for me as a 'starter bike' anyway, aaanndd.... my size (Small) is out of stock :-/
Spec wise - agreed, can't find anything better at this budget and for £580 is a pretty good bargain (in the current climate anyway).
Are Halfords and Tredz the only place that do Boardman bikes? Can't find any other retailers selling these.
Slept on it and convinced myself the Boardman was the right one for me as a 'starter bike' anyway, aaanndd.... my size (Small) is out of stock :-/
Spec wise - agreed, can't find anything better at this budget and for £580 is a pretty good bargain (in the current climate anyway).
Are Halfords and Tredz the only place that do Boardman bikes? Can't find any other retailers selling these.
OttoMattik said:
So my HR team hasn't come back with a response on whether the £1k limit was movable or not, and I doubt it will be. They're sticklers for rules and it won't change for an individual - as it becomes unmanageable for a large org
Slept on it and convinced myself the Boardman was the right one for me as a 'starter bike' anyway, aaanndd.... my size (Small) is out of stock :-/
Spec wise - agreed, can't find anything better at this budget and for £580 is a pretty good bargain (in the current climate anyway).
Are Halfords and Tredz the only place that do Boardman bikes? Can't find any other retailers selling these.
Ah bugger, that's a shame! I was waiting on the Small size for ages too and they got 30 in stock last week but must have shifted them all very quickly. I got a quick response from contact@boardmanbikes.com so maybe they'll be getting more in soon.Slept on it and convinced myself the Boardman was the right one for me as a 'starter bike' anyway, aaanndd.... my size (Small) is out of stock :-/
Spec wise - agreed, can't find anything better at this budget and for £580 is a pretty good bargain (in the current climate anyway).
Are Halfords and Tredz the only place that do Boardman bikes? Can't find any other retailers selling these.
OttoMattik said:
Good shout - have just done that.
Would be good to hear your thoughts after you've picked up yours and have a blast about in it, to see what your thoughts are. There's not much in the way of reviews apart from a couple of videos on YT.
If you have any specifics I'll try and help. Mine has been really good even if it was set up by a complete novice (me;))Would be good to hear your thoughts after you've picked up yours and have a blast about in it, to see what your thoughts are. There's not much in the way of reviews apart from a couple of videos on YT.
Another vote for the Ribble CGR.
I’ve spent the last 5 years on a Carrera £250 road bike. I bought two new bikes over the summer, a Specialized Roubaix road bike and a Ribble CGR AL set up as a gravel bike with 650b wheels and WTB Byway Plus tyres.
I love the Ribble. I almost prefer it to the Roubaix. It’s highly capable - as at home through the local woods as on the local gravel tracks as in the road. Entirely comfy, complete fun, and arrived perfectly set up out the box. It’s not as fast as the Roubaix on the road, but probably only a couple of km/h slower.
With hindsight, if I’d have known it was so close (in terms of smiles-per-hour if not miles-per-hour) to the Roubaix, I’d have just stuck with the Ribble and not bought the Roubaix too. Don’t tell the Roubaix though :-)
I’ve spent the last 5 years on a Carrera £250 road bike. I bought two new bikes over the summer, a Specialized Roubaix road bike and a Ribble CGR AL set up as a gravel bike with 650b wheels and WTB Byway Plus tyres.
I love the Ribble. I almost prefer it to the Roubaix. It’s highly capable - as at home through the local woods as on the local gravel tracks as in the road. Entirely comfy, complete fun, and arrived perfectly set up out the box. It’s not as fast as the Roubaix on the road, but probably only a couple of km/h slower.
With hindsight, if I’d have known it was so close (in terms of smiles-per-hour if not miles-per-hour) to the Roubaix, I’d have just stuck with the Ribble and not bought the Roubaix too. Don’t tell the Roubaix though :-)
davidd said:
If you have any specifics I'll try and help. Mine has been really good even if it was set up by a complete novice (me;))
+1 to Boardman CS for the quick reply - confirmed that no small ones in stock and the next batch is not going to be till mid April 
I'm interested to hear thoughts on how the handling is different compared to a flat bike (which I'll be coming from), and mainly the geometry and comfort level.
I've only ever ridden upright so the arched back/aero position will be new to me, and probably the biggest challenge.
Ah, how annoying! On a selfish note though I'm glad I didn't think about it too long when I heard they were back in stock (a 45 minute run was enough thinking time!).
I've obviously not got mine yet so can't comment on the exact geometry but having spent a fair bit of time on a Boardman Team Carbon and a Boardman SLR8.9 road bike I think it'll be fairly relaxed in terms of geometry. The 'arched over / hunched back' position isn't as bad as you'd think because you'll spend a lot of time on the hoods of the brakes rather than down on the drops of the bars so I found the transition to a road/gravel bike pretty comfy after years of MTB and flat bar bikes.
I've obviously not got mine yet so can't comment on the exact geometry but having spent a fair bit of time on a Boardman Team Carbon and a Boardman SLR8.9 road bike I think it'll be fairly relaxed in terms of geometry. The 'arched over / hunched back' position isn't as bad as you'd think because you'll spend a lot of time on the hoods of the brakes rather than down on the drops of the bars so I found the transition to a road/gravel bike pretty comfy after years of MTB and flat bar bikes.
dirtbiker said:
Ah, how annoying! On a selfish note though I'm glad I didn't think about it too long when I heard they were back in stock (a 45 minute run was enough thinking time!).
I've obviously not got mine yet so can't comment on the exact geometry but having spent a fair bit of time on a Boardman Team Carbon and a Boardman SLR8.9 road bike I think it'll be fairly relaxed in terms of geometry. The 'arched over / hunched back' position isn't as bad as you'd think because you'll spend a lot of time on the hoods of the brakes rather than down on the drops of the bars so I found the transition to a road/gravel bike pretty comfy after years of MTB and flat bar bikes.
I went from a hybrid, the geometry is more aggressive on the boardman but not much. As the pervious poster said, you'll spend a lot of time on the hoods and it is very comfortable. My only issue us that I bought a large which was correct for my height etc, I think I might have been better on a med. Proper bike fit next week.I've obviously not got mine yet so can't comment on the exact geometry but having spent a fair bit of time on a Boardman Team Carbon and a Boardman SLR8.9 road bike I think it'll be fairly relaxed in terms of geometry. The 'arched over / hunched back' position isn't as bad as you'd think because you'll spend a lot of time on the hoods of the brakes rather than down on the drops of the bars so I found the transition to a road/gravel bike pretty comfy after years of MTB and flat bar bikes.
It might worth looking at the https://www.halfords.com/bikes/adventure-bikes/boa...
Slightly lower spec but same frames. A friend has put about 2000 miles on one since august and loves it.
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