Another 'What gravel bike?' thread

[dontlookdown]

Apologies for another one of these threads, I have read the others but I think my requirements are different enough to warrant it. (We're all special snowflakes after all!)

There seem to be some bargain about too at the moment, so time to do my bit to save the ailing bike industry. Here is my wish list:

Road biased gravel bike

2x drive chain

Hydraulic discs

External cable routing

Threaded BB

Traditional/non-integrated headset

Slight pref for steel frame but other materials also ok.

Bosses for racks and mudguards.

Budget up to 3k but closer to 2k if poss. I will fret too much about it getting stolen if I spend any more than that

All suggestions gratefully received

[frisbee]

Gravel bikes have gone more gravelly. Maybe look at endurance or all-road bikes.

I've got a first generation GT Grade (8 years old), 95% of the riding I've done on it has been on road, a modern gravel bike doesn't really appeal.

[dontlookdown]

Interesting thanka. I had wondered about all road bikes, they weren't really much of a thing the last time I looked a couple of year ago.

[Master Bean]

Fairlight and Mason do bikes similar to your requirements although I get confused as to which model ia which.

[stargazer30]

hmm most gravels in the 3k range will have internal cabling as its cleaner. In my case I just ran a full outer inside the frame to make the shifting better. You could look at titanium frames as they don't have internal routing usually.

As for the road focused part, the new specialized s-works pathfinders are an excellent gravel tyre that do a very good job on the road (for a gravel tyre). They only come in tan though.

[Julian Scott]

up to £3k would bring Canyons well into contention.

Even better, IMO, it would also just bring a Curve into budget.

[iansp]

Temple Cycles currently have 30% off their Adventure Disc range.

I have had an Adventure Disc 1 for two years and am very pleased with it.

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/adventure-dis...

Edited by iansp on Tuesday 10th October 00:09

[dontlookdown]

iansp said:

Temple Cycles currently have 30% off their Adventure Disc range.

I have had an Adventure Disc 1 for two years and am very pleased with it.

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/adventure-dis...

Edited by iansp on Tuesday 10th October 00:09

That's a good deal and a nice looking bike. But the Adventure 1 with hydro discs is also 1x. I wonder if they'd do me one with 2x?

I have the same trp cable discs that the other models come with on one of my current bikes and they are a pain. Stop OK but constant faffing requires to keep them adjusted.

[WindyCommon]

I was similarly 100% certain that I had to have a 2x drive chain. I was then tempted in a rash moment into a bike that ticked all my other boxes at a substantial discount.

To my surprise, I really like the 1x setup. You might be similarly surprised too.

[horsemeatscandal]

iansp said:

Temple Cycles currently have 30% off their Adventure Disc range.

I have had an Adventure Disc 1 for two years and am very pleased with it.

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/adventure-dis...

Edited by iansp on Tuesday 10th October 00:09

That Disc 1 is very nice.

[iansp]

dontlookdown said:

That's a good deal and a nice looking bike. But the Adventure 1 with hydro discs is also 1x. I wonder if they'd do me one with 2x?

I have the same trp cable discs that the other models come with on one of my current bikes and they are a pain. Stop OK but constant faffing requires to keep them adjusted.

Temple did use to offer a Shimano 105 Hydraulic Disc upgrade on the Adventure Disc 2 but I cannot see it listed anymore however places like Merlin Cycles are currently selling what was the upgrade for £299 (rrp £560). Appreciating we all have different cycling requirements but I use my bike on the road as well as offroad and I do not miss having 2x, in fact I hardly use my dedicated road or mountain bike now.

https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-105-r7020-hyd...

[dontlookdown]

Tks, I was seriously considering ditching my 2x requirement and going for an Adventure 1, but they have sold out of my size of course!

ETA. Sold.out of my size completely in fact. Missed the boat on that one...

[WindyCommon]

What is behind your preference for 2x? Range or gapping?

Mine has been a revelation. I have SRAM Rival 40t with an 11-42 cassette. No probs at the low end, especially as I use 650b wheels off-road. Yes, it’s easy to spin out on a road descent, but I don’t find that an issue in practice. The modern rear-mech seems to cope v well with the wide range and the drivetrain as a whole feels as solid as a rock. It’s that solidity that I like. Combined with the 42mm Teravail Ramparts I use for road riding it is quiet and velvety-smooth to ride. Quite different to what I expected, and I have hardly ridden my dedicated road-bike since.

Perhaps get a test ride on a 1x with a wide-range cassette and give it a try?

[dontlookdown]

WindyCommon said:

What is behind your preference for 2x? Range or gapping?

Mine has been a revelation. I have SRAM Rival 40t with an 11-42 cassette. No probs at the low end, especially as I use 650b wheels off-road. Yes, it’s easy to spin out on a road descent, but I don’t find that an issue in practice. The modern rear-mech seems to cope v well with the wide range and the drivetrain as a whole feels as solid as a rock. It’s that solidity that I like. Combined with the 42mm Teravail Ramparts I use for road riding it is quiet and velvety-smooth to ride. Quite different to what I expected, and I have hardly ridden my dedicated road-bike since.

Perhaps get a test ride on a 1x with a wide-range cassette and give it a try?

Gapping mainly, I like close gears as they are kinder to my creaking old knees. But I confess I also just don't like the way 1x looks, with a huge dinner plate out back and a tiny chainring up front. It's unbalanced. Some crazy chain lines too.

I should probably try one though you are right. Harumph harumph...

[Julian Scott]

dontlookdown said:

WindyCommon said:

What is behind your preference for 2x? Range or gapping?

Mine has been a revelation. I have SRAM Rival 40t with an 11-42 cassette. No probs at the low end, especially as I use 650b wheels off-road. Yes, it’s easy to spin out on a road descent, but I don’t find that an issue in practice. The modern rear-mech seems to cope v well with the wide range and the drivetrain as a whole feels as solid as a rock. It’s that solidity that I like. Combined with the 42mm Teravail Ramparts I use for road riding it is quiet and velvety-smooth to ride. Quite different to what I expected, and I have hardly ridden my dedicated road-bike since.

Perhaps get a test ride on a 1x with a wide-range cassette and give it a try?

Gapping mainly, I like close gears as they are kinder to my creaking old knees. But I confess I also just don't like the way 1x looks, with a huge dinner plate out back and a tiny chainring up front. It's unbalanced. Some crazy chain lines too.

I should probably try one though you are right. Harumph harumph...

It's not a mountain bike ring. My gravel bike has a 1x - but it's a 42T with an 11-42T cassette. Looks perfectly balanced, works perfectly fine, on road and off.

[WindyCommon]

dontlookdown said:

But I confess I also just don't like the way 1x looks, with a huge dinner plate out back and a tiny chainring up front. It's unbalanced. Some crazy chain lines too.

I think this looks ok! And it took me a while to “give in” and fit a 50/34 on my best bike…

[dontlookdown]

I just like the top and bottom chain runs to be closer to parallel than that. I can't help it!

[iansp]

dontlookdown said:

Tks, I was seriously considering ditching my 2x requirement and going for an Adventure 1, but they have sold out of my size of course!

ETA. Sold.out of my size completely in fact. Missed the boat on that one...

Not sure if you have bought a bike yet but Temple have up to 21% off the Adventure 1 this weekend and currently most sizes are available in most colours.

Edited by iansp on Friday 29th March 20:17

[mie1972]

I’ve been using my Sonder Camino as a winter road bike and i find it almost perfect for a do it all bike. Had road tyres thru winter, summer I ran with the stock wheels and 45mm tyres on dry gravel. The geometry is good for road and I chose the standard drop bars instead of the flared ones find it works really well on road.

Mines a titanium 1x SRAM AXS, but they also do 2x Shimano option. Titanium or Alloy frames.
Only issue I’ve had with 1x is top end, ie 25mph descents I run out of gears, apart from that 1x is a breeze to look after. It’s a little heavy at 9.5kg, but unless riding with a group chain gang ride it’s not a problem

Crazy value, electronic shifting titanium bike for under 3k, the Tiagra alloy version is under 1k…

https://alpkit.com/collections/sonder-camino

Edited by mie1972 on Friday 29th March 20:33