Committed to doing a couple of gravel events next year with a mate, so I need a gravel bike.
Anyone seen any bargains? Want to keep things below £1k if I can, but would like hydro brakes if poss.
Merlin had their malt g2 bike going cheap start of the month, might be worth checking to see if it's still on offer. It'll leave a decent budget to upgrade the brakes if you need to. I think it was 650ish.
There's some great second hand deals on FB around me...
Merlin have big savings on a range of gravel bikes. I'd be amazed if you couldn't find something suitable there.
https://www.merlincycles.com/gravel-bikes-75268/
I've seen GT Grade for £660 at JEJames, no hydros though.
I have tried a mate's bike with the AliExpress cable to hydro calipers and they make up for all of the power but not quite the feel.
Juin teach F1's are a massive upgrade over cable discs and you can still use cable brifters.
Merlin have big savings on a range of gravel bikes.
there's plenty of stuff under £1k, but this is looks like a billy bargain at £1099
https://www.merlincycles.com/felt-breed-30-grx-gravel-bike-boxed-bike-316151.html
Juin teach
You're on holiday now Sir!
Juin Tech
That's the badger!
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/road-bikes/rondo-mylc-al-1-gravel-bike-champagneblack__13907
Just a smidge over £1k
Boardman one do for about that price. It’s grx 400 so hydro brakes
I can confirm that the Felt linked above is an absolutely amazing bike for the price. Love mine
Thanks all for the recommendations.
@Tom-B That Felt looks decent! What's the sizing like, I look like I'd be between the 54 and the 56.
And how much assembly is needed as I see it says they come boxed and you need to build yourself.
XMAS10 takes 10% off most stuff at Halfords until midnight Boxing Day.
Sonder Camino still has its Black Friday discount prices.
E.g.
https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-camino-al-v3-apex1-hydraulic
@dogthomson I succumbed to the Felt also, really pleased with the overall package, great balance of components and full hydraulic. I’m about 6’2 with longish legs and went for a 58, feels right. In terms of work, main thing is the brakes are the wrong way around. Didn’t feel confident enough to swap them myself so used a local independent bloke, cost me £50. Bit of cable tidying ie shorten to appropriate length and put the ends on (provided). Running it with full mudguards which are a bit of a faff to fit but all the brackets required are included. Love it!
^what he said! I'm 5' 10 and I'm on a 54.....fits me well, I'm always in-between a 54 and a 56. 54 is perfect.... it's certainly not small for the size of you know what I mean! I might actually try a shorter stem on mine.
siizing based on number is a hazard with road-sized bikes - especially with asymmetrical top/seat tubes. I'm a 56 for lots of brands and a 58 for others, not helped by short legs/long torso. On the flipside, manufacturer size guides are usually pretty decent, so just check those).
Just pre-ordered a GT Grade from J.E. James.
Seems good value at £870 with GRX and hydraulic brakes.
I guess they're binning them out as a result of GT's financial challenges.
https://www.jejamescycles.com/product/18267807/gt-gt-grade-comp-road-bike/option/
That is a bargain
My lbs (cycle studio Redditch) has GRX Whyte Dean for £900, was £1500
I've just bought the £1k Boardman ADV with GRX 400, including hydros. It was between that and the GT Grade for me. Seems nice, will be my rehab bike in the Spring.
My last year's Boardman ADV 9.0 seems like much more bike than it should have been for £1500 - most specifically weight wise, so I'd assume the next model down will be similar