Cyclingtips have just done a bit of a group test of gravel bikes
https://cyclingtips.com/2022/09/our-favorite-bikes-from-the-2022-gravel-and-all-road-field-test/
Thanks I did see that too. Looks like the salsa is popular. A quick search shows it's hard to come by (as are many). Being small I actually need a small bike. It's not like I can go for a medium with longer stem and post if I needed a large.
So tested both bikes today and settled on the Cannondale. Stem is touch long but the rest is great.
Thanks for the advice.
2 rides in on my Topstone 1 and it's a shame I didn't get one of these ages ago. Just feels right. Yesterdays ride was 16 miles of 50/50 road/dirt and felt quite worn out by the end. Also need practice with no suspension up front to prevent flats.
Also need practice with no suspension up front to prevent flats.
Are you still running tubes on it?
Definitely tubeless for gravel bikes and when you change the tyres, put in one of those run-flat foam inserts. I've got the Vittoria Airliner but there are a couple of other brands as well. Made a huge difference.
For some reason, the frame/wheel combination I have is quite sensitive to tyre pressures; there's a fairly small window between "pinch flatting / burping the whole time" and "so hard it rattles your eyeballs out".
The middle ground of being just hard enough not to pinch or bottom the rim vs just soft enough for good grip and traction" took a while to find but the Airliner inserts have hugely widened that gap, it feels much better to ride.
I've just won a Ribble bike of my choice up to £2.5k in a competition😀. Still don't know what to buy yet.
Win!
