So then, I currently have a 10 year old Genesis road bike that I seem to be spending more time riding at the moment (WFH means I can get out and ride for an hour or so before firing up my laptop).
Anyway, my road bike is a bit of a heap and could do with updating/replacing.
Looking at a gravel bike as a replacement as it will offer more versatility to my rides and hopefully be more comfortable than a stiff aluminium road bike on 25c tyres.
I'm after some suggestions based on the following criteria.
Guess I'm looking for something that more of a robust road bike rather than a compromised mtb (already have a SS hardtail to take up that mantle!)
Looking to spend around £1K (not C2W, just cash)
Not too bothered about rack mounts and that kind of stuff, it's primary use will be shorter rides c.1-1.5 hours from my front door along mixed surface tracks & and poorly surfaced roads (most of them!)
Decent, robust kit. Always been a Shimano fan rather then SRAM.
Interested to hear peoples thoughts as there's so much out there I'm not sure where to start!
GT Grade is perfect for what you're after. I've got the first model and it's quick and comfortable on road/lanes, capable on surfaces like the South Downs Way. V2 looks even better.
Whyte Glencoe, Grade as above, Giant Any Road, Merida Silex, Sonder, Genesis will have something, Pinnacle are always good value too. I’m actually looking for something similar at the moment for as cheap as possible.
Somebody buy the Fearless Vulture in the classifieds. It's a lovely frame.
Set of hunts and a cheap groupset and you're on a really lovely bike.
Sounds like I'm on the right track. Like the look of the Grade and the Glencoe. So many choices lol.
Got to the point with my mountain bikes where I know what I like and what I don't where as with these things I'm lost lol.
Guess I just pick something that I like the colour of!
I built up a Whyte over winter and its been great for what you describe.
Mines a Saxon Cross -so older version of the Friston, built up reasonably light with 40 mm gravel kings front, 38mm rear
I expect there will be a few solutions out there but thw whyte is nice
Reynolds 531 Super Tourist tube-sets are the best ‘all-road frames, IME.
This 1989/90ish British Eagle is a pure joy to ride everywhere up to 35C territory. I love it! It also cost about 1/10th of the price of my ex 😎 (Genesis Vagabond) and is a darn-sight faster*
It rides I suppose somewhere between ‘audax’ and ‘tourer’ which IMO is ideal for ‘gravel‘. Was concerned rim-brakes would be a deal-breaker (Have been for me in the past) but not yet. If I ever feel the need to I’ll get them brazed on. But I think the forks as they are contribute a lot to the buttery-ride.
*No hard-feeling, Genesis. I still keep a Longitude for mud and rocks!
#metalpolisher
#recommendwhatyouridemost
I've got a 2016 GT Grade en route from Hargreaves Cycles as they had loads of old models being sold off cheap - worth a look.
robust road?
Specialized Diverge, or Kinesis G2.
Think that’s the issue with this type of bike. Way too much choice out there. The Whyte is nice, but alu fork at that price just seems like an odd choice for saving on build cost.
The Fearless Vulture is lovely and they do get great reviews. If only I was taller I’d snap it up. Have you seen it OP? Ragley Trig is another one that might be worth a look too
Merlin ROC Disc 105 looks like a decent option, £1000.
robust road?
Specialized Diverge,
I have a Diverge, its ace however compared to others its not good value at ~£1k
I have been looking for similar on C2W. £1k is not quite enough to get you a bike with full hydro disks. There is no easy upgrade so to me its a big jump from that £1k bike with cable to about £1.3k with various offerings with hydro disks and bolt tru axle hubs etc. I think they are a deal breaker as cable disc breaks are just not good enough and QR on such bikes is becoming redundant.
You might just get one - like this Topstone in the clearance at £999 but its only in xs. The full RRP is £1.2 and I think to have a reasonable choice if you stretch to that or search for that spec at £1k and grab what you can.
https://www.hargreaves-cycles.co.uk/m39b0s412p9328/CANNONDALE-Topstone-Tiagra-2020
The Fearless Vulture is lovely and they do get great reviews. If only I was taller I’d snap it up. Have you seen it OP? Ragley Trig is another one that might be worth a look too
I have seen it, looks bloomin' lovely if I'm honest. I'd snap it up but the fact I don't want a build project. I just want a 'turn key' job as essentially it will just be abused!
Evans have some Arkose d2s back in stock, well 14 days anyway.
Just picked one up and the new Tiagra 4725 hydraulic looks really nice. The finishing kit looks good too, even keeping the tyres.
I know it's SRAM (my preference anyway) but for £1k I'd be getting this: https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-g1x-apex-1-gravel-bike-2020-150729.html
Full carbon fork, hydro discs - just a shame about the colour!
I like that lol
Desperately trying to sell a Pinnacle Arkose in the classifieds, as it's just taking up space in the house. It's pretty much exactly what you're after.
Please can someone take this off my hands ! I'd post a link to it, but the site won't let me. Try page 6 for info and photos.
That Pinnacle looks nice. I would’ve haggled with you if you weren’t so tall.
I've a 2015 Croix de fer 10 that I'm thinking of selling (too many bikes according to the wife), it's in great condition. I'm based in the central belt of Scotland if that's of any interest in you. Also it's in a rather lovely deep metallic red.
The latest Whyte, Grade & Merlin G1 are all rather long in the virtual top tube. This, the stack and headtube angle is what usually guides me to a new frame based usually on the previous bike. Of course you can size down but you'll lose some stack. Or then again you might want a more racier position then you have now.
The Ribble CGR AL looks like your usual road geo and owners always seem happy, but it's Tiagra mecanical at 1k.
I've had my Whyte Glencoe for 18 months now and it's been perfect. I've done multi day rides, 100 miles on road, forest exploration, trail centres, well off the beaten track etc and it's been flawless. I would highly recommend it
I like the look of that Fearless Vulture.
Reminds me of this http://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/oppy-s-1-heritage-bike/
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Wonder if it's from the same factory.
My 'robust road' choice was a C2W priced commuter Whyte Dorset, with fatter tyres. Whyte advised me 33c was recommended max on stock rims. Im pretty light and have used 35c on front without any noticing any tyre roll. Still plenty of clearance for mud. Im put off most gravel/all road by 1x at front.
I think Ive probably ridden it well outside its intended scope. Rode the Ridgeway on it when I noticed forks on MTB had started leaking, and Ive ridden it down some very heavily rutted 4x4 tracks. Over the time Ive owned it at least a third of the milage has been Byway, Bridleway, Fireroad.
On road it gets pretty twitchy above 45kmh. Other than that, zero complaints.
There's a list of 650b gravel bikes over on bikepacking.com - https://bikepacking.com/index/650b-gravel-bikes/