Specialized Crux is about the be all and end all when it comes to gravel bikes.
I've almost retired my road bikes since owning one.
Unsure as to what you'd get for £4000, but it looks like the comp model is available for £3500, leaving you £500 for some Chinese carbon wheels.
My only other recommendation would be SRAM over Shimano every day of the week.
I had a Ribble CGR 725 for a while and it was a very nice bike. If I were getting a new bike my budget would probably be up to £2.5k and I'd definitely consider another Ribble, but if I had £4k to play with I'd be looking for something a bit 'nicer' in some intangible way that to me is nevertheless important for that sort of money.
You're unlikely to get a pup for that money (regardless of spec) so go with whichever bike give you some feelings. There's no reason it coldn't be a ribble, but if it isn't then the badge on the derailleur won't make up for that IME.
I've got a few bikes that were very pragmatic builds that I love riding, but there's something about my roadbike that just makes me smile and that has a lot of value.
I'd be looking at a custom painted Chinese frame (and am currently for a road bike) and building it up with parts of my choosing. My old Ribble R872 has been great but it was bought before they'd gone premium and if you're buying a Chinese carbon frame now it's much easier to go direct.
A couple of years ago, I had a Ribble on my gravel bike shortlist. I was going to spend around £2.5k. There was nothing about the brand that put me off, I just didn't like their choice of groupset and the undetermined lead time. I got a Cannondale Topstone (in stock, at a bargain price) instead, upgraded the wheels to carbon and haven't regretted it.
I have a similar budget for a new a gravel bike. My list is down to Vielo v1, Fairlight Secan, Ventum GS1
If you like the value of a Ribble then the new 3d printed ti gravel bike looks.much more special that the carbon one.
It's weird how some brands (and even models) attract that "dream" bike cachet and some don't. It's like reverse nostalgia; will I still think this bike is cool and want to ride it in 20 years time?
I looked at Ribble, but went for a Fairlight Secan, phwaor.
No regrets
Fairlight do look right. I'd swing a leg over one of their bikes and smile every time I reckon.
I've never seen a Fairlight I didn't like, and I rode with two on last night's club ride. I didn't notice any ribbles.
Vielo have some offers on such as v-1-alto-sram-rival-xplr-e-tap-axs-12-speed knocked down for £4k-ish to £3k-ish. I think they are clearing out current non-UDH series frames as they have a new UDH frame. Seem to be plenty of colours and sizes available at this price and you can spec alternatives like Zipp 303s at £650.
IMO when spending that much on a bike its not just an objective decision. its will it make you happy, will you love owning it?
I had Rival on a charge plug titanium gravel bike. It was ace, absolutely bomb proof and none of this leaky Shimano caliper stuff. Force is a bit lighter I guess but Rival is really good.
Orbea is sexy, Ribble is just not for me.
Buy a great frameset, one that has great ride quality, fit and handling. The gears just don't make any difference to the ride experience, imo/ime. Brakes can, good wheels do (good not necessarily meaning carbon - just 'good').
The Fair light frames do look nice but I think I'm really after a carbon frame. I changed from a steel frame to a carbon one on my hard tail and whilst the steel was a good quality steel frame, the carbon is just that bit nicer.
Horses for courses I suppose.
I looked at the Ribble in the flesh the other day. It looked really fussy actually, probably too fussy for me to like it. The colour was lovely though.
"Recommend what you have" - what about a Mason? I admit that a major selling point for my Bokeh was the colour (shallow? moi?) but I do love riding it.
Mason Bokeh is a good call... very nice bikes... but aluminium not the carbon the OP wants.
You only live once... Enve Mog frameset with very cheap build? That would give you the ultimate frame, fork and finishing kit. Or stretch the budget and slap on some Reserve gravel wheels. Loads of cheap 12 speed Rival stuff at the moment. Upgrade to Force 13 speed later?
Yeah, the Mason bikes look lovely but the upgrade I'm looking for is carbon really. And as I've said before, I've experienced upgrading to carbon and think it's for me.
Enve might not be within reach. Maybe it's a dreamers dream bike, but not for me.
Don't think so, I just don't find them to be a very interesting brand tbh. Bikes look nice enough and good value, but they're boring. The Ti one would maybe persuade me, but then I'd probably still rather have the Stanton Ti gravel bike.
No, I would go to my LBS, possibly buy a Cotic frame and build up with LBS.
I didn’t realise Stanton were still going?
I have a Ribble that cost more than that. Rides nice, custom paint, it's lovely. However I'm more of a value for money purchaser than liking specific brands so your milage my vary. For what it's worth id buy the same thing a year later.
It's interesting op that you say the upgrade you are looking for is carbon. When I bought my first mountain bike steel was the generic option, that then over the years changed to aluminium and in gravel and road bikes at least it seems to me carbon is that now. I've got steel, aluminium and carbon bikes now and they are all really great but I think nice metal now feels a bit more special than carbon.
I'd be tempted by both the Fairlight and the Mason but would probably go for the Mason if for no other reason than they are just down the road from me
