New gravel bike
 

[Closed] New gravel bike

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https://flic.kr/p/GycrqR can't paste the images from phone.

It's my venerable commuter hybrid with drops and whatever lighter parts I could find from my parts bin. Beige Kevlar beaded tyres £7.50 from PX!


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 6:02 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 6:25 pm
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What frame is it? Looking nice, eyeing up a rove at the moment, they look like they make good light touring bikes.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 6:32 pm
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Kona Dew from 2007 ish. Came with Alivio at the time. Now it has a tiagra compact double, new 105 mech, apparently the new ones can take 32t cassette. PX mini Vs were £15 for both ends. Wheels are tiagra level from years ago, shifters are tiagra 9sp courtesy of someone on here, pedals are some cheap shimano flat/SPD combo jobs.

Spent about £70 not including consumables which were due a refresh. Weighs 26lbs with the guards, pedals and rack.

90mm stem too long though, needs 70mm.

Could be called a tourer, has front rack mounts too.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 6:39 pm
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Right, been on a 90km ride on it, which is further than it's ever been before 🙂

- stem is a bit short maybe - the reach is fine but it's a bit wobbly when I stand up. Fork rake perhaps?

- MTB saddle is not that comfortable for road after a few hours sat down.

- It's incredibly stiff, which makes it brilliant to ride. The tyres take care of any buzz. Plus it's totally silent unlike my creaky road bike.

- Not that slow either, got plenty of PRs

- Needs better bars and tape than the parts bin gave it

- Did some actual gravel - as good a gravel road as you could expect, and it was not ideal really. It made it of course but I had to slow down quite a bit. The rigid 29er is still better on the tracks around Swindon.


 
Posted : 02/06/2016 12:27 am
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Blimey, someone with a bike that can take 700x50C Big Apples, stop the press! 😀


 
Posted : 02/06/2016 7:31 am
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love it! certainly looks the part and much cheaper and lighter than some boutique gravel bikes i have seen


 
Posted : 02/06/2016 7:41 am
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Yeah it's a £450 bike, had some £80 wheels added early in its life, then as above £70 and some of my parts bin. Very surprised at how nice it was to ride - stiff frame and comfy tyres ftw.


 
Posted : 02/06/2016 8:49 am
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Thats a versatile piece of kit for the money well done .


 
Posted : 02/06/2016 8:53 am