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[Closed] Recommendations for a budget adventure/gravel bike

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Stopping running as knee is suffering so looking at getting a adventure/gravel bike which will suit most of the stuff I can ride around where I live. Would like to also use it on a turbo trainer.

After something new ideally around the £500 mark - any recommendations?


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 1:55 pm
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At that budget boardman CX comp


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 2:06 pm
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deleted out of date link


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 2:08 pm
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How do they compare to the Voodoo range (limba)?


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 2:17 pm
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How about the Calibre Dark Peak £549.00?

Not sure how it compares to the Boardman but doesn't look bad.


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 3:18 pm
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Have a look secondhand? I picked up a CAADX Rival (22 speed, hydraulic brakes) for well under your budget, or the boardman Pro is a very similar spec.

I've never rated cable disks as any good, at best they match V-brakes, at worst by the time everything's stretched/compressed and friction has taken its toll the actual braking effort is on a par with road brakes when you've forgotten to do up the QR (nothing).


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 3:26 pm
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I’ve never rated cable disks as any good, at best they match V-brakes, at worst by the time everything’s stretched/compressed and friction has taken its toll the actual braking effort is on a par with road brakes when you’ve forgotten to do up the QR (nothing).

In which case you're doing it wrong.


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 3:32 pm
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Cycle Surgery doing the Giant Revolt 2 for £599 down from £999 there is an extra 10% off this week, s £540 ish is a bargain for this bike


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 3:39 pm
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If this fits

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/road-bikes/return-marin-four-corners-2017-steel-touring-road-bike-green-21-inch_385725

Or this

https://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/54093/Marin_Lombard_Disc_Cyclocross_2013_Bike

If not then secondhand may be a better way. There were some cheap Charge Plugs on eBay a while back too


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 3:43 pm
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Hijacking the thread a bit (sorry), how about if you had a bit more than that to spend (say between £1,000 and £1,500)? Something reasonably capable off-road (Dirty Reiver etc) but capable of being used as a tourer sometimes.


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 4:37 pm
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I picked up the Pickenflick from Planet X when they were £400 off back in December for £1299 (SRAM HRD 22)... There may be current deals?. Loving it so far. No rack or guard bosses so if you plan to tour with a rack and panniers you're screwed. But frame/seat/bar bags, you'd be fine. Bags of tyre clearance, I plan to get some 650b wheels in time which should take 2" ish rubber.


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 6:36 pm
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Not sure adding a “bit more” to a £500 budget means £1-1.5k is suddenly doable!!

cable discs are great. Had them in the 1990’s and they were terrible but the TRP ones on my arkose are great.

Boardman looks very good, think there were some decent looking Marin’s as well on a previous thread?


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 10:14 pm
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Sorry Kennyp reread your post and see you weren’t suggesting trebling the OP’s budget! Unfortunately no edit function that I can see!


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 10:25 pm
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You can get 40mm tyres in a Pompino with the wheel back in its dropouts...

Cheap as chips, decent handling in gravel, and you don't care if you scratch it.

Oh, gears. A Sturmey-Archer 3 speed was good enough to get you up any hill in the old days.

Do they still make the geared version? Can't remember its name. Ah, yes, just checked - Kaffenback. It says 32mm tyres.


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 11:14 pm
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Kona Rove AL £600 at Go Outdoors?


 
Posted : 26/01/2018 11:26 pm
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"Hijacking the thread a bit (sorry), how about if you had a bit more than that to spend (say between £1,000 and £1,500)? Something reasonably capable off-road (Dirty Reiver etc) but capable of being used as a tourer sometimes."

I have a Spesh Diverge that would do all that.


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 8:20 am
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As someone who has had a Boardman CX Team for 5 years, I would say don't hesitate (get an extra 10% off with British Cycling membership).
I've had £1500 earmarked for a replacement for 3 years now, and still haven't found a bike I would be confident would be an upgrade.

It's a great allrounder and feels road-bikey when on the road and tough offroad. They also have all the rack mounts, etc (not that I've used them).

If you can stretch to the current model Team (£810 currently with discount) you get quite a few benefits though - Carbon forks, hydro brakes, 1x11 with a proper XD freehub. Worth considering.


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 9:45 am
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HT Mtb with CX tyres or similar on it, will only cost you the price of tyres and tubes, maybe factor in a larger chainring


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 10:23 am
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Shameless Plug Alert!

I am selling my new/un-ridden Ridley X-Bow Tiagra/105 disc in medium. Was listed on here a few days ago but cant find it now. £595 ono. Based OL15 or BD4. Has rack/guard mounts also.


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 11:15 am
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I have a large Arkose 4 with BR785 (i.e. good) discs. With Bontrager NCS mudguards and tortec (IIRC) rack.

Looking for a bit more than £500 though. Ideally collect from East/Central London or East Birmingham.

Listed it here a while ago-
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-pinnacle-arkose-4-large-2016-red-700/#post-8561927


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 11:26 am
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In which case you’re doing it wrong.

The only thing I appeared to get wrong was assuming they would work like hydraulic brakes. But they neither have the power, or reliability.

What's the point in disk on a road bike for all weather riding if they need cleaning with a toothpic every ride.


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 11:32 am
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^^^ TRPs on my road bike work with none of the issues you describe and I'm a brake maintenance numpty.


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 12:28 pm
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:The only thing I appeared to get wrong was assuming they would work like hydraulic brakes"

If they worked like hydros no one would have hydros would they!!


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 12:52 pm
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In the normal tradition of recommending what you ride.

Raliegh Mustang.

I bought the elite one a few years ago for £700 new on eBay.

Not a lover of Raliegh brand but impressed with it.

CX Boardman is very good though with its full 1x11 kit and hydros there’s plenty that have been bought and the components rehomed to posher frames.


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 3:19 pm
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I'm eying the Fearless Bikes Vulture. Looks versatile and takes big tyres, only sold as a frameset which is a shame. It's also 40 quid over your budget. http://www.fearlessbikes.com/vulture-page/


 
Posted : 27/01/2018 3:41 pm
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Loving the look of those Fearless... Maybe after Summer for me 🙂


 
Posted : 28/01/2018 4:43 pm