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[Closed] Tell me about (inexpensive) gravel bikes.

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I've been using a mk2 Cotic escapade (not the latest one) silver build for 18 months for gravel/road/commuting and it's been fantastic for me. It's a bit more than the equivalent Sonder Camino AL for you, but our BtW scheme was/is limited (and I prefer its looks...).

I found that the 9 speed sora drive chain and cable disks was absolutely fine for offroad riding and commuting. The brakes didn't lack power (for my 73kg). The issues I did had with the brakes were the constant adjustments they required (did my nut in eventually) and the routing for the rear housing meant it filled with water and corroded/froze easily. The 9 speed sora (with 11-32 cassette) was annoying for road rides as the jumps were a little too big in the gears.

I ended up with a couple of wheelsets for it - 1 with 28c Schwalbe Pro Ones on for road rides and one with gravel tyres (42c WTB nano, 37c WTB riddler) on for on/off-road commuting and gravel (summer cx...). Come winter I used a set of 40c Maxxis Refuse for general road riding/commuting due to shitty roads, and cx tyres on a semi-knackered 29er wheelset for muddy off-road duties. All set up tubeless on appropriate rims = wins for road, off-road and winter commuting.

Ride wise, with the schwalbe pro ones it can properly shift on the road enough for me to be happy with it. Off-road it can also properly shift, climbs pretty well and (mostly) remains composed on rough descents when your eye balls are vibrating in the sockets. I use it on tamer stuff than I would my XC hardtail.

The past few months I've built up an 11 speed shimano hydro groupset (rs685s with rx800 rear mech) and literally plonked it on the bike at the weekened. The hydros definitely require less effort to brake, the hoods are more comfy, the rx800 doesn't clatter about off-road and the gear intervals are better on-road - basically the more expensive groupset is nicer and it gives a nicer ride experience ;-). Worth the money? I'll have to see how it holds up come winter...


 
Posted : 31/07/2018 12:17 pm
Posts: 40
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How about the Genesis Vagabond...?


 
Posted : 31/07/2018 10:07 pm
Posts: 52609
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well it's not in the inexpensive section

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/27826737117_163ca976d9_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/27826737117_163ca976d9_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JoXitB ]IMG_20180609_172349[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiKB9mPhqCb/?taken-by=smithmichaelw

I've got a 160/70mm Enduro bike, Giant Defy back in Oz and had a zippy 100mm 29r Full Sus.

This bike is none of those ๐Ÿ˜‰

Happily hammer the 15km off road to work and back on it, been off exploring on it and use it on road rides with a few mates, it's fitness slowing me up not the bike, went of segment chasing on the roads Monday and it's happy rolling along at a decent pace.

I've tired more hybrid stuff but just not the same and not as efficient when you get going either


 
Posted : 31/07/2018 10:20 pm
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