Ladies Gravel Bike

Hope everyone is enjoying their break.

Mrs Davy90 is after a gravel bike for the new year.

Slightly arbitrary budget of up to £2.6k.

Under 9.5kg desirable, must be hydraulic and probably 1x. Needs to be an all rounder so geo not too heavily biased either way, 45mm tyre clearance max ok. Will be used on the London commute, SE roads and bridleways, Welsh, Scottish and Alpine fire roads and non technical singletrack. Unlikely to be used on steep, gnarly techy stuff. Multi day easy bike packing may happen… so mudguard/Quickrack mounts a positive.

She’s 1.68m tall.

Look forward to suggestions.

Tia

Ade

Specialized Diverge Carbon Sport @£2.2k? Or a Crux but Diverge sounds more suited..

Trek checkpoint

Fustle causeway or the new lakelander

Sonder Camino Al or ti

The Liv range from giant is good too

My wife just spent pretty much that amount on a Canyon Grizl. 45mm tyres, 1x GRX, decent wheelset, plenty of mounts and bang on 9.5kg

Apart from the commuting it gets the same use – mainly fireroads and bit of the non-tech singletrack. She’s pretty much the height you mention and got an XS.

Plenty of Liv bikes among the lady gravellers I know, although Sonder Seem to be well represented as well.

Thanks all.

Will pass on the above. She likes the Grizl..

Any love for the Topstone Carbon, seems to be some good deals available at the mo which allow for a wheel upgrade in budget?

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cannondale/Topstone-Carbon-4-Gravel-Bike-2024/X5KA

Edit this is crazy discount, not sure about the ‘smart sense’..

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cannondale/Topstone-Carbon-2-L-Gravel-Bike/X5HF

Can’t find any Liv deals at the mo, there’s a Giant dealer near us were visiting if open tomorrow… (I have a Revolt)

My partner got a Liv thingy, it’s like a Giant Revolt only Liv. Sonder did not go small enough for her but the Libs have a good range of sizes.

For the range of uses you describe I would think a 2x would be more appropriate than a 1x

It’s a Devote apparently

I bought this top stone. Very happy with it and service. The 1x AXS is brilliant. Id budget for a decent saddle, I didn’t get on with the stock one and I (male) suspect most women would even less. I keep telling myself I don’t need to upgrade the wheels… they’re solid but heavy ish. I’m on a medium at 1.77m height and it still feels pretty stretched out! 9.5kg with pedals on my scales.

Topstone carbon axs

Thanks, expecting to replace the saddle, and possibly cranks depending on bike…..

Liv Devote is on the list but the Advanced 2, which is in budget has the PX-2 wheels which are a bit hefty at 2060g….

I’m not sure at this price point any of the other options are any better in terms of wheels..

2x is an option..

Cheers

I keep telling myself I don’t need to upgrade the wheels… they’re solid but heavy ish.

I’ve got the same model but without the AXS.

Definitely upgrade the wheels, I fitted a set of Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel wheels to mine and it made a world of difference.

Any love for the Topstone Carbon

When I was buying my Specialized Diverge, the concenus here was that the Topstone is at fast racey end of the spectrum rather than an all rounder. The Diverge platform is great, but mine is an aluminium frame and I guess you’ll be wanting carbon for that price.