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My mate is looking at gravel bikes, he does a lot of old-school MTBing, he's old (ish) and doesn't do anything technical but he can get around.
He wants the Ribble one that has 47c tyres but it's 650b. I think he should find something with 700c but still big tires, especially cos he's 6'3.
What's out there? I'm sure I have found some before but search fails me.
Sutra LtD
Genesis Vagabond but he will want the XL. I’m 6’1” and went for a L and wish I’d gone XL. Mine has vittoria mezcal 2.1 on. Front could go to 2.35 easily, back not so much.
https://flic.kr/p/2ojPrsG
What's wrong with a 90's rigid MTB ?
Fairlight secan?
Sonder Camino can take 700x50 I think.
Pipedream Alice
Px Freranger has loads of clearance - mine runs 700 x 47, and theres just enough room for a full guard too.
Ive got a spare medium frame in the garage - having just bought a large.
A lot of these are closer to gravelbike than mtb
https://bikepacking.com/index/drop-bar-mountain-bikes-29er/
Came across these after reading renton's thread yesterday...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/road-bikes/giant-revolt-0-gravel-adventure-bike-black__10639
Pages claim clearance for 53mm, Giant official says 50mm.
Smokestone Mr Harry can take up to a 29x3" - if your mates budget can run to a ti frame.
Oh I forgot to add - preference of carbon or ti.
What’s wrong with a 90’s rigid MTB ?
Loads of things.
"Advanced" model comes up under carbon, but blurb talks of "composite." Limited sizes, up to 20% RRP discount.
Nordest will have a Ti frame option to suit.
https://nordestcycles.com/en
At 6'3" get him to get a 650b then laugh at how little the wheels look when he's on it? 😉
Diverge takes 700x50’s I believe.
I just got a Camino (delivered on Monday just gone). It's fitted with 700x45c tyres, but there's still quite a bit of room. I think it can officially take 700x50c.
Ti or Alu options available.
And you can spec with 650b or 700c wheels when ordering.
New Singular Peregrine, or Gryphon if he wants even bigger tyres.
Singulars can be customised in Ti if he's particular about sizing.
Stooge Rambler?
+1 for the Sutra LTD. Very capable bike and pretty bombproof.
2.4 MTB tyres on a cascade (2.1 fitted here)
https://flic.kr/p/2ogyz3z
Just seen the ti update
My review of the prototype Mr Harry
https://ukgravelco.com/smokestone-mr-harry/
Rondo Ruut takes 700x45mm (or 650x56mm), available in Alu, Steel, Ti and Carbon varieties. Some good deals about. I bought a Carbon one in Oct, nice ride! Not a brand I was previously familiar with, but same founders as NS bikes...
I can get 29x2.3s on my Kona Sutra Ltd. Honestly, by that size you might as well be riding a rigid mtb.
Lauf Seigla. In true STW style, recommend what you have. Love mine. Will take 2.25 tyres. Super compliant and comfy and fast too. Not cheap though.
Sonder Camino can take 700×50 I think.
Sure does, and all the better for it.
Salsa Cutthroat. Supercomfy, decently light and available in big sizes and fits a 2.3" tyre.
I've run my Freeranger with 700x50c's for a couple of years now.
But a tall pal has just got his custom framed steel gravel bike - really nice, proper tall stack and seriously light.
If it has to carbon or Ti then Salsa Cutthroat
Genesis Vagabond but he will want the XL. I’m 6’1” and went for a L and wish I’d gone XL. Mine has vittoria mezcal 2.1 on. Front could go to 2.35 easily, back not so much
I have a Vagabond also, managed to fit 2.35 Vittoria Mezcals at the front and 2.25 at the back, it a little tight tho
Also would have been happier with a size larger than my usual, I think it's because the bars are much higher than on a road bike
Faced with this having a gravel bike that takes up to 45c that's morphed into a touring bike and a 15 year old singlespeed 29er MTB with flat bars and 2.4 tires
Wanting something between the two with gears and I ended up at a salsa cutthroat. Have not looked back . Even in my inflamed lunged state it fly's and is super comfy. The V2 sorted out the shit geometry that put me off the v1 at the time.
Only warning is that they are a big frame so throw a leg over. That's a 58 on 29" wheels with 2.3 tires fitted and it looks like 26 inch wheels.
ps semi serious (don't worry this thing was killed off sometime back in a nighttime woodland ritual...)
Very big XL 29
Anyway was a fun little experiment whilst it lasted.
Salsa Fargo, had mine 10 years, will easily 29 x 2.4 mountain bike tyres, 29 x 2.6 in the front, geometry is much more relaxed than a gravel bike, will handle anything pretty much.
My kanzo will fir 2.1s
How big is he after
On One Scandal.
Canyon Grizl will take up to 700x55mm
salsa fargo Ti. in xl like what i have got. 2.35 slicks on mine at present.
This thread just cost me £1200!!
Ordered the Rondo Bogan ST2 from CRC
Welcome to the Rondo club @spawnofyorkshire 😉
Silver with purple highlights like mine by the looks of it too!
^What memorial beacon is that?
Fearless Warlock would be on my list.
But further to a previous response - I'm a similar height to the OP's mate and have just built up an XL Scandal. I'm having to run a 100mm stem to make it fit - which doesn't bother me at all, but does have me stroking my chin over putting on a shorter stem and the Redshift drop bars I've got in the spares box...
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I've got a genesis vagabond. Running 2.25 barzos. I reckon if I removed the front derailleur I'd get a 2.4 in the the rear. Fork looks like it'd take a 3.00 with no problems tho haven't tried it.
Why is he so against a 650b? Ive got a twinsix rando that is heaps more fun with 650's than it is with 700s. It's far more playful. I'm 6ft BTW.