Do I want a gravel bike?

Do I want a gravel bike?

Actual “gravel” riding does not appeal

Then, no.

Depends on your definition of "lane"

If it's this then yes you want a gravel bike. If it's a strip of tarmac with thr usual uk pot holes and debris you'll be faster on a 25mm+ tyred road bike

https://flic.kr/p/2pr4zpX

Get an endurance bike and put 30 or 32mm tyres on it and you would have the perfect bike for what you are describing.

No, you want an endurance road bike with space for bigger tyres as others have mentioned.

The obvious answer is yes.I have had an One One Free Ranger (same frame as Vitus) for 4 years and 12000 miles.I use it on everything from tarmac to off road trails,the only changes I make is to the tyres and wheels.For pure on road I use lightweight Novatec CXD wheels with 28mm tyres,for everyday use Novatec with Schwalbe G One Bite 38c,and when I go to the Cairngorms then the original wheels with something knobbly.The same frame is found on Tifosi/On One/Vitus etc.and is a Carbonda 696.Gets you out of the N+1 scenario as it is many bikes in one depending on how you set it up,mine has an elastomer stem and seat post to filter out the vibrations plus Hope RX+ calipers and Hope bottom bracket as most of my riding is off road trails.Hope this helps

As said it sounds like you want an Endurance bike rather than a gravel one

Normally for £1500 id recommend a Planet X Free Ranger with Sram Rival or for a couple hundred more the Sram Force version, it seems Planet X want 2k for the Rival one at the momment!

They do have the Holdsworth Sram Force one for £1500 in XL but its out of stock

Mark.
I think you need to give your head a wobble mate.😮
****ing gravel bike.

I've put on a pair of Panaracer Gravelkings in 32mm for the winter on the endurance/sportive bike and have been pleasantly surprised with how they help on slippery grass, gravelly bridleways and the like. The SK version clogs up easily in mud though so you might want to look at the EXT or AC version if you're expecting that - they are a bit more cyclocross oriented in 33mm.

The GT at Scotby Cycles is far better looking in the flesh. I’ve been to look at it twice, if in the market, I’d definitely get it, but, I currently have 4 bikes, 3 of which get little use, so a 5th one wouldnt go down well, and, really, I cant afford it.

Rigid 29er ? Much more capable and "fun" on the off road bits. Drop bars on anything beyond a farm track are not fun (IMO).

Wot he said. Gravel rides are fun until descending then the horrible body position and rubbish brake levers are a pain in the neck. I'd rather have an old school xc bike, something like an old Scandal 29er with fast tyres and bar ends. Unfortunately my old Scandal is a 26er and needs a load of bits I don't have lying about.

My Genesis Fortitude(2013 29er) used for gravel duties, mucky lanes, the odd singletrack, it's brilliant. Something like this maybe?

I had a Kenesis Tripster with drop bars but found it just too hard going on off road sections. Particularly rutted lanes with tractor gulley tracks. much prefer the flat bar setup plus the steel frame on the genesis is really quite springy. 

But how is that on road sections compared to a road bike ? (having read the OP)

Found it pretty quick on the Flanrou event (on 40mm conti terra trail tyres I should add) on the Somerset levels last year riding with others on cx and gravel bikes. It's a compromise for sure but not as bad as it would appear. It's just an idea the op may not of considered. 

OP- cross bike and then gravel bike with big slicks are the beat road bikes I’ve had. I can always go thinner but I’ve never felt any great need. That said I mostly road ride on my own so wider gear gaps and other small things that might come on complete gravel bikes don’t really bother me.

You do need to get a ‘fast’ gravel bike rather than a ‘drop bar mountain bike’ gravel bike if you want that though really.

Wot he said. Gravel rides are fun until descending then the horrible body position and rubbish brake levers are a pain in the neck.

Not really, you just need to learn new techniques. Just like you did when you started riding MTB. Thinking they should ride like an MTB is the wrong way to approach it.

I think you need to know what position you want. If a gravel bike gives that position then go for it.

Thanks all. I think I knew endurance road was the answer, I was just hopeful one of those gravel bargains would do the same job.

Rigid 29er etc not a consideration. I've got mountain bikes covered.

@singlespeedstu I know, I know... it's not full dark side, just for when I haven't got time to load up and ride a proper bike.

@rocketdog - can't argue with that and prob why I didn't get on with the Tripster now you have highlighted it.

It's nothing to do with technique.

How about a cross bike and a change of tyres?

https://www.wiggle.com/p/vitus-energie-evo-force-cyclocross-bike

Gravel bargains will do the job but for a one hour solo road ride, so would anything really...

It’s nothing to do with technique

👍

😆

Gravel bargains will do the job but for a one hour solo road ride, so would anything really…

Agree, I just ride whatever I happen to have at the time and my rides are always 1-2 hours with a mix of road and gravel. I have used hardtail MTBs, CX bikes, single speed bikes, road bikes, fixed gear bikes and enjoyed every ride. If I had to pick one, which I have it is a fixed gear as that is what I enjoy the most but if I was trying to ride as fast as I can then the road bike.

For solo rides where being able to hold a certain speed is not important then just pick the bike you think looks the best and you enjoy riding the most for whatever reason.

If the majority of your riding is just 1 hour loops then pretty much any bike will do this.

£1500<br style="box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #eeeeee;" />Carbon<br style="box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #eeeeee;" />Disc<br style="box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; background-color: #eeeeee;" />XL/58cm

That was my list, and s/h was the only option at that price.  Just before Christmas I picked up a 4-y/o unused carbon road bike for £1k just before Christmas as a tentative jump into a road bike.  The bike listed at £2.5k back in 2019.

I do have a Freeranger (as others above do) and have been riding it for everything from road to Scottish gravel but I wanted something with higher gearing as the Freeranger gets quickly into its biggest gear even on the flat.

When looking at new stuff, having enough tyre clearance for 32c & modern wheels seemed like the right target.

Gravel rides are fun until descending then the horrible body position and rubbish brake levers are a pain in the neck.

I think there are some very racy gravel bikes out there aimed at speed and from a roadie culture of design. Like buying an 800 carbonz HT with steep angles and lightweight everything - speed over comfort.

My experience is also that many drop bar shifters and brake levers are poor compared to flat bar shifters and brakes, particularly if you have small hands, and are very reliant on bar shape to be accessible.

The *right* do-it-all bike doesn't have the issues as much. But that may be designed for comfort and ability off-road, rather than speed.

I also get that flat bar do-it-all bikes are the shizzles, just not very fashionable at this point. Personally, I think they are great and for any significant off-road riding can offer as many hand placements as a drop bar when combined with bar ends...

All things are a compromise - but many people are driven by fashion, not what works for them and their local riding.