[Closed] Gravel Bike Recommendations

Rondo Ruut AL
Rondo Ruut ST
Brother Mehteh
Orbea Terra 🙂

Cannondale Topstone should be in the list. I have seen other threads where the Arkose gets some good reviews though.

That looks like a singletrack forum list if i ever saw one!

The Grail is great value but having seen one in the flesh the frame looked a bit industrial, with triangles welded here and there.

For quality frames look no further than the Diverge and Giant Revolt. The alloy 2020 Revolt is equal to the Canyon spec but is much tidier. The Diverge rides brilliantly and can take 650b wheels if you need more tyre clearance,

I have the Orbea Terra, It was an insurance replacement for an Orro Terra so I was a little limited on what I could order from Wheelies. Even though you say max tyre clearance of 38mm I always end up with the fattest tyres the bike will take - 42mm in this case for the extra capability and comfort they offer.

Are you going to use the bike for any other duties, and what percentage of tarmac will be on your typical ride?

Arkrose D3 is a fantastic bike, but the subcompact gearing really bswung it for me

I've got a hankering for an On One Space Chicken

Masses of choice.

+1 for a Topstone (105) , if just because it looks the business 😋 and I’d rather like one.

Bridleways eh? Then why a CDF not a Fugio?

Been through this recently, The Grail (was last year anyway) Pressfit BB as is the Giant so I ruled them out. Croix de Fer was nice but weighed an absolute ton and I wasn't impressed by the look of the stock wheels. Arkrose is nice but I didn't want another Alu bike. A friend has a Diverge and it's nice but it just didn't click with me on a test ride. So I ended up with a list of three the Sonder (ruled out due as I didn't want Alu and the TI was out of the price range), the Ribble Steel CGR and the PX Tempest.
I ended up with the Tempest (before the minor price rise) it's a superb bike for the money, Longest ride so far is 140 miles of mixed and it's comfy and fast as anything. With the money I saved I added a set of Hunt Gravel wheels for the 'thinner 38mm tires) and use the stock wheel for some 45's and it still has tons of clearance.

I'm glad this thread exists!

I think I am in the market for a gravel bike, to commute on (although I should have purchased it at the start of summer).

I got sized up on a specialized Diverge (size 54), but have also been looking at the cannondale Topstone. Although I hear the 'dale size up larger than most brands?!

I don't really want to spend more than £1000, so I know this is the budget end of the spectrum.

I will take a look at the Arkrose's tho!

There is a certain amount of me that fears getting one, as a 'hardcore' or closed minded mountain biker, I fear I may not enjoy it. Although riding any bike is good in my book. Maybe I need to stop being a fanny and just buy one.... but then the want for a new MTB frame is also high and the gravel bike would destroy that budget!

2nd hand Mason Bokeh?

I just bought the 2019 Specialized Diverge Sport for £2k (reduced from £2750) from Cycle Surgery...

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/specialized-diverge-sport-2019-Q3314277.html

Can't comment on it though, as it hasn't arrived yet...

Ribble CGR in a frame material that appeals? (4 flavours)

You'd build a nice Fearless Vulture for lots less than 2K

Gravel bikes have a very wide range of geometry from low down racy numbers to much higher stack monstercross types. Alot of the above are designed for very very different purposes.

CRC have the NS Bikes RAG+ 1 on clearance at £1199.99, down from £1,599.

scruff

A lot of the above are designed for very very different purposes.

I'd say "ever so slightly different" as opposed to "very very"

I’d say “ever so slightly different” as opposed to “very very”

+1

I bought a CDF 10 as it was in my budget and LBS had one in stock. It’s not light but I use it lots in the city and lots of mixed routes, roads, bridleways, green roads in Wales, Lake District and touring up in Scotland. Good all rounders, comfortable on long days. The 30 should be better still!

Cotic Escapade. Lowish BB so handles nicely. Used mine for a 160km gravel audax in horrendous weather and it coped. Now using with mudguards and 28mm tyres as a winter bike. Frame on own weighs about 1900g, which puts it in same bracket as condor fratello. Clearance for proper road chainsets. Suspect they will update at some point with thru axle at the rear in which case the price (for current model) could drop. But 599 for a light ish steel frame with full carbon fork is competitive in today's market. At that price you could build a pimpin' spec for 2k. Mine is a mix of s/h and spare parts - Halo white line wheels, 10spd Dura Ace/105/Tiagra for total spend of less than 1000

Thanks for the replies. I will take a look at the Cannondale Topstone. Most of my rides involve 30% road and 70% offroad. I will also use the bike for cycle touring but don't carry too much as we stop in b&bs/hotels.

Whyte Friston owner of 18 months here. Can't praise it highly enough - a seriously capable machine on and off road. Love it. Have eulogised over it on many threads of this parish.

Sour Purple Haze if you're into steel.

Yep purple haze FTW

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

https://flic.kr/p/2h4YBA9

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

Like my Grail AL 7 - had it nearly a year and nothing came close on spec for the money.

Complete with mud: https://ibb.co/QF6H5nG

(how do you do embedded images? :))

Those Purple Haze look lovely. Is that Clent Rocketdog?

Giant Revolt.

I've had one for a couple of months and it is great. Push-fit BB is probably going to start creaking soon but when it's time I'll replace it with a screw together one from Wheels Manufacturing.

[img] [/img]

El Vino, how you getting on with the Terra?

I quite fancy one as a gravel race/road bike ... ?

On one Pickenflick or PX Tempest with some spare money for a set of Hunt wheels.

The Planet X Tempest and a set of Hunt wherls sounds good. The wheels on my current cx bike are due for replacing so i could always use the set that come with the bike.

Those Purple Haze look lovely. Is that Clent Rocketdog?

Yep, fake neolithic stones obscured by beavers/guides/cubs etc in background

I got sized up on a specialized Diverge (size 54), but have also been looking at the cannondale Topstone. Although I hear the ‘dale size up larger than most brands?!

I'm on a small topstone - my other bikes are all mediums or 54s. I originally ordered the medium topstone but when it arrived i took it for a test ride it felt way too big for me. Managed to swop it for a small and that fits much better.

Been loving it so far - my most ridden bike this year.