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After the success of the other thread, I'm thinking about possibly adding a gravel bike to my collection. I currently have a hardtail and a fixed gear commuter; I'm not really a roadie (I get bored, and lycra doesn't look good on me), but would like to have something that I can do 150k road rides on that can stand up to muddy bridleways, potholed roads etc.
It'd be a birthday treat, so something a bit 'interesting' seems appealing, although this may just be 'a nice looking bike'.
Sooo... what would the hive mind suggest?
Think I will follow this thread, My other died a death! I have very similar requirements although my budget is very low as I suspect I may get bored and just use my mtb all the time!
Albannach Torragar
Sonder Camino in both Al and Ti are nice - I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how good my Al version is. Stick some decent ‘road plus’ wheels and WTB sendero tyres on and you’ll be surprised what they’ll do off road - or bung some faster rolling tyres on 700c’s for longer tarmac rich days.
I have the OnOne Pickenflick, my 50th birthday treat to myself! It's a fabulous bike, and now even better since my recent replacement of the stock wheels with some Hunt 4 Seasons Disc wheels.
Got myself a Reilly Gradient recently. Ticks a lot of boxes
Looking at a gravel bike for my 50th in the next 18 months (birthday and savings policy maturing do not align!)
Current favourites are the Reilly Gradient or Enigma Escape. Though from a steel point of view, I have a real soft spot for the Shand Stoater and Stooshie having met Mr Shand at the Cycle Show a couple of years ago.
Turning into Graveltrackworld, this place is...
😀
Give keep pedalling a call and get a Salsa Warbird. 🙂
Fairlight Secan for me.
Used for some CX training last year and now with full guards and 28mm tyres for winter cruising.
It's fantastic!
Thanks,
Max
Ti Tripster?, love mine
Does it have to be made of metal 😉
Grail - in the what I have but ticks all your boxes, light, strong, fast, fun and capable.
i do like the look of the Ribble CGR, espeically with Zipps........
ti Fargo?
(I get bored, and lycra doesn’t look good on me)
Ride somewhere interesting and stop caring about what you look like. 🙂
No male looks good in Lycra, everyone just looks like half a pound of badly wrapped mince.
There's this thing called 'Touring'. You get to ride a g****l bike, wear normal clothes and enjoy yourself.
It might catch on. 🙂
I’ve recently bought a Pickenflick. I Immediately replaced the wheels with Much lighter Prime wheels from Wiggle and some WTB Nanos. Also swapped the seat post for a Chinese Ti one and the bars for Genetic Digest flared drops. It’s great, and a proper bargain.
I was also very tempted by an Arkose 3 but Ti and interest-free credit turned my head.
It’s great, and a proper bargain.
What's it cost you so far?
There was a Mason Ti Bokeh at the photoshoot I was on on Monday. Best quality and finish I've ever seen on a bike, I normally do don't think that Ti looks that great but this was fantastic. Not cheap mind
I have a real soft spot for the Shand Stoater and Stooshie having met Mr Shand at the Cycle Show a couple of years ago
Decision made then - get a Stooshie, in the colour of your choosing and feel good about meeting the guys responsible for building it. As a very lucky owner of a blue one, they are a lovely bike to own and ride. It feels unique and handbuilt, which it is. I've also had a couple of Ti CX/Gravel bikes and wouldn't say the ride quality was any better.
Also swapped the seat post for a Chinese Ti one
Interested in replacing my seat post too ... Linky?
It’s great, and a proper bargain.
What’s it cost you so far?
Can't speak for @Cheezpleez but having done similar, £1300 for the bike plus another £300 for the wheels and tyres (got a deal on the Hunts).
3 sets of pads
1 chain
1 cassette
Love the suggestions, thanks! It doesn't have to be metal (but my hardtail's Ti); carbon would work if there was something that might fit the bill.
Question as someone who doesn't know road bikes: how does something like the Enigma Escape compare to a more traditional road bike in terms of geometry, comfort for club rides etc?
Ribble CGR? They do steel, alu, carbon and Ti versions and you can do a custom spec to your liking.
Turning into Graveltrackworld, this place is…
well it is also the forum for GritCX
My 2p for this would be Mason Bokeh or Fairlight Secan / Faran.
Second a Reilly Gradient, i love mine, done 200 mile road rides on it, then fitted WTB Riddlers and ridden it for Torino-Nice rally down some great sketchy off road descents fully loaded and it was ace.
What’s my Pickenflick cost so far?
£100 (first monthly payment of 12) for the bike with Rival 22 hydraulic
£200 for Prime wheels
£55 ish for tyres
£55 for seat post
Linky for seatpost: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/J-L-Ultra-Light-Titanium-Seatpost-27-2mm-400mm-31-6mm-400mm/302250197067?hash=item465f84004b:m:mOKROyoCN1GguRH38fwJ70Q
Sorry, the stupid software seems to make it impossible to do that neatly on my phone 🙄
The pickenflick - £1300 for a titanium gravel bike with sram rival 1x hydraulic groupset and no major compromises that I can see.
How?!?!!!!
If it was for comfort on pot holed roads and only gravel, tow paths or light off road trails then I’d probably look at a Standard Jack Laverack, or for slightly rougher stuff the Jack Laverack Grit.
For something a bit cheaper the Nukeproof Digger Pro.
ta11pau1
Member
The pickenflick – £1300 for a titanium gravel bike with sram rival 1x hydraulic groupset and no major compromises that I can see.How?!?!!!!
Horrible wheels and tyres?!
ta11pau1
Member
The pickenflick – £1300 for a titanium gravel bike with sram rival 1x hydraulic groupset and no major compromises that I can see.How?!?!!!!
Horrible wheels and tyres?!
The stock wheels/tyres were not great but probably no worse on most other bikes in the £800-£1500 price bracket. Groupset is fine, as is finishing kit. With a wheel and tyre upgrade you're still getting a brilliant Ti bike for under £1700-1800.
Hmm, OK so still pretty damn cheap for what it is! Shame it's not got bolt through axles but you can't have everything at that price!
I ended up with the Ti Tempest from P-X. They were designed by Mark Reilly (now of Reilly bikes) and are lovely. Mine was with SRAM Force Hydros and was in a sale at £1600. More tyre space than the Pickenflick as it’s not a pure cross bike. It also has eyelets for a rack and full guards.