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I'm being moved to a new site at work, only 9 miles from the house rather than 30, so, you know, cycle there/new bike opportunity.
I don't like road bikes, too "round" to get on with them, but I like the cut of the gravel bikes. Are there any worth looking at with flat bars? Drop bars have never been for me, so the idea of a flat bar or the option to even change to a riser bar sits more in my wheelhouse.
Thanks
Not a gravel bike (heaven forbid!) But I have a calibre stitch for my 9 mile commute.
400 quid, though there's a 15% discount at go outdoors atm, so 340, comes with 32c schwalbe lugano, loads more room for up to 50mm tyres I'd say, flat bars, hydro shimano disks, it's absolutely brilliant.
If you check my posts you'll see the thread I started about it. An absolute bargain.
do you mean an ATB?
Basically any hybrid bike will do.
That Calibre that Nobeer suggests looks spot on.
As above, a Kona Dew variant (other hybrids are available) would do that no bother.
That Stitch looks brilliant.
That Calibre Stitch does indeed look like a bargain.
Don't think there will be many bikes marketed as gravel bikes with flat/riser bars as a gravel bike really has drops. A sportier hybrid is probably what you are after like some of the bikes here https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/hybrid-bikes-buyers-guide-206065
Alpkit do a flat bar version of the Camino, but any MTB with a rigid fork and narrow tyres ill do the trick
https://ukgravelco.com/2019/09/19/do-you-need-a-gravel-bike/
Pinnacle Neon.
Yup. I alternate between my flat bar SS roadie and my Cannondale 29er rigid. Depends on how rough the "gravel"is. Fatter tyres on the BMN would cover a lot (80%?) of the riding I do.
And one more vote for that Stitch looking excellent. If I was buying now that would probably be my choice.
Why narrow tyres? I'm running some 29er 2 inch big apples I got from planet x for £5.99 each. They are fantastic, roll well, work off road, good puncture protection and a comfy ride.
Just buy a 29er, sell the suspension forks and buy some rigid forks.
I'm looking around for something similar at the minute
The Stitch looks good, but I'm also taken with this: https://www.merlincycles.com/ridley-ignite-a-gx1-mountain-bike-2019-149191.html
Just not sure how big a chainring I could fit?
Just buy a 29er, sell the suspension forks and buy some rigid forks.
All depends what you like riding I suppose. I would rather have a road type bike with flat bars than an MTB with rigid forks. They feel more nimble, shorter wheelbase, typically a bit lighter etc,. I also would hate the weight of something like Big Apples - not just accelerating but turning and generally heavier feeling handling.
Others may not care of course and a rigid 29er may be fne.
Seconded for the Pinnacle Neon, as I have Neon 3 (2018) and it's been great on my similar distance commute. Not exciting enough for the local scrotes.
However - Strava says my old 29 rigid inbred on big apples was faster, until the frame snapped.
Any cycle to work scheme??
Do it. Consider some slightly swept back bars - I found not-very-swept flats/risers on my commuter un-comfy for more than a few miles.
I've no idea what makes a gravel bike with flat bars different from a good old fashioned 700c hybrid tbh so I'll recommend what I have, a Boardman hybrid. MTB parts compatibility means I dumped a load of old bits onto it as upgrades- skinny xc wheels, narrow carbon bars, 9 speed, all stuff that works great but that I don't really want on my mtbs any more.
These bikes have a really easy job to do, they don't need to be at all flash. I reckon I'm into mine for about £300 of actual cash spent and it'll do the job probably better than that Ridley.
Giant sell a flat bar gravel bike, the Toughroad SLR. Available with a 2x10 or triple. They used to do a 1x variant as well. I've had one for a few years and really like it. Have recently put 42mm road tyres on it which seem to work well.
I’ve no idea what makes a gravel bike with flat bars different from a good old fashioned 700c hybrid tbh
Not a lot. Could be a bit racier and a bit higher end and lighter and could take wider tyres as aimed more at going fast on gravel roads than commuting and rides on roads.