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I’ve got a decent 1x gravel bike (Ribble CGR AL). The wheels were ‘upgraded’ Mavic Allroad but they’re not great, and with 40c g-one’s, it’s not the fastest bike for a predominately road-based commute.
I’ve been toying with scenario A: Get a 2nd pair of 700c Hunt wheels for ‘quick’ commutes, keeping the mavics for gravel/off road
Scenario B: keep the mavics and replace the alloy frame with carbon (looking at Planet X) for near same price as wheels.
Not sure what I’m asking as much as just thinking aloud, but any insights or opinions appreciated.
Fit some 30c tubeless road tyres and a double chainset
Should have just bought a road bike to start with they can handle pretty rough terrain and get reasonably wide tyres on (if you buy wisely)
Wheels often make more of a change than saving weight in a frame to how fast the bike feels under acceleration. If you run them with 25/28c road tyres they should be a good improvement over 40c gravel tyres.
No comment on the 1x vs 2x really - at least not from experience. I have a 2x toad bike with shimano 105 and I don’t like the front derailleur or the way shimano shifters work. I’m quite curious about Rival One.
Big claims about these new Hunt 34s https://www.bikeradar.com/news/hunt-34-aero-wide-wheels/
The frame's inherently not bad, but definitely upgrade first the tyres, then maybe the wheels.
The G-Ones are draggy and give a feeling like riding through treacle; for predominantly road commuting, a 28c slick tyre should be plenty.
If you fancy some new wheels, Mason X Hunts would save a theoretical 200g; they also are regular spokes rather than Mavic's straight pull if that bothers you.
So the choice is to have a bike with a different frame and exactly the same limitations or to have a bike with the same frame which is better for a wider range of riding. Doesn't seem too hard a choice to me `:-)
I had the same. Decided to fit 28c to the wheels that came with the bike. Got Dave @ DCR to build me a light 2nd set of wheels (about £420 with rotors I think) which I run 40c WTB Nanos on. I’ve got ultra compact up front & 11:36 rear. It’s great on the road (even with the 40c) & superb off road. Never had a single puncture in the 40c tubeless. Been on almost 2 years & ridden over all manner of terrain! Hope that helps. I’ve got a few pair of DCR wheels.. superb 👍🏻
Big claims about these new Hunt 34s https://www.bikeradar.com/news/hunt-34-aero-wide-wheels//blockquote >
Yes, the Hunt hype/BS machine is strong with these isn't it.
I've got that frame. It's a decent bit of kit. I run Hunt 4 Season Gravel wheels. Started off using them on gravel but have migrated to mainly road. Work well, all that's needed is to change tyres to suit conditions.
So are people choosing gravel bikes for road work now if the roads are a bit rough? I’m reluctant to change from a road bike as I like the speed and lack of weight and can imagine me being disappointed on the road by a gravel bike. Wouldn’t mind some more cushioning on the commute tho than my 25mm GP4000s give me.
So are people choosing gravel bikes for road work now if the roads are a bit rough?
Not a bad idea if you want 40c tyres. I find 28c tyres are enough on road (and gravel) but I am not as fussed about comfort as most (plus I never ride more than 2 hours)
I suspect 40c is a bit much for road even if it’s a bit rough. 28/30c would probably do. I suppose that means a disc brake road bike.
I'm running 40mm G-One Speeds tubeless on one of my bikes - on a long downhill they were no slower than my buddy running 28mm tyres - average speed is only 1-2kph slower than my road bike. I'm typically running Surrey/Hampshire's finest of flint-strewn, chip and seal roads with potholes galore - running the 40mm tyres at less than 50psi makes it noticeably more comfortable. If you want to change your frame to 'go faster' then I'd look at something that gets you in a better position