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Contemplating a summer evening riding about down country lanes type bike on cyclescheme…
Preferably something that I could also take on gravel tracks/moorland roads with out dying, something that either has or could take a pretty wide gear ratio (Swaledale is hilly) and ideally has disc brakes.
Does such a thing exist? And if so, what is it?
Evans cycles used to do a Pinnacle Arkose that would fit your criteria. I know because I bought one to be my commuter bike.
Unfortunately they don’t seem to be doing them any more.
I’d look at Boardman or possibly Ridgeback?
New Surly Preamble?
I use my Cross Check for exactly the above, but rim brakes rule it out.
That Surly looks good! I’d have never thought of that, *adds it to list*
take a look at Spa. i have just bought \ new tourer from them. it is perfect,
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s225p0/Bikes/Touring
They look nice @ton but they don’t do cyclescheme unfortunately
That Preamble is a beautiful bike but does not look like good value as a complete bike. I’m pretty sure I could build one up from the frameset with better gears and brakes etc. for the same money as the complete bike.
I used to have a Croix De Fer that fits your requirements perfectly. It was a weighty fella but was excellent at general bimbling about, commuting and light touring. Not the most exciting ride but very dependable.
I see that they’re seriously more expensive now though, shame.
Sonder Camino from Alpkit? Love mine. Their cheapest is £1099 so maybe too much if your C2W scheme is limited to £1000. If it is limited it’s worth approaching your employer as they may not have realised HMRC have removed the limit.
Re: Alpkit and potential £1k limits... all their bikes are built to order so you might be able to order one without a few peripheral parts to get it below the limit and use your own or buy those separately. C2W allows you to just buy parts now iirc.
something that either has or could take a pretty wide gear ratio
I found that 1x gravel bikes are more limited in gears. Mrs_oab's Marin DSX is great up hills, but does run out of gears quickly when going downhill.
I found that many gravel bikes are over-geared if you have hills or ever carry baggage. I have swapped my chainset for 4t less and next month will fit a cassette and rear mech with another 6t on. I found that baggage + Scottish hills or off-road hills and I just did not have low enough gears.
I also have 36mm tyres, and they are only just wide enough off-road for comfort (never had a puncture though), yet whizz along on roads and tracks nicely.
I also found that mudguards improve a pottering bike.
I think next time I will go alt/flat bar rather than drop bar.
My do it all ride:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50783547271_4e8ea0332e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50783547271_4e8ea0332e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2knyXke ]Merlin G2P Gravel Bike[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
Consider an alt bar 29er with light build and 2.0 - 2.25 fast XC tyres Vs a gravel bike. I have a 29er like this for mixed-terrain touring and it's a lot of fun off-road when you find a good trail and a great pootler on the lanes, a relaxing ride there. Feels at home with bags on too. In contrast to that my gravel bikes tend to be good on road at a higher pace and a handful/tiring challenge off-road, a lot of that is down to the limited tyre size and volume and the ride position. For pottering about and exploring I'd go adapted 29er.