You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My lad fancies a gravel/adventure bike under the Green Commute Initiative. He’d like:
carbon or steel frame
700c and 650b compatible (able to run 2.1/2.2 29er tyres if possible)
1 x 11 set up
Max £2000
Recommendations appreciated
( I showed him the Bombtrack Hook but it’s £2300)
Anyone??
Appreciate it may be ‘just because’ but leaving out al frames is cutting out a lot of really good bikes in that area.
That said, Ribble cgr sl springs to mind.
@swanny853 if he didn’t discount AL frames what’s out there that fits the bill. I’ll get him to look at the Ribble. Cheers
Cotic Escapade?
Canyon Grail 7.0
Carbon frame
Available on green initiative
But not 1x
Are cotic on the Green Commute Initiative?
To be honest, I think almost all brands have a gravelish bike in that price bracket, so you might be best going through some reviews to see what lines up with what you want! That said, nuke proof digger sounds like it might hit the spot- if I read it right you’re looking more at the Mtb end of this sort of bike.
Shop local to me sells the Thompson R9300, which, based on a brief car park test, feels nice and I’ve always liked the look of the various rondo frames- they do steel and carbon too.
Also, just remembered, vitus crx. I think the canyon grail gets good reviews too. Kinesics have a few. Seriously, there’s a long list- pick one in a colour you like?
Sorry, just realised I haven’t really dealt with the green commute thing. But you really are spoilt for choice.
Has he test ridden any? There's a massive difference between my Vagabond with 29er wheels and CaadX with 700x38's for example.
IME I much prefer CX style bikes. My vagabond is ok at everything, but great at nothing. Where as the caadx and Plug are almost great at a lot of stuff except proper moubtainbiking, and I have mountainbikes for that!
I've not owned a 650b bike but can see the logic in smaller more nimble and aero wheels negating some of the disadvantages of 29ers.
As a Cannondale fanboy:
CaadX for speed
Topstone for less racing
Slate if your 'gravel' is more 'shingle and sharp rocks'
Like the Canyon Grail myself can’t have him getting that before me 😂 In all seriousness I think he has a bit of reading to do. The carbon grail in gold and black looks lush though
@thisisnotaspoon I do love Cannondales, I’ve had two and do like the geometry, I’ll steer him to the Topstone also.
I almost went for a Norco Search STL when I was in this situation. It looks great in the flesh.
https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-search-xr-stl-rival-2019-adventure-road-bike-EV337769
I ended up going for a custom build.