Does a robust road bike exist?
Discussion
I've got a Genesis Datum. It's carbon and think it's from 2018. It's got Ultegra 2x, flared bars, can take a 40mm upfront (maybe more)but might max out at 35mm on the rear. I use it with 30c tyres and it weights 8kg. It's as fast as my old Supersix was and far more comfortable.
I had a 2017 Croix De Fer, which I used to swap wheels with the Datum. By contrast it's a lot heavier and I didn't like the Geometry of it. Maybe it was the steel frame but I took it out on the same road rides and didn't like it much. On the pedals up hill there was no such immediacy to it. It was great on towpaths or old railway lines or maybe as a city commuter but that was it's limit.
I have no idea why Genesis abandoned the Datum because it was an excellent frame set, they just reduced their output to steel bikes which probably appealed to a certain audience. They even abandoned their MTB line.
I had a 2017 Croix De Fer, which I used to swap wheels with the Datum. By contrast it's a lot heavier and I didn't like the Geometry of it. Maybe it was the steel frame but I took it out on the same road rides and didn't like it much. On the pedals up hill there was no such immediacy to it. It was great on towpaths or old railway lines or maybe as a city commuter but that was it's limit.
I have no idea why Genesis abandoned the Datum because it was an excellent frame set, they just reduced their output to steel bikes which probably appealed to a certain audience. They even abandoned their MTB line.
Edited by Chicken Chaser on Thursday 11th April 01:12
Rustybanger said:
I bought a Planet X London Road about 4 years ago for commuting to the station. It seemed fairly robust and not terribly slow
I have the SL gravel version on G-One tyres. It is a very good all-round bike and was very good value. It does have a single chainring, which is a bit of a compromise. There are big gaps between ratios and quite low geared for the road.
A double would be better for an on/off road bike.
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 11th April 06:21
Dr Murdoch said:
Its a 2017 Tiagra.
Out on one ride I was struggling with a steep ascent, whereas my mate was breezing it (and was obviously taking the piss out of my struggles!). We swapped bikes, and low and behold I was breezing it and he was struggling.
My CDF is nearly 12kg, which is quite a weight to propel around.
Buy his bike.Out on one ride I was struggling with a steep ascent, whereas my mate was breezing it (and was obviously taking the piss out of my struggles!). We swapped bikes, and low and behold I was breezing it and he was struggling.
My CDF is nearly 12kg, which is quite a weight to propel around.
I agree with those above who are making the point that robust road bikes are sold and are labelled as gravel bikes.
I’ve one of these from Dolan, which has slightly more relaxed geometry than some others.
It’s over your budget, but Ribble do similar in steel for a bit less.
https://www.dolan-bikes.com/gxt-titanium-gravel/
I’ve one of these from Dolan, which has slightly more relaxed geometry than some others.
It’s over your budget, but Ribble do similar in steel for a bit less.
https://www.dolan-bikes.com/gxt-titanium-gravel/
Dr Murdoch said:
Just had a quick look round the web and these quotes stood out....
"So around 30 Watts more power was needed to keep the gravel bike going at a similar speed [to a road bike]".
This is my road bike…"So around 30 Watts more power was needed to keep the gravel bike going at a similar speed [to a road bike]".
This is my gravel bike…
In case it’s not completely obvious, it’s the same bike.
Wheels and tyres are what makes the difference, and primarily what your quoted statement refers to.
That frame is a Ribble CGR, which is what would have been called a “tourer” in the olden days and is Ribble’s equivalent of your CDF. It’s far from slow with the right wheels and tyres on.
I'm pretty sure some pros raced the Canyon Ultimate on wide tyres at the gravel world champs and as someone else pointed out, Israel Premier Tech raced Factor gravel bikes at Roubaix last weekend. I think the differences between racier gravel bikes and slightly less racy road bikes is probably much smaller than most people think.
Dr Murdoch said:
WPA said:
What spec is your CDF, I have been riding one for the last 6 months, do not find it slow on the road or up hills, great allrounder
Its a 2017 Tiagra.Out on one ride I was struggling with a steep ascent, whereas my mate was breezing it (and was obviously taking the piss out of my struggles!). We swapped bikes, and low and behold I was breezing it and he was struggling.
My CDF is nearly 12kg, which is quite a weight to propel around.
I run mine on 700c x 30 road tyres and I find it perfect as a road bike, I am no slower on it against my Giant Defy over the same ride.
Was the 'fit' of the road bike more optimum for max power uphill?
Would a change of bars or stem make a difference?
I assume the saddle was not a factor!
Were the gear ratios optimal on the gravel bike?
A couple of kg is nice to lose and more suitable tyres are always good, but I get the impression there are subtleties of bike frames and geometry....
Would a change of bars or stem make a difference?
I assume the saddle was not a factor!
Were the gear ratios optimal on the gravel bike?
A couple of kg is nice to lose and more suitable tyres are always good, but I get the impression there are subtleties of bike frames and geometry....
frisbee said:
Assuming your position isn’t bolt upright, tyres make the biggest difference between a road bike and gravel bike.
Indeed. I have two identical sets of wheels for my cannondale topstone gravel bike. One has a close ratio cassette and 28mm road tyres and the other has a wide ratio cassette and 40mm gravel tyres. On our group road rides I’m not working any harder than anyone else and with the gravel wheels in I can ride any gravel and simple mtb trails.
Lovely bike.
Zaichik said:
Out of interest are these modern carbon fibre road and gravel bikes tough enough for a chunkier rider (18st+) or will they get damaged?
I’m not suggesting heavy off road, just gentle on the road stuff.
Manufacturers will generally tell you the maximum recommended weight.I’m not suggesting heavy off road, just gentle on the road stuff.
My titanium Dolan gravel bike has a maximum recommended weight of 120kg.
Op,
Don’t let the marketing machine confuse you! Road bikes are robust.
IMO all you need is a decent set of wheels, for the “bumping up kerbs” part. Maybe some 25 or 27mm tyres.
Fwiw, I’ve taken my (23c shod) Focus Cayo Evo all over the shop. Fields, paths, some single track, you name it. IMO if it can deal with a pothole it can deal with a root. That’s not even an endurance road bike, being all edge fly 1/2 way between endurance and race frame shape.
Don’t let the marketing machine confuse you! Road bikes are robust.
IMO all you need is a decent set of wheels, for the “bumping up kerbs” part. Maybe some 25 or 27mm tyres.
Fwiw, I’ve taken my (23c shod) Focus Cayo Evo all over the shop. Fields, paths, some single track, you name it. IMO if it can deal with a pothole it can deal with a root. That’s not even an endurance road bike, being all edge fly 1/2 way between endurance and race frame shape.
Barchettaman said:
I would keep the Genesis CdeF and put a pair of continental gp 5000 tyres on in 700c/32mm
You already have what is essentially the perfect bike for your needs, it just needs to roll a little faster and the Contis will do that for you.
Best of luck.
I'll wager it's the wheels. If they're factory, they were very heavy. Even the set on my Datum were heavy so swapped them for a set of Cero ARD23. Very good robust wheels which roll much better. You already have what is essentially the perfect bike for your needs, it just needs to roll a little faster and the Contis will do that for you.
Best of luck.
Your puny road bikes are way tougher than you think.
https://youtu.be/7ZmJtYaUTa0?si=E25hJDk_POlGmeWA
https://youtu.be/7ZmJtYaUTa0?si=E25hJDk_POlGmeWA
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