Does a robust road bike exist?

[V6Nelo]

In my hunt for a bike with similar requirements, I came across this from Sondor

https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-frontier-deore-...

It’s a mountain bike geometry with no suspension forks, has wider tires than most gravel bikes.

Has flat handles and a 1x.

So quite simple but nice things like internal routing and mount points galore

[MC Bodge]

V6Nelo said:

In my hunt for a bike with similar requirements, I came across this from Sondor

https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-frontier-deore-...

It’s a mountain bike geometry with no suspension forks, has wider tires than most gravel bikes.

Has flat handles and a 1x.

So quite simple but nice things like internal routing and mount points galore

Is that any sort of road bike?

[Slowboathome]

I have a 20 year old Ridgeback Voyage tourer which can handle mild off-road stuff (tracks). It has 32 inch tyres, 3 chain rings. It's a do-it-all bike.

I'd describe it as robust.

[CheesecakeRunner]

Some Gump said:

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.

A decent set of wheels is the last thing you want to be “bumping up kerbs” with. Some riding skills tuition might be a better use of money. Shouldn’t be “bumping up kerbs” on anything.

And 25mm tyres? What is this, the 80s?

[defblade]

CheesecakeRunner said:

And 25mm tyres? What is this, the 80s?

Yeah, you need 32 inch tyres these days

[Ken_Code]

among other things I have a Dutch Gazelle Heavy Duty.

It’s very robust, has a relaxed riding position, and useful storage if you want to commute on it.

https://www.gazelle.nl/heavydutynl#pim_primarycolo...

[MC Bodge]

CheesecakeRunner said:

And 25mm tyres? What is this, the 80s?

Only a few years ago (10-15?) people were still worrying about losing speed if they went up to wide 25mm tyres.

32mm tyres are great for a road bike

I have 38mm tyres on my commuter hybrid.

[CheesecakeRunner]

I know. I run 32c GP5000 tubeless on the road wheels and 40c G-One on the gravel wheels. Always surprises me how fast the gravel tyres are.

[MC Bodge]

CheesecakeRunner said:

I know. I run 32c GP5000 tubeless on the road wheels and 40c G-One on the gravel wheels. Always surprises me how fast the gravel tyres are.

35mm G-One on my gravel bike are fast rolling.