Gravel bike advice needed
Discussion
Last year I got that same Boardman ADV as our scheme had limited shops.
I’ve had some really fun days out getting really muddy on it, riding with others on more expensive bikes and I’ve never felt the need to spend 3x or 4x, yet.
Yes I’d like it to be lighter but for the ££ it’s excellent. Tiagra 10sp and grx brakes haven’t gone wrong and it’s taken a lot of punishment in the mendips!
I’ve had some really fun days out getting really muddy on it, riding with others on more expensive bikes and I’ve never felt the need to spend 3x or 4x, yet.
Yes I’d like it to be lighter but for the ££ it’s excellent. Tiagra 10sp and grx brakes haven’t gone wrong and it’s taken a lot of punishment in the mendips!
How tall are you? Look at the XL Trig and ignore the size charts. I'm 6ft2 and XL just fits I.e. a large would have been way too small.
I've just bought Hunt All season 700c wheels to fit and it's quite responsive.
The 650b tyres although very stable and planted were just too sluggish.
I've just bought Hunt All season 700c wheels to fit and it's quite responsive.
The 650b tyres although very stable and planted were just too sluggish.
6'1". The XL has since sold out too.
Logic tells me the Boardman is a perfect buy, but I don't like the look. I've worked out that I don't like the frame tube shape, preferring the more delicate look of skinny round tubes. And it seems I'm a complete sucker for tan wall tyres.
Looking at that Vitus again, it looks a bit more road than off road?? Not much scope for lowering the seat and only slight flare on the bars?
Logic tells me the Boardman is a perfect buy, but I don't like the look. I've worked out that I don't like the frame tube shape, preferring the more delicate look of skinny round tubes. And it seems I'm a complete sucker for tan wall tyres.
Looking at that Vitus again, it looks a bit more road than off road?? Not much scope for lowering the seat and only slight flare on the bars?
can't speak for the alloy Vitus Substance, but I have covered several thousand miles on my carbon substance with 2x GRX which includes 3 gravel races too. They are superb bikes. The Wiggle pro team used to use them as well. Very fast bikes, and comfortable geometry too. I personally prefer the less flared bars. But if you wanted wider flared bars, they are cheap and easy to change.
So, if the alloy one rides as well, then you are onto a winner.
Previous to the Substance, I had a Boardman ADV 8.8. But I upgraded it to 11spd R7000 105 with Ultegra RX rear mech and DT Swiss R23 wheels. Done about 10k miles on that bike across all kinds of terrain and now my brother has it. They ride really well, and the frames are nicely made etc too.
Comes down to personal preference obviously, but with either the Vitus Substance alloy or the Boardman. Either one of those are great bikes and will handle anything you can throw at them. Tyre clearance is excellent on both and even better if you run 650b during the winter months.
2x GRX is the best, whether that be 10 or 11psd as the rear mechs can run 11-40t cassettes and still keep full functionality of all the gears.
I would say the fact the Vitus comes with DT Swiss wheels would make it my choice, as the wheels on the ADV use Formula hubs which are dire and cannot handle our wet winters.
So, if the alloy one rides as well, then you are onto a winner.
Previous to the Substance, I had a Boardman ADV 8.8. But I upgraded it to 11spd R7000 105 with Ultegra RX rear mech and DT Swiss R23 wheels. Done about 10k miles on that bike across all kinds of terrain and now my brother has it. They ride really well, and the frames are nicely made etc too.
Comes down to personal preference obviously, but with either the Vitus Substance alloy or the Boardman. Either one of those are great bikes and will handle anything you can throw at them. Tyre clearance is excellent on both and even better if you run 650b during the winter months.
2x GRX is the best, whether that be 10 or 11psd as the rear mechs can run 11-40t cassettes and still keep full functionality of all the gears.
I would say the fact the Vitus comes with DT Swiss wheels would make it my choice, as the wheels on the ADV use Formula hubs which are dire and cannot handle our wet winters.
re. bars. I've found I spend most of the time on the hoods while off-road, only dropping to the drops on road sections or longer sections of fire road. So stayed with a conventionally shaped bar but wider than on my road bike for a bit more leverage (44cm vs 40cm). I'm not sure how useful a lot of flare is unless you're running the bars really high up and it can put the brake levers at a weird angle.
Genesis is worth a look: https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure-gra...
Thanks for all the input folks, I just ordered the Vitus. Should be here next week. 
WPA said:
Genesis is worth a look: https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure-gra...
Really fancied them, but even the high spec bikes have cable brakes.gmackay2 said:
Bill said:
Really fancied them, but even the high spec bikes have cable brakes.
Gensis, look like heavy bikes with rubbish spec at high prices. Can't see the appeal I have to say.
Hope you enjoy the Substance when it arrives.
I suppose it's like me and my enjoyment of my Cannondale 'frankenbike'. It's objectively garbage, with "travel agent" brake cable adaptors, cable operated vee brakes, an obsolete HeadShok, obsolescent 9-speed Shimano 105 gearing, heavy CAAD2 "aluminum" frame (hand made in the good ol' US of A dontcha know) and limited tyre clearance. I'd never have considered such a spec at "normal" bicycle prices, but at £53 (for a functioning ride-away bike) from ebay it seemed like a cheap-ish way into HeadShok ownership. And I love riding it, as it takes away any pressure to "nail" Strava segments, or set PRs. Relaxed, comfortable, and remarkably reliable after I gave it a going over when I first bought it, replacing almost all the consumables and swapping the wheels (and tyres) for a slightly better/lighter set.
My love of the Cannondale Backroads, though, is tempered by the knowledge that HeadShok parts and service are hard to come by. So I keep its mileage lower than I'd ideally like. Which means I'm still in the market for a much more modern "true" gravel bike for more extensive adventure/exploration rides.
Bill said:
I did, thanks. I was reading about their woes in the run up and then saw they'd gone today. 
My main issue is my wife sees the bike as some sort of justification for another greenhouse.
Great news! (..apart from the greenhouse) My main issue is my wife sees the bike as some sort of justification for another greenhouse. I thought that bike was a great deal, and would have gone for it myself if they had the C2W scheme running.
OK. Question (possibly daft question) time.
Is 700x38mm maximum tyre clearance "enough" on a gravel bike? (With 650B wheels it could wear 45mm tyres). Or will I regret it if I don't pony up an extra £500 for one that will take 700x45mm tyres?
Reason?
Merida's Silex. The 2023 model with 700x38C max clearance has been cut to £1750 for the carbon fibre '4000' model. The all-new 2024 '4000' model is listed at £2250 but comes with a few "upgrades". 700x45C tyre clearance being one, and 180mm brake rotors instead of the outgoing model's 160mm rotors being another. One trade-off is no rack mounting point at the back on the new bike.
The frame and fork are new for 2024 too. "Slacker" head tube and different treatment around the seat post clamp are obvious, and more luggage mounting points on the new one at the expense of the rear rack mount.
My local shop has a 2023 '4000' model I can get hands-on with, but nowhere I can find with an actual 2024 bike on the shop floor just yet. Both the outgoing bike and the new one seem to be Shimano GRX 400 in the main, 2x10 speed, with a GRX 600 crankset.
I'm struggling to know what to do if I'm honest. There are many other options, of course, like the GT Grade (perhaps a design showing it's age now?) or Cannondale's Topstone.
This gravel bike buying malarkey is just confusing, with, if anything, too much choice available...
Is 700x38mm maximum tyre clearance "enough" on a gravel bike? (With 650B wheels it could wear 45mm tyres). Or will I regret it if I don't pony up an extra £500 for one that will take 700x45mm tyres?
Reason?
Merida's Silex. The 2023 model with 700x38C max clearance has been cut to £1750 for the carbon fibre '4000' model. The all-new 2024 '4000' model is listed at £2250 but comes with a few "upgrades". 700x45C tyre clearance being one, and 180mm brake rotors instead of the outgoing model's 160mm rotors being another. One trade-off is no rack mounting point at the back on the new bike.
The frame and fork are new for 2024 too. "Slacker" head tube and different treatment around the seat post clamp are obvious, and more luggage mounting points on the new one at the expense of the rear rack mount.
My local shop has a 2023 '4000' model I can get hands-on with, but nowhere I can find with an actual 2024 bike on the shop floor just yet. Both the outgoing bike and the new one seem to be Shimano GRX 400 in the main, 2x10 speed, with a GRX 600 crankset.
I'm struggling to know what to do if I'm honest. There are many other options, of course, like the GT Grade (perhaps a design showing it's age now?) or Cannondale's Topstone.
This gravel bike buying malarkey is just confusing, with, if anything, too much choice available...
yellowjack said:
OK. Question (possibly daft question) time.
Is 700x38mm maximum tyre clearance "enough" on a gravel bike? (With 650B wheels it could wear 45mm tyres). Or will I regret it if I don't pony up an extra £500 for one that will take 700x45mm tyres?
Reason?
Merida's Silex. The 2023 model with 700x38C max clearance has been cut to £1750 for the carbon fibre '4000' model. The all-new 2024 '4000' model is listed at £2250 but comes with a few "upgrades". 700x45C tyre clearance being one, and 180mm brake rotors instead of the outgoing model's 160mm rotors being another. One trade-off is no rack mounting point at the back on the new bike.
The frame and fork are new for 2024 too. "Slacker" head tube and different treatment around the seat post clamp are obvious, and more luggage mounting points on the new one at the expense of the rear rack mount.
My local shop has a 2023 '4000' model I can get hands-on with, but nowhere I can find with an actual 2024 bike on the shop floor just yet. Both the outgoing bike and the new one seem to be Shimano GRX 400 in the main, 2x10 speed, with a GRX 600 crankset.
I'm struggling to know what to do if I'm honest. There are many other options, of course, like the GT Grade (perhaps a design showing it's age now?) or Cannondale's Topstone.
This gravel bike buying malarkey is just confusing, with, if anything, too much choice available...
My Topstone came with 42s and will take up to 45s. I'll be looking to go down to 35-38 at some point. I tend to ride on narrow, scruffy U and B roads as opposed to actual gravel trails though, 45 would be too wide for me I think.Is 700x38mm maximum tyre clearance "enough" on a gravel bike? (With 650B wheels it could wear 45mm tyres). Or will I regret it if I don't pony up an extra £500 for one that will take 700x45mm tyres?
Reason?
Merida's Silex. The 2023 model with 700x38C max clearance has been cut to £1750 for the carbon fibre '4000' model. The all-new 2024 '4000' model is listed at £2250 but comes with a few "upgrades". 700x45C tyre clearance being one, and 180mm brake rotors instead of the outgoing model's 160mm rotors being another. One trade-off is no rack mounting point at the back on the new bike.
The frame and fork are new for 2024 too. "Slacker" head tube and different treatment around the seat post clamp are obvious, and more luggage mounting points on the new one at the expense of the rear rack mount.
My local shop has a 2023 '4000' model I can get hands-on with, but nowhere I can find with an actual 2024 bike on the shop floor just yet. Both the outgoing bike and the new one seem to be Shimano GRX 400 in the main, 2x10 speed, with a GRX 600 crankset.
I'm struggling to know what to do if I'm honest. There are many other options, of course, like the GT Grade (perhaps a design showing it's age now?) or Cannondale's Topstone.
This gravel bike buying malarkey is just confusing, with, if anything, too much choice available...
Isn't there a new GT Grade coming out at some point?
I have one that's a couple of generations old, I mostly use it on road but my offroad wheels have 35 or maybe 38mm tyres on. On gravel its fine, mud is exciting.
Tread pattern and tyre pressure make the biggest difference though in my limited experience.
I have one that's a couple of generations old, I mostly use it on road but my offroad wheels have 35 or maybe 38mm tyres on. On gravel its fine, mud is exciting.
Tread pattern and tyre pressure make the biggest difference though in my limited experience.
Nooooooo!
I've made the mistake of "doing my research" in person at a few local(ish) bike shops. I thought I had an idea of what I wanted, but one shop had a bunch of aluminium framed Argon18 gravel bikes on the shop floor, and fancier ones coming out of their boxes for a show. Then I looked at another shop selling Salsa gravel bikes. Discussions about my riding style and what I wanted from a bike somehow got around to a Brother Cycles 'Mehteh' Reynolds 725 (I think) frame and carbon fibre fork built with a Shimano GRX groupset and some Hope and Ritchey bits to finish it. The chap I was talking to made it sound almost affordable, too. The build he was describing was one they'd recently completed for a customer, and he said there was plenty of scope for more reasonably priced finishing kit to keep the cost down.
Then, of course, I went back to "my" LBS and the 2023 Merida Silex, and felt like I'd be disloyal to them by buying elsewhere. I know that's a daft way to feel, but there it is.
I'm making things more difficult for myself by checking out all these other shops/brands/bikes, and to top it all there's another company that has turned up on Instagram called Rune. They're local, so far as I can tell, with some prototype/pre-production bikes out in the wild and heavily feature on their social media, but no actual bikes to buy until the New Year. All steel with a 1" threaded steerer and a lot of their builds have bar end shifters with cable-disc brakes. Not sure if that's the tech spec I aspire to, but nice looking all the same.
And to top it all, still no news from the solicitor on "full and final settlement" of my claim, so even if I do find the "best bike/deal ever" I'm not really in a position to pounce on it.
ETA: Mason Bikes is only about 2 hours away by car. Someone (I think on Strava) suggested I try them. But I fear I'd only be making my (eventual) decision even more difficult.
I've made the mistake of "doing my research" in person at a few local(ish) bike shops. I thought I had an idea of what I wanted, but one shop had a bunch of aluminium framed Argon18 gravel bikes on the shop floor, and fancier ones coming out of their boxes for a show. Then I looked at another shop selling Salsa gravel bikes. Discussions about my riding style and what I wanted from a bike somehow got around to a Brother Cycles 'Mehteh' Reynolds 725 (I think) frame and carbon fibre fork built with a Shimano GRX groupset and some Hope and Ritchey bits to finish it. The chap I was talking to made it sound almost affordable, too. The build he was describing was one they'd recently completed for a customer, and he said there was plenty of scope for more reasonably priced finishing kit to keep the cost down.
Then, of course, I went back to "my" LBS and the 2023 Merida Silex, and felt like I'd be disloyal to them by buying elsewhere. I know that's a daft way to feel, but there it is.
I'm making things more difficult for myself by checking out all these other shops/brands/bikes, and to top it all there's another company that has turned up on Instagram called Rune. They're local, so far as I can tell, with some prototype/pre-production bikes out in the wild and heavily feature on their social media, but no actual bikes to buy until the New Year. All steel with a 1" threaded steerer and a lot of their builds have bar end shifters with cable-disc brakes. Not sure if that's the tech spec I aspire to, but nice looking all the same.
And to top it all, still no news from the solicitor on "full and final settlement" of my claim, so even if I do find the "best bike/deal ever" I'm not really in a position to pounce on it.
ETA: Mason Bikes is only about 2 hours away by car. Someone (I think on Strava) suggested I try them. But I fear I'd only be making my (eventual) decision even more difficult.
Edited by yellowjack on Wednesday 1st November 15:20
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