Gravel/trekking vs budget mtb vs commuting and distance use
Discussion
Probably been covered multiple times previously.
Long story short, off to the arse end of nowhere for work but there's plenty of countryside and nature s
t to do, with apparently well established 'gravel' bike routes (from what ive seen is fairly decent pavement) with a nice lake about 25km one way.
Anyway, i currently have a kona lava dome 2015(?) As the commuter bike. Its not a great bike but its good enough for a 10 minute commute. I got it 2nd hand, replaced alot of the running gear, brake overhaul and all thats left to do is service the forks and replace the seals as water has got in - when flipped upside down, greasy water comes out and now it creaks. It didnt used to do this, as i guess the forks (suntour xct 100mm) where locked out but as I freed them up, it probably broke the rubber or something.
But obviously ive been seeing alot of drop bar gravel bikes about and I like the look of them plus probably better ergonomics for the longer rides.
Ideally id build up a bxt carbon framed bike But the delivery period has jumped from 2-4 weeks to 6-8 and therefore, the summer fun will be over. The next issue is that im being put up in a 5 story tower block (4th floor), no lift and 'communal' storage in the basement which is where the bike will live in the main unless I shoulder it each time and carry up.
Not sure what im getting at but would you;
A. Spend the money on the kona by diy servicing the forks and putting 'gravel' tyres on.
B. Try and find a non flashy (thinking matt black/no branding) gravel bike for around 1k. Must be drop bars because thats what i want.
The next issue is that ill be using it all year round, from the 10 min commute to the 'distance' cycles along with sun-rain-snow and ideally put a rear rack on (so probably a trekking bike is what im after). Company are not offering the cycle to work scheme
Not looking at electric bikes as it can be a pain to ship them as I learnt with my last one but i guess I could put a rear wheel hub or bagfang mid motor on the kona.
If youve made it this far, thank you for reading my ramblings. Heart wants B. Head and bank account wants A.
Long story short, off to the arse end of nowhere for work but there's plenty of countryside and nature s
t to do, with apparently well established 'gravel' bike routes (from what ive seen is fairly decent pavement) with a nice lake about 25km one way. Anyway, i currently have a kona lava dome 2015(?) As the commuter bike. Its not a great bike but its good enough for a 10 minute commute. I got it 2nd hand, replaced alot of the running gear, brake overhaul and all thats left to do is service the forks and replace the seals as water has got in - when flipped upside down, greasy water comes out and now it creaks. It didnt used to do this, as i guess the forks (suntour xct 100mm) where locked out but as I freed them up, it probably broke the rubber or something.
But obviously ive been seeing alot of drop bar gravel bikes about and I like the look of them plus probably better ergonomics for the longer rides.
Ideally id build up a bxt carbon framed bike But the delivery period has jumped from 2-4 weeks to 6-8 and therefore, the summer fun will be over. The next issue is that im being put up in a 5 story tower block (4th floor), no lift and 'communal' storage in the basement which is where the bike will live in the main unless I shoulder it each time and carry up.
Not sure what im getting at but would you;
A. Spend the money on the kona by diy servicing the forks and putting 'gravel' tyres on.
B. Try and find a non flashy (thinking matt black/no branding) gravel bike for around 1k. Must be drop bars because thats what i want.
The next issue is that ill be using it all year round, from the 10 min commute to the 'distance' cycles along with sun-rain-snow and ideally put a rear rack on (so probably a trekking bike is what im after). Company are not offering the cycle to work scheme
Not looking at electric bikes as it can be a pain to ship them as I learnt with my last one but i guess I could put a rear wheel hub or bagfang mid motor on the kona.
If youve made it this far, thank you for reading my ramblings. Heart wants B. Head and bank account wants A.
Any tyres youd recommend?
Ive run schwalbe big bens for city and it did alright at deflated psi on hardback but been looking and gone down the rabbit hole and thinking something like the panaracer gravel king x1r or the vittoria terrano xc but then before you know it, youve done 100 on tyre on a 200 euro bike whilst I could get some big bens for 42 combined.
It does have a spare set of rims with road tyres (schwalbe marathons) on but I keep popping the rear tube lately down forest roads. Seems to be a spoke doing the puncturing.
Ive run schwalbe big bens for city and it did alright at deflated psi on hardback but been looking and gone down the rabbit hole and thinking something like the panaracer gravel king x1r or the vittoria terrano xc but then before you know it, youve done 100 on tyre on a 200 euro bike whilst I could get some big bens for 42 combined.
It does have a spare set of rims with road tyres (schwalbe marathons) on but I keep popping the rear tube lately down forest roads. Seems to be a spoke doing the puncturing.
I'm way out of date, Local Shop will suggest some I'm sure.
Something similar to this is the general idea, https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/vandorm-cyclo...
Something similar to this is the general idea, https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/vandorm-cyclo...
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