Thinking of a mid range "special" bike... Gravel?
Discussion
Thinking of taking advantage of the newly unlimited C2W scheme.
Have a Boardman Pro hardtail from a few years ago (last of the 26" wheel) that gets infrequent use out with pre-teen kids.
However, have had a hankering for a "nice" bike for a while. Steel or Titanium, no aluminium or carbon.
Something that can do a bit of everything. Summer commute to the train station, light blue trails with the kids (such as Queen Elizabeth Country Park), rides to the pub. However, also something I'd like to hang on the wall for the vast majority of the time it won't be being ridden! Got enough 'beater' bikes cluttering the garage!
Any recommendations? Clean lines, decent kit, up to £2.5k, maybe a little more for something nice. Frame is everything... Wheels pretty close. Everything else a doddle to improve over the years.
Have a Boardman Pro hardtail from a few years ago (last of the 26" wheel) that gets infrequent use out with pre-teen kids.
However, have had a hankering for a "nice" bike for a while. Steel or Titanium, no aluminium or carbon.
Something that can do a bit of everything. Summer commute to the train station, light blue trails with the kids (such as Queen Elizabeth Country Park), rides to the pub. However, also something I'd like to hang on the wall for the vast majority of the time it won't be being ridden! Got enough 'beater' bikes cluttering the garage!
Any recommendations? Clean lines, decent kit, up to £2.5k, maybe a little more for something nice. Frame is everything... Wheels pretty close. Everything else a doddle to improve over the years.
Have been idly looking for options...
Ribble CGR Ti looks good, decent spec for the dosh, configurator doesn't list 650b wheels, but sure I could spec them.
Reilly Gradient looks superb, however pushes the budget a tad...
Anything else to consider? Struggling to find a high end steel that isn't custom and tonnes of dosh.
Ribble CGR Ti looks good, decent spec for the dosh, configurator doesn't list 650b wheels, but sure I could spec them.
Reilly Gradient looks superb, however pushes the budget a tad...
Anything else to consider? Struggling to find a high end steel that isn't custom and tonnes of dosh.
I was thinking of getting one of these, Moulton :-
https://fudgescyclestore.com/product/moulton_m22_s...
https://fudgescyclestore.com/product/moulton_m22_s...
s off. Git! Thanks for the suggestions - they're helping me realise what I want!
I would like (and will probably run the majority of the time) proper 650b compatibility.
ISO disc mounts are out - it really ruins the 'specialness' with adaptors, etc.
Clean (not necessarily internal) cable routing.
So far, I think I'm down to two on the shortlist:
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-ti-sram-... seems a hell of a lot of bike for the money.
Or
https://www.reillycycleworks.com/products/gradient...
Which is a couple of hundred quid more, not quite as good a spec - but if I'm reading things right is made down the road from me in Brighton.
Really struggling to find anything steel I really like. Cotic's Escapade is the closest - but no info on what steel equals gas pipe in my mind, and specced up with Hope it's the same price as the Ti CGR.
I would like (and will probably run the majority of the time) proper 650b compatibility.
ISO disc mounts are out - it really ruins the 'specialness' with adaptors, etc.
Clean (not necessarily internal) cable routing.
So far, I think I'm down to two on the shortlist:
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-ti-sram-... seems a hell of a lot of bike for the money.
Or
https://www.reillycycleworks.com/products/gradient...
Which is a couple of hundred quid more, not quite as good a spec - but if I'm reading things right is made down the road from me in Brighton.
Really struggling to find anything steel I really like. Cotic's Escapade is the closest - but no info on what steel equals gas pipe in my mind, and specced up with Hope it's the same price as the Ti CGR.
Sway said:
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-ti-sram-... seems a hell of a lot of bike for the money.
Or
https://www.reillycycleworks.com/products/gradient...
Ribble - £1000 more than the PX Tempest with same groupset, frame allegedly made by the same factory plus Reilly designed the Tempest frame.Or
https://www.reillycycleworks.com/products/gradient...
Secan looks awesome - going to enquire if they support C2W. 853, with Grx800 and Hope 650B wheels is pretty much bang on the money.
Planet X - I won't go there. Bad experience a number of years ago, but they lost all likelihood of a further sale to me. Shame, as it's a great saving (only seemingly losing slick cable management for a big saving).
Mason's are stunning - I love them. However, an extra £1k realistically. This really would be a bike to spec up to standard after purchase, but not sure I could actually get on one to begin with!
Planet X - I won't go there. Bad experience a number of years ago, but they lost all likelihood of a further sale to me. Shame, as it's a great saving (only seemingly losing slick cable management for a big saving).
Mason's are stunning - I love them. However, an extra £1k realistically. This really would be a bike to spec up to standard after purchase, but not sure I could actually get on one to begin with!
I spoke to Cotic a while ago and asked why no 853 or UK made given they do it on some of their mtbs. They said they were more stiffness limited than strength on the escapade so didn't think the weight that they could save with 853 would justify the price increase.
I do like the Secan as well, but a 105 escapade with hope bits is pretty reasonable cash.
I do like the Secan as well, but a 105 escapade with hope bits is pretty reasonable cash.
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