Speccing a gravel bike
Discussion
Sway said:
In general, most gravel bikes are more upright than the equivalent road frame. Obviously, this can be tweaked more though a fit.
The ones that are 'much' closer to mtb position are also geared much more towards off road riding - heavier construction, massive clearances for big tyres, etc.
Based on your budget (fairly vague though it is!) - I'd suggest speaking to someone like Enigma. They offer a fit with every bike, and have a wide range (plus a tonne of knowledge). "Worst case" - they'll build a custom frame for you!
I very nearly did that - came very close to getting a custom build steel gravel bike from them (with awesome fade paint including matching stem and seat-post). Ultimately went for an off the shelf titanium Etape - and I'm between sizes so had the choice of a more stretched out 56cm, or a more upright 54cm.
Cheers Sway, wow Enigma looks a great place but unfortunately a long way from me (Nottingham). I might look into some form of a 'bike fit' though. The ones that are 'much' closer to mtb position are also geared much more towards off road riding - heavier construction, massive clearances for big tyres, etc.
Based on your budget (fairly vague though it is!) - I'd suggest speaking to someone like Enigma. They offer a fit with every bike, and have a wide range (plus a tonne of knowledge). "Worst case" - they'll build a custom frame for you!
I very nearly did that - came very close to getting a custom build steel gravel bike from them (with awesome fade paint including matching stem and seat-post). Ultimately went for an off the shelf titanium Etape - and I'm between sizes so had the choice of a more stretched out 56cm, or a more upright 54cm.
Once rode around on a Cannondale Supersix and a Kinesis Racelight in winter. They've both gone and been replaced by a Genesis Datum and Croix de fer. I'm a bit of a Genesis fanboy.
Both are potentially gravel bikes. The Datum is full carbon, flared bars, Ultegra 6800 and currently running 28mm tyres which size up at nearly 30mm. Thru axle up front. It's had 30mm G Ones on it bit I found they were very soft and lasted little.
Croix de fer is 725 Steel, same flared bars and can run the same wheelsets as the Datum. I tend to run 35c Clements on it which are decent over a variety of surfaces.
I've taken both of them off onto gravel, and both have coped well. The Datum is a superb ride on road, reassuring off it. The CdF is supremely plush and springy, and whilst heavy on road it rolls well and is great for those rides without big climbs. Off road its excellent.
I've always wanted a Ti frame and I can see myself buying one and swapping the parts of the CdF onto it.
I think tyres make a big difference and I'm sure there are better options out there. The Clements are good with a slick strip in the centre and a knurled shoulder. I have some Conti X king 35c which are great on gravel but on the road they're heavy and draggy. I'd love to find something which is both wide soft and fast on road as well as off. Reilly gradient has always caught my eye but the Ti CDF would also float my boat.
Both are potentially gravel bikes. The Datum is full carbon, flared bars, Ultegra 6800 and currently running 28mm tyres which size up at nearly 30mm. Thru axle up front. It's had 30mm G Ones on it bit I found they were very soft and lasted little.
Croix de fer is 725 Steel, same flared bars and can run the same wheelsets as the Datum. I tend to run 35c Clements on it which are decent over a variety of surfaces.
I've taken both of them off onto gravel, and both have coped well. The Datum is a superb ride on road, reassuring off it. The CdF is supremely plush and springy, and whilst heavy on road it rolls well and is great for those rides without big climbs. Off road its excellent.
I've always wanted a Ti frame and I can see myself buying one and swapping the parts of the CdF onto it.
I think tyres make a big difference and I'm sure there are better options out there. The Clements are good with a slick strip in the centre and a knurled shoulder. I have some Conti X king 35c which are great on gravel but on the road they're heavy and draggy. I'd love to find something which is both wide soft and fast on road as well as off. Reilly gradient has always caught my eye but the Ti CDF would also float my boat.
LimaDelta said:
Hard-Drive said:
Carl-H said:
Has anyone taken delivery of a dolan yet? I think there were a few here who'd ordered one. So close to pulling the trigger now
Not yet...I have a pile of bits here waiting to go on as soon as it arrives though! I believe the frames arrive in the UK on the 15th and build commences soon after so not long now. So excited!!I also bought the full complement of Podsacs for bikepacking, but got impatient and went on my Canyon (which did brilliantly, even if due to an error with Komoot, I did a few miles on gravel!)
Phooey said:
Cheers Sway, wow Enigma looks a great place but unfortunately a long way from me (Nottingham). I might look into some form of a 'bike fit' though.
Phooey, Windmill Wheels in Wymondham, Leicestershire are an Enigma dealer/builder and bike fitter. Give them a shout, great little shop, and it's also stunning countryside with a great cafe next door if you decided to ride out from Nottingham (26 miles)Hard-Drive said:
Phooey said:
Cheers Sway, wow Enigma looks a great place but unfortunately a long way from me (Nottingham). I might look into some form of a 'bike fit' though.
Phooey, Windmill Wheels in Wymondham, Leicestershire are an Enigma dealer/builder and bike fitter. Give them a shout, great little shop, and it's also stunning countryside with a great cafe next door if you decided to ride out from Nottingham (26 miles)Reilly get mentioned a lot, and seen in seemingly all the reviews. I won't go into details - but having tried to deal with them, and spoken to several others, I couldn't recommend the Gradient at all. It may well be a great bike... I'll leave it there.
With Enigma, I went for perhaps a 'mild' gravel, the Etape. More an Audax bike. The Escape is pure gravel in Ti.
Otherwise, a serious contender was their steel... Just absolutely stunning...
Phooey said:
Cheers Sway & Hard-drive. Never knew they were only 20 mins away.. so I’m here now having a ganders and booking in for a bike fit
Haha brilliant. Tell them Iain (blue Canyon) sent you! I'm booked in to have my fit tweaked now my shorter stem has arrived from Canyon. I've done about 125 miles since my fit last week and it's made the world of difference...money well spent!
Hard-Drive, sorry was just leaving when posted but booked in for next week - will let them know you sent me
We had a quick chat re prices and I think a Custom Enigma build (circa £5k+) is going to be just too much ££ for me. I'm going for a fit because i'm intrigued to see what they have to say. I'm not sure how much I will use the bike - currently use my hardtail mtb once or twice a week for a 10-15mile ride. My thoughts are with a more suitable road set up I *might* be inclined to ride further - hence willing to throw a bit of money at it. I live in a decent-ish location for cycling - Bingham close to edge of Vale of belvoir. The guy in the shop seemed a great knowledgeable chap, and i almost felt a bit embarrassed walking in there not knowing diddly squat about proper cycling. I daren't tell him I don't want pedals with cleats and fancy stuff like that
I'm torn between going to somewhere like the Specialized Concept store and buying an off the shelf bike for a couple of grand, or upping the budget and buying something better. I did have a sniff and a stroke of a carbon BMC bike in the shop - light as a feather and realllllly cool looking...
What is handy though is that whatever I buy I will take it to them to get it serviced / upgraded / tubeless set up etc etc
eta - Sway, that looks lovely
We had a quick chat re prices and I think a Custom Enigma build (circa £5k+) is going to be just too much ££ for me. I'm going for a fit because i'm intrigued to see what they have to say. I'm not sure how much I will use the bike - currently use my hardtail mtb once or twice a week for a 10-15mile ride. My thoughts are with a more suitable road set up I *might* be inclined to ride further - hence willing to throw a bit of money at it. I live in a decent-ish location for cycling - Bingham close to edge of Vale of belvoir. The guy in the shop seemed a great knowledgeable chap, and i almost felt a bit embarrassed walking in there not knowing diddly squat about proper cycling. I daren't tell him I don't want pedals with cleats and fancy stuff like that
I'm torn between going to somewhere like the Specialized Concept store and buying an off the shelf bike for a couple of grand, or upping the budget and buying something better. I did have a sniff and a stroke of a carbon BMC bike in the shop - light as a feather and realllllly cool looking...
What is handy though is that whatever I buy I will take it to them to get it serviced / upgraded / tubeless set up etc etc
eta - Sway, that looks lovely
I would be very surprised if you genuinely 'needed' a custom frame...
However, a properly fitted off the peg should be achievable for pretty much the budget you mentioned.
I know what mine was advertised for and ultimately cost - and mine has some daft blingy upgrades for pure vanity...
However, a properly fitted off the peg should be achievable for pretty much the budget you mentioned.
I know what mine was advertised for and ultimately cost - and mine has some daft blingy upgrades for pure vanity...
Still awaiting delivery of my Dolan GXC - initially the only wheelset options were the Mavic AllRoad range - have just been on the configurator for the bike this morning and noticed they've added the Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc as an option at £120.
I'm very tempted to call Dolan and ask if it's too late to make a change to the spec of my bike.
Are the Hunts an upgrade over the standard Mavic AllRoads? As far as I can see the Hunts come in at 1629g whereas the Mavics are 1890g.
I'm very tempted to call Dolan and ask if it's too late to make a change to the spec of my bike.
Are the Hunts an upgrade over the standard Mavic AllRoads? As far as I can see the Hunts come in at 1629g whereas the Mavics are 1890g.
Sway said:
Don't the mavics come with tyres stock, and therefore weights may include those?
Personally, I wouldn't have Hunts on a bike. I'm really not a fan of their model.
The weight is just for the wheelset from the looks of itPersonally, I wouldn't have Hunts on a bike. I'm really not a fan of their model.
Howcome you're not a fan of Hunt? I've not done a great deal of research into wheels.
Comacchio said:
Sway said:
Don't the mavics come with tyres stock, and therefore weights may include those?
Personally, I wouldn't have Hunts on a bike. I'm really not a fan of their model.
The weight is just for the wheelset from the looks of itPersonally, I wouldn't have Hunts on a bike. I'm really not a fan of their model.
Howcome you're not a fan of Hunt? I've not done a great deal of research into wheels.
They're 'just' widely available components built in the far East and with pretty badges on. Nothing special - the sort of thing that used to get roundly criticised when used by OEMs as stock wheels.
For the dosh, I'd far rather get a wheel builder to make me something - or for my bike build I went for Hope 20fives.
The weight difference seems reasonable though, and plenty of people do love their Hunts, so don't let me put you off!
Comacchio said:
Sway said:
Don't the mavics come with tyres stock, and therefore weights may include those?
Personally, I wouldn't have Hunts on a bike. I'm really not a fan of their model.
The weight is just for the wheelset from the looks of itPersonally, I wouldn't have Hunts on a bike. I'm really not a fan of their model.
Howcome you're not a fan of Hunt? I've not done a great deal of research into wheels.
Done a bit of digging, and those Hunts do seem to get excellent reviews. I like the fact that they come with a bunch of spares and bits too.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/wheels/hunt-...
Put it like this, my GXT will now be arriving on Hunts not Mavics!
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/wheels/hunt-...
Put it like this, my GXT will now be arriving on Hunts not Mavics!
I’ve got the Hunt wheels on my Enigma escape which I built about 2 months ago. 1000 miles on and they are like new still and I’m impressed. For the money they win for me and the Hope ones apparently have lots of issues with cracked rims.
All my other bikes have Hope hubs just to give you a idea
All my other bikes have Hope hubs just to give you a idea
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