Speccing a gravel bike
Discussion
MC Bodge said:
Living in a very flat area, with my office on the same flat plain, my battered commuter/does it all (Al / carbon fork / mini V brakes) Kinesis Crosslight on 32mm road tyres (35 CX tyres will fit) almost never shifts out of the big ring.
When I occasionally use it elsewhere, and ride up a steep hill, I find that the front mech has invariably seized....
A single up front, with a 1:1 ratio would probably be a good choice.
When the bike finally dies, I'll probably stick with an Aluminium frame and carbon fork, but with more tyre clearance.
Not wishing to make tooooo many similarities between your username and your post, but that's just a lack of maintenance, rather than a front mech not being up to the job of gravel biking surely?When I occasionally use it elsewhere, and ride up a steep hill, I find that the front mech has invariably seized....
A single up front, with a 1:1 ratio would probably be a good choice.
When the bike finally dies, I'll probably stick with an Aluminium frame and carbon fork, but with more tyre clearance.
Hard-Drive said:
MC Bodge said:
Living in a very flat area, with my office on the same flat plain, my battered commuter/does it all (Al / carbon fork / mini V brakes) Kinesis Crosslight on 32mm road tyres (35 CX tyres will fit) almost never shifts out of the big ring.
When I occasionally use it elsewhere, and ride up a steep hill, I find that the front mech has invariably seized....
A single up front, with a 1:1 ratio would probably be a good choice.
When the bike finally dies, I'll probably stick with an Aluminium frame and carbon fork, but with more tyre clearance.
Not wishing to make tooooo many similarities between your username and your post, but that's just a lack of maintenance, rather than a front mech not being up to the job of gravel biking surely?When I occasionally use it elsewhere, and ride up a steep hill, I find that the front mech has invariably seized....
A single up front, with a 1:1 ratio would probably be a good choice.
When the bike finally dies, I'll probably stick with an Aluminium frame and carbon fork, but with more tyre clearance.
A single narrow-wide chainring and a clutch mech would be quite convenient for me on a cx/"gravel" bike and give a wide enough range.
My double equipped road bike and its transmission is clean, lubed and slick in operation.
Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 19th June 17:16
I'm coming round to the view that a non-suspension gravel bike is the best "all-round" bike that one can get nowadays. Practical, comfortable and fun as hell.
Below is mine (cheating a little but hey-ho!). It's one of the funnest things I've treated myself to, mainly as I use to explore and take my time with my rides, rather than head down training which I do (badly) on my Domane.
I will say that the TI frames above are gorgeous though :drool:
Maybe I'll have to get a Ti touring/bike-packing bike at some point in the future!
Below is mine (cheating a little but hey-ho!). It's one of the funnest things I've treated myself to, mainly as I use to explore and take my time with my rides, rather than head down training which I do (badly) on my Domane.
I will say that the TI frames above are gorgeous though :drool:
Maybe I'll have to get a Ti touring/bike-packing bike at some point in the future!
Mannginger said:
I'm coming round to the view that a non-suspension gravel bike is the best "all-round" bike that one can get nowadays. Practical, comfortable and fun as hell.
Things have gone full-circle, as they often do. My Grandad, in the 1920s, would have known something similar as "a bicycle".
Zigster said:
stepaway said:
I have just finished building this. The frame/forks were £120 brand new from Dolan!
I had everything other than a few bits of finishing kit and wheels (£100 off eBay including brand new G-Ones, inner tubes and rotors) in my shed, so it’s worked out pretty cheap.
I’ve also fitted a GRX 46/30 chainset and derailleur, and would echo what others have said that it looks and feels (and weighs) more substantial than the Ultegra set I fitted originally.
Toyed with 1 x but as the larger part of my riding will be road and winter commute on skinnier tyres I’ve stuck with 2 x for a bit more range.
The 30 inner chainring with the 32 rear cassette does feel ridiculously easy on the flat test road outside my house, so looking forward to trying it on some ascents tommorow, although nothing too taxing in sunny East Anglia. I should have been riding up the Tourmalet tommorow
I have plenty of other dedicated road bikes in the stable, but wanted something for a bit of off road and more comfort for 100 mile plus rides as I want to get into some bigger distances. I’m looking at this as definitely an ‘adventure bike’ rather than a gravel bike.
Off to try and hit a nice steady 150 miles on it tommorow
I saw that deal and was really tempted to buy and build up with old components (treating myself to a new groupset for my Sunday best bike). In the end, I decided the geometry was a bit odd - really long reach? But I’ve got to say I’m starting to regret that now - looks great. I had everything other than a few bits of finishing kit and wheels (£100 off eBay including brand new G-Ones, inner tubes and rotors) in my shed, so it’s worked out pretty cheap.
I’ve also fitted a GRX 46/30 chainset and derailleur, and would echo what others have said that it looks and feels (and weighs) more substantial than the Ultegra set I fitted originally.
Toyed with 1 x but as the larger part of my riding will be road and winter commute on skinnier tyres I’ve stuck with 2 x for a bit more range.
The 30 inner chainring with the 32 rear cassette does feel ridiculously easy on the flat test road outside my house, so looking forward to trying it on some ascents tommorow, although nothing too taxing in sunny East Anglia. I should have been riding up the Tourmalet tommorow
I have plenty of other dedicated road bikes in the stable, but wanted something for a bit of off road and more comfort for 100 mile plus rides as I want to get into some bigger distances. I’m looking at this as definitely an ‘adventure bike’ rather than a gravel bike.
Off to try and hit a nice steady 150 miles on it tommorow
After a ten hour 150 mile ride on it last weekend it’s certainly ticked the box for a long distance adventure bike, although it was all on road as I was with someone on a road bike.
I felt pretty fresh all the way round, the extra volume of air in the tyres gives just enough to give more comfort over greater distances. My riding partner (who is 4 stone lighter than me) certainly wasn’t enjoying it as much.
Only things I’m going to change are shorten the stem and fit some flared bars. As you say it is slightly stretched out, but not to the point of discomfort, although I’m quite long in the torso/arms anyway.
Going to try for a 20 miler on it next, hopefully sometime in July.
Hard-Drive said:
The Domane is the equivalent of my Canyon Endurace, and whilst it's a superbly comfy and fast machine and on 28s will handle basic gravel tracks, I think I'd be wincing if I tried any "proper" off road on it. It's designed to deal with poor roads and the odd pot hole, not constant thrashing off road.
Carbon is very strong, but it really doesn't like point loads (I've got some amatuer experience of working with it primarily in marine applications). Drop the frame onto a rock and it won't dent, you may end up with a hole instead. If you are just banging around a trail centre on a carbon MTB and break it, at worst it's just a long walk to the car park, if you are off bikepacking out in the wilds it's a much bigger issue. I've gone Ti as it's strong, light, won't corrode, and is IMHO a far better material if you are going to be "out there", and should last a lifetime. Even in my own fairly limited riding life I've known friends break Al and CF frames, although I don't think I've ever heard of a Ti frame failing.
Not quite - it definitely lists *38mm* (not 28) tyres, and gravel capability - also designed to handle the cobblestoned classics, which are probably a worse hammering than most manage off road. Which makes it a leftfield choice I grant you, but not entirely illogical. IMO gravel bikes are starting to slide a bit too far down the drop bar MTB scale, I have a dual suspension XC bike if I want to go crazy, what I really want is a comfortable long range do-it-all that will also do getting off the beaten path, I don't need trail-centre capability (or 650B) Carbon is very strong, but it really doesn't like point loads (I've got some amatuer experience of working with it primarily in marine applications). Drop the frame onto a rock and it won't dent, you may end up with a hole instead. If you are just banging around a trail centre on a carbon MTB and break it, at worst it's just a long walk to the car park, if you are off bikepacking out in the wilds it's a much bigger issue. I've gone Ti as it's strong, light, won't corrode, and is IMHO a far better material if you are going to be "out there", and should last a lifetime. Even in my own fairly limited riding life I've known friends break Al and CF frames, although I don't think I've ever heard of a Ti frame failing.
Fairly familiar with carbon from a similar point of view it sounds.. broken and mended various bits of moths and similar boats. As I said, it's the mud and crap/scraping type damage that concerns me. That said, it seems like most MTB's are carbon these days, so probably not an issue..
Ti is tempting, but expensive, and relatively speaking heavier..
upsidedownmark said:
Not quite - it definitely lists *38mm* (not 28) tyres, and gravel capability - also designed to handle the cobblestoned classics, which are probably a worse hammering than most manage off road. Which makes it a leftfield choice I grant you, but not entirely illogical. IMO gravel bikes are starting to slide a bit too far down the drop bar MTB scale, I have a dual suspension XC bike if I want to go crazy, what I really want is a comfortable long range do-it-all that will also do getting off the beaten path, I don't need trail-centre capability (or 650B)
Fairly familiar with carbon from a similar point of view it sounds.. broken and mended various bits of moths and similar boats. As I said, it's the mud and crap/scraping type damage that concerns me. That said, it seems like most MTB's are carbon these days, so probably not an issue..
Ti is tempting, but expensive, and relatively speaking heavier..
If you have a nosey on the Canyon site it does call out gravel potential and categorisation on the Endurace, but it's definitely not a gravel bike IMHO, especially as most of the tests put it at the racier end of the Endurance spectrum. Granted, it's not quite as versatile as the Domane though.Fairly familiar with carbon from a similar point of view it sounds.. broken and mended various bits of moths and similar boats. As I said, it's the mud and crap/scraping type damage that concerns me. That said, it seems like most MTB's are carbon these days, so probably not an issue..
Ti is tempting, but expensive, and relatively speaking heavier..
Yep, moths, 12s, 18s, Cherubs, and latest carbon bodgery is a carbon bowsprit on the bow of my Bav32 made from a broken 18 mast :-)
I’ve fitted a set of 38mm Schwalbe G-One Bite tyres to my Norco Search “do everything” bike. Tubeless setup on Mavic AllRoad wheels. Tan sidewall natch’.
First impressions - based on a 30k shakedown test today - are that they are awesome in dry conditions across ALL surfaces. My loop was about 50% gravel, 20% towpath, 10% soil and 20% road. I thought the G-One would be great on the gravel and towpath, but was surprised to find them confidence inspiring on dry-ish mud. And amazed at how silky smooth they were - despite their knobbly appearance - on road. V impressed!
First impressions - based on a 30k shakedown test today - are that they are awesome in dry conditions across ALL surfaces. My loop was about 50% gravel, 20% towpath, 10% soil and 20% road. I thought the G-One would be great on the gravel and towpath, but was surprised to find them confidence inspiring on dry-ish mud. And amazed at how silky smooth they were - despite their knobbly appearance - on road. V impressed!
Edited by WindyCommon on Tuesday 23 June 21:10
WindyCommon said:
I’ve fitted a set of 38mm Schwalbe G-One Bite tyres to my Norco Search “do everything” bike. Tubeless setup on Mavic AllRoad wheels. Tan sidewall natch’.
First impressions - based on a 30k shakedown test today - are that they are awesome in dry conditions across ALL surfaces. My loop was about 50% gravel, 20% towpath, 10% soil and 20% road. I thought the G-One would be great on the gravel and towpath, but was surprised to find them confidence inspiring on dry-ish mud. And amazed at how silky smooth they were - despite their knobbly appearance - on road. V impressed!
I've got 47mm WTB Horizons on Mavic Allroads - great hoops, weighing up the G-Ones as a winter replacement, or on a second set of rims for more mudplugging endeavoursFirst impressions - based on a 30k shakedown test today - are that they are awesome in dry conditions across ALL surfaces. My loop was about 50% gravel, 20% towpath, 10% soil and 20% road. I thought the G-One would be great on the gravel and towpath, but was surprised to find them confidence inspiring on dry-ish mud. And amazed at how silky smooth they were - despite their knobbly appearance - on road. V impressed!
Edited by WindyCommon on Tuesday 23 June 21:10
Borrowed a mate's Reilly Gradient and smashed it around Surrey in full road mode yesterday. My prime concern is 'can it replace my roadbike'.. if it can't, then it's most likely a limited budget occasional use bike. If it can, then I don't mind putting a bit more budget in
Have to say, I was surprised, not what I expected; It was far stiffer and nowhere near as 'plush' - I'm not the most sensitive, but not springy like my steel fixie (which is probably noodly as hell but very smooth). Also a lot stiffer than the alu kinessis crosslight I was using (which got nicked
) Closer to my current S2 really - maybe I read too much titanium hype about magic carpets!
Definitely more comfy on bad tarmac, and impressively quick, but I suspect moving from 90-100psi in 23's to 60psi in 28's accounts for 99% of that. It's also only 1kg heavier than my S2. A little slower winding up, and very different if you tried sprinting, but otherwise quite close. Overall quite impressed, but still struggling to think it's worth 2k for a ti frame. Dolan Gxt is tempting, but with no reviews, and no opportunity to try I'm not confident to push the button.
Have to say, I was surprised, not what I expected; It was far stiffer and nowhere near as 'plush' - I'm not the most sensitive, but not springy like my steel fixie (which is probably noodly as hell but very smooth). Also a lot stiffer than the alu kinessis crosslight I was using (which got nicked
) Closer to my current S2 really - maybe I read too much titanium hype about magic carpets! Definitely more comfy on bad tarmac, and impressively quick, but I suspect moving from 90-100psi in 23's to 60psi in 28's accounts for 99% of that. It's also only 1kg heavier than my S2. A little slower winding up, and very different if you tried sprinting, but otherwise quite close. Overall quite impressed, but still struggling to think it's worth 2k for a ti frame. Dolan Gxt is tempting, but with no reviews, and no opportunity to try I'm not confident to push the button.
upsidedownmark said:
Definitely more comfy on bad tarmac, and impressively quick, but I suspect moving from 90-100psi in 23's to 60psi in 28's accounts for 99% of that.
Almost certainly. It's comparing apples with oranges.
23mm @100psi would feel very similar/the same as on your other bike.
upsidedownmark said:
Indeed.. but leaves me wondering if there's any point spending a bunch on a ti frame.. may as well get an alu one and spend more on groupset/nicer wheels. Probably. I dunno! Deep into analysis paralysis.
I'd stick with an Aluminum frame and a carbon fork. I don't see the point in spending the extra money for Titanium. Tyres, saddles, geometry and riding position make a much bigger difference than frame material. People were talking about buying Ti frames "because they will last for a lifetime" 20 years ago. The ones I know are not still using them.
MC Bodge said:
upsidedownmark said:
Indeed.. but leaves me wondering if there's any point spending a bunch on a ti frame.. may as well get an alu one and spend more on groupset/nicer wheels. Probably. I dunno! Deep into analysis paralysis.
I'd stick with an Aluminum frame and a carbon fork. I don't see the point in spending the extra money for Titanium. Tyres, saddles, geometry and riding position make a much bigger difference than frame material. People were talking about buying Ti frames "because they will last for a lifetime" 20 years ago. The ones I know are not still using them.
Guy in my Club had a Sabbath Ti framed bike (bought second-hand), seat tube cracked mid-tube during a city commute.
Frame scrap, no warranty back up as bought s/h.
As an engineer, titanium is typically used in applications where strength is needed at elevated temperatures.
Personally, I’d stick to carbon fibre, aluminium or steel.
Edited by wobert on Saturday 27th June 21:00
Johnny said:
Seriously thinking about a 3T Exploro RaceMax, in this guise.
But I also want a Factor One, so we will see... I won't be getting both!
I have been drooling over these, not that I can buy one, but for me, it is THE bike I would buy over any other I can think of. The versatility, frame design, understated super cool branding and that colour combo are just spot on.But I also want a Factor One, so we will see... I won't be getting both!
Would clash horribly with pink though I have to say. 😉
Carl-H said:
Does anyone have any reviews on the Dolan? I'm considering a GXC but can't find much about them. I was set on a Ribble CGR Al 105 but I think the GXC with grx600 looks a better idea now
Haven’t been able to find any reviews on it so far, but have since discovered that the frame is a rebranded Carbonda CFR696 - it’s the same frame as the Planet X Free Ranger.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff