Gravel bike

[OutInTheShed]

keith2.2 said:

With a bit of imagination you can get something far more interesting.

Not right for you necessarily but I paid not much more than that for a 2011 Yeti ARC-X cx bike. Limited run, brand heritage, beautifully made and a joy to behold. It made a really nice addition to the collection. Life’s too short to (drive boring cars) ride boring bikes.

I've looked at a few cyclocross bikes on ebay.
Seems like nice bikes with tough wheels and quality kit for sensible money, but, and it's a big but, I'd have to seriously re-hash the gears to get up the hill!
I can't see me running up the hill carrying the bike.

[gmackay2]

jjcd said:

I'm thinking of getting a gravel bike as I've been cycling a lot more lately but using my hardtail which is not suited to the routes I am doing (country roads, few gentle forest/gravel trails etc). Looking online i've come across the Boardman ADV 8.6 - https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2331-... . Available at Halfords for £775 and I can get 10% off which seems to me to be a reasonably good deal.

I wondered if anyone has the Boardman or has any opinion/advice? £750 is probably the top of my budget.

Thanks!

^^^^Had several Boardman's over the years and covered thousands of miles on them. I have had the older ADV 8.8 since they first came out, albeit mine is completely upgraded. But the frame and forks are excellent and they are fun bikes to ride. It is a pity that they really downgraded the brakes on the 8.6, because at least the 8.8 came with TRP Syres as standard. I would say get the 8.6 and factor in buying a set of flat mount trp spyres from ebay and change them over as quick as you can. The rest of the Sora groupset is fine and works well. The basic square taper bottom bracket might not last that long but you can easily upgrade that to a better quality Shimano square taper on line for not much money. Wheels and tyres are tubless ready. G one tyres are a great all rounder and roll well on tarmac too.

For the price they are still one of the best gravel bikes for the money and more versatile than a CX bike due to the better geometry and tyre clearance.

[upsidedownmark]

PomBstard said:

You are correct, but so am I as it depends on the range of ability you’re looking for in a bike. The HT wouldn’t be as much fun chasing roadies, in the same way the gravel bike wouldn’t be a great steed when the going gets too choppy.

As (kinda) Ex-MTB, then Ex-Road, and now a lot of gravel.. I agree with a lot of that, modern MTB far too capable to be fun in most cases; but the biggest 'problem' with a HT as 'gravel' is the gearing, they just get spun out far too early even on knobblies.
The 'issue' with a CX bike is more likely geometry (racy.. a**e up, head down..) gears aren't likely to be that different to a 'proper' gravel bike, whatever that is..

UK 'gravel' really is all over the place, the sector does seem to be determined to re-create the 80's MTB with bigger wheels, but I just don't get that. Granted a lot of UK riding is more tending towards MTB, but personally I'd rather be underbiked in almost any situation, it's just more fun. You can do just about anything on just about anything, it's just a question of speed and skills. But long story short, my roadbike has been sold, my MTB hasn't come out of the garage in an age, and a gravel bike with 2x and 2 sets of wheels (road/off-road) is just about the best choice I made.. it does everything well enough to be fun, and all in one ride. So whatever, enjoy it..

[OutInTheShed]

upsidedownmark said:

PomBstard said:

You are correct, but so am I as it depends on the range of ability you’re looking for in a bike. The HT wouldn’t be as much fun chasing roadies, in the same way the gravel bike wouldn’t be a great steed when the going gets too choppy.

As (kinda) Ex-MTB, then Ex-Road, and now a lot of gravel.. I agree with a lot of that, modern MTB far too capable to be fun in most cases; but the biggest 'problem' with a HT as 'gravel' is the gearing, they just get spun out far too early even on knobblies.
The 'issue' with a CX bike is more likely geometry (racy.. a**e up, head down..) gears aren't likely to be that different to a 'proper' gravel bike, whatever that is..

UK 'gravel' really is all over the place, the sector does seem to be determined to re-create the 80's MTB with bigger wheels, but I just don't get that. Granted a lot of UK riding is more tending towards MTB, but personally I'd rather be underbiked in almost any situation, it's just more fun. You can do just about anything on just about anything, it's just a question of speed and skills. But long story short, my roadbike has been sold, my MTB hasn't come out of the garage in an age, and a gravel bike with 2x and 2 sets of wheels (road/off-road) is just about the best choice I made.. it does everything well enough to be fun, and all in one ride. So whatever, enjoy it..

I know what you mean. Modern HT with 1x gears just doesn't seem right to me on easy terrain. I have an old 24 gear bike, 42T on the biggest chain ring 22T on the smallest, what's not to like? Bikes that are too capable just give me the feeling that when I inevitably crash, I will be going faster over bigger rocks and actually hurt myself.

Like most people, I'm not competing, I'm not even riding in a way where I compare my performance to any 'mates'.

I think the whole 'gravel' thing is mostly about people realising that MTB has got silly and a lot of sensible ordinary riders have been left behind. A good all round bike, doesn't weigh too much, wide ratio gears, stuff that doesn't break, suits a lot of people a lot of the time. Whether it's got gravel bars or flat bars only matters some of the time. That 'some of the time' tips me in the HT flat bat, front sus direction, because of what's on my doorstep.

[Yacht Broker]

After years of being hugely critical of gravel bikes (who enjoys riding gravel trails?!), I have become a hypocrite by buying one.

I am both a road cyclist and a mountain biker. I have however decided that I no longer enjoy road riding due to the general attitude of car and van drivers around the New Forest where I live for half the year. My mountain biking is generally downhill/enduro riding at my other home in Madeira, so I need a means of keeping physically fit and also getting out and about to enjoy the New Forest. A gravel bike allows me to explore the whole area, linking up roads and trails. For around here, it is the perfect 'Swiss army knife' bike. I have previously had a string of dedicated XC bikes, but they are still a very different thing to a gravel bike.

I ended up with a Tifosi Cavazzo (carbon frame with full Campag Ekar 1x13). Chicken Cycles who are the distributor are selling off some shop display (brand new) examples via their eBay outlet for 2k. The RRP is 3,100. Nothing gets close in terms of VFM in the current market. Now just spending the difference on carbon wheels, lighter tyres and carbon seatpost (for more give).

[stargazer30]

I picked up a Boardman CXR 8.9 new for £800 last year which is very close to the ADV 8.9 but a 1x drivetrain. Its been an excellent bike in the 800miles I've put on it. The usual boardman crappy paint accepted, I'd buy another one. In fact I did. I've got the ADV 8.9e fazua ebike too for the long stuff. Its going to be tackling the C2C in June!

The only watch out I'd say is Halfords can be a bit hit and miss so if you buy new just check the bike over for build related issues like loose bolts etc..

[Siao]

OutInTheShed said:

upsidedownmark said:

PomBstard said:

You are correct, but so am I as it depends on the range of ability you’re looking for in a bike. The HT wouldn’t be as much fun chasing roadies, in the same way the gravel bike wouldn’t be a great steed when the going gets too choppy.

As (kinda) Ex-MTB, then Ex-Road, and now a lot of gravel.. I agree with a lot of that, modern MTB far too capable to be fun in most cases; but the biggest 'problem' with a HT as 'gravel' is the gearing, they just get spun out far too early even on knobblies.
The 'issue' with a CX bike is more likely geometry (racy.. a**e up, head down..) gears aren't likely to be that different to a 'proper' gravel bike, whatever that is..

UK 'gravel' really is all over the place, the sector does seem to be determined to re-create the 80's MTB with bigger wheels, but I just don't get that. Granted a lot of UK riding is more tending towards MTB, but personally I'd rather be underbiked in almost any situation, it's just more fun. You can do just about anything on just about anything, it's just a question of speed and skills. But long story short, my roadbike has been sold, my MTB hasn't come out of the garage in an age, and a gravel bike with 2x and 2 sets of wheels (road/off-road) is just about the best choice I made.. it does everything well enough to be fun, and all in one ride. So whatever, enjoy it..

I know what you mean. Modern HT with 1x gears just doesn't seem right to me on easy terrain. I have an old 24 gear bike, 42T on the biggest chain ring 22T on the smallest, what's not to like? Bikes that are too capable just give me the feeling that when I inevitably crash, I will be going faster over bigger rocks and actually hurt myself.

Like most people, I'm not competing, I'm not even riding in a way where I compare my performance to any 'mates'.

I think the whole 'gravel' thing is mostly about people realising that MTB has got silly and a lot of sensible ordinary riders have been left behind. A good all round bike, doesn't weigh too much, wide ratio gears, stuff that doesn't break, suits a lot of people a lot of the time. Whether it's got gravel bars or flat bars only matters some of the time. That 'some of the time' tips me in the HT flat bat, front sus direction, because of what's on my doorstep.

I find 1x to be fine, the only problem is that you tend to stretch the chain a bit more than a 2x one. Within a year of getting our gravel bikes with the missus, we changed her chain and rear cassette, while mine is on the border. And she rides far less than myself...

Gravel is best of both worlds really, you can easily roll on the road without fearing to go over a bit of the dusty stuff. I've even gone on a MTB track and while it was obviously slower, it was just good fun.

My road bike and MTB have also been unused for over 6 months now...

[Squadrone Rosso]

Nothing beats a new bike. Boardman are great. Gravel bikes are brilliant

[twohoursfromlondon]

I also went down the gravel bike route, mainly based on where I live and the type of terrain and roads around me.

I got this Titus titanium on an amazing deal (1/3 off) from Planet X, and I absolutely love how agile it is across a multitude of surfaces. It’s the perfect compromise for the style of riding I am doing.

[OutInTheShed]

Siao said:

I find 1x to be fine, the only problem is that you tend to stretch the chain a bit more than a 2x one. Within a year of getting our gravel bikes with the missus, we changed her chain and rear cassette, while mine is on the border. And she rides far less than myself...

Gravel is best of both worlds really, you can easily roll on the road without fearing to go over a bit of the dusty stuff. I've even gone on a MTB track and while it was obviously slower, it was just good fun.

My road bike and MTB have also been unused for over 6 months now...

A chain and cassette for a 1x system is a lot of beer tokens.
This fragile stuff seems to wear fast if there's any mud about.

Different people have different fitness levels and different ideas about what they want from the gears.
Just because a system is right for keen fit people, or some people who ride certain sorts of track, doesn't mean it's right for everyone.
In my view, a good gravel bike can be quite fast on some good paths, a lot of people like to push quite high gears sometimes.
Other times, it's good to have the option of something like 0.8:1 just to keep going.

I'd suggest it's worth knowing what you like or want before paying top money for a nice bike.

[stargazer30]

OutInTheShed said:

Siao said:

I find 1x to be fine, the only problem is that you tend to stretch the chain a bit more than a 2x one. Within a year of getting our gravel bikes with the missus, we changed her chain and rear cassette, while mine is on the border. And she rides far less than myself...

Gravel is best of both worlds really, you can easily roll on the road without fearing to go over a bit of the dusty stuff. I've even gone on a MTB track and while it was obviously slower, it was just good fun.

My road bike and MTB have also been unused for over 6 months now...

A chain and cassette for a 1x system is a lot of beer tokens.
This fragile stuff seems to wear fast if there's any mud about.

My gravel runs a sram 1x groupset. New sram 11 speed chain £22. 11 speed cassette, sram is £80, or cheaper brand is about £50. Not that bad. As long as you change chains at 0.75 stretch the cassette should last.

[Woody]

I've been dithering over a gravel bike for quite a while for commuting and fire road duties.
Started off looking at frame only and building my own - but availability of groupsets seemed to be an issue.
Nearly went for a Sonder Camino AL but availability/delivery times and a price increase put me off.
Stumbled on the Cannondale Topstone 4 on Evans for £769 reduced from £1k a couple of weeks back - but not being a huge fan of Evans since they got merged with Sports Direct I ask Start Cycles to price match - which they did.

1x10 11-48 MicroShift gearing, mechanical disc brakes (will upgrade to a hybrid caliper) and basic 700c wheels which will be swapped for a set of 650b's I have in the garage.

Not ridden it other than up & down the road but seems pretty good.