Gravel bike

[MOBB]

I currently have a Canyon ebike for commuting, a Giant Propel for fast riding and generally staring at for hours on end (gorgeous thing).

So n+1 means I need a gravel bike, with a spare set of road wheels so I have the best of both worlds?

This caught my eye as a bargain - any thoughts?

https://www.jscycleshack.com/bikes/gravel-bikes/la...

[Discendo Discimus]

I have the Canyon Grizl CF7.

Carbon Fibre frame and forks, 1 x 12 Shimano GRX, fitted it with 2.1 Vittoria Mezcal and Barzo tyres and bought a secondhand set of Hunt wheels with some Conti GP5000s on for road use.

I have zero complaints, ride it as often as possible and my MTB hasn't really had a look in since. It's all day comfort, more so with the new tyres and the build quality is fantastic. Much cheaper than your linked bike too.

[Superlightdaa]

Nice looking bike, I'm on my second gravel bike. First one is on my KickR for Rouvy riding and the second one - Canyon Grail CFR - does everything else, so much so that I didn't get out at all on my MTB in 2025. One of the main reasons, apart from N+1, to get the second gravel bike was that it was a 2X, the extra ratio makes so much difference when riding on smoother surfaces. A 2X would be my recommendation if you're looking at a second set of wheels.

[fooman]

Looks great 1x chainring makes a lot of sense on a gravel bike unless you really need to push a big big road gear.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Superlightdaa said:

Nice looking bike, I'm on my second gravel bike. First one is on my KickR for Rouvy riding and the second one - Canyon Grail CFR - does everything else, so much so that I didn't get out at all on my MTB in 2025. One of the main reasons, apart from N+1, to get the second gravel bike was that it was a 2X, the extra ratio makes so much difference when riding on smoother surfaces. A 2X would be my recommendation if you're looking at a second set of wheels.

+1 for 2X! I have a Specialised Diverge, from Ebay. £1200 when a new one would have been over £3k. It's mainly my winter road bike, with mudguards. I also have a Propel which I have ridden year round for 9 years...mudguards are a game changer on Sussex lanes for at least 4 months of the year.

I live on the edge of the South Downs, the gravel bike is good for some of it, but not enough of most of my off road rides. I'm slightly baffled as to why gravel bikes are so popular, unless you aren't going off road for long, or your off road isn't very...off.

[MOBB]

Thanks all - I've gone ahead with that very bike - I just couldn't find anything remotely close in that spec for that price.

Factor in C2W saving for a 40% tax payer and its a bit of a no brainer.

[SoliD]

Daveyraveygravey said:

+1 for 2X! I have a Specialised Diverge, from Ebay. £1200 when a new one would have been over £3k. It's mainly my winter road bike, with mudguards. I also have a Propel which I have ridden year round for 9 years...mudguards are a game changer on Sussex lanes for at least 4 months of the year.

I live on the edge of the South Downs, the gravel bike is good for some of it, but not enough of most of my off road rides. I'm slightly baffled as to why gravel bikes are so popular, unless you aren't going off road for long, or your off road isn't very...off.

Have had numerous gravel and CX bikes since 2014, they've only taken 40mm tyres at max over the border from you in East Hampshire, so my routes are predominanly South Downs based, I've always been a bit undertyred on the gravel bike with lots of cuts that don't fix or seal and I've ended up using them as road bikes in the winter or going on very specific trails round this way and the occasional take over to the New Forest, however I recently got a Giant Revolt X with 40mm front sus and space for 2.25" mtb tyres. I wanted something that could head up on the downs and be entertaining but require some thought about lines, whilst being able to go on the road to combine sections or venture further and this nails it, it's great fun, although quite heavy, have taken it out to Tuscany where it was great on both road and the sterrato over there.

[Daveyraveygravey]

SoliD said:

Have had numerous gravel and CX bikes since 2014, they've only taken 40mm tyres at max over the border from you in East Hampshire, so my routes are predominanly South Downs based, I've always been a bit undertyred on the gravel bike with lots of cuts that don't fix or seal and I've ended up using them as road bikes in the winter or going on very specific trails round this way and the occasional take over to the New Forest, however I recently got a Giant Revolt X with 40mm front sus and space for 2.25" mtb tyres. I wanted something that could head up on the downs and be entertaining but require some thought about lines, whilst being able to go on the road to combine sections or venture further and this nails it, it's great fun, although quite heavy, have taken it out to Tuscany where it was great on both road and the sterrato over there.

My Diverge has a little (20mm) suspension in the headset, it's great on Italian roads too! And they have mastered the art of transitioning road surfaces, glassy smooth to washed away down the hill in 10 metres...

[SoliD]

Daveyraveygravey said:

My Diverge has a little (20mm) suspension in the headset, it's great on Italian roads too! And they have mastered the art of transitioning road surfaces, glassy smooth to washed away down the hill in 10 metres...

HAHAHA yep, some of the gravel just appeared half way round a bend round there. Led to some brown alert moments even with chunky tyres! Although the 50mm terreno mix aint much use over here either as they provided no grip last week to allow me to avoid the big back door of a transit who came to an abrupt stop much quicker than I could.

[Pablo16v]

I don't find my Revolt X heavy at all, but I suppose it depends what you're used to, as I've come from riding purely MTB (long travel full sussers and steel hardtails) so pretty much any gravel bike feels light compared to those

I've stuck with 45mm tyres on mine with a new pair of GK X1's to go on shortly replacing the original 45mm Giant Crosscuts which have been decent enough these past 14 months. I did think about 50's but with a decent suspension fork and the suspension seatpost I've never felt that I need the extra tyre cushioning like I did on my last bike.


Congrats on the purchase OP, cracking bike for the money.

[Meridianmet]

Late to the party here, but another vote for the Revolt X, its just an awesome bike, so much fun to anywhere, never getting ride of my pro 1.