Another newbie looking at gravel/cx

[amf1990]

Hello all my names Ash,

Joined today as on the hunt for a new bike, not ridden a bike for many years and I'm quite bored of running now and been researching into bikes the last 6 weeks. I'm still no closer on a choice, been getting around terms such as stack and reach and other geometry, been to LBS for some advice as well but as everywhere stock seems to be limited. Budget I've set myself for up to 2K.

Deciding on between a gravel/cx bike, been looking at both but unsure if the cx would be a bit "hardcore" for me if that's the correct term to use. Id be doing a mix of road and trials quite a lot of woods near where I live. I've found a couple which I've settled on but wouldn't mind your thoughts on these.

https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/b...lloy-grx-gravel-bike-in-military-green__46094

https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/b...pstone-1-alloy-grx-gravel-bike-in-grey__40791

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Nuroad-Race-2022-Gravel-Bike_242807.htm

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Boardman-CXR-9-0-Apex-Nearly-New-S-2019-Cyclocross-Bike_245814.htm

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/cyclocross-bikes/inflite/cf-sl/inflite-cf-sl-6/3020.html?dwvar_3020_pv_rahmenfarbe=OG/BU
Unsure on the canyon never has stock and heard about parts being hard to source?

Open to any other suggestions sorry a bit of a long post but quite excited to get back into some cycling again after a good while.

Thanks and looking forward to being part of this forum

 

[cougie uk]

They all look good to me. The Boardman is reduced for slight use though ?

As you're new I'd go for the ones from the bike shop so you know it's a good fit. And as you say - Canyon delivery times can be long.

 

[vickster]

Another option, they come up large so try for size first
https://whyte.bike/products/friston

leisure lakes who have a branch in Cheltenham among others sell them
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/b...1spd-gravel-bike-2022-matt-dieselblue__368084

 

[Spiderweb]

Why not go Titanium for £1799. Mail order I know so unable to try before you buy.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/YBTIRRFOR1/titus-roadrunner-sram-force-1-titanium-road-bike#top
Or more of a gravel offering here;
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXT...tempest-sram-hrd-rival-1-titanium-gravel-bike

0

 

[DRM]

If it was me I wouldn’t spend anywhere near that much on a first bike, it could be a very expensive mistake if you don’t get on with it, gravel bikes cover a huge range of types from road bikes that are ok on mild trails to virtually an MTB with drop bars on, and everything in between, the first consideration is how rough is the terrain you intend riding on, if it’s not too rough than the road bike end of the scale would be ok, but if it‘s rough than the ability to fit as wider tyre as possible is better, groupset wise GRX is the Shimano gravel set up, if you get a 1x setup it’s better on more rougher terrain, but replacement cassettes aren’t cheap, and the steps between gears can be quite wide, a 2x setup will have less of a gap between gears so it’s easier to pedal at a set cadence, you may want to consider if you may want to go touring/bike packing then lots of mounting points are a must, as well as the ability to fit mudguards, as for a CX bike I’d forget that as they are an out and out race bike, they are more twitchy, most only have one set of bottle mounts, and the widest tyre you’ll be able to fit will be a 700x33 mm as UCI rules state that’s the widest permissible tyre in a CX race, they will have a high top tube, to make it easier to shoulder the bike and run with it, the Canyon being an extreme example of that, and are designed to be raced for an hour, then your done.
but if you get the correct gravel bike, with two sets of wheels, one with knobbly tyres, one with road slicks will give you a bike for all types of riding
https://www.ridinggravel.com/gravel-news/
https://www.gravelcyclist.com/
The above should give you more of an idea as to the wide variety of Gravel bikes available

 

[MichaelW2]

On any bike not podium-bound, I would suggest a few practical features that have almost no performance drawbacks.
Mudguard eyelets for bolt on, full length mudguards. Fitting guards is optional but if you commute in winter or train with a grouo they are indespensible.
Rear luggage rack eyelets turn a fun toy into workhorse commuter, errand runner and capable touring bike. Again, fitting a rack is optional but without eyelets, any solution is just a bodge.
2 bottle cage eyelets.

The only way to be sure of the geometry is to ride the bike for several months. You will adapt to riding.

 

[PaulSB]

I would look at Dolan who make very good bikes. Based on the direct experience of friends over the past six months availability is good. I know four people who have received their new bikes within a week of the promised delivery date. Across those four bikes one had to accept different tyres and another an 11/32 cassette instead of 11/34. Hardly a big deal in these times.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Buy a proper touring bike, which will have all the gear range you could want and all the accessory mounting points to make a versatile machine. Geometry will be optimised for comfort and stability, and with suitable tyres a tourer will cope with light off road use.

 

[MichaelW2]

Buy a proper touring bike, which will have all the gear range you could want and all the accessory mounting points to make a versatile machine. Geometry will be optimised for comfort and stability, and with suitable tyres a tourer will cope with light off road use.

I have a classic touring bike and whilst it is fine for light off road adventures, you can get sportier bikes on the spectrum of lightweight, drop bar , off roadable doitall bikes. The problems come when sportier bikes exclude practical features that make for excellent commuter bikes and good enough touring capability.

 

[adamhearn]

Gravel riding [in the UK] is likely to be limited to a low percentage of a larger ride. What I find is that there are a lot of tarmac roads or muddy tracks and not so much in between. Thus whatever bike you choose get something with good tyre clearance and mudguards is a must.

Don't have any experience with your choices except the Topstone and that is a decent bike (though I'd say it's too expensive for what it is).

 

[Grant Fondo]

Hello all my names Ash,

Joined today as on the hunt for a new bike, not ridden a bike for many years and I'm quite bored of running now and been researching into bikes the last 6 weeks. I'm still no closer on a choice, been getting around terms such as stack and reach and other geometry, been to LBS for some advice as well but as everywhere stock seems to be limited. Budget I've set myself for up to 2K.

Deciding on between a gravel/cx bike, been looking at both but unsure if the cx would be a bit "hardcore" for me if that's the correct term to use. Id be doing a mix of road and trials quite a lot of woods near where I live. I've found a couple which I've settled on but wouldn't mind your thoughts on these.

https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/b...lloy-grx-gravel-bike-in-military-green__46094

https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/b...pstone-1-alloy-grx-gravel-bike-in-grey__40791

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Nuroad-Race-2022-Gravel-Bike_242807.htm

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Boardman-CXR-9-0-Apex-Nearly-New-S-2019-Cyclocross-Bike_245814.htm

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/cyclocross-bikes/inflite/cf-sl/inflite-cf-sl-6/3020.html?dwvar_3020_pv_rahmenfarbe=OG/BU
Unsure on the canyon never has stock and heard about parts being hard to source?

Open to any other suggestions sorry a bit of a long post but quite excited to get back into some cycling again after a good while.

Thanks and looking forward to being part of this forum

I would personally go gravel not CX, so something like the Cube Nuroad you posted up, those 40c GOnes would be great in the woods, I would maybe go down to 32c if you find yourself doing more tarmac than trails like I did.
p.s. I would also consider the Canyon Grail 7 at around the same price as the Cube, but almost 2kg lighter

 

[Kingfisher101]

I'd be looking at something secondhand or at the cheaper end from Halfords or Sonder Sonder Camino Gravel Bike in Titanium & Aluminium with Drop Bars (alpkit.com) /Ribble etc even. You don't even know if you're going to like it and stick with it, so dropping 2K is too much. You will lose a lot if you then sell it. You might end up wanting a mountain bike or a road bike instead.