Gravel bike for £1000-1500

[Flloyd]

Hi forum

I've been riding a year or so now on a second-hand hybrid I bought (Boardman Hybrid, 2013 - £200)

However I have a new job, and as such will be riding to two places of work - one will be about 7 miles and all towpath (very bumpy at times) and one will be 11 miles and half towpath and half road.

As such, I'd like to invest/treat myself to a gravel bike but don't know where to start.

Some ideas of what I should look for would be helpful. Something durable as the route can be bumpy would be good but also not slow...

Don't know if I should go for titanium or aliminum?

I like the look of the Beramont Grandurance 6, from this link: https://off.road.cc/content/buying/...venture-bikes-you-can-buy-for-under-1500-7539

But really know nothing about the specification and just basing it on the aesthetic of the frame!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

You will want mudguards (well you might not want them, but you darn well need them IMHO!) and that will compromise the Beramont whose clearances are only for 37c max., I notice. I'd go for something that will give you the flexibility to run a wider tyre plus guards.

I think the Sonder Camino's a well-tested design, but you'd have to wait (and wait...)

 

[cougie uk]

I don't think that bergamont bike is on their website ? Old review ?

Check out Planet X too. And look at the availability. A lot of bikes aren't available for months.

Oh I stand corrected. It's on their website under performance bikes.

 

[Cycleops]

Can't give you a recommendation as such but the thing to do at the moment is find something that's available.
My preference would be for a steel frame machine as I have a very nice Specialized which I like, plus most of my road bikes are steel. Aluminium being more common in the marketplace.
Decathlon do two models in aluminium for a grand but all out of stock. Good value and warranty.
You need to decide whether you want a compact or 1x drivetrain, the latter being rather fashionable right now.

 

[vickster]

You’ll struggle to get titanium for your budget. Steel is another option.
What can your LBS offer? Stocks are v low of the cheaper gravels in the popular (average) sizes

 

[Grant Fondo]

Hi forum

I've been riding a year or so now on a second-hand hybrid I bought (Boardman Hybrid, 2013 - £200)

However I have a new job, and as such will be riding to two places of work - one will be about 7 miles and all towpath (very bumpy at times) and one will be 11 miles and half towpath and half road.

As such, I'd like to invest/treat myself to a gravel bike but don't know where to start.

Some ideas of what I should look for would be helpful. Something durable as the route can be bumpy would be good but also not slow...

Don't know if I should go for titanium or aliminum?

I like the look of the Beramont Grandurance 6, from this link: https://off.road.cc/content/buying/...venture-bikes-you-can-buy-for-under-1500-7539

But really know nothing about the specification and just basing it on the aesthetic of the frame!

I like the Grail out of that bunch. Check the weights, the lightest ones are great on-road

 

[Joffey]

Planet X is your friend:

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTEMV3RIV1700BW/planet-x-tempest-sram-rival-1-titanium-gravel-bike

The Ti bike was just discounted by £200 last week but that ended on Sunday. If you aren't in a rush they might do the offer again.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOLMYSRIV12/holdsworth-mystique-sram-rival-1-gravel-bike

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/gravel-adventure-bikes/on-one-free-ranger

3 carbon options for £1599 using the 2 links above. One of those had £200 off a few weeks ago too.

 

[Cycleops]

I like the Grail out of that bunch. Check the weights, the lightest ones are great on-road

If that’s The Holy Grail no need to look any further

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Planet X is your friend:

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTEMV3RIV1700BW/planet-x-tempest-sram-rival-1-titanium-gravel-bike

The Ti bike was just discounted by £200 last week but that ended on Sunday. If you aren't in a rush they might do the offer again.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOLMYSRIV12/holdsworth-mystique-sram-rival-1-gravel-bike

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/gravel-adventure-bikes/on-one-free-ranger

3 carbon options for £1599 using the 2 links above. One of those had £200 off a few weeks ago too.

No mudguard fitting on the fork that I can see - I know I sound like old bloke McMisery, but if OP's going to ride down mucky canals, he's going to need to fit some.

 

[vickster]

No mudguard fitting on the fork that I can see - I know I sound like old bloke McMisery, but if OP's going to ride down mucky canals, he's going to need to fit some.

The Ti claims to be mudguard ready

 

[Joffey]

The carbon ones have mounts so I'd be surprised if the Ti didn't.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

The Ti claims to be mudguard ready

I had a good squint, but couldn't see anything. Happy if misguided, but worth a double-check by OP.

 

[cougie uk]

I had a good squint, but couldn't see anything. Happy if misguided, but worth a double-check by OP.

I've got the Tempest and have mudguards on mine. No bother at all.

 

[vickster]

I had a good squint, but couldn't see anything. Happy if misguided, but worth a double-check by OP.

Just going on the written description (maybe it only takes a rear one)

 

[cougie uk]

Just going on the written description (maybe it only takes a rear one)

Nope. That's the same fork as mine. You can see the eyes for the guard on the close up of the fork.