HELP... Gravel bike suggestions - Dolan GX1 (105) or Rose Backroad (105) or ?????

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Kajjal

Guru
Location
Wheely World
Having completed a 50 mile off-road ride on my diverge the advice I would give is get hydraulic brakes, think carefully about the gearing you need on / off road and look for good tyre clearance front and rear. I used 33mm tyres which were fine but over the rougher trail to keep control of the bike I had to cut my speed. I struggled to hit 20mph on one downhill where my hard tail mtb clears 40mph without any issues.

Gravel bikes are good for exploring as the road sections fly by and are fast on the smoother less technical trails than an xc hardtail.
 

Leodis

Veteran
Location
Moortown, Leeds
Just been looking at the Dolan against the Rose, the Dolan has mudguard mounts whereas the Rose doesn't but the pro version does but it doesn't look as sexy as the Backroad. It seems as well that the Rose has better components over the Dolan. I guess you could try Portland Design fenders on the Rose if you wanted them.
 

Brand X

Guest
I'm speaking from almost complete ignorance here, but my local bike shop recommended the steel framed Genesis Croix de Fer to me, which I have now purchased. It's designed with comfort and easy handling as a priority.
 

John_S

Über Member
Hi WheelieGood,

In addition to those already mentioned bikes to consider could include some from those below:-

Orro
One of the Orro Terra bikes:-
https://www.orrobikes.com/bikes/adventure

Shand
A Shand Stoater which is available as a complete bike at £5 under your 2k budget:-
https://www.shandcycles.com/bikes/stoater/

Norco
One of the Norco Search models:-
https://www.norco.com

Fairlight
Only very slightly over budget with builds starting at £2,099 the Fairlight Cycles Secan
https://fairlightcycles.com
https://road.cc/content/review/248008-fairlight-cycles-secan


Enjoy your bike hunting as well as the Cycle Show if you go!

John
 
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beastie

Guru
Location
penrith
I'm speaking from almost complete ignorance here, but my local bike shop recommended the steel framed Genesis Croix de Fer to me, which I have now purchased. It's designed with comfort and easy handling as a priority.
Top bike, if a touch heavy.

I've got one and love it. It's about 1-2 mph slower than my lighter bike, but more comfortable and can easily cope with poor roads, gravel and basic off road. I ride it more than the road bike and mtb combined.
 

John_S

Über Member
Oh and further to the above there's also the following:-

Condor Cycles
The Condor Cycles Bivio :-
https://www.condorcycles.com/collections/cyclo-cross-bikes
http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/condor-bivio-handmade-road-adventure/
https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/gear-news/condor-launch-bivio-gravel-steel-adventure-frame/

Temple Cycles
Plus if you look at one of the videos (the Adevnture Disc video from the link below) from Temple Cycles and the terrain that they use their Adventure Disc bike on this could also meet your requirements:-
https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/adventure-disc-landing
https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/rider-profile-videos
https://www.templecycles.co.uk/blogs/blog/behind-the-design-adventure-disc


Reading your message about the position you want means that I would be trying to get a ride on as many bikes as I can before purchasing, although i do appreciate that is easier to achieve with some bikes compared to others. Then if you've either already got or have had a bike with a geometry that you get on with and want to get something similar to you'll have something to compare to. Or perhaps one of the bikes you try with have geometry you like you'll be able to compare that to the other options. There are people will have a much greater in depth knowledge about frame geometry, angles etc. than me but I'd be paying close attention to things like reach, stack, head tube length as well as other factors whilst you're looking to get the position you want from this bike.

To be honest I think that geometry is as, if not more important, than the spec & components on the bike because it doesn't matter how good the finishing kit is if the bike doesn't fit or isn't comfortable over the terrain that you intend to ride it on you won't feel happy riding it.

Also you ideal geometry can be influenced by many factors including your style of riding, the type of surface/terrain but also your body type/shape, flexibility etc. If you watch the Proportional Geometry video from the Fairlight it shows how body type can effect the frame geometry that is appropriate for you.

https://fairlightcycles.com/inside-fairlight/films

They actually offer two version of each frame size with a regular or tall version available so it's more likely that you'll be able to get a frame that fits you well. Even if you don't have bike fit data to help guide you to the right frame for you if you pick a frame from their website and put in your own dimensions it will recommend a frame size as well as guide you to the regular or tall version with additional reference to your riding style preference, e.g. race or more relaxed/upright. I could be totally wrong though but if you're not going a custom frame route I don't know of too many other companies offering two versions of each frame to try and offer their customers a better fit.

Happy bike hunting!

John
 

Brand X

Guest
Top bike, if a touch heavy.

I've got one and love it. It's about 1-2 mph slower than my lighter bike, but more comfortable and can easily cope with poor roads, gravel and basic off road. I ride it more than the road bike and mtb combined.

I was a bit nervous of buying a drop handlebar bike having only really ever ridden flat bar bikes, but within about 2 minutes of test-riding it I thought wow, this is really comfortable and easy. I'm looking forward to collecting the CDF and giving it it's first proper run. First time I've ever spent more than £400 on a bike!
 

beastie

Guru
Location
penrith
I was a bit nervous of buying a drop handlebar bike having only really ever ridden flat bar bikes, but within about 2 minutes of test-riding it I thought wow, this is really comfortable and easy. I'm looking forward to collecting the CDF and giving it it's first proper run. First time I've ever spent more than £400 on a bike!
Enjoy!!
 
OP
OP
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WheelieGood

Active Member
Hi, I am looking for a comfortable (more upright than race position) and fast feel bike (I know, pedal faster to move faster) that is good for road use and fairly smooth gravel tracks, I have been looking at gravel bikes and in particular Dolan GX1 (105) and the Rose Backroad (105), with a budget up to £2000, please let me know what you think about these bikes and other options you feel are worth considering and why? Cheers
..... Hi, thank you for suggestions and comments much appreciated, i went to the bike show and was closest to getting the rose backroad, but held back to look around a bit more and ended up buying a new bianchi cv infinito 2016 ultegra mix, which is amazing i dont have any previous road bike expirence but its flighty fast and pretty comfortable, ciao
 
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