Whyte gravel bikes

[vickster]

What makes them brands you don't want to own? Paintwork, being Taiwanese or some other issue?

I like to buy bikes from UK based brands (even if all the parts are made overseas). Is that ok with you?
I started a thread specifically about Whyte gravel bikes as that's what I am looking at as the range offers the spec I want, at an acceptable price, from a trusted LBS that I've been using for many years...oh and they're actually available asap and in a colour I want (which is actually the most important after groupset /spec!)
Giant gravel bikes offer me nothing SRAM shod nor aesthetically nor availability in my size and the Merida Silex 400 although the right colour has a Shimano groupset and isn't actually available anywhere for me to try...so

I mean how astonishingly dull looking are these https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/bikes-revolt ... ...matt black, matt concrete... matt desert sage

The LIV blue is ok colourwise but dull styling ...and I'd never spend £1200 on a bike with Sora & Tektro mech brakes! https://www.liv-cycling.com/gb/bikes-devote

 

[ColinJ]

 

[biggs682]

Keep looking and hopefully you will find the right one somewhere but where is the question

 

[Jenkins]

Finally found a 54cm Friston to sit on…and it was too big!!
So I now need to seek out a 52

Rutland Cycling claim to have a couple in stock - one at the Grafham Water store (north westish of Cambridge) and one in their warehouse. Don't know if they're showing the correct colour on the website 'though: Whyte Friston 2022 Aluminium Gravel Bike Matte Diesel (rutlandcycling.com)

 

[vickster]

Rutland Cycling claim to have a couple in stock - one at the Grafham Water store (north westish of Cambridge) and one in their warehouse. Don't know if they're showing the correct colour on the website 'though: Whyte Friston 2022 Aluminium Gravel Bike Matte Diesel (rutlandcycling.com)

Hardly local but thanks. Balfes can get one in from their warehouse for 25% deposit but easier if can just go into shop as I did for the 54

 

[biggs682]

Only problem with Grafham water no really local train station

 

[Jenkins]

Only problem with Grafham water no really local train station

Or by car it's round the M25, up the M11 and along the A14 for a bit. Have a day out.

 

[vickster]

Or by car it's round the M25, up the M11 and along the A14 for a bit. Have a day out.

I don’t have a car currently (thanks to some idiot in Exeter who couldn’t park competently next to me) and a waste of petrol when I can walk to Balfes
I’d rather spend my weekends cycling than driving hundreds of miles

 

[Jenkins]

I don’t have a car currently (thanks to some idiot in Exeter who couldn’t park competently next to me) and a waste of petrol when I can walk to Balfes
I’d rather spend my weekends cycling than driving hundreds of miles

Ouch - stick a hire car & a tank of fuel on the insurance claim against the other driver. Then go up midweek and claim it against expenses

 

[vickster]

Ouch - stick a hire car & a tank of fuel on the insurance claim against the other driver. Then go up midweek and claim it against expenses

The repairers didn’t have an automatic courtesy car so I’ve just gone without.
I need to decide what to do bike wise, I’m actually going to stick some gravel tyres and guards on the Ti for now and see if that works on rougher stuff
Maybe a bit posh for winter but the Whyte isn’t exactly cheap

 

[biggs682]

I don’t have a car currently (thanks to some idiot in Exeter who couldn’t park competently next to me) and a waste of petrol when I can walk to Balfes
I’d rather spend my weekends cycling than driving hundreds of miles

You could always ride it back just need to sort the getting there bit

 

[vickster]

Well I’ve sold one bike to make some space…

 

[T4tomo]

there is an article / review of the Friston & the Dean in this month's cycling plus mag for what its worth - I haven't got to the end of it yet as finished my Blueberry wheats and left for work, but they seemed quite positive on the Friston

 

[vickster]

To close this off, I have fitted gravel tyres and mudguards to the Sabbath AR1 and bought the Condor with skinny 25s instead of a gravel bike