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Looking at buying a gravel bike for getting in good climbs on the forest roads we have around Seattle. Unfortunately I need to upgrade my MTB as well and the gravel would get ridden less, my budget is going to be less. Looking to keep it under $1500. Is it better to try and find used or to build up something on my own. Not needing anything fast/super light. Just something durable that can handle some punishment. Any help is appreciated.
If your MTB is a hardtail, grab a rigid fork and make that the gravel bike. Take the savings for the better MTB upgradeQuote:
Originally Posted by phatty
I’ve been thinking about doing something like this. A gavel grinder / bike with the fam bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowagriz
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It's full suspension so that plan won't work. Good thought, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowagriz
At $1500 the Journeyman or Rove might still be a couple good options. But if you can swing $1700 the Trek Checkpoint AL4 or the Canyon Grail 6 both come with solid builds well worth $200 bump in my opinion. There are probably lots more options in this range I'm not thinking of. That said, bikes are so hard to find I'd just buy what you can find if you want something soon.
I’d add Surly Straggler to the list at $1625. And yes, buy the first one in stock that you find. That’s how I ended up with the Norco. In this market I could probably sell it in July for close to what I just paid the shop since it’s a cheap-ish bike
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The Giant’s looked really good for the price as well. I had no luck in finding one though.
Add Jamis Renegage to your list phatty.
Liking my salsa journeyman so far.
Looking for a light weight seatpost rear rack for skibee
(small bike/small rider, no rack mounts on frame etc
12 pounds/5kg, light off road use
27.2 seatpost, can swap carbon or AL
hoping for one that is sub 400g, but 500 can play too.
options?
There is a new local Giant Bike Shop near me. He stated that he could not get any bikes as a dealer, but is checking for customers on the Giant Web site and having them purchase and shipped to the shop for assembly and setup. I did a few searches and it found a few shops elsewhere in the nation that could ship the bike of course... Their web site you just pick the bike model, the color and size and they may state "The product you have selected is currently out of stock in our warehouse but there may be a store in your area that has the product in stock. "Quote:
Originally Posted by bennymac
Gravel ride?
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Thanks. I really wanted a Giant but was feeling the time pressure and I live in a remote area with no bike shops within a 6 hour drive. Found a BMC model in my size from a store that would ship it here so panic bought that instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by RShea
Anyone happen to have a 54-57cm ish frame+fork they’d sell, disc brakes + TA, that’ll clear a ~40mm+ tire? I have a fancy one on order but cutting it close for race day, I want something soon and it doesn’t have to be fancy or light. Just lighter than my 35lb POS hardtail. Meanwhile in my over eager component ordering I have basically enough extra parts for another bike already. Going with 12sp eagle mullet though so I need TAs to fit the wheel with XD driver and eagle cassette (I think anyway). Or recommendations for new sub-$1k frames that don’t suck that I can get within ~2 weeks. For over $1k if it comes to it I can get from LBS but a penny saved is a penny earned and so forth.
eta: if you have a usable old CX-ish bike in this range and want a SRAM Apex hydraulic brifters and calipers and GX eagle derailleur with the ratio 12sp conversion kit installed + cash in trade, that also works
1st ride on the Pivot Vault semi custom build :)
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^thats a nice bike!
X-post from the tire thread... apologies....
Any suggestions for a commuter tire? Currently running 700x32 wirebead gatorskins. They have been worry free but I think I can fit something slightly larger that’s not a full slick.
See below for the current clearance with 32s. I don’t think I can fit 40s. Maybe a 34 or 36 will be ideal? I like the look of a Maxxis Refuse but they only come in 32 or 40...
Use case is a 11mi commute across Seattle.
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^^^how’s the clearance at the chain stays.
No real help on the tire, but you could pick up a disk fork/wheel and run a mech disk. That would allow you to run something much fatter.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwm21
Granted, that's just throwing money at it, even if you go for the cheap end.
Bonus is the disk up front is great when things get wet!
Great looking bike!Quote:
Originally Posted by Colorado_Freeskier
More than enough....Quote:
Originally Posted by Peruvian
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Good deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwm21
When I think “commuter tire” my first thought is about puncture protection. Something like the Schwalbe Marathon is well suited and proven and comes in many casings and sizes.
After waiting for almost 3 months, my Scribe Gravel wide ++ wheel set finally arrived. Weighed in around 1370 grams. 25 mm internal. I put the 32 Refuse on there to start as I had a few mostly road missions to tackle first.
After swapping to these wheels from stock, new axels, rotors and Grx cranks I knocked off 2.5 lbs! Quite noticeable and is motivating me to do some bigger rides.
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New to the drop-bar scene (ignoring my Univega from 30 years ago) and found stock bar on my Jamis Renegade too narrow. Tried out the "mountain biker's" drop-bar from PNW at 52cm wide yesterday and wow...what a difference. Neck/shoulder pain gone.
Excellent. Did you have to lengthen your shift or brake cables & hoses?Quote:
Originally Posted by milestogo
https://icancycling.com/collections/...32546964176974Quote:
Originally Posted by mall walker
looks like the 54cm is in stock in the US warehouse. Pretty sure it's just a rebranded carbonda cfr696, which I have, and have put ~2200 miles on in the last year with no complaints. Probably not the best if you're trying to resell it after your fancy bike comes though.
Luckily not. The stock bar was 60cm narrower, so not huge, but enough to make a significant difference to comfort. I also have a shorter stem than stock and wider tires, so it's dialed in for my riding around here, which has become a remarkably popular dirt road to ride on now that most folks are off pavement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peruvian
I have the iCan "gravel bike explorer" frame and it's fine. It's very stiff and respectably light. Def almost no resale value, but if you're not a brand name aficionado it will do the job.Quote:
Originally Posted by s_squatch
What bars were on the Renegade? I'm looking for a slightly flared 42 or 44cm bar, so if they fit that description maybe I can take them off of your hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by milestogo
I have a used 3T Ergonova pro 44cm if interested. slightly flared, but check em out online and make sure they have enough flare for your likingQuote:
Originally Posted by climberevan
oh that’s perfect thanks! no resale intended, I’ll just keep it at least in the short term.Quote:
Originally Posted by s_squatch
I’m considering a Lauf True Grit or a Canyon Grail. Any experience with either one?
I have a buddy looking to get into gravel. He found a 2015 Specialized Diverge Expert for $1500, local, sent me the ad and it seems like it’s in good shape.
Does this seem like a good deal to the collective?
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The bike came with some ultra basic OEM stuff from Ritchey, and I'm gonna put them on my wife's bike because she would like something a little wider than what came on her bike. If she decides she doesn't like them I can let you know.Quote:
Originally Posted by climberevan
That Canyon non-standard OEM bar is a nonstarter for me. I’m sure it’s comfortable if sized right - but what if it’s not sized right....Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyoverland Captive
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Have been out on the new Pivot Vault a few times now and love it. The fit, build quality, light weight is awesome. Another nice thing is that when you are standing up cranking away there's no flex in the bottom bracket.
The higher spec'd stock bike has a SRAM AXS etap wireless rear derailleur and I was skeptical of the new tech as I haven't bought a new bike in over 10 years. I have to say the electronic shifting is awesome...quick, precise. Batteries are super light/small so it is no big deal to carry an extra. Force levers/crank and since I couldn't find a Force rear I used an XX1 AXS rear (more than I wanted to spend but it was the only thing in stock).
Mrs P riding some dirt.
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eTapQuote:
Originally Posted by Colorado_Freeskier
Great shifts and no wires. Love it.
How often are you all charging? Is it like every ride? Once a month?Quote:
Originally Posted by plugboots
Well I have a front derailleur, so I charge them both when one goes dead, (or I think about it). If one craps out on a ride I put the dead one in front and finish the ride and then charge them. bfd The charge lasts a long time.