Cycling thread


Nymzee said:
Well I think I narrowed down my C2W bike anyway:

Specialized Allez Elite
B'Twin Triban RC 520
Giant Contend SL1
Click to expand...

I've got a B'twin for the winter and work commute. Get a hell of a lot for your cash. It's been an absolute tank.

The RC520 looks top notch, Shimano 105 for under a grand is excellent
 
arminisgod said:
I've got a B'twin for the winter and work commute. Get a hell of a lot for your cash. It's been an absolute tank.

The RC520 looks top notch, Shimano 105 for under a grand is excellent
Click to expand...

Yeh in terms of spec for the price it's the best on the list (it seems) I'm just a little considered considering how poor the road conditions are around where I live.

There's a Boardman ADV 9.0 in my local Halfords (I'd have to see if they accepted C2W + cash) for the price though which might be a safer pick for the Lakes.
 
Nymzee said:
Yeh in terms of spec for the price it's the best on the list (it seems) I'm just a little considered considering how poor the road conditions are around where I live.

There's a Boardman ADV 9.0 in my local Halfords (I'd have to see if they accepted C2W + cash) for the price though which might be a safer pick for the Lakes.
Click to expand...

Mine is a tank. Been cycling everyday through winter and nothing has broken. Even came off it a few times only damage was a few scratches and ripped handle bar tape.

The full carbon halfords one is about 1100 isn't? That's good value
 

Anyone with experience in gravel bikes or specific comments on gravels in general willing to offer advice? I think for the most part the bikes that seem best for my next choice are gravel/endurance bikes of this sort:

Specialized Diverge
Salsa Warbird
3T Exploro Race

and if I was in a shop that had a Pinarello Grevil in stock and I was ready to buy, I could see myself walking out with that as well. I'm certain I will pick up a gravel bike in the next 12 months or so, and while I know most of the bikes I want have similar profiles, they're still pretty distinct bikes. (And I tend to overanalyze before making a choice, so do with that what you will....)
 
SerenityNigh said:
Anyone with experience in gravel bikes or specific comments on gravels in general willing to offer advice? I think for the most part the bikes that seem best for my next choice are gravel/endurance bikes of this sort:

Specialized Diverge
Salsa Warbird
3T Exploro Race

and if I was in a shop that had a Pinarello Grevil in stock and I was ready to buy, I could see myself walking out with that as well. I'm certain I will pick up a gravel bike in the next 12 months or so, and while I know most of the bikes I want have similar profiles, they're still pretty distinct bikes. (And I tend to overanalyze before making a choice, so do with that what you will....)
Click to expand...
I've not owned a gravel bike, but have owned plenty of cyclocross bikes which are the original source material. Gravel is also more of a metaphor over here - we don't actually have gravel roads that go on for 100s of miles - the bikes are really popular, but more for mountain bike-lite, and a gravel race would be more mixed terrain. The warbird and the exploro seem quite gravel-race - people ride them in stuff like Dirty Kanza, so they'll be trying to square the circle of speed and comfort over 200 miles off-road. The diverge would be a lot more middle of the road geometry I would expect (and prob a lot cheaper? 3T and Salsa are much smaller brands).

So it depends on what riding you have in mind for where you live - there must be a million sq miles of nowt in middle America, plenty to explore. But maybe you're in a big metropolitan area.

The differences in handling will be pretty subtle if it's your first bike, so don't get too hung up the geometry chart unless you have a prior-injury or something like that. Cyclocross race bikes get absolutely raged for 1 hr max so you might think they have a brutal forward geometry, but actually it's very neutral or even a bit upright - short wheelbase, high BB, and an open front triangle. Gravel bikes don't have those constraints so can be designed either way - I suspect the warbird and 3T would feel racier.
 
Black Belt Jones said:
I've not owned a gravel bike, but have owned plenty of cyclocross bikes which are the original source material. Gravel is also more of a metaphor over here - we don't actually have gravel roads that go on for 100s of miles - the bikes are really popular, but more for mountain bike-lite, and a gravel race would be more mixed terrain. The warbird and the exploro seem quite gravel-race - people ride them in stuff like Dirty Kanza, so they'll be trying to square the circle of speed and comfort over 200 miles off-road. The diverge would be a lot more middle of the road geometry I would expect (and prob a lot cheaper? 3T and Salsa are much smaller brands).

So it depends on what riding you have in mind for where you live - there must be a million sq miles of nowt in middle America, plenty to explore. But maybe you're in a big metropolitan area.

The differences in handling will be pretty subtle if it's your first bike, so don't get too hung up the geometry chart unless you have a prior-injury or something like that. Cyclocross race bikes get absolutely raged for 1 hr max so you might think they have a brutal forward geometry, but actually it's very neutral or even a bit upright - short wheelbase, high BB, and an open front triangle. Gravel bikes don't have those constraints so can be designed either way - I suspect the warbird and 3T would feel racier.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Definitely interested in a gravel bike as a sort of all-road endurance bike, and although the roads I currently ride are paved, we have plenty of dirt roads (and gravel races) locally. And if I can manage it, I'd like to endure Kanza someday, but my short term goals are less ambitious. Probably it won't matter much if I pick any of these three, but ideally I'd like a bike (1) that I can ride and enjoy in good weather, (2) works well as an all-weather winter bike, (3) I can ride for long rides on various terrain, (4) compete in gravel events and not feel like I'm pulling a sleigh, (5) and use for long distance/mini touring in the future if such rides come to pass.

So... definitely not asking too much here, am I? I think something in the $3k to $4k range fits, and I know the Diverge is highly rated by most, but Salsa and 3t also specialize in gravel so I know these are reasonable to consider.
 

Collecting this tomorrow, 2nd hand like but Phoarr.
1622060276736.png

Trek Bikes - The world's best bikes and cycling gear

Discover the fun of riding with our wide range of electric, mountain, road, city, gravel, kids', and certified pre-owned bikes. Shop online or in-store!
archive.trekbikes.com archive.trekbikes.com

just got to grab a cassette and chain on the way there and he's gonna waz it on for me & make sure its all phoarr.

theyre all ditching them cos they want leccy bikes and 29'ers. I'm sure it'll suffice for the canal towpath etc.
 
Been to get the Bike from Coventry today, it's very impressive & I consider an absolute bargain at £250, the fella got quite emotional as well saying it's the best he's had of that type (had some road bike on his stand with rims £700 each. Needed a cassette & chain so i got them on way past decathlon & he put them on. Just got to put a cable on & it's good to go.
The thing has carbon all kinds & he reeled through what they'd all cost which in some cases is more than I've paid.

This should get me in her good books for once & if she tries to send me to coventry I'll point out that I've already been. The last time I went there Andy Gray sat directly behind me & Norman Whiteside flattened a linesman.
1622128627005.webp1622128644111.webp1622128686893.webp
1622128720920.webp
 

Welcome

Join Grand Old Team to get involved in the Everton discussion. Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.

Register

Shop

Back
Top