X - Gravel - MTB...head's a spin...

bold seagull

I'm a roadie by nature, my preferred cycling when the choice is there. But, I live right on the South Downs, and am itching to get a bike suitable for blasting around for an hour or so.

Was looking at the B'Twin Rockrider 560 as an entry level performer to get me out onto the Downs, but then I'm wondering for the trails and well ridden paths of the Downs, whether I just need a cyclocross or gravel bike (afterall, I have actually been over part of the Downs on my road bike on 23mm tyres and survived to tell the tale, after I got lost and reached a dead end...).

I guess a cyclocross / gravel adventure bike makes sense as it can be used as a winter trainer, will have interchangeable parts with the road bike, I might even enter some local cyclocross races I guess...

Or do you really need the MTB experience, suspension forks to properly enjoy tackling more challenging routes?

Or get the cyclocross, and if that works and I'm enjoying it, then progress onto an MTB....(I might be answering my own question here...)...

swod1

I don't know the area but sounds like you could get away with a decent hard tail with 120mm suspension if its not all gnarly downhill type trails.

What bikes have you seen people riding around the area? This will give you an idea

I would seek out some bike shops and get the advice from them first and then decide on what you want, will use and afford etc.

The Rookie

You can do most the South Downs on a CX bike, if you do use an MTB, then a 29er hardtail would make most sense, it will be easier and more comfy than a crosser and not much slower, nicer for having a look about while riding as well.

Monty Dog

I've done numerous traverses of the SDW from SS CX to 5" fatbike in all conditions. In mid-summer when conditions are dry on the SDW then a CX bike is the ideal machine - there are places where your legs will get a good workout too. However, when wet and in winter, the chalk-clay is really sticky, slippy and hard-going on any bike - you'll probably struggle on a CX bike in winter so probably the best compromise is a hardtail 29er MTB - big wheels roll fast but low gears and clearances for the sticky-stuff. Whether you need suspension forks is down to you.

rockmonkeysc

You can buy bikes specifically for gravel? Why would anyone want to ride just gravel?

bold seagull

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721450#p19721450]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

You can buy bikes specifically for gravel? Why would anyone want to ride just gravel?

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/167513-buyer-s-guide-gravel-and-adventure-bikes-plus-12-best

thanks for comments so far...going to be a very personal choice, but appreciate all opinions.

kajjal

I have a Diverge and while is is fine on relatively smooth tracks as soon as it gets rough it will start to beat you up like a 1990's hardtail MTB. Its noticeably faster off road than my XC hardtail until you get to the rougher trails and on road is much faster.

It is really down to where you want to ride and how much of a beating you can put up with. In the winter on rough and wet muddy trails I would be looking at a mountain bike. On road and faster draining gravel / sandy trails a CX bike would be fine.

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721463#p19721463]bold seagull[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721450#p19721450]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

You can buy bikes specifically for gravel? Why would anyone want to ride just gravel?

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/167513-buyer-s-guide-gravel-and-adventure-bikes-plus-12-best

thanks for comments so far...going to be a very personal choice, but appreciate all opinions.

I will never understand riders of curly handlebar bikes.

bob6397

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721492#p19721492]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721463#p19721463]bold seagull[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721450#p19721450]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

You can buy bikes specifically for gravel? Why would anyone want to ride just gravel?

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/167513-buyer-s-guide-gravel-and-adventure-bikes-plus-12-best

thanks for comments so far...going to be a very personal choice, but appreciate all opinions.

I will never understand riders of curly handlebar bikes.

Don't you own one?

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721612#p19721612]bob6397[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721492#p19721492]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721463#p19721463]bold seagull[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721450#p19721450]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

You can buy bikes specifically for gravel? Why would anyone want to ride just gravel?

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/167513-buyer-s-guide-gravel-and-adventure-bikes-plus-12-best

thanks for comments so far...going to be a very personal choice, but appreciate all opinions.

I will never understand riders of curly handlebar bikes.

Don't you own one?

Purely for commuting. I have a special kind of hate for it and haven't washed it in well over a year. Can't understand how anyone could get pleasure from road cycling.

ravey1981

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721492#p19721492]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721463#p19721463]bold seagull[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721450#p19721450]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

You can buy bikes specifically for gravel? Why would anyone want to ride just gravel?

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/167513-buyer-s-guide-gravel-and-adventure-bikes-plus-12-best

thanks for comments so far...going to be a very personal choice, but appreciate all opinions.

I will never understand riders of curly handlebar bikes.

We don't care tbh

The Rookie

He made a perfectly true statement, what's the issue, get over it!

My commuter is flat barred to avoid those funny bendy things......

rockmonkeysc

Roadies can get a bit sensitive. You ever seen one smiling?
They're like cycling emo's

The Rookie

A lot of the MTBers I ride with also ride road, they smile when on their MTB's, not sure if they smile when on the road bikes.

Some roadies I pass on my commute respond to my cheery hello, some look like they are suffering from severe constipation......

rockmonkeysc

It's usually a combination of constipation, piles and severe scrotal abrasions.

nasha48

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722389#p19722389]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

They're like cycling emo's

Now that made me laugh!!! Love it.

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722758#p19722758]Nasha48[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722389#p19722389]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

They're like cycling emo's

Now that made me laugh!!! Love it.

It makes sense.
They would rather suffer than smile. Never respond to a cheery hello with anything other than a grunt. Always moan that everyone hates them. Wear stupid outfits and waxing legs is just as bad as eyeliner and floppy hair cuts. Most of them even wear black (with Team Sky logos, but mostly black) They probably even listen to my chemical romance.

bold seagull

This is going well then...

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722860#p19722860]bold seagull[/url] wrote:

This is going well then...

You had the sensible answers you wanted. There's nothing sensible left to add.

bold seagull

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722954#p19722954]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722860#p19722860]bold seagull[/url] wrote:

This is going well then...

You had the sensible answers you wanted. There's nothing sensible left to add.

Yeah I was laughing...hence the smilie things...

Are you sure you weren't describing yourself!? You seem pretty uptight for a care free happy mountain biker... 8)

rockmonkeysc

No, I was too old to be an emo. I was a goth for about six months before I discovered grunge.
I do regularly smile when riding, occasionally laugh like an imbecile after big jumps and I NEVER wear lycra.

bold seagull

Not even the inner padded lining of your big baggy shorts? 8)

Anyway, I've got an old '82 Holdsworth Special touring / road bike, and I realised that it has plenty of clearance for at least 35C tyres, so I got a pair of cyclocross tyres, stuck them on and just got back from a jaunt around the South Downs.

Brilliant fun, BUT with bottom tube friction shifters and barely functioning caliper brakes, descending was rather more white knuckle than I might of liked. I can see why an 'adventure / gravel' style bike will suit a lot of people, but other than shortish rides, the 'rattling' will be hard to take. Gear ratios also a bit of an issue on some steeper sections - but as a quick experiment, I'm leaning toward mtb. Might have to get one of those Btwin Rockrider 560's before they all go at £330... I too did a lot of smiling (but did have my lycra padded bib shorts under some more acceptable baggy clothing )...