Adventure Bikes

Bovril

Hi All,

It's time for a new bike here and I'd love to get the forum's recommendation on what's out there!

I currently have a Trek Domane 2.0 from 2013 which I get on with really well but when taking it on loaded tours the tyres just aren't man enough. I'm around 100kg, then you add 2 panniers and a tent and it gets a bit much for the rubber. Going along anything other than decent tarmac becomes a bit of an issue.

So I'm looking for something with similar geometry (could go a little more relaxed but certainly no more racey), with disk brakes, which can take 35mm tyres plus mudguards plus front and rear panniers. Gearing would ideally be a sub-compact chainset with a 11-34 cassette. I don't want to spend over £1500, and would ideally be closer to £1000.

It'll be used for a 10 day trip around the Scottish highlands next spring, and general winter road riding around the chilterns.

Anyone got/had anything that they would recommend or suggest to avoid? Any comments on steel vs aluminium? Should I make sure I go for hydraulic brakes? Would be lovely to hear your suggestions!

Thanks in advance!

arlowood

Pushing your budget a bit but the On One Space Chicken ticks most if not all of the boxes

https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOSPCRIV ... 00c-wheels

Candyon

I've just tried a Specialized Diverge E5 Comp at Evans today. I liked it. It's had some discounts on it with it being this year's model so I'd say it's worth the money at the reduced price. It's not got hydraulic discs though.

Also been looking at the Orro Terra but the only frame size they had in the aluminium frame version seemed like it would be too big for me (A longer reach than my race bike). But I've not been able to try the small, which I'm concerned looking at the geometry that I really would be too big for.

Candyon

arlowood wrote:

Pushing your budget a bit but the On One Space Chicken ticks most if not all of the boxes

https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOSPCRIV ... 00c-wheels

Tempted to smash my budget just for the name of this bike alone

sloppyschleckonds

Trek Checkpoint
Cannondale Topstone

tangerineowl

The Light Blue Darwin Twin Peak
https://www.thelightblue.co.uk/Sport/5L ... -Twin-Peak

Bovril

Cheers for the input, a good selection already!

I'm a bit wary of going for 1x, I might miss the range of a 2 or 3x setup.

Out of the Giant range I would say the Toughroad is the best fit, lack of mounts on the TCX eliminates it for me. The Checkpoint, Diverge, Topstone and Toughroad all look broadly similar and do fit the bill well. I have had a look at the Checkpoint at the LBS so will give that and the Toughroad a test ride soon.

The Light Blue and Orro look very interesting, gonna have a proper look at the rest this evening, off out for a ride now! Will be giving a 1x setup a test... as the LH shifter on my Domane is broken and I've stuck it in the middle ring...

ovi

fuji sportif

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fuji+sportif&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB792GB792&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWybmBzLzdAhUiIMAKHWXsDqAQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=626

Bovril

Cheers for the input again guys, I think I've got a short list sorted which I can go and sling a leg over at a few different local shops.

Trek Checkpoint ALR 4 - looks almost perfect, only thing I would change is the double chainset for a sub-compact.
Giant Toughroad SLR GX 1 - looks almost perfect but would change tyres and would prefer shimano over giant branded brakes.
Cannondale Topstone 105 - get's a step up in groupset from the 2 above, but geometry looks slightly more racey
Light Blue Darwin D Tour - more touring oriented with steel frame and triple chainset, will be nice to compare to the 3 alloy frames above.

It's interesting to see how different brands approach this type of bike. I don't understand Specialised's take... the diverge doesn't come with rack mounts and the sequoia is much lower and longer than other racing bikes.

Should hopefully get around the shops this week, hopefully buying at this time of year might lead the opportunity for some discounts!

Matthewfalle

that ribble titanium thing they do looks sweet. blow the budget on the f&f, build up with spare bits then upgrade as you go along.

curveball option ....

Bovril

Went into the LBS this morning aaaaand.... can’t get hold of any of those bikes in my size til January!

Closest thing they could do was get a checkpoint frame set in and build up to the same spec as an ALR5 and charge me £1650. I was quite tempted by this as it would mean I could have it in a couple of weeks, but I didn’t commit and gave myself time to mull it over.

Gonna go and try that light blue Darwin next week... hopefully they have one in my size!

Is this usual for buying a new bike?! Last one I bought I walked out of the shop with it straight away!

Bovril

I visited a 2nd LBS over the weekend and they weren't much help TBH, and didn't seem to be able to offer any suggestions for my requirements!

So I'm planning a tour of some shops in London to try and actually sit on some bikes in my size! I will visit 3 different shops which have in stock:

Trek Checkpoint ALR4
Specialised Diverge E5 Comp (can pick up a 2018 model for £300 off)
Giant Toughroad SLR GX 1
Genesis Croix De Fer 20 (can pick up a 2018 model for £350 off)

They all have broadly similar geometry (stack approx. 610mm and reach approx. 390mm), but slightly different components and the Genesis is a steel frame. I'm amazed how the money doesn't stretch... I was fully expecting £1500 to get full hydro brakes, but this is only present on 2 out of the 4 bikes!

I'm probably overthinking this purchase... especially as £1500 doesn't seem to be a lot of money when buying a bike... but I plan on spending a lot of time on this and want to get it right!

haydenm

I'm surprised the Croix De Fer wasn't mentioned before, I had an Equlibrium for what you describe and it was excellent. Croix de fer as a warranty replacement arriving today as I switched the frame for more tyre clearance and off road use. The bikes are quite similar and I loved the Equilibrium a lot! They won't be light but for touring it isn't too much of an issue. The CDF has a very big following for touring and gravel stuff

Evans and Highland bikes seem to come up with the best deals on Genesis online from what I've seen

joe_totale-2

If you fancy saving a huge chunk of change over the other options how about a Triban RC520?
Apparently can take up to 36mm rubber and guards and should be available from next week. To me it looks like a massive bargain at £729:

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/prod ... kes-371063

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/5340/d ... 520-review

trek_dan

PX Full Monty?
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXFMRIV ... -road-bike

Been looking at one for a while, seems to tick all the boxes.

norvernrob

I don’t know if it takes front and rear panniers, but I was in Halfords last week and the new Boardman adventure bike really caught my eye, it’s a fantastic looking bike. It has a sub compact 48/32 chainset, 40c tyres, hydraulic discs etc. Worth a look at £1k, £900 with BC discount.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... nture-bike

haydenm

NorvernRob wrote:

I don’t know if it takes front and rear panniers, but I was in Halfords last week and the new Boardman adventure bike really caught my eye, it’s a fantastic looking bike. It has a sub compact 48/32 chainset, 40c tyres, hydraulic discs etc. Worth a look at £1k, £900 with BC discount.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... nture-bike

Looks like it fits rear panniers but I can't see anything on the fork, obviously it would be easier to see if their website would let me see the close up pictures but that might just be me! Good spec for the money

robertpb

The Boardman ADV 8.9 £1,000, does it all, looks good too.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/pro ... v-8.9.html

levarg

I'm currently building an online utility for finding and comparing gravel/adventure bikes. Many of the bikes mentioned in this thread are already listed:
http://www.gravel-bikes.co.uk/
You may (or may not) find it useful in your search.

Bovril

I'm pleased to say that I didn't come back empty handed from my trip around the bike shops in London yesterday!

Now the owner of a Genesis Croix De Fer 20 from 2018 in team colours

I don't think I would have bought it going from the figures on line... it's heavier than all the others (as it's steel), doesn't come with full hydro discs which I thought I wanted. But after having a quick ride on it it fitted really nicely, and will be ideal for the sort of riding I want to do on it. The 25% off discount was also a big plus point!

Just been out for 30 miles in the wind and rain this morning, and it's grand. Comfortable, smooth, capable. Obviously not as quick as my alu road bike on 25mm tyres (although not far off the pace), but it's much more sure footed on the gravelly/holey roads I find myself on, and it's happy to go up a farm track/bridleway if I fancy it. I'm looking forward to putting some miles on this bike, especially for the tour around Scotland I have planned for next year.

Cheers for all the help & suggestions, they helped me consider bikes I hadn't looked at or thought of yet. But after all the internet searching there's no substitute to seeing a bike in the flesh and having a ride before buying.

Bovril

levarg wrote:

I'm currently building an online utility for finding and comparing gravel/adventure bikes. Many of the bikes mentioned in this thread are already listed:
http://www.gravel-bikes.co.uk/
You may (or may not) find it useful in your search.

Yes I found this useful! If only I'd known about it earlier!

You didn't ask for my opinion on it but I'll give a suggestion anyway..... It would be useful to be able to check multiple entries in a category, rather than just filter by one of them. e.g. show all bikes with 32+35+40mm tyres

CitizenLee

Good to hear you found something you're happy with! I used to have a CdF and they're great bikes!

Where are you going in Scotland? As a native I can highly recommend the Highlands/Cairngorms.

levarg

Bovril wrote:

levarg wrote:

I'm currently building an online utility for finding and comparing gravel/adventure bikes. Many of the bikes mentioned in this thread are already listed:
http://www.gravel-bikes.co.uk/
You may (or may not) find it useful in your search.

Yes I found this useful! If only I'd known about it earlier!

You didn't ask for my opinion on it but I'll give a suggestion anyway..... It would be useful to be able to check multiple entries in a category, rather than just filter by one of them. e.g. show all bikes with 32+35+40mm tyres

Congratulations on your new purchase!

And glad you found my gravel bike search/compare utility useful.

Also, thank you very much for the feedback about the filters. As it happens I've already come to the same conclusion. I'm currently updating the filters functionality to work in exactly the way you have stated.

Cheers!