My first drop bar commuter / gravel / tourer, and lost in options and specs. Please help if you can!
Chirsbom
Posts: 17
Hi,
My name is Chris and I am new to this forum and the world of drop bar bikes. Coming from an XC bike I am used to a different riding position, and knowlegde of whats important, whats good, and what I should, or should not look at or worry about.
I am hoping for some input on a few bikes I have narrowed in, and also advice if there are other options I should consider. Please bear with me as I am not totally into all of the lingo, tech and etc, its a learning curve at the moment...
I live in north Europe and are looking for a 3 season "do it almost all" bike. The bike will be 75 % daily commuter, 15% trainer on gravel / dirt roads in the surounding forest, and lastly a bikepacking / touring bike on weekends, or even a week. Already have double set panniers as I have been doing this on XC bike with Thule racks.
Features I have singled out as desirable:
Wide tyres, tubeless or ready for it, hydro brakes, decent gear system and ratio suitable for all usage, thru axle, threaded BB, and lots of options for using panniers, bags etc. Also, a look I can live with but preferably like or even love!
At the moment I have a list for 7 bikes that I am considering. I wont state all spech on each, but list the biggest up and downsides I have found. If you have any input on these bikes, or others that might fit the bill please let me know.
Fuji Jari 1.3:
+ Fork mounts, thru axle, treaded BB, light weight
- Mech brakes, boring looks
Bombtrack Beyond:
+ Fork mounts, thu axl, wide tires tubeless
- Heavy, mech brakes, expensive, diffucult to get and even worse to test
Canyon Grail 7.0 AL:
+ Best looking of the lot by far, light weigth, hydro brakes, pretty cheap, thu axl, tubeless easy
- No fork mounts, PF BB, carbon seatpost with heavy saddle bag?
Merida Silex 400/600:
+ Fork mounts, can get a great deal on price, hydro brakes, thread BB, thu axle, tubeless ready
- Cant really get over the look of it, I am trying though as it ticks all the boxes other that " live with the look.."
Breezer Radar Expert:
+ Fork mounts, tubeless ready, threaded BB, retro look
- QR, mech brakes, heavy
Cannondale Topestone:
+ Thu axl
- No fork mounts, Shimano sora 1x9
(Not sure of brakes tubeless or weight)
Spezialized Sequioa:
+ Fork mounts
- Heavy, QR mech brakes, Shimano Sora
(Not sure of axle or tubeless)
Genisis Vagabond:
+ Fork mounts, wide tires
- Heavy, QR, mech brakes
(Not sure of BB or tubeless)
Genisis Croix de fer 20:
+ Fork mounts, tubeless ready
- Mech brakes, heavy
(Not sure of BB or axle)
These are what I have gathered so far from what I might be able to get and within budget. Below 2k euro is a must, around 1,5k would be great as that would mean money for other stuff for the bike.
As of now the Silex 600 is the best option based purely on features. And I can get a really good deal. But I struggel with the way it looks, both color and front geomitri. Not a fan basically.
The Canyon Grail is by far the best looking, and is only lacking in fork mounts and PF BB.
Another issue that I really would like some input on is the riding position. The above bikes are very varied.
Considering my background and intended use, what geomiteri should I be looking at for a bike that will never start a race but hopefully always get me where I want to go wherever that is.
In advance thank you if you read this far, and even more if you have some advice to give
My name is Chris and I am new to this forum and the world of drop bar bikes. Coming from an XC bike I am used to a different riding position, and knowlegde of whats important, whats good, and what I should, or should not look at or worry about.
I am hoping for some input on a few bikes I have narrowed in, and also advice if there are other options I should consider. Please bear with me as I am not totally into all of the lingo, tech and etc, its a learning curve at the moment...
I live in north Europe and are looking for a 3 season "do it almost all" bike. The bike will be 75 % daily commuter, 15% trainer on gravel / dirt roads in the surounding forest, and lastly a bikepacking / touring bike on weekends, or even a week. Already have double set panniers as I have been doing this on XC bike with Thule racks.
Features I have singled out as desirable:
Wide tyres, tubeless or ready for it, hydro brakes, decent gear system and ratio suitable for all usage, thru axle, threaded BB, and lots of options for using panniers, bags etc. Also, a look I can live with but preferably like or even love!
At the moment I have a list for 7 bikes that I am considering. I wont state all spech on each, but list the biggest up and downsides I have found. If you have any input on these bikes, or others that might fit the bill please let me know.
Fuji Jari 1.3:
+ Fork mounts, thru axle, treaded BB, light weight
- Mech brakes, boring looks
Bombtrack Beyond:
+ Fork mounts, thu axl, wide tires tubeless
- Heavy, mech brakes, expensive, diffucult to get and even worse to test
Canyon Grail 7.0 AL:
+ Best looking of the lot by far, light weigth, hydro brakes, pretty cheap, thu axl, tubeless easy
- No fork mounts, PF BB, carbon seatpost with heavy saddle bag?
Merida Silex 400/600:
+ Fork mounts, can get a great deal on price, hydro brakes, thread BB, thu axle, tubeless ready
- Cant really get over the look of it, I am trying though as it ticks all the boxes other that " live with the look.."
Breezer Radar Expert:
+ Fork mounts, tubeless ready, threaded BB, retro look
- QR, mech brakes, heavy
Cannondale Topestone:
+ Thu axl
- No fork mounts, Shimano sora 1x9
(Not sure of brakes tubeless or weight)
Spezialized Sequioa:
+ Fork mounts
- Heavy, QR mech brakes, Shimano Sora
(Not sure of axle or tubeless)
Genisis Vagabond:
+ Fork mounts, wide tires
- Heavy, QR, mech brakes
(Not sure of BB or tubeless)
Genisis Croix de fer 20:
+ Fork mounts, tubeless ready
- Mech brakes, heavy
(Not sure of BB or axle)
These are what I have gathered so far from what I might be able to get and within budget. Below 2k euro is a must, around 1,5k would be great as that would mean money for other stuff for the bike.
As of now the Silex 600 is the best option based purely on features. And I can get a really good deal. But I struggel with the way it looks, both color and front geomitri. Not a fan basically.
The Canyon Grail is by far the best looking, and is only lacking in fork mounts and PF BB.
Another issue that I really would like some input on is the riding position. The above bikes are very varied.
Considering my background and intended use, what geomiteri should I be looking at for a bike that will never start a race but hopefully always get me where I want to go wherever that is.
In advance thank you if you read this far, and even more if you have some advice to give
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Comments
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Any reason you've ruled out the Triban RC520? As you're in North Europe I'm sure there's a Decathlon nearby and you'd have loads of money left over for something like another set of wheels to bring the weight down.
It seems to tick all your boxes and the reviews are all pretty glowing:
https://road.cc/content/review/252475-t ... -road-bike0 -
Have you considered a mail order option from the UK? Planet X are now offering 1 to 1 GBP to Euro and are listing 6 bikes that have special discounts at the moment.
If your budget can stretch for it, The On-One Space Chicken would tick most if not all of your boxes. £1700 or Euro plus shipping.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOSPCFO ... re-edition
Carbon frameset, pannier and mudguard mounts, SRAM 1 x Hydraulic drivetrain, threaded bottom bracket etc0 -
arlowood wrote:Have you considered a mail order option from the UK? Planet X are now offering 1 to 1 GBP to Euro and are listing 6 bikes that have special discounts at the moment.
If your budget can stretch for it, The On-One Space Chicken would tick most if not all of your boxes. £1700 or Euro plus shipping.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOSPCFO ... re-edition
Carbon frameset, pannier and mudguard mounts, SRAM 1 x Hydraulic drivetrain, threaded bottom bracket etc
That's a great find - seems like a proper bargain!
OP - if you wait a few months then you might be able to get it at a better price, due the the £ collapsing post Brexit!0 -
Currently 20% off with code SUPERSIX20, so now a bargaintastic £1279.99! and still €1 = £1 so €1279.99LakesLuddite wrote:arlowood wrote:Have you considered a mail order option from the UK? Planet X are now offering 1 to 1 GBP to Euro and are listing 6 bikes that have special discounts at the moment.
If your budget can stretch for it, The On-One Space Chicken would tick most if not all of your boxes. £1700 or Euro plus shipping.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOSPCFO ... re-edition
Carbon frameset, pannier and mudguard mounts, SRAM 1 x Hydraulic drivetrain, threaded bottom bracket etc
That's a great find - seems like a proper bargain!
OP - if you wait a few months then you might be able to get it at a better price, due the the £ collapsing post Brexit!'Hello to Jason Isaacs'0 -
If you have a cc bike could you not use that?
Have you.looked at Keniesis or Mason - maybe a bit over budget.
I have a Mason Bokeh 4 season adventure/gravel bike option to run 700c or 650b wide tyres various build options.0 -
Joe Totale wrote:Any reason you've ruled out the Triban RC520? As you're in North Europe I'm sure there's a Decathlon nearby and you'd have loads of money left over for something like another set of wheels to bring the weight down.
It seems to tick all your boxes and the reviews are all pretty glowing:
https://road.cc/content/review/252475-t ... -road-bike
No reason other than that I didnt know about this bike. Other than the TRP HY/RD brakes it pretty much ticks all the boxes. But for this pricepoint the bike is great value!
I am going to look into this, thank you for this tip
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LakesLuddite wrote:arlowood wrote:Have you considered a mail order option from the UK? Planet X are now offering 1 to 1 GBP to Euro and are listing 6 bikes that have special discounts at the moment.
If your budget can stretch for it, The On-One Space Chicken would tick most if not all of your boxes. £1700 or Euro plus shipping.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOSPCFO ... re-edition
Carbon frameset, pannier and mudguard mounts, SRAM 1 x Hydraulic drivetrain, threaded bottom bracket etc
That's a great find - seems like a proper bargain!
OP - if you wait a few months then you might be able to get it at a better price, due the the £ collapsing post Brexit!
Not to get deep into politics here. But I recently learned that every new primeminister decied on 1 of 4 different pre set orders that then are sealed and placed in a safe on all british nuclear subs. If a sub loses connection with administration that order dictates how they are to respond. Now, since learning that I have been wondering about what Boris decided on..
I have no qualms about ordering online, other than that I cant demo the bike first. That is a draw back and depends on return policies. I have been concidering strongly the Canyon Grail so, not out of the question.
Thank you for your input!0 -
Update:
I have been demoing the Silex 600 and can get a decent deal on it. It is just that I dont like how it looks.
The Silex ticks all the boxes, other than that it has a PF BB. But that can be swapped out if it starts making noices. Is it dumb of me to not get the bike due to the looks?0 -
Have you seen the topstone tiagra for 2020? Come with proper hydro brakes and looks good in silver.
Also the Cube NuRoad race FE grabs my attention due to the dyno lighting and racks and guards fitted. Just the press fit BB as a negative and no-where to try for size for me.0 -
AndyH01 wrote:If you have a cc bike could you not use that?
Have you.looked at Keniesis or Mason - maybe a bit over budget.
I have a Mason Bokeh 4 season adventure/gravel bike option to run 700c or 650b wide tyres various build options.
I’ve recently bought a Kinesis G2 for similar use, meets most of your requirements with full SRAM Apex, 38mm tyres, threaded BB, rack and mudguard mounts, no fork mounts though. RRP is £1500 bu available at a few places for £1350 so in budget.0 -
I recently got this from Epic cycles as they use the green commute cycle to work scheme (10kmax).
Got it as versatile gravel/commute/winter bike and simply cannot fault it, proper nice ride - I tend to choose it over my supersix even with gravel tyres on for anything up to 17/18 at my club.
Think it ticks all tour boxes?
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Orbea-Terra-H3 ... 127522.htm0 -
Hi can recommend the Trek Checkpoint ALR 4 which I got for 1,400 pounds. Has room for up to 45mm tyres and mounts for full mudguards. Shimano Tiagra and hydraulic Tiagra brakes. I currently have it on Continental 32mm road tyres and it is great for commuting. V comfortable and good for longer weekend rides too.
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