Further help in choosing an entry level gravel bike

ralph.dickinson
ralph.dickinson Posts: 12
edited April 2020 in Road buying advice
Hi all

Last week, some of you kindly advised on which bike I should choose out of a selection below.

To be honest the responses were pretty evenly split.

To summarise, I'm looking for my first gravel bike. I'm not able to spend more than £1000, and I'm weighing up these two bikes.

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-g1-tiagra-gravel-bike-2020-147541.html

And

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc520-gravel-id_8504030.html

Or... Could u just add gravel tyres to this??

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-520-disc-road-bike-navy-105-id_8554421.html

Since then I have stumbled upon another option. I'm now leaning towards this, but again - I'd value the forum's thoughts.

https://www.merlincycles.com/wilier-jareen-race-tiagra-gravel-bike-179193.html

Just so you know, I'm looking to do a tiny bit of road, but mostly forest tracks. (Road will principally be riding to the forest) Longest outings would be 4-5hrs. No real bike packing atm. Looking for a solid, tough bike that will serve me well, come rain or shine for a few years.

Many thanks
Ralph

Comments

  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,833
    Definitely the Wilier if it has full hydraulic brakes which the description suggests it does.
  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    Wow, the Willier has an alloy fork. That's not something you'd expect nowadays on a bike that costs £900.

    If your budget stretches this far then this is a good deal:

    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-g1x-apex-1-gravel-bike-2020-150729.html
  • ralph.dickinson
    ralph.dickinson Posts: 12
    joe_totale-2 said:

    Wow, the Willier has an alloy fork. That's not something you'd expect nowadays on a bike that costs £900.

    If your budget stretches this far then this is a good deal:

    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-g1x-apex-1-gravel-bike-2020-150729.html

    Yeah I know, that was the compromise on this one. The malt g1x you linked to does look good, but I'm just not sure how I feel about that single front cog. Where I live is very hilly and I think I'd want some more gear options...
  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    ralph.dickinson said:

    joe_totale-2 said:

    Wow, the Willier has an alloy fork. That's not something you'd expect nowadays on a bike that costs £900.

    If your budget stretches this far then this is a good deal:

    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-g1x-apex-1-gravel-bike-2020-150729.html

    Yeah I know, that was the compromise on this one. The malt g1x you linked to does look good, but I'm just not sure how I feel about that single front cog. Where I live is very hilly and I think I'd want some more gear options...
    The smallest gear on the Malt G1x I linked to is a 1:1 gear (42:42) which is actually smaller than the smallest gear on the other Malt G and the two Tribans. Only the Willier has a 1:1 smallest gear as well.

    The biggest issue with 1x in my own experience is actually at the other end, the biggest gear isn't as fast as on the other bikes with 2x set ups.

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