Hi everybody,
I have only been riding on the road for a couple of years, mainly commuting. My work has changed location, and I am finding it hard to currently cycle to work as the road I need to ride on is too dangerous due to its narrowness and the high volume of trucks passing at 100kph.
But. I do have the option of riding a parallel route about 24km of graded dirt and gravel, mostly firm packed, and my brain has been mulling over if a gravel bike might be another option. The gravel road would kill my road bike, but I imagine that the gravel ones are a bit more robust.
Not being flash with cash, I would be looking at something from the very bottom of the market. The real bottom of the new market that is. Bikes like:
A. Pedal Raider Cyclocross.
B. Reid Original Gravel,
C. Reid Granite 1.0 Gravel,
D. Progear GR-150 Gravel, (don’t cringe), or
E. Build something myself out of an older steel framed bike.
Thoughts please.
Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
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Re: Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
Postby warthog1 » Sun Jan 29, 2023 10:47 am
I would be off that road and onto the gravel quick smart too.
Safer and far more pleasant.
I had a quick look at those bikes.
They are pretty basic but would do the job.
I would go for one that has clearance for larger tyres. 40c minimum.
Larger tyres come in handy as the road gets rougher. Corrugations are better on larger tyres.
You might keep an eye out on FB marketplace or gumtree for a second hand goer too.
Safer and far more pleasant.
I had a quick look at those bikes.
They are pretty basic but would do the job.
I would go for one that has clearance for larger tyres. 40c minimum.
Larger tyres come in handy as the road gets rougher. Corrugations are better on larger tyres.
You might keep an eye out on FB marketplace or gumtree for a second hand goer too.
Dogs are the best people
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Re: Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
Postby MichaelB » Sun Jan 29, 2023 5:04 pm
That Progear is not a bad deal, especially $369. Delivery to me in Radelaide is $65
Hmmmmm
Micro shift R8 research about to start
Hmmmmm
Micro shift R8 research about to start
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Re: Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
Postby owly » Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:19 am
If the surface is fairly packed and tame I'd consider looking around for an old cyclocross canti-brake bike.
One that takes a 33mm+.
One that takes a 33mm+.
MUFC
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Re: Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
Postby Calvin27 » Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:00 am
Used market is your best friend. Not only can you get slightyl better specs for the price, but the bikes on your list go for peanuts used as well.
Personalyl I'd go the reid granite of that list, but seriously you can pick up unloved brands like GT grade with sora groupset for like $500.
The other idea is to just go flat bar which will get you a a much better speced bike compared to drop bar version.
Personalyl I'd go the reid granite of that list, but seriously you can pick up unloved brands like GT grade with sora groupset for like $500.
The other idea is to just go flat bar which will get you a a much better speced bike compared to drop bar version.
Heavy road bike
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike
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Re: Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
Postby warthog1 » Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:13 am
But then you are stuck with flat bars
Expensive to change due to the controls.
Expensive to change due to the controls.
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Re: Entry Level Gravel Bikes.
Postby MichaelB » Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:44 pm
Been trying that for quite some time with SFA luck.Calvin27 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:00 amUsed market is your best friend. Not only can you get slightyl better specs for the price, but the bikes on your list go for peanuts used as well.
Personalyl I'd go the reid granite of that list, but seriously you can pick up unloved brands like GT grade with sora groupset for like $500.
The other idea is to just go flat bar which will get you a a much better speced bike compared to drop bar version.
Typically they are (in order of wrongness) ;
- expensive
- wrong size
- hybrid bikes (crappy front suspension)
- just plain BSO's that are not well looked after
Hence looking at new, with Reid Granite Original (steel & $549) or 99bike Pedal Raider 2 (alloy & $599). Essentially, only differences are frame material, tyres and cassette size.
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