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Beautiful day to ride a bike!

vbrad26
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Just to throw a few random ones out there- Canyon Grizl or if you want something a little more rugged Surly Grappler
Salsa has a few different gravel bikes as well.
 
YYTIN
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vbrad26 vbrad26
Just to throw a few random ones out there- Canyon Grizl or if you want something a little more rugged Surly Grappler
Salsa has a few different gravel bikes as well.
Thanks : I'll look at those !
 
30t1
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Last race of the year, 120k altitude and a on/off storm all day. Got the buckle

1E828B9F-C875-4E0C-8012-C1EE6E93C77B.jpeg 275C7CC7-DDC2-4BF2-AD75-8433A16D001E.jpeg
 
vbrad26
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Even though I've seen it before, every time you post a picture of the full quiver it blows my mind.
 
Jones in LA
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I've only owned/ridden two mountain bikes over the past 36 years (not counting the Klein aluminum frame I owned briefly in 1998 before it was stolen). My first was a no-suspension Specialized Rockhopper, purchased in 1988, and first ridden on Moab's Slickrock Trail (Slickrock was my very first mountain bike ride, period). My second mountain bike was a Santa Cruz Superlight, purchased in 2000, and ridden until it didn't have much left to give. Then, this past Winter one of my sons-in-law decided to build the lightest, cheapest hardtail he could, using individual components purchased online. He had minimum objectives regarding functionality, reliability, and durability, but "lightest and cheapest" was his guide. I was admiring his creation in his basement when he said to me: "Take it with you, try it, and if you like it, keep it. Just give me back the wheels if you decide to keep it" (the rims were pricey, carbon fiber types). I did take it home, tested it on some local trails (near our new home in Sonoma), and found it to be the best bike I've ever ridden. So I had a new wheel set made up at a local bike shop, and gave back the pricey wheels.

Much about this bike was completely foreign to me: carbon fiber frame, hydraulic disc brakes, a single chain ring, collapsible seat post. I'm still getting used to it, but in a good way. My son-in-law's name initials are T.G., so I call my bike the TG-HT-1A Prototype (version "A" denoting the second wheel set).

IMG_2661.jpg IMG_2660.jpg IMG_2717.jpg
Edited:
 
DaveK
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Finished making my handlebar bag today. 🥳🥳🥳 All hand cut and hand sewn in vegetable-tanned leather. I had a Pennyfarthing ink stamp made up on Etsy, and applied it with archival ink, which is nice and stable on leather. There are days when you need to bring along all your house keys & bike keys, a wallet and a snack and…and…. This will be handy.

IMG_0497.jpeg IMG_0498.jpeg IMG_0487.jpeg IMG_0496.jpeg
 
DaveK
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YYTIN YYTIN
Hi there

Thought I would ask a bike question here on OF - remembering this thread.

I'm complete newbie on bike : I usually go hiking/trekking - this is my way of enjoying the outdoor.
And I'm thinking about a new way to explore but with a bike 😀 to cross more miles for the same period of time. So no intent to look for extreme performance or racing (and by the way my only intents - following some friends - reveal to me that with my strong myopia I can only see the obstacles at the last minute - which is no good for going down fast in the wild).
This bikepacking could be for a day, a week or more. And I'm also thinking about doing this with my kids when they grow up a bit (so need place to carry stuff).
Though the same bike should be ok to be used on a regular basis for my city life - as I don't plan to have multiple bikes (And I should stick to my word on this as, contrary to watch, room will be an issue if I don't).

I'm living in a low mountain region in France (low but still you have to climb them) and I'm looking for a bike as polyvalent as possible then.
As in the watch world I could start by buying a 'first entry good enough to enjoy' or 'a (very) good one I will keep longer'. The budget I'm thinking about - 2K to 5K€ - should allow something like this (I've noticed there are much more expensive solutions).

With what I mentioned to a bike shop I got confirmed a 'gravel' bike will be a good choice. And I was proposed a Genesis Croix de Fer 20 model... and then I checked back on internet, saw a titanium version and here I am thinking about what would be a smart choice.

So my criteria are :
- Polyvalent (from road to paths, ok to climb some mountains or to go buy some bread the weekend + from travelling with very limited weight up to go for a real bikepacking adventure)
- Durable and endurant
- Easy to maintain and repair
- and Comfort : to make it easy to go for a long period.
- and possibly easy to upgrade

My own internet search leads me to think that what would be good for my purpose is :
- a Gravel bike indeed
- with a steel or titanium frame
- a Mechanical transmission 2x11 at least (Shimano) Or for an electric one (SRAM)
- ideally with hydraulic brakes

After that I understand I could change/upgrade the wheels for instance (to carbon ones for instance if I don't have them).

In addition to the Genesis brand mentioned, I've started to look at canyondale (Topstone range), Trek (Checkpoint range) etc
I'm ok to buy used (2 to 3 years old) if it makes more sense even though this will be tough to trust myself checking everything is fine and that the actual frame is good for my size (I'm 174cm tall).

Any recommendation ? Ideas of models/brands to look for ?

Thanks for your help 😀



This was my shortlist from when my wife and I were shopping last year. Prices in CAD. We went with the Giant and the Liv, so servicing could be done at one place. These would all be at the low end of your budget.

I love it, but... gravel bikes don't have the low gears that my mountain bike do, nor the big ones a road bike would.

I couldn't get the full spreadsheet to post, but DM me if that'd be helpful


GiantRevolt 1
LivDevote 1
BrodieRomax Comp
SpecializedDiverge Elite E5
Rocky MountainSolo 50
KonaRove DL
 
BPD
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30t1 30t1
Last race of the year, 120k altitude and a on/off storm all day. Got the buckle

1E828B9F-C875-4E0C-8012-C1EE6E93C77B.jpeg 275C7CC7-DDC2-4BF2-AD75-8433A16D001E.jpeg
Nicely done! Congrats!
 
BPD
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YYTIN YYTIN
Thanks : I'll look at those !
For the Canyons, I highly suggest that you test ride one first. I was thinking of picking up the Grail but when I tested one, the geometry was way off so I went with the Giant Revolt.
 
DaveK
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Took the handlebar bag out for a test run on the weekend.

IMG_0549.jpeg IMG_0524.jpeg

Found a magnificent old cotton wood

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.
This farm has the road running right through the middle of it. Must have seemed like a bonus for them way back in the day, maybe not so much any more

IMG_0516.jpeg IMG_0522.jpeg IMG_0533.jpeg
 
DaveK
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30t1 30t1
Last race of the year, 120k altitude and a on/off storm all day. Got the buckle

1E828B9F-C875-4E0C-8012-C1EE6E93C77B.jpeg 275C7CC7-DDC2-4BF2-AD75-8433A16D001E.jpeg
Great work!
 
vbrad26
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BPD BPD
For the Canyons, I highly suggest that you test ride one first. I was thinking of picking up the Grail but when I tested one, the geometry was way off so I went with the Giant Revolt.
I really like the Canyon options. But that is my one hold up. How did you "test one"?
Whichever bike I end up with next, however, I will be getting a re-fit.
My last fit was over 10 years ago and my body has changed a bit, and not for the better lol.
 
BPD
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vbrad26 vbrad26
I really like the Canyon options. But that is my one hold up. How did you "test one"?
Whichever bike I end up with next, however, I will be getting a re-fit.
My last fit was over 10 years ago and my body has changed a bit, and not for the better lol.
Sorry, the better phase to use would have been 'demoed one'. The Sea Otter Classic, which is a massive MTB event did a stop up in my neck of the woods and Canyon had a tent set up to showcase their bikes along with offering bikes to the general public to demoed. I tried the Grail and loved the overall feeling of the ride but unfortunately, the size and geometry just didn't fit right.
 
sonicosa
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DaveK DaveK
Finished making my handlebar bag today. 🥳🥳🥳 All hand cut and hand sewn in vegetable-tanned leather. I had a Pennyfarthing ink stamp made up on Etsy, and applied it with archival ink, which is nice and stable on leather. There are days when you need to bring along all your house keys & bike keys, a wallet and a snack and…and…. This will be handy.

IMG_0497.jpeg IMG_0498.jpeg IMG_0487.jpeg IMG_0496.jpeg
That handlebar bag is the bees knees.
 
DaveK
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sonicosa sonicosa
That handlebar bag is the bees knees.
Thanks very much. I’m enjoying it
 
DaveK
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Out in the country again yesterday 😀. Lots of quiet roads with little to no traffic. The cranberry harvest has already started in some fields. If you’ve never seen them, cranberry fields are completely underwhelming to look at , until they’ve been flooded and the berries are coaxed to the surface.

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But look close and there they are

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I'll post some pics of the harvest in a few weeks.
 
YYTIN
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DaveK DaveK
This was my shortlist from when my wife and I were shopping last year. Prices in CAD. We went with the Giant and the Liv, so servicing could be done at one place. These would all be at the low end of your budget.

I love it, but... gravel bikes don't have the low gears that my mountain bike do, nor the big ones a road bike would.

I couldn't get the full spreadsheet to post, but DM me if that'd be helpful


GiantRevolt 1
LivDevote 1
BrodieRomax Comp
SpecializedDiverge Elite E5
Rocky MountainSolo 50
KonaRove DL
Hi again

I missed your answers to my post, sorry.

After some intensive research, I did my own shortlist (taking into account availability where I am) and I finally ordered from the UK a Fairlight Secan 2.5, it should arrive in late November.

I’ll post a picture when it’s here. Fairlight faran also looked great… and for what it worths the main contender was the Brothers Mehteh proposed by a local shop. And during my research I realize I had a great custom builder just in my neighborhood (Cycle Victoire) but the entry ticket was just too high (>10k€) for a starting point but I know there are here 😗.

Now I need to get it and get out !

My kids are also getting equipped to do some biking holidays & short trips together (they will get the woom explore).

Thanks for all the recommendations. And for this inspiring thread.
Edited:
 
vbrad26
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Never heard of them so I looked them up.
Looks like a nice build!
 
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