I pulled SAG for a buddy who did the 240 mile DAMn last weekend, and now I’m green with envy. Looking for recommendations if anyone else rides gravel, brands, advice.
I’m willing to throw $1,000.00 at a complete (bike only, not counting gear), maybe a little more. Only interested in a 1x build.
In that price range the surly cross check would be a great choice.
http://varsitybike.com/bike/surly-cross-check/
I lust after this…
http://litespeed.com/our-bikes/titanium/adventure/2018-gravel
Might be ‘just a bit’ outside the $1K limit though.
There have been a few discussions and recommendations on the tri forum:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/?post=6280566#p6280566
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/?post=6201678#p6201678
Raleigh makes some really good CX and gravel bikes and they can be had for pretty cheap. The Tamland is a nice bike. If you are a member of any of these Abenity discount groups you can get 40% off Raleigh bikes.
Love my cannondale CX bike. There is a large market of used ones available. I picked up a second superX frame and built it up as a single speed gravel bike.
Love my cannondale CX bike. I started with a cross check and would not recommend it. The cross check is a very versatile bike but heavy.
I have the Cannondale CAADX. Great bike, works awesome for CX, with some 28mm road tires it works great for fall/winter outdoor rides and I am reasonably sure I could get the 40mm gravel tires on there if I wanted. Very comfy bike and not too heavy. I got lucky and got mine in brand new condition with full ultegra for $800 from someone who got carried away at the LBS. The wheels are on the heavy side but everything else is great. Some disc 303’s would make it fly!
i have a litespeed, and a cannondale slate. the slate is really interesting. here’s what you need to know: the bike needs to support tires of 42mm width. what you want is probably “gravel plus” and this wider tire is what i’m talking about. most guys are going for a minimally aggressive tread, but not a slick, like the schwalbe G-One Microskin in 38mm. you’ll be asked to consider either 700c or 650b (27.5"), and the difference is 622mm bead diameter or 584mm. doesn’t matter that much which. you’ll probably want to go thru axle, so, 12mm x 12mm is likely. and of course disc brake.
establish your set of imperatives, and then make your choice. (and take this shit to the tri forum!)
I just built a Seven Red Sky SL.
http://www.sevencycles.com/blog/introducing-project-redsky/
Allows you to ride as more pure road bike or slap much wider tires on it and ride in gravel, etc. Little bit beyond the $1000 price tag though.
Why did you go with the Red Sky vs the Evergreen? Have been looking at these two models and considering options.
Thanks!
I started at pure road bike (axiom SL) and the red sky gave me increased flexibility for some of the local dirt/gravel roads in SE Michigan. I wasn’t interested in disc brakes and the red sky saved me some weight (notbthat it really matters since I’m a good 10 lbs heavier than I should be).
Their blog says main difference between the two is brakes (mid reach vs disc) and tire clearance (red sky up to 33mm and evergreen up to 45mm).
Again - I wanted a road bike with some gravel flexibility.
I lust after this…
http://litespeed.com/...dventure/2018-gravel
Might be ‘just a bit’ outside the $1K limit though.
Me too! Moots has something similar and I day dream about that also.
Thanks all, I appreciate your comments and advice.
Raleigh makes some really good CX and gravel bikes and they can be had for pretty cheap. The Tamland is a nice bike. If you are a member of any of these Abenity discount groups you can get 40% off Raleigh bikes.
I just got a mail yesterday that their Tamland is 25% off. I’ve owned 4 Raleigh’s and think they are very, very good and unfortunately an under the radar company that is probably struggling a little.
In that price range the surly cross check would be a great choice.
http://varsitybike.com/bike/surly-cross-check/
+1 that is what I ride. It’s steel but it’s pretty much the swiss army knife of bikes. Love how I can throw big ass studded snow and mud tires on it throughout the year. Just a fun ride.
Raleigh makes some really good CX and gravel bikes and they can be had for pretty cheap. The Tamland is a nice bike. If you are a member of any of these Abenity discount groups you can get 40% off Raleigh bikes.
I just got a mail yesterday that their Tamland is 25% off. I’ve owned 4 Raleigh’s and think they are very, very good and unfortunately an under the radar company that is probably struggling a little.
They were the original house brand of my LBS when they opened in 2012. Full line of bikes from kids, cruisers, road, mountain, CX/gravel. CX/gravel is where they really did a good job. They built some nice bikes and they were very reasonably priced. The road bikes were okay at first, nothing great, then they recently dumped the road bikes altogether. My LBS dumped them last year after they made it clear they weren’t going to work well with bike shops anymore. The last catalog I saw from them was almost all CX/Gravel, they have a pretty good following in those disciplines.
http://www.saffronframeworks.com/build/andrews-gravel-bike/
I did not write the blurb but went chris king throughout
Thru front and rear
1x
Whiskey front fork
Hydro
Best purchase i have ever made. Aside from looking the dogs bollocks i ride it in place of almost everything
I do need to change tyres but other than that its light
You wont get it for a grand though 
Raleigh makes some really good CX and gravel bikes and they can be had for pretty cheap. The Tamland is a nice bike. If you are a member of any of these Abenity discount groups you can get 40% off Raleigh bikes.
I just got a mail yesterday that their Tamland is 25% off. I’ve owned 4 Raleigh’s and think they are very, very good and unfortunately an under the radar company that is probably struggling a little.
They were the original house brand of my LBS when they opened in 2012. Full line of bikes from kids, cruisers, road, mountain, CX/gravel. CX/gravel is where they really did a good job. They built some nice bikes and they were very reasonably priced. The road bikes were okay at first, nothing great, then they recently dumped the road bikes altogether. My LBS dumped them last year after they made it clear they weren’t going to work well with bike shops anymore. The last catalog I saw from them was almost all CX/Gravel, they have a pretty good following in those disciplines.
Yeah, they changed their model a little with how they are selling. They are just down the road from me and I know a couple people that worked there. I have a Militis and its the best road bike I’ve ever had. Geometry is perfect for me. I also have their cross bike.
Aside from looking the dogs bollocks i ride it in place of almost everything
This part is what I’ve found with my gravel bike (Specialized Tricross)… with 28mm slicks or 28-35mm minimal-tread tires it rolls almost as fast as my road bike, and with 40mm knobbies I’ve ridden it on singletrack I would have normally used my MTB for. Studded tires see me through the winter months (including the aforementioned singletrack with packed-down snow).
(Beautiful Saffron, BTW)
I bought a motobecane xc bike for around 800. Love the bike and love gravel riding. I dont know if it comes in a 1x though.