I’m edging closer and closer to New Bike Day. I’m looking for a true All Rounder - that mostly is an outstanding Road Bike, but with a switch of tires or wheels can handle light Gravel and dirt usage and be pushed reasonably far in that way.
One of the bikes that has attracted my attention has been the Canadian T-Lab Titanium Line. There are connections here to the former Guru bikes - which had a GREAT reputation. I really like the looks and what has been said in reviews about the T-Lab R3 Omni bike - https://t-lab-bikes.com/en-ca/bikes/r3-omni
If I remember correctly, you have a Cervelo R3, right? Seems to me that you just want a bike that’s called the R3
I have not much else to say, as I too am considering a new bike - but I have an Open UP for gravel (and sometimes road) and am considering replacing my 2014 Cervelo R3 with a new Soloist…
Looks like a fine bike, decent geometry.
Have seen a few of them around here.
A bit limited if you want to do true gravel or a bit of bikepacking, but it doesn’t sound like that is in your use case.
A bit limited if you want to do true gravel or a bit of bikepacking, but it doesn’t sound like that is in your use case.
“Gravel” for me is Rail Trails and decent gravel and dirt roads. A typical ride for me these days is often 2/3s road and 1/3 gravel/dirt. I’ll either link up other routes with sections on dedicated Rail Trails, or when the pavement ends on a paved road and it turns to gravel - I just keep going!
I have a Litespeed Ultimate Gravel as my “all arounder” bike. I love it. I have a pair of 60 depth race wheels, and a pair of gravel wheels. I would say that bike is worth a look. I do love it, and it is fitting the bill really well. As much as I do want a dedicated aero bike, or climbing bike, its been hard to justify the cost of one. With the road race wheels, it feels incredible on the road, and is super responsive.
I recently got a Lynskey “pro racing” frame and I’m amazed with how well it doubles as an all road bike. 35s clear fine. I even raced cx with it, though muddy knobbied would be trouble. Toe overlap wasn’t great. It was way too stiff to be a dedicated off road bike. But in a pinch it’s great.
I have a No.22 Drifter with two sets of wheels. The 700s are used for road, road/gravel, and tame gravel. The second set is 650Bs that I take on chunky gravel, single tracks, and just anywhere except for rock gardens (but to be honest, I wouldn’t ride a rock garden even with a full suspension mtn bike).
I really enjoy everything about this bike, a confident ride that lets me take the road or path less traveled on a whim.
I’ve made the swap to ride my steel gravel bike almost all the time (except racing or very hilly rides)
I waffle between 35-38 tires on the road, because the ride quality is so superior vs 28s. I rarely ride chunky stuff, but I can fit knobby 38s if I need to
My only concern w that bike is it only goes up to 35, so your ability to ride chunkier stuff someday might be limited
I have a No.22 Drifter with two sets of wheels. The 700s are used for road, road/gravel, and tame gravel. The second set is 650Bs that I take on chunky gravel, single tracks, and just anywhere except for rock gardens (but to be honest, I wouldn’t ride a rock garden even with a full suspension mtn bike).
I really enjoy everything about this bike, a confident ride that lets me take the road or path less traveled on a whim.
I would love to own a No.22 bike. They are absolutely beautiful.
For a lower cost ti bike, check out black heart bike co.
Looks like a great deal. The bikes are made over seas but the company is based in CA. The lines are clean and simple. Build kit looks good for the price (various sram or shimano groups with zipp stem, ti post, hunt wheels, continental Terra speed tires). Geometry is a little longer and lower than the No22 drifter. Not quite as long and low as the 3t Exploro and not nearly as long and low as an allied echo (both are carbon bikes and not ti).
I have a No.22 Drifter with two sets of wheels. The 700s are used for road, road/gravel, and tame gravel. The second set is 650Bs that I take on chunky gravel, single tracks, and just anywhere except for rock gardens (but to be honest, I wouldn’t ride a rock garden even with a full suspension mtn bike).
I really enjoy everything about this bike, a confident ride that lets me take the road or path less traveled on a whim.
I would love to own a No.22 bike. They are absolutely beautiful.
For a lower cost ti bike, check out black heart bike co.
Looks like a great deal. The bikes are made over seas but the company is based in CA. The lines are clean and simple. Build kit looks good for the price (various sram or shimano groups with zipp stem, ti post, hunt wheels, continental Terra speed tires). Geometry is a little longer and lower than the No22 drifter. Not quite as long and low as the 3t Exploro and not nearly as long and low as an allied echo (both are carbon bikes and not ti).
Blackheart owner here and it absolutely fits the bill! It’s my daily roadie with 40mm carbon wheels running slick 30s but then is transformed into a gravel bike with some knobbies on a 2nd wheelset. The bike has done a BWR with slick 35s as well as a Rock Cobbler with knobby 38s (fork will fit a 42). Heck, I even use it as a pit bike for CX races. Just a super capable frameset!
While my budget supported a Blackheart, I have buddies that have done the same thing with a Stinner and Caletti frames. I think the whole Ti “all road” as a bit of a quiver killer is definitely something worth considering!
My only concern w that bike is it only goes up to 35, so your ability to ride chunkier stuff someday might be limited
It may get to that point where I may get a fully dedicated Gravel Bike, but for now, the All Rounder is a the goal. The classic longer ride for me these days is about a 3+ hour ride in the 90 - 100km range, where about 1/3 of the ride is on rail trails or reasonably good gravel roads, and 2/3s on pavement.
I’m doing that same ride on my road bike with 25C tires, and I have to pick my way along certain sections. With 28 - 32’s I’m assuming that I can just bomb along anything I encounter!
The Argon 18 Krypton has crept into the mix as well since I was last on here!
Look into an OTSO Waheela C, it is a great all rounder. This year I have raced in a crit against one, a CX race against one, been on gravel rides with them and been on road rides with a guy on one. My wife has one that doesn’t see a ton of usage, but it is a damn fine bike.
The TLab v Krypton GF was the decision I just had to make as well. I went with the Krypton frame and built it up myself to hit the budget I had set. It’s fine for fire roads, some mud/rougher gravel, and the post-apocalyptic pavement that passes for road in Montreal, and it’s a dream on smooth paved roads.
The TLab owners I have spoken with are very happy. It was a tough decision for me.
I’m like you in that I used to ride a lot of bad roads and gravel on my CAAD with 25s. With a set of 32s on the Argon, or TLab you’ll be laughing.
The TLab v Krypton GF was the decision I just had to make as well. I went with the Krypton frame and built it up myself to hit the budget I had set. It’s fine for fire roads, some mud/rougher gravel, and the post-apocalyptic pavement that passes for road in Montreal, and it’s a dream on smooth paved roads.
Great minds . . . . The thing that may tip this for me is the Krypton will come with the gruppo that I want Force or Red, but if I go T-Lab - and I want to go that route it’s going to have to be an a la carte build up that will cost considerably more. I can get the Krypton, say with Force AND a second set of wheels for LESS than the a la carte option with the T-Lab!
Either way, I am happy about supporting a Canadian Bike maker!
I was in the same thinking, a one trick pony bike. I bought a custom HALEY Ti bike. I used Trek Emonda geometry and had the stays opened so it could take up to 40 tires. I run as my daily driver 38 IRC Bokkens. Fine for about anything I do and you can hit the dirt just as easy. I figure if I use this bike for a Grand Fondo or such, I’ll swap the tires. Easy. Been very happy with the setup. I never thought I’d have such a bike an d love it.
