Dubman Millsy Ah right. My sons bike has rock shox or whatever its called on the front fork and you can switch that on and off. If you fix it does it ride better on the road? Yes it would ride better on the road but not as good as a grave bike. Whereas it would be more comfortable off road.
Hursty Sonder Camino or Calibri. Wife has just got the calibri and it’s great, versatile for road and gravel and won’t break the bank. sub company of the fantastic Alpkit brand.
Along_the_Wire Pick from here, Millsy. There’s a wide range, the one for £800 in there new. If you’re looking at a decent second-hand one, the expensive ones here will be a good kind in terms of brand and type. https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-gravel-bikes/ I’ve refused to get one, but so many of my mates have now got one, I’m gonna be an outlier at some point over the summer.
RichM Along_the_Wire is a gravel bike a better version of a hybrid? I’m after a bike to just cycle around the countryside a bit at weekends and the odd journey to the station when heading into London. Therefore don’t need anything expensive
Millsy Cheers dude. Slim pickings on the usual second hand places (Gum tree etc). Is there a Mamil gathering place online I can tap up for a decent second hand one under a grand? Just dipping my toe.
Hursty Millsy https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-camino-al-v3-apex1-mechanical Flat bar version is under £900 if you don’t fancy drops
Along_the_Wire Millsy Getting a new bike is tricky - lock down has cleaned a lot of places out. There’s a good new bike in there for under £900. Ribble do great bikes - they’ve got some excellent gravel bikes at £1,100. Decathalon’s new brand Triban is decent too.
Dubman Just got back from my first ride out since early January so I was expecting to really struggle up the hills. But I fitted an oval chainring a few weeks ago and I hardly struggled at all. Not sure if it was the ring that helped.
Along_the_Wire It sure they would make that much difference, just probably a good day. Oval rings do make a difference, but it’s marginal
Dubman Millsy I went down the route of buying a used bike. Had a set amount for what I was willing to pay. But then I started thinking if up my amount by say £500 I could get that bike. I ended up buying a brand new bike in the end. Sure you spend more but it’s having that piece of mind that if anything goes wrong your covered buy the warranty.
Dubman Millsy That’s a no brainer if you can afford it. Will you’re cycling be mainly on the road or off road.
Millsy Dubman bit of both. Thinking of razzing it up around the purbecks and Dorset coast at the weekends once in a while. Just like the feel of spandex if I’m being honest
