Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Think the bars look like they are straight ones with aero style extensions with a bar in between them for more mounting space.

this bike got him 1st on tour divide SS / 2nd overall so I think it works
dorky bars: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk--4FWhaBj/

Not saying it doesn't work, it's great. Just a lot of comment-worthy stuff

I think the stays are an alternative to the dropped chainstays like the OPEN UP, clearing big tyres and cranksets without lengthening stays.

It's an evolution of E-Stays in one form or the other.
The design comes and goes in popularity and has been about since the 90's. Nishiki I believe were early experimenters. I can't be arsed to look it up.

They had a lot of benefits but a lot of draw backs too. Might be better now with materials advances.

Fairlight Secan? Bit spenny but gets very positive reviews

If you’re okay building yourself I’m happy to recommend the Kinesis Tripster AT. Not super light but I love it

Will check it out! Thanks for the heads up.

@EagleEyez @PhilDAS To be honest I'm not against getting an arkose. They seem to be great value for money! I just wanted to know if there was something new in gravel town ;-) .
The arkose X for example is much cheaper than the marin or the Ribble. It comes with the same groupset, but has internal routing for dynamo (not exactly a requirement but might become useful if I ever want to push a little further).

@PhilDAS

But fit it like a road bike, lower front, long stem or it’ll just be boring all round

I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean that it's better as a road bike with some possibilities to go for a bit of unpsved roads? Or just that the geometry works better with a road bike like fitting?

@spinnnout I'll probably go and test the Ribble if I've not bought anything at that point. Thanks!

@kimchi I'm affraid this will be above my budget. But it does look nice!

Has anyone tried the planet X space chicken or tempest? They also seems like good value for money. Both coming with Sram force (instead of rival). But shall I be worried by the planetX quality? I've never seen on of their bike in real life.

It’s not fantastic as a road bike. Doesn’t feel particularly slow and I could easily forget that there is any difference, until I got on my CAAD disc which felt like an absolute rocket ship in comparison.

What I meant regarding the fit is that I bought it 2nd hand but as a complete build and it felt very hybridy... short stem and high stack. I suspect this is how most people ride them.
I slammed it with a 120mm stem to replicate my road bike which made the handling much more predictable and more road bike-like. I preferred it this way but that’s just my experience. It was absolutely fantastic smashing around on gravel paths with 20psi in 42mm tyres.

Carbon cx fork that can take lowriders?

The fyxation Sparta cannot!

Spork?

I had an arkose. It's fine, but if you want a more nervous, lower ride it could be a bit tame.
Not that I'd like to ride cross with my knees on the chest, but for just road I'd rather have a more aggressive ride

Exactly

There was guy on the London Gravel ride in October on one on the Tempest, he said it wasn't great and was quite weighty. I think with them, and like with any other cheaper carbon carbon bikes they offer a lot of bang for the buck on paper but, in real life they're not all that great.

Ultimately for gravel bikes that handle like road bikes I think the answer is a not so trendy CX bike.
Gravel has become synonymous with slack, laid back and comfy

Does anyone have experience with the 2018/19 Fugio?

Think it would be more of a road bike with a pair of 700c wheels on it?

Having serious trouble choosing whether to get a cdf or Fugio.

Will be riding lots of road(some long distance and brevets), but would like all road potential...

Was pondering if the Fugio with 700x40 would make a good poor mans strelbel...

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Friend has one, it’s cool. I’d happily ride one.

I'd say de the CdF is a bit more road like

Fugio is heavy

TCX

tcx

TCX are pretty pricey.

The Fugio is 200g more than cdf 30. Carbon fork though.

But I guess the wheels might be where you would loose weight on both of them, a part from carbon fork on cdf too – although steel might ride nice.

It’s a pity I can’t test ride both of them, my lbs only stocks the cdf.

Just bought the Triban 520, mainly for a winter road bike, but will be using it off the road at weekends etc.. wanted to fit some 700 x 32's was going to just fit Gatorskins, but am now thinking of going tubeless with Schwalbe X-One Speed MicroSkins.. Haven't ever ridden them, is it worth the faff..

but will be using it off the road at weekends...

The Triban 520 will clear 32mm with aplomb, however, the clearance is very tight for riding off the beaten path, I would advise against this, especially since the knob will stick out a bit further than a slick 33mm tyres.

Maybe this Clement in 32mm might be a bit better as it's slightly lower profile, and a good combination for on and off road (with a tweak in tyres pressure)

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYCLMSOXP/clement-xplor-mso-tyre

£21 too.

Alternately the smaller Schwalbe CX Comp in 30mm is also a good shout and have enough knob but decent on the road, can be found for a tenner if you look around;

I've used both of these, much prefer the clement for anything less than mud