Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

i believe a 29r with rim brakes would be regressive, even with slack geo, because the rim brake is the dominant trait,

they would sit with anyone who owns a crust bikes or people who insist "touring bikes" are "gravel bikes" and people who think it's funny to go "hahah it's a hybrid", in the lower right quadrant to varying degrees

pretty much stem lords of the gravel bike world, technically correct for the most part, but stem lord none the less

Despite 59% of them believing that there is "no gravel" in the UK, survey respondents are generally supportive of gravel bikes:

Is the whole gravel bike thing a fad?

98 responses

35.7% - Yes, it's just a way to sell bikes
64.3% - No, I actually like it and/or they're practical

Around 2/3rds of people that frequent a gravel thread think gravel bikes are ok. Seems high to me.

35.7% - I'm a roof rack xunt

Most UK gravel routes are best tackled with a horse.

I stand for 650b 2.25", disk brakes, wide bars and bikepacking but reject carbon frames/rims and sub-70° head angles.

Am I a cursed progressive-leaning centrist? Tony Blair on wheels?

Am I a cursed progressive-leaning centrist? Gordon Brown on wheels?

Words of a true savant.

hhsgb please, weirdo reflector and trendy bartape does not hide that this is a gramil wagon

Has it not been proven that every bike is a gravel bike, and if this thread was anti gravel bike. That would make it a thread in a bike forum that was anti bike.

I am tyrekicking a new frame for a bit of this offroadie/ gravel path stuff
Used to do a bit of XC multiday stuff, but thats a long time ago.

I quite fancy a Santa Cruz Stigmata, but the Condor Bivio looks cool too.
90% of use will be SE England in the summer.

anyone here have either and can share some sage advice/thoughts?

TIA

I know a few that have a stigmata and rave about them. But personal stack is pretty extensive as is the price tag. And I got as far as pricing up a bivio and putting a hold on the pre order, but couldn't justify the extra few hundred and ended up going for a kinesis tripster at. Yeah it's fugly but great value.
Ive also just built up a 90s MTB frame I got of eBay for £70, perfectly usable.

Those shame flags that I see on radavist bikes...is there a specific state in the US that demands them, or are they fashion a thing like the dangle mug?

I think 40-42mm tyres is the sweet spot for that kind of riding. Except for the downs, you will be linking bridleways etc so something good for road too is ideal.

Winter is a different story. I would get an MTB for that, or just stick to the road when it gets too wet.

Thanks both.
I am very fortunate that I have road bikes for sticking to road, which has been my staple for last 7 or so years, so dual purpose is not really an issue.
I guess the endorsement of users for the SC is good.
There is £700 price difference, which is substantial...but not insurmountable

I don't think I could bring myself to buy an expensive gravel bike/frame - I've had my arkose a year and it's already so ratty from rock strikes, bag rub etc.

that would be harrowing on a v expensive counterpart

as it is though, I have absolutely no reservations about rallying the arkose

Retrospectively this makes a lot of sense. My Pfadfinder is pretty scratched already with at least one proper chip in the paint. It’s a couple of months old and I’d be mortified if it was a road bike. Decided that I bought this bike for a purpose though so making sure I have fun on it.

I would bang tbf, but wi.de more appealing...

If anyone wants to try a canyon you can do so at foothills of Denbies Estate near box mountain...

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I really couldn't with those bars- my Surly Truckstops are bad enough visually but great for my aged spine

I don't think I could bring myself to buy an expensive gravel bike/frame

I definitely like not giving a shit about the Kinesis.

This one thing that puts a Tripster ahead of a Bokeh for me...

I try to look after my Tripster but I'm not stressed about it when I hear rock strikes, bounce over potholes etc. With my normal road bike, I'm far more concerned about the wheels, frame etc.

yeah I treat my road bike like a little baby - my arkose otoh gets thrown off kerbs, over fields of chuckies etc

Of course, it wasn’t meant as a slight. The Bokeh is twice the price, has a few nicer touches.
I look after my road bike but I also ride it where I doubt many would take such a set up. Bikes are to be ridden not wrapped in cotton wool IMO

Now if someone will just sell me their XL/ 60cm frame that’d be great