Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Wide ones are 150£

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But I thought the point of the wide MTB bars was to help push your centre of gravity further forward due to the progressive geo. These on a road bike with space for 40's gonna be pretty light on the rear down hill.

It's all about the forwardz aeroz that's why i ride aerobars down rock gardens and no sick jumps maximum velocity. brought to u by red bull.

A friend of mine is looking to buy a bit of a do it all, steel framed bike. He wants to use it for getting about town, exploring lanes and occasional over night trips. He sent me this which Alp Kit sell that he likes the look of. I believe that's right at the top of his budget at £1,300. I've suggested having a look at a Genesis TDF but not sure what else to recommend. I suppose the question is, what's the closest thing you can buy to an Arkose that's made of steel and costs around £1300 or less?

If he’s happy with sram, hard to go wrong with that

https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/blb-hitchhiker-adventure-bike-version-5-2

A few sizes left.

Are BLB any good these days? I think he'd rather spend a bit extra for a better groupset either way. Thanks for the suggestion though!

The tyre clearance is 700x37. Not enough.

It comes with either 700 or 650b, 47mm on 650b is the claimed max, should be plenty for what he's got in mind I think!

The only people riding 650b are small people and those who bought bike that dont fit decent tyres and have to compromise. 700c is better, unless you're small.

To be honest, I think even 700x37 should be enough for him. Anything else you'd recommend?

late pass, but if this is in stock in his size seems good!

if you wanted to save a little the marin nicasio or four corners are worthy options, but honestly finding 2021 bikes which turn up in the first half of the year is getting harder and harder, if they like the look and they'll ride it, go for it.

https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/2021-four-corners

also i agree, i would want no bigger than 700x35/37 for a "do it all", over that you're into fetish territory

The only people riding 650b are small people and those who bought bike that dont fit decent tyres and have to compromise. 700c is better, unless you're small.

@Tijs

anyone remember gravel riding?

you know like

when it's 22 degrees

it's sort of sunny but could rain

you got some like, checked shirt on, bibs under some dickies

sun doesn't go down till like 8pm

rona numbers are low enough to feel good cycling with some pals and keep nodders in the pubs

the bridal paths are dry and crisp

you dont need to hose your bike down after

when you breath in your lungs dont feel like icicles

you're worrying about if you have enough water, not about if you have the layers

you just get on your bike, dont agonise over the weather

can cycle mid week because it's not dark after work

your brakes dont squeal

honestly, just want it back, feel like pure shit

Gravel riding has passed away. RIP u will live on forever. Cant believe it. I wanna run to u. Really cant believe this. @

this is now a memorial thread :<

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The only people riding 650b are small people

:(

This is my gravel bike now, it just does road and the odd cyclepath. I remember vaguely having another wheelset with bigger tires, knobs and a massive 46t cassette, not used it in months.
RIP gravel, we had a good summer.

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lighting a candle in your knobbly wheelsets honour

Nice bike! How do you rate those Exposures? Are they set up tubeless?

The only people riding 650b are small people

Oh.....

Even with 2.25’s?

They're reliable high mileage tires so far. been riding a lot of winter miles in terrible conditions, only got one flat so far, plug and go. Not as fast as the gravelkings I had before, but not as fragile, and they're staying mounted tubeless a lot better too.
Massive bargain for £13 each

my main riding buddy has the Open Up. Nice looking bike although I cant believe how much it cost. It gets him around well though and no issues re riding carbon off road.

Here he is with another riding mate (on a 26" MTB) riding part of the SDW back in those warm, lazy days of summer

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That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear, I’m about to put them on a winter bike, and this couldn’t have been a better review.
I also got mine in a sale on wiggle where they were cheap as chips, maybe £13.
Thanks

Second maj's recommendation of the marin 4 corners. Not too pricey, comes up second hand sometimes, great clearance. Retro braking but at the price it's not bad.

700 x 37 is for inner city commuters, which is fine, but if you want to "explore" and do a few trips, you need more than that unless you love close passes.