Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Weeing.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Spamming some events in the south west of England;

https://www.bagman.website/cotswoldcross/
https://www.haldonheroic.co.uk/index.php/routes/cx-mega-route
https://www.honc.org.uk/

Herd immunity dependent obvs.

Fun fact: The beach in the background is about the only nudie one I know of in Oz. So riding the ridge line, you might spot the occasional pee wee from afar.

Is that the one near Adelaide?

Yep. Maslins beach.

Yeah, I've been there many years ago..

Where, I can only see an empty beach.

Amazing camo, no?

So ... 2021 is my 40th year, and I want to treat myself to a new bike. Specifically something steel that will take a broad range of tyres (and maybe allow me to switch in 650 wheels) to allow me to take advantage of the trails here in Spain but also climb the mountains on the roads. I have a budget of ~€3000, but preferably less. Currently my shortlist consist of the following, in this order:

1. Fairlight Secan 2.0 (with GRX800)
   
2. Genesis Croix de Fer 50
   
3. Temple Adventure Disc 1
   
   

I've looked at Mason and Bombtrack, but unless I've missed something they're more expensive than the above for little gain.

Anything else I should be considering? Anyone owned any of the above and have any ideas or opinions?

Fairlight Secan 2.0 (with GRX800)

Miles 'better' than the other two

Since you are in Spain maybe the Nordest Albarda?

I wonder if they could ship the frames from Italy to EU customers to skip the brexit issues.

Sorry, I had looked at them too, but that seat tube. I just can't...

So second question ... is GRX800 worth it over 600? I know little about gravel groups compared to road, but have never ridden more than 105 and always been happy enough.

I've been wondering this. It's a bit complicated as 600 isn't really a groupset (levers and chainsets, but no derailleurs or calipers).

This is pretty comprehensive on that: https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/your-complete-guide-shimanos-grx-gravel-groupset-271025.

The 2x chainsets have different ratios though.

800 is about 105, 600 is more like tiagra if that makes sense

800 ultegra, 600 105 and 400 Tiagra

Just because your favourite youtuber has one

I'm very happy with 600 which is about 105 but
IMO betterer, you also get the 800 ultegra equivalent mech with it, as that's all there is 11 speed, mines a bit of a mishmash with deore calipers and an ultegra front mech. I've worked on enough to say that 600 is plenty good enough, 800 is nicer but not by much.

Ritchey Outback.

£3.5k for the Mason InSearchOf is not as bad as 3k for a Croix de Fer IMHO.

Mason and Ritchey are more mid-life crisisy IMO

A Ritchey is a Harley for wfh liberals.

600 is way more than enough, i geniunely cannot really feel the difference beside hood textile between that and the 800.

I like my Mason.

I'm still waiting on the rest of the insurance payout from the crash that bought it for me though, mind.

Was that from your pothole crash?