Gravel bike choice help

[stephenmarklay]

I love my CS!. I am able to get 25 4000s in it which measure 27 or so. I love love love the lower pressure trend so much I am wondering about getting bike that I can fit a bigger tire yet.

I would still want the bike to be go-fast geo similar to the CSI (road geo) but have more clearance for the gravel days. My friends have cross bikes they use and also have road bikes. I would prefer one tool for the job.

Steel is preferred.

Thoughts?

[Mzilliox]

there are so many thoughts, some very recent
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=203476&highlight=gravel
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=203153&highlight=gravel
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=125867&highlight=gravel

try these to start, find one you like, and buy it.

new or used? budget? compete or frame? cmon man, you know the drill:beer:

[JasonF]

Maybe take some measurements and see if the Serotta is a candidate for a 650b conversion? You get to keep your CSi and run fat tires. Plus, instead of an entirely new bike, you just need to purchase wheels/tires/calipers. I thought about doing this with my Vamoots, but the measurements didn't pan out. I ended up having Dave Kirk build a new frame with very similar geo to the Vamoots, but with much wider clearance.

Check out this helpful link:

http://www.bikeman.com/bikeman-blogs/650blog/1771-650b-conversion-guidlines

[Tony]

Here's a steel gravel bike, Shimano 105, under $1000
http://www.jensonusa.com/Masi-CXGR-Cyclocross-Bike-2016?cs=Black

[ColonelJLloyd]

^ Sounds like the OP wants more than 65mm BB drop. I would too.

What size tire do you want to run?

[Vientomas]

http://www.totalcycling.com/en/Genesis-Equilibrium-725-Steel-Frame-and-Fork---2017-White/m-22668.aspx#ProductDescription

Running 32's in mine with plenty o' clearance.

[Duende]

Price range??

[p nut]

Salsa Warbird (al and cf). With such fat tires, I really don't know if frame material really matters much. My al Warbird rides pretty nice off road. Great geometry for dirt rides.

Salsa Vaya or Niner RLT9 may be good choices as well, if you prefer steel.

If you are only looking for 700x32-35 clearance, All City Mr Pink fits the bill. I'm running Stampede Pass on mine and has plenty of room.

[John H.]

Do you want to stick to rim brakes?
Have you considered having someone make you a road bike and use a fork like the Whisky road fork?
Whisky road fork works with mid reach brakes and will take up to a 35mm tire.

I have been considering something like this as well-

[KidWok]

I have a Gunnar Crosshairs using their older geometry which handles just like my road bikes. If I could only keep one, that would be it.

Tai

[pncguy]

Do you want to stick to rim brakes?
Have you considered having someone make you a road bike and use a fork like the Whisky road fork?
Whisky road fork works with mid reach brakes and will take up to a 35mm tire.

I have been considering something like this as well-

This is what I'm doing with Carl Strong. Spec'd for max 35mm tires, using Shimano BR650 long reach brakes. I couldn't bring myself to go disc.

[MattTuck]

Are you looking to go custom? Should be easy.

I am running 32s on my Kirk this year, with standard Ultegra road calipers. No problemo.

[commonguy001]

I love my CS!. I am able to get 25 4000s in it which measure 27 or so. I love love love the lower pressure trend so much I am wondering about getting bike that I can fit a bigger tire yet.

I would still want the bike to be go-fast geo similar to the CSI (road geo) but have more clearance for the gravel days. My friends have cross bikes they use and also have road bikes. I would prefer one tool for the job.

Steel is preferred.

Thoughts?

Soma Fog Cutter if you want a road geometry with clearance for 42s. Steel, road geometry with disc and big tires. If you don't want disc the new Pescadero yet to come this spring uses Long pull brakes (pauls or Diacomps).

They aren't road race geometry but fit right int the road sport category with 73 HTA on sizes 54 and up. Chainstays are pretty short too for a bike that'll fit a 42. Neither is expensive either so it'd be cheap to try.

[Greenpea]

This is the most usable bike to me.

A Zanc Road32 or Hampsten Strada Bianca are the two that come to mind when I think about this bike.

It really could do anything. It was the gravel grinder before the marketing hype kicked in.

[sparky33]

Are you looking to go custom? Should be easy.

I am running 32s on my Kirk this year, with standard Ultegra road calipers. No problemo.

Please give us a picture with these big tires...haven't seen your Kirk in a bit.

[Duende]

If you want one bike to do it all, you can't go wrong with one of these...

https://www.mosaiccycles.com/copy-of-rt-1-new-1

My GT-1 could easily replaced my road bike. All I would add is a second set of wheels for convenience factor. Having said that, ultimately I didn't have the heart to get rid of my road bike. ( I've got some attachment issues! ;) )

Anyways... the GT-1 is available in steel too.

[weisan]

----------------------Commercial Break----------------------

Watch some gravel racing... Tro-Bro Léon 2017 (http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube3/?title=Last+35+Km+of+Tro-Bro+L%C3%A9on+2017&dashboard=2017/uci-world-calendar&id=G05RytK-QeU&yr=2017)

[cachagua]

THANK you! That's the first racing footage I've seen in years that made me miss racing.