Help choosing a sport tourer / gravel bike?

[8352]

I'm looking for a ~56cm commuter / gravel / 1-2 night touring steel bike. I'm located in Canada. I've been browsing the Classified section and interacting with a few people to see what's out there, but I'm also curious what options I have for buying new.

Does anyone know of options for buying in the USA or Canada which will ship to Canada that supply such a bike? I've been looking at things like the SOMA Wolverine or Black Mountain Cycles. There's a supplier for Surly out here and I like the look of those, but I've heard they're grossly heavy.

What other options are there out there for similar bikes that I could order online right now?

[AngryScientist]

You're in Canada!

Marinoni!!

Aside from that, there are a TON of options right now.

I'll just put this out there though: my Gunnar Sport is easily one of the best riding frames I've owned; and I've ridden a few.

[Vientomas]

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

32's fit easily.

[rnhood]

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

32's fit easily.

Nice looking frameset. Very nice actually.

[oldpotatoe]

I'm looking for a ~56cm commuter / gravel / 1-2 night touring steel bike. I'm located in Canada. I've been browsing the Classified section and interacting with a few people to see what's out there, but I'm also curious what options I have for buying new.

Does anyone know of options for buying in the USA or Canada which will ship to Canada that supply such a bike? I've been looking at things like the SOMA Wolverine or Black Mountain Cycles. There's a supplier for Surly out here and I like the look of those, but I've heard they're grossly heavy.

What other options are there out there for similar bikes that I could order online right now?

http://www.gunnarbikes.com

[Hilltopperny]

Serotta rapid tour is one of my favorite sport touring bikes of all time if you can find one in your size. The canti versions have a bit more tire clearance, but the rim brake models fit 32s with no issue.

[paredown]

Serotta rapid tour is one of my favorite sport touring bikes of all time if you can find one in your size. The canti version have a bit more tire clearance, but the rim brake models fit 32s with no issue.

And one on the 'Bay as we speak:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serotta-55cm-rapid-tour-titanium-frame-and-stl-fork-headset-and-bottom-bracket-/322521274751?hash=item4b17c4197f:g:8MQAAOSw42dZHf-h

[Hilltopperny]

And one on the 'Bay as we speak:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serotta-55cm-rapid-tour-titanium-frame-and-stl-fork-headset-and-bottom-bracket-/322521274751?hash=item4b17c4197f:g:8MQAAOSw42dZHf-h
And it's the titanium version!

[charliedid]

Agree with Peter as is often suggested here. I've been riding Gunnars for over a dozen years now and they are a great bike at relatively speaking a great value.

I ride both a Sport and a Grand Tour and both could serve you. Obviously the Sport is a quicker lighter bike but if I strip fenders and racks off my touring bike and put on a light set wheels the Grand Tour makes an excellent gravel bike IMO.

Hard to beat.

What is your budget?

Edit: Surly's are heavy but the Black Mountain or Wolverine (both nice) are not light bikes.

[Ken Robb]

I'm looking for a ~56cm commuter / gravel / 1-2 night touring steel bike. I'm located in Canada. I've been browsing the Classified section and interacting with a few people to see what's out there, but I'm also curious what options I have for buying new.

Does anyone know of options for buying in the USA or Canada which will ship to Canada that supply such a bike? I've been looking at things like the SOMA Wolverine or Black Mountain Cycles. There's a supplier for Surly out here and I like the look of those, but I've heard they're grossly heavy.

What other options are there out there for similar bikes that I could order online right now?
Rivendell has been making/selling bikes like you want for years. I agree with the suggestion re: Gunnar bikes which are made from the same tubes by the same people as Waterfords but the standard Gunnar paint is a step down from what Waterford bikes get. I think you can pay extra to get Waterford level paint on a Gunnar but then it may not seem like such a screaming deal.

[Mzilliox]

I know you've seen it, but just a reminder:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=204777

[charliedid]

Rivendell has been making/selling bikes like you want for years. I agree with the suggestion re: Gunnar bikes which are made from the same tubes by the same people as Waterfords but the standard Gunnar paint is a step down from what Waterford bikes get. I think you can pay extra to get Waterford level paint on a Gunnar but then it may not seem like such a screaming deal.

True

Budget bike, budget paint.

[Cornfed]

You can find used Salsa Vayas complete for well under $1K USD. Steel, disc brakes, eyelets and bosses galore, and can take BG RnRs. Pretty ideal for the functions you listed.

[8352]

I know you've seen it, but just a reminder:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=204777
Very tempted. My only concern is paying 1350 Canadian for a bike before even buying parts, haha

[veggieburger]

I'm looking for a ~56cm commuter / gravel / 1-2 night touring steel bike. I'm located in Canada. I've been browsing the Classified section and interacting with a few people to see what's out there, but I'm also curious what options I have for buying new.

Does anyone know of options for buying in the USA or Canada which will ship to Canada that supply such a bike? I've been looking at things like the SOMA Wolverine or Black Mountain Cycles. There's a supplier for Surly out here and I like the look of those, but I've heard they're grossly heavy.

What other options are there out there for similar bikes that I could order online right now?

Depends what you want to spend, but if this is a 'lifer' bike, I would get a Marinoni...they are wonderful bikes.

[ravdg316]

Source: I owned one. http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=177971

That said, +1 on a Serotta Rapid Tour if you can find one. Here's mine

[8352]

Source: I owned one. http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=177971

That said, +1 on a Serotta Rapid Tour if you can find one. Here's mine
That looks perfect

[8352]

Agree with Peter as is often suggested here. I've been riding Gunnars for over a dozen years now and they are a great bike at relatively speaking a great value.

I ride both a Sport and a Grand Tour and both could serve you. Obviously the Sport is a quicker lighter bike but if I strip fenders and racks off my touring bike and put on a light set wheels the Grand Tour makes an excellent gravel bike IMO.

Hard to beat.

What is your budget?

Edit: Surly's are heavy but the Black Mountain or Wolverine (both nice) are not light bikes.

Budget is around $2000 CAD max all in

That Serotta linked doesn't ship to Canada, but this does: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Soma-Double-Cross-Frame-Graphite-56cm-Steel-Cyclocross-Cantilever/122391603687

[classtimesailer]

Milwaukee Road from Ben's. Made by the Waterford people. Probably rides like the Gunnar but less $$. I like mine. Fenders and 28s if you want. Light enough.

[KidWok]

I've owned four Gunnars now. They ride amazingly well. I've had Colnagos, Merckxs, Co-Motion, and many other bikes come and go, but have always come back to Gunnar. My gravel bike is a Gunnar Crosshairs with a Waterford flat crown fork. I do think their paint is more fragile than others. Have built up three of them from new. Paint flaked of the new Hot Dog really fast and I ultimately got it repainted by Elliott Bay bikes. Second one was a new Crosshairs...accidently dropped a 5mm allen wrench while adjusting brakes and it tapped the chainstay on the way down...flaked. Third one was a new S&S Roadie...tightened brake nut...big flake. Fourth one was a used Crosshairs...already have a few chips and flakes. I used it for a few years as a loaner, just touching up the bare metal with clear nail polish. I ended up getting it powder-coated before I started riding it myself.

But that's the thing about a Gunnar...you'll love the way it rides and you'll want to ride it all the time, therefore causing wear and tear. For awhile, they will be endearing battle scars. Then you'll fall in love with it all over again when you get it back refinished.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c151/TaiLee77/Mobile%20Uploads/20150221_133133_zpscxkugovz.jpg

Tai

[DarkStar]

You're in Canada!

Marinoni!!

Aside from that, there are a TON of options right now.

I'll just put this out there though: my Gunnar Sport is easily one of the best riding frames I've owned; and I've ridden a few.
2nd the Marinoni suggestion, have two, pure racer, and a full on touring model that rides like a dream.

[Lurvey]

Source: I owned one. http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=177971

That said, +1 on a Serotta Rapid Tour if you can find one. Here's mine

So nice!

[bobswire]

http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/the-black-mountain-cycles-road-might-be-the-most-underrated-bike-of-2017

FYI, I love my BMC Monster Cross and have read great reviews on the road version in the article above.

http://oi63.tinypic.com/20k98j8.jpg

[8352]

I poked around today at some of the local shops and found out I have access to:

Kona
Surly
All-City
Masi
Bombtrack

I tried out a MASI CX and a Kona Rove, which were both really nice. I think the Rove was more in-line with what I'm looking for. It fit really nice at 54cm, had all the mounts I want, very light for being steel, and felt super stable and comfortable. In terms of looking for a low profile bike, the paint job is a little too much. Almost want to buy used so that it's already dinged up a bit, haha!

http://i.imgur.com/XZUK69B.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/IWoKxfA.jpg

[charliedid]

The Kona is a killer bike and a great deal. Yes I sell than.

[Andy sti]

Why have you not bought Matt's Waterford?