Gravel Bike

[Clancy]

Originally Posted by Hilltopperny

I have had a Stigmata and it was on the stiffer side of the spectrum. If you want a smooth and fun gravel bike see if you can find a Warbird. I absolutely love mine and although it’s versatile it is also fast, comfortable and just a great overall bike!


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I had a Niner RLT steel frame and it was a lovely bike, very smooth. As nice as it rode I did feel the weight so I sold it and picked-up a new Warbird. It’s quickly turned into one of my favorite riding bikes, very comfortable, handles very well - stable but still steers easily.

It’s a fun bike. Take a look at one, you might like it.

[floxy1]

Very happy with my Lauf Anywhere. The True Grit is nice too if you want the compliance of a suspension fork. Price is right, light, pretty stiff but won’t beat you up. Threaded BB too!

[Davist]

+1 for Carbonda 696, I have one badged as a Vitus substance great frame, lots of ways to build it up including completes..

[moots7]

Sounds like I should be looking for a Warbird😊
Thanks all.

[nmrt]

Dean Bikes in Boulder sometimes has Ti framesets for around $2000. I would call them.

In my experience of owning two carbon gravel bikes (2019 Checkpoint and the 2020 Stigmata), I found that I would own a Ti gravel bike anytime. I found both my carbon gravel bikes to be overly stiff for my tastes for riding here in the Front Range.

Yes, I realize that a Ti bike can be made stiff and a carbon bike can be made comfortable. But in my experience, (no, I have not owned Crumpton or Argonaut type boutique bikes), I have found all of the carbon bikes I have owned to invariably rider harsher than all the Ti bikes I have owned.

If you can swing it, get a Ti gravel bike. If you could get a frameset from Dean for around $2000 then cockpit, drivetrain, and parts could be another $2000.

[moots7]

Yeah I am drawn to Ti just gotta find an affordable one.
I used to have a Dean Colonel great bike.
Thanks for the input.

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by moots7

So the Warbird is more compliant than a Stig?

Yes, a bit.
least to most stiff: Warbird, Stigmata, Hakka MX

that said, finding the right size and configuration of any of the above is hit or miss these days.

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by floxy1

Very happy with my Lauf Anywhere. The True Grit is nice too if you want the compliance of a suspension fork. Price is right, light, pretty stiff but won’t beat you up. Threaded BB too!

+1 Lauf.
The True Grit is a terrific 700c gravel bike.

[thwart]

Add the Ritchey Outback to your list.

Super smooth riding steel, and yet frameset w/fork is only 5.75 lbs. Yes, the fork is carbon.

You could go with a very, very nice build and still come in way under your price point.

But... very difficult to find any around right now.

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by moots7

Yeah I am drawn to Ti just gotta find an affordable one.
I used to have a Dean Colonel great bike.
Thanks for the input.

Lynskey makes a good ti gravel bike for not a lot of money. They typically run a 20% off sale and sometimes even 30%. Worth a look if you are looking for a budget friendly new titanium bike and they usually have stock sizes in stock.


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[moots7]

No experience with Lynskey or Litespeed.
Steel would be fine if lite enough.
Lauf looks interesting not sure about that suspension fork though.

[Cornfed]

Take a look at a Trek Domane. It's an endurance (i.e., comfortable) road bike, but the newer ones clear 38s and the Iso couplers are very effective at smoothing out gravel. It's as close as I've experienced to a do-it-all bike.

[avalonracing]

Originally Posted by moots7

I think $4k is the max I would want to spend on a bike like this. Certainly a lot more could be spent on one especially if it was going to be my only bike.
Thanks for all the input so far, I value the experience and the expertise on the forum.

Lynskey. You can do Ti gravel for under $3K complete right now.

[Chris(NJ)]

Originally Posted by thwart

Add the Ritchey Outback to your list.

Super smooth riding steel, and yet frameset w/fork is only 5.75 lbs. Yes, the fork is carbon.

You could go with a very, very nice build and still come in way under your price point.

But... very difficult to find any around right now.

Saw a couple good reviews on that Ritchey already.

Moots, Sounds like you might be leaning towards steel/ti, but if you decide on a Hakka, I'll be putting mine up for sale soon (55cm)

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by Chris(NJ)

Saw a couple good reviews on that Ritchey already.

Moots, Sounds like you might be leaning towards steel/ti, but if you decide on a Hakka, I'll be putting mine up for sale soon (55cm)

Wait, what?