Saying gravelbikes with 50mm clearance will cease to exist is a bit far reaching imho. Not everyone is on chunky terrain all the time that warrants 2.2“ tires. If you ride 50/50 asphalt and cat1 gravel 50mm is more than enough clearance imho.
In the MTB World there are XC, trail, enduro, downhill bikes. The boarders are overlapping and so it will be with gravel imho.
This is proving to be a helpful thread for info on options. A quick internet search points to a lot of the bikes being discussed being well out of my affordable price range (for me at least).
What confuses me is (being a non gravel bike owner or aficionado) is what are the narrowed down best general options within a set price point. Particularly I have little appreciation for what key specification items might be ‘must have’ items as opposed to ‘nice to have’ but not essential.
Example:
if I had an absolute limit of £2k (UK) to spend on a NEW gravel bike - but ideally a little less; then based on the criteria below, is there actually anything worthwhile available in the new bike market, or would ‘those in the know’ recommend seeking out a used option of a different brand and model instead?
EBay seems to suggest a second hand lower spec 3T Exploro might tick a lot of these boxes if I can be lucky enough to find one - similarly a Canyon Grail or Grizl at a slightly lower price point?
I’m not clear on whether things such as internal cable routing / flared bars / dropper posts / dropped seat stays / a particular group set etc. make much of a difference for gravel riding - albeit I’m aware that tyre clearance is important to provide choice / options / flexibility for different surfaces and conditions.
Interested to know whether the considered view falls on a particular NEW model as being a better option at such a relatively lower price point; acknowledging new also means warranty / condition etc 
Is there a current gravel bike that can fit 2.2” tires?
Yes; I mention this on pretty much every thread, so you’re probably sick of it. The only feature it lacks is UDH, but as DJ tested - it’s faster to run pre-UDH SRAM and a KMC chain if you really want 1x. Front mech check. Integrated check. Bump-absorbing deflection seatpost check. Dropped stays check. Aero tweaking check. Not garbage QC check. 1/4 the price of an Allied Able check.
It can run 2x GRX with 2.2 Racekings in and it’s the same price frameset only as a Yeoleo.
I think this question is probably all about how long you’re going to keep the bike. Since this thread is about race bikes, I think most who are looking into all these most cutting-ege details are likely to replace/upgrade their race bikes every 3-5 years if they’re racing regularly.
If that’s you, or if you’re testing the waters to see if that’s who you’ll become, then I wouldn’t worry too much about which specific bike you get. Just find something that ticks as many boxes as you can and that has been well cared for and is a good deal.
You’re not at a major disadvantage on 45s just now, and unless you’re already on track to podium in your age group or whatever, then you’re probably going to upgrade the bike long before tire clearance or UDH or other features are realistically holding you back. And if the kind of stuff you’re riding DID mean all that stuff mattered right now then at £2k you’d probably be better off finding a secondhand hardtail MTB and fitting drop bars (and maybe rigid forks).
If it’s going to have mixed use, and especially if you’re not going to have another road bike, then I’d definitely suggest looking for a 2x drivetrain. You’ve got way more versatility in terms of gear ratios in lower budget price ranges that way, and it makes swapping wheelsets etc. more straightforward in my experience. (this isn’t strictly true as there are lots of ways to make 1x work, but the best ranges of gearing etc are often higher end SRAM stuff that can be pretty expensive).
I’m assuming you’re here in the UK based on your stated currency. If so, it’s likely that if/when you upgrade, this purchase will become your winter bike, so mudguard mounts might be worth considering. I’d also say the smaller budget UK brands might be a good shout in this instance for both new and used options: Ribble, Dolan, and Pearson come to mind first. There seem to be a steady stream of barely-used gravel bikes from these brands on the secondhand market and I think both the alloy and carbon versions of all three brands’ gravel bikes can clear 45s and make decent road bikes too.
I’ve just rebuilt my Ribble CGR SL for a 3rd time and am stretching a fifth race season out of it whilst I wait for another year’s worth of new bike releases. It’s a pretty fast gravel bike, a surprisingly good road bike (I swap in the wheels off my Tarmac SL7 to use it as an endurance road bike), and I think I’m going to manage to ride it on 50mm tires this year. You’ll find a bunch of those (and/or the Gravel SL which is the same bike), the Pearson On and On, and the Dolan version on ebay and facebook marketplace at any given time and I think a 105 or GRX build should be under £2k used. Might even get Di2 in budget. I’d even say a Planet X Free Ranger would probably be a good fit.
Now I’ve written that out I’m also wondering if maybe the titanium versions of any of the above bikes might be within reach in the secondhand market? Won’t be as ‘race bike’ in its first incarnation, but if you end up upgrading to more of a speed machine in a few years then an older titanium gravel bike is kind of the perfect winter bike and bikepacking rig…
All the ones you mentioned would be good options too - Grail, Grizl, Exploro. I wonder if you could even find a secondhand Specialized Crux in budget? That would be an incredible buy!
Everyone sleeping on the Revolt. It’s one of the best bang for buck builds out there along with the Seigla. I’ve been searching for a frame or build the last few weeks. I have an earlier version revolt (2020/21 I think) and it’s so damn fun. Run 45/47s easily.
You keep saying this, but you haven’t shown us where to get one for $1200USD… (Able is $4500)
Since we are constantly chasing our tails and circling back to options that have been available for a year or more… Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey 4.2; Race Kings fit just fine, internal routing, in frame storage door, UDH or 2x, $2800. I know it isn’t known as a “race bike”, but honestly it’s nearly identical in geometry and features as a Mog(meaning fork blade mounts, etc), and better geometry than a Seigla.
It’s a great option and I’ve looked at one myself a few times. Current prices are £1350 lowest for limited sizes or more like £1450-1600 for better selection here. So I’d agree that 1/4 is probably an exaggeration but you can definitely get 3+ for the cost of an Able, and it seems realistic that it is (or was) possible to get a Revolt frameset closer to the 1/4 price mark if you shop around and wait for a deal.
If I was starting from scratch rather than waiting to replace an existing bike I’d be very likely to go with a Revolt.
I‘d look into buying a used bike. At that price point bang for buck is much better used than new. If it has to be new, I‘d look at the Specialized Cruz DSW. Looks cool imho in this slate grey color and costs 2300£ from the uk online store. Maybe you can find a dealer to testride one near you
I agree on looking at used. Lots of stuff out there in the 2k-3k range of current models. Might be Rival AXS but with the savings you can upgrade to whatever you want.
Same here. Instant dealbreaker. A front mech is more of a “must have” than UDH.
The new dark matter looks like a great option, I’m really digging the price compared to the Allied. Still not a big fan of these adventure based gravel bikes but that’s just me.
They turned that out quick. Danni Shroesbree had hinted and shown little bits of it in her videos over the last few months, but I sorta expected it to be a late Summer release given the timeline that we often see. Looks really compelling, especially for the MSRP.
-1x or 2x
-UDH
-T47
-57mm+ clearance
-internal storage
-Somewhat user friendly and upgradeable headset/stem configuration
Again we see fork blade mounts, but they do advertise it as an “adventure bike”. It’s almost like companies see that there is a split in the market between race and adventure, but still want a “one bike” solution without ruffling too many feathers on either side.
The geometry looks good if not “normal” aside from the labeled sizes… i.e. at 5’10" tall, I’d go XS which has 540mm Stack, 382mm reach when that would land solidly in a Small for a road bike and almost like they’re trying to follow the longer gravel trend, but instead just shifted the “size” column over one or two. Really fond of the larger BB drop, and also the steeper seat tube angle. There is the obvious issue that most brands have of speccing with random sized components(XS has 42cm bars and 70mm stem, see comment above about trying to pretend to follow the “progressive gravel” geo).
The split is real, but it’s not racing/adventure, it’s tame courses vs. chunky courses (riding or racing). I just spent the last 3 day pre-riding sections of the Unbound course and it really highlighted how different the bike/tire needs are based on surface. I rode south on Saturday, pretty tame gravel and most of it felt great on my checkpoint running 47’s. Yesterday was up north near Eskridge/Alma and by the end of the ride I had convinced myself that I should be riding my full suspension XC bike this year for the 200. Both rides were ~100 miles and Sunday took me 2 hours longer and I was completely destroyed despite power 30w lower. The rough terrain is just a beat down on 47’s and no suspension. An XC bike would have been faster by a large margin. Back south today with winds pushing 30mph and I’m spinning out my 44 chainring thinking there is no way I’d be able to hang with a group on my MTB with a 38 ring.
If all you ever ride is smooth-ish gravel, I think a 45-50mm tire and no suspension is going to be the sweet spot. But if you have a course with a lot of heavy/chunky/loose sections, MTB tires and suspension is a game changer on those sections (which are often selective). If you ride/race both, I think the beefier bike makes sense. It just doesn’t cost you much on the smooth stuff and is a huge advantage on the rough stuff.
I came here just to repeat that. I think it’s a big distinction and not exactly what we’ve been talking about in gravel racing threads.
Yea, generically we can say “horses for courses”, but coming out and saying that the course with a large amount of Class 3 or Class 4 gravel needs a bike with suspension and MTB tires might help more people.
I’m guessing that the percentage split will differ, but I’d generally lean towards anything with at least 1/3 of the distance being Class 3 or 4 gravel would probably benefit from a big-tire bike with suspension…
Yeah, after yesterday’s beat down, I’ve already been on the phone with Lauf today and have lucked into a possible test ride in a couple days (in Kansas) and there is a good chance I’m going to pull the trigger on a new frame before unbound. I hate changing things this late in the game, but I was already on the fence with the seigla and yesterday was a clarifying moment. That far north section destroyed me in the race last year and I thought it was just that I went out so hard. I started yesterday’s ride pretty fresh, but I was having flashbacks by the end. It sounds like I’ll be able to do some test riding on similar terrain, so should be a good test.
You don’t have to convince me(see my drop bar MTB builds; including my only gravel bike, an Epic WC)… But this is not what the market/industry is selling as the split like you mention. They are very much following the split of gravel race vs gravel adventure. Obviously each brand has its own idea of what a race oriented gravel bike should be, with some leaning towards the rowdy American races(Unbound, Mid-south, etc), but those aren’t the only races out there, and to likely half of the potential market(see Europe), a 40mm gravel tire is preferred. notice I said preferred, not “fastest/best”
I was shocked by the number of riders that were riding thinner tires at Highlands Gravel this weekend in Arkansas. I had my TB 2.1’s and they were a game changer, especially on the descents. Guys were so tentative on narrow tires while I was just bombing them (while I was actually in the race).
My buddies all noted how much smoother I was riding then them during our pre-rides, etc. unless it is muddy, or there is significant pavement on the course, I can’t see me going back at this point.
What are the MSRP’s you’re seeing on the Dark Matter? I can’t find anything…
GRX Mechanical 1x:
$3,650 USD
Rival Axs:
$4,650 USD
Force XPLR Axs:
$6,650 USD
With the new Force E1 leaked, it might be worth waiting another month for any new Sram purchases(to either receive the discount on outgoing, or to get the 13sp UDH upgrade).
wonder if it can take a 46-50 front ring
