since I returned to cycling, it seems that most people are almost giving away their rim brake bikes so I’ve been able to pick up cracking bikes to get started and equipment levels I used to look at and say “one day”
that being said… I’m also a consumer, and, well, marketing works!
I’ve got an old Roubaix that lives on the turbo trainer. Which I think is where it’s going to stay.
I’ve got a Felt F5 which is my road bike, and I love it. Fast, responsive and with campag zonda wheels with 28mm tyres it’s pretty comfy.
However
I’d quite like to add another to the stable, being either a winter bike - or - get something “for best” and use the Felt as a winter bike - or - do I get something that will do everything, something potentially titanium, or potentially a gravel bike. Whilst I’ve no intention of doing anything off road I like the idea of wider tyres and going 1x on the gearing.
I’m no racer, I’m training to be able to do sportives etc. More of a “be great to be able to finish that” rather than wanting to win.
Now the disc brake revolution has happened I don’t know what my next bike should look like - of course I don’t really “need” another bike. But where’s the fun in purely having what you need
I have a high end CX bike, carbon with carbon disc brake wheels. Just get one of those and run road slicks. Don’t waste money on a gravel bike if you’re not gonna ride gravel. CX bike will give you the extra clearance
Most dedicated CX bikes have less clearance, as they are made with 33mm tires in mind to meet UCI rules.
I know my Canyon Inflite does, and it’s rubbish.
I have a trek Boone 6, which I can run 38mm on (which measure 40mm on the rims). What more do you need for a guy like OP who says he’s not even going to take it off of the tarmac
i have a dual suspension mountain bike and I put on the rene herse antelope (2.2") tires. I love it. I only ride on the road (and sometimes very light gravel). love using it when i am carrying stuff (lunch etc to work). also I prefer it when the weather is bad as I drive near traffic sometimes and I like being more upright. just an option.
I also almost always take this if I am trying a new path or something. never know what road conditions are like and if i encounter bad roads or something I’d rather be on this than skinnier tires.
good on you! I hated having a mtb when road riding, I’ve not got the best stamina as it is and losing more power to suspension would put me right off lol.
CX isn’t a bad shout, I man I don’t need to go nuts on width, i’ve only really just come around to 28s, previously I was on 19s lol.
Still running a 2019 CruX with enough clearance to mount 40mm Terraspeeds (measure 38.5mm). Canyon Inflite I believe has slightly more clearance. Enough to cover any use case, save for muddy or really chunky rock rides.
I’d take a new one in a heartbeat, but I struggle with the price when compared to a Grail, which I also want … every time I go on the Canyon site, I want a Grail. Then I ride my CruX, and I want the new CruX
If you want a bike that can do gravel and road well, CruX is probably one of the best bets. 1x will work fine, 2x GRX will work better. If you don’t want to faff with swapping tires, get a second set of wheels for $1k.
My Boone 6 came 1x but I bought a front derailleur and new crank to run 2x. Money well spent, tho I prob would have been fine getting a big range rear derailleur plus a 50T big chain ring. Having to buy a new crank plus a left shifter was a bit painful
I had chance to use Canyon Grail for whole summer, liked it very much. For me, bike is a bike. What made Grail special, were various conveniences:
Gear Groove: allows to attach stuff to bars. For me personally clip-on aero-extension was the best I have ever used.
integrated storage in down tube. Diverge has similar but Grail one is more convenient
medium sized frame bag with magnetic attachment between top and down tube that didn’t get into way for 600ml bottle, 750ml bottle fit also but it was little bit too tight
Added on my own saddle mounted 2 bottle holders. All this together allowed to go ~260km with no stops. In couple year, when time to buy new bike comes, will quite likely buy something from this series.
I always lusted after the Ribble CGR Ti, but I think their new All Road Ti probably trumps it. If I was in the market for a Ti winter (and in my case gravel) bike. Clearance for 38mm is enough for what I generally do gravel wise.
