So I currently have a Cervelo Caledonia that I initially purchased back in 2020 as a “do it all” bike. That was short lived after getting more into gravel and getting beat to death.
Eventually I landed on a Marin Headlands in 2023 and built it up with Force/eagle. I’ve loved it and have been very happy with the choice. That being said, I just don’t currently have room for two bikes. My wife and I had twins back in October bringing our tribe to 4 children. I need to minimize things in my life and I think having one bike would help with that.
I have a few of bikes in mind and was curious if anyone has used the following as a dual purpose machine:
Scott Addict Gravel
Ridley ASTR
Factor Ostro Gravel
I’m open to other’s suggestions as well. My true love is road which is why I would prefer to be on the racier/aero side of things.
If speed is still a concern/ race pace something like the Ostro or maybe a 3T for wider tire clearance. That way you can still hold your own on road rides and the tire clearance will be up there for race on gravel. For just a fun do it all, A crux. Honestly most weekend warriors would be better of on a Crux. Just as light as some road bikes if built up light. Can you have two wheelsets?
Yeah, I can have two wheel sets for sure. I’ve considered the Crux. I know it’s very highly regarded. Aesthetically, I gravitate a little more towards the others.
If you have the money and tire clearance is not a huge deal, an ostro van with a sram xplr 12 speed. That would be my go to. Run a 46t up front and you will be fine on road. Gravel will be great as long as your hills are not sustained 13% plus. You get the bar width you want. I know a guy who race’s one in the local crit’s. It works well enough. Just get yourself a set of deep boy wheels and you will be fine I recon.
Scott addict gravel is about to get an update would be my gusse. So maybe they go on sale and you can save a chunk of change. That is the only real reason I could see for going with that.
I don’t know much about the Ridly
Get a crux. Such a lovely bike. I’ve had Tarmac SL4, SL7, SL8, Aethos, various MTBs, and my Crux is my favorite bike of all time. I use a 44T ring w 10-52 Eagle. Spins out on descents with road tires and I could use one more gear when it’s steep and loose. But I don’t see how a bike could be more versatile; it’s light, stiff but not rigid, and I just put 50 c tires on and it looks great. I’ll run 32c GP 5000 on a two week trip to VT this July. Plus the cables aren’t routed through the headset which is just such a nice thing on an everyday bike especially if you ever travel with it. Seems due for an update but I could see them making it more racey, headset routed, etc which would be a loss IMO. So get one while they’re perfect!
For me: I was heavily sold the Crux, and also shown a Cervelo Aspero. I rode both, and the Aspero felt so much better for me. It just felt better somehow. They both had similar components.
I still love it. I have a Roubaix that was my goto bike, and I find myself reaching for the Aspero far more often now… (Not a racer, just a rider)
Later thoughts: My wife once looked at my toolbox, and commented on how many tools I had, and if I needed them all. (I tried to not get defensive) I pulled some tools out and went through why I needed them/what they were used for. Yes, a whole socket set could seem to be extravagant, but you can’t work on cars/bikes/house with one socket, and having to run out and buy a size because you don’t have that size currently. Yes, there are a bunch of different ‘wrenches’ I have, but open ended wrenches aren’t the same as box wrenches, and long handled ones are different than ‘shorties’, and different that flare nut wrenches. They are all made for a different purpose, and you can do the same thing with different types, but using shorties for stuck bolts, or long wrenches in tight spaces isn’t going to work. Yes you can ride a fat bike on the road, but it’s not geared for that, like you can’t ride a road bike on loose sand or snow. But I get the OP, I think. There is a time to give up the 2-seat sports car and not just because it’s bad form to put the kid in the trunk. No, it’s BECAUSE it’s bad form to put the kid in the trunk. (And a minivan can haul more bikes!)
Some things I’ve heard people do to support their ‘hobby’ is buying a small shipping container for their cycling (a Park work stand can be bolted to the floor in a container, and I did this. (If anyone does this, look for a ‘one trip’ so it’s not beat to heck). Adding on to their garage. Buying something like a tuffshed (with good locks). Someone built a large pole barn for their ‘toys’ that included a workshop too. I’d hate to see someone sell a bike, and think that there actually is ‘one’ bike that can do it all. (Trying to be funny here in case people miss this. The OP has to do what they need to do, but there are potential options to adhere to N+1)
An that assumes that I use the bikes I have the way the designers envisioned it being used.
If your true love is road like you said, personally I would advise against the Crux. It is an amazing bike. I have one and love it. But it is a little lacking for true roadies. I used it as my do it all bike for a while after I had to downsize for a move. I loved the versatility and had a gravel wheelset and road wheelset. It excelled in both and I had a lot of fun. But it wasn’t a roadie’s road bike. I definitely felt like I had to push harder on group rides. It climbed pretty well though. I just wanted the top end speed and you’re not going to get that. I also race on the road and as much as I liked it, it’s not going to be a road race bike.
So all that said, if you’re a roadie that wants to dabble in gravel, the Aspero or maybe the Factor Gravel would be better. Or, depending on the level of gravel, something like a SuperSix Evo might work. I can fit 37mm short knobbies on mine and I’ve seen 40mm slicks fit. Or maybe the new SuperX.
guess what I’m getting at is what you want to do more. If you ride primarily gravel with a little road and not fast group rides or races, get a gravel bike like the Crux. If you’re a roadie who occasionally rides gravel, get the Aspero or SuperX. If you’re a road racer who wants to ride light gravel, get the SuperSix.
I’d rather ride a gravel bike on the road than an road bike on the gravel, and I’d rather ride gravel and dirt than pavement. Given that, my best compromise bike leans more toward gravel.
If tire clearance and budget are not a problem, go with the Factor Ostro. You cant lose. Yeah its not as light as a Cux. But lets be honest. The 150-200g is just for the scales. Unless you do up hill TT or something similar.
I haven’t seen any 1X combo I’d want to live with on the road. Maybe it works fine if you live in pan flat Florida.
I have an older Crux. Two wheels sets solves the tire issue for road riding but not the gearing issue. Gravel gears want a smaller front chainring, a larger cassette, and a long caged rear derailleur. Road gears would ideally be different but if you have to change a chainring and a chain or cassette to go road riding, you’ll never do it. It will just be too much of a PITA.
I’d advise figuring out how to hang your 2nd bike up high on a wall up and out of the way or on the ceiling. You must have some unused space up high where a bike could live.
One bike to rule them all is a flawed concept if you like high performance road riding. If you just like smelling the roses, then gravel gearing and coasting down hills can be just fine on the road.
I don’t think you’re wrong. I do find my gravel bike to be lacking on the road, but I figured it was due to the 42/10-50. I was hoping something like a 48 or 50/10-44 might be a sweet spot of sorts, but I do think I would ultimately be bothered by it on spirited group rides.
Maybe the idea of a do it all bike is just a pipe dream? Perhaps I’ll just keep dreaming
I mean hey, we would all be spending wayy less time on here if we gave up on our dreams…You know what. Lets not think to much about that.
You could just run a road groupset. A sram 48-35 with a 10-36 cassette would give you all the gears you can imagine. Give you the same top end as most roadies. And you have 1 gear that is slightly easier than a 1 to 1. Only thing is you have to get something with good enough tire clearance for it.
