Which Gravel/adventure bike
 

Looking at getting a Gravel/adventure bike

No super low stacked cross bikes please

that can take 40/42mm tyres

Discs or course, BB5/BB7 or TRP Spyre/HD-RD's

Minimum 2 x 9 Sora

Tiagra 2x10 or a Sram 1x11 are good.

UK shops, max £700, may push it a little for the right bike

Looking at the Genesis CDF/CDA's

suggestions?

They're a bit over budget but the Pinnacle Arkose from Evans ticks most of your boxes.

The 2 isn't due in for a while in the 2018 model which I think will be very shortly followed by the 2019 so I'm hoping they discount them at some stage in which case it'd be a lot of bike for the money.

Boardman ADV 8.8 is around your budget ... you may want to check max tyre width and the Giant Toughroad SLR GX's are there or thereabout with decent tyre clearance.

I have emailed Specialized and asked what bottom bracket the Diverge E5 sport has

hoping for a stock BSA threaded and not some press-fit abomination

Your original post said you were looking for 40/42mm tyres .... the Specialized aluminium frames are limited to 38mm and people reporting that they're not great with muck from the tyres scrapping the paint off the forks so should really be less than 38mm probably 35mm max

It's only the more expensive full carbon frames that take the wider tyes which I think is up to 43mm but that may be on 650b ... can't quite remember but I know clearance was the reason I discounted them

the 2018 onwards E5's are good for 42mm

Please do double check it before you buy ... I even rang Specialized in Chessington as there were conflicting opinions depending on which website you looked at the link here says up to 38mm
https://www.evanscycles.com/speciali...-bike-EV306374

There's also another thread about it here with a chart part way down
https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...nce-issue.html

Bugger

looks like you need the carbon frame for 42s

I want to run 35mm on the road and 42mm on a spare set for weekend.

I think the ones I originally suggested are the only ones that'll go to that size and are relatively close to your budget .... I've been looking at these and researching all the options now for about 2 / 3 months and the one thing I wanted was decent clearance .... if you have it you don't have to use it but if you don't you won't have the option to go wider and didn't want the limitation.
One other alternative I liked was the Salsa Journeyman but they're not widely available in the UK and at £1250 with Sora and Mechanical Brakes the Pinnacle Arkose 3 with 105's and Hydraulic brakes at £1250 if you can find a scrap bike to trade in for £100 seemed the better option.

I've been trying to find a 2nd hand one in my size - small - but they rarely come up and the new ones have been out of stock for a while as well ... that said I've just hand b'day and asked everybody for money and am probably going do the same for Xmas and just get a new one when they're in stock.

Let us know what you decide on in the end be interested to hear and if you find any other alternatives.

Looked a 2nd hand GT Grade 105 with HD-RD brakes

looked ok on the surface, but something was not quite right, looked closer and both derailleurs looked slightly bent so walked away.

Also took a look at the decathlon Triban RC 520 as the tests suggested it could take quite big tyres, the bike mechanic there said 36mm but unofficially it will take 40mm but the rim limits you to 38mm

Still waiting on CRC to refund the Wilier, so stuck till that happens

CRC have the Kona Rove DL on sale, under £700.

Norco Search AL 2018

Advertised max tyre is 35mm

We know manufacturers are conservative

What is it really ?

CRC, who have had the bike I returned for refund a week now, are finally processing the return

should have the money back in 72hrs

Then it is decision time

I was able to track down an Kova Rove DL in orange for the same price as the yellows at CRC

Only box it does not tick in the "would be nice to have are thru-axles

should be here Tuesday

Great bike, I bought one to use over winter.

Takes 40mm nanos under the guards too. Would take bigger with the guards off. Spyres are easy to set up and work well for cable discs and the new Sora is not as clunky as the old, in fact it's got a nice action. It's not a harsh ride either for an all aluminium frame/fork. Lots of bolt holes for rack, bottles etc.. I prefer it to my Ti pickenflick. The only negative I have is that the gearing is not great for steep off road bike packing trips. Once the rings/cassette have worn I'm going 1x9 with a 40/42t cassette, should help with the mountain grades. 9 speed stuff is cheap too!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d4d4a3ad08.jpg
Its home

not ready yet, still needs pedals and 30 minutes in the bike stand before 1st ride

Looks lovely ... what is it???

Looks great in orange. It's a lot of bike for the money.

Don't forget to put the front mudguard on :thumb:

Kona Rove DL gravel bike

full Shimano Sora and TRP brakes and decent WTB ST i19 wheelset

nah, the guards are coming off, only yo be fitted when the weather turns

It's turned here today. Snow this morning, now rain, only six months of it to go!