Carbon fiber and hydraulic discs for $2k?
#76
Senior Member
I'd stay away from the Bikes Direct option. I have a buddy that bought two bikes fron them. The first, a Motobeane road bike with Ultega was not too bad, he had to do a lot of tuning and truing but wound up okay, but his second bike was a gravel bike that he could never get tuned up very well. He finally took it to a shop to see what they could do with it and they put the alignment gauges on it and showed him that the front and back wheels were 3 degrees out of parallel. It looked nice and had an Ultegra derailleur, but it was a piece of crap. Derailleur hanger was bent too. I guess at that price they have to save some mioney somewhere...
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
Depends on what kind of rider you are and what your riding conditions are. Most people around here run 40s and we have pretty tough gravel roads. But there’s a huge segment of riders here that like to go slower and run 45+ tires. Nothing wrong with either, just different strokes for different folks.
#78
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts
If I were to do something like an off pavement bike packing tour in North Dakota that included some segments of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, then a 50mm tire would probably be something I would want, considering the terrain for those segments and the overall comfort factor.
...but I dont ride in remote picturesque locations- I ride thru fields of corn and soy where 40mm tires work great.
All depends on perference and need.
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
Depends on what kind of rider you are and what your riding conditions are. Most people around here run 40s and we have pretty tough gravel roads. But there’s a huge segment of riders here that like to go slower and run 45+ tires. Nothing wrong with either, just different strokes for different folks.
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
good idea! I ride anything from 28mm to 54mm - but the tire size really changes the personaliy of hte bike. With 28mm, my bike rides like any good fast road bike, with 54, it feels like a '90s era mountain bike with drop bars (or a monster truck in comparison). Personally I usually go 32-40mm depending on the conditions.
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
My gravel frame can take up to 50mm, but I run 40mm as I really like how they roll(the specific tire) on pavement while still giving good comfort and confidence on gravel roads. Cant imagine wanting/needing a 50mm tire, but some people around here fat bike on gravel, so obviously a wider tire is appealing to some.
If I were to do something like an off pavement bike packing tour in North Dakota that included some segments of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, then a 50mm tire would probably be something I would want, considering the terrain for those segments and the overall comfort factor.
...but I dont ride in remote picturesque locations- I ride thru fields of corn and soy where 40mm tires work great.
All depends on perference and need.
If I were to do something like an off pavement bike packing tour in North Dakota that included some segments of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, then a 50mm tire would probably be something I would want, considering the terrain for those segments and the overall comfort factor.
...but I dont ride in remote picturesque locations- I ride thru fields of corn and soy where 40mm tires work great.
All depends on perference and need.
good idea! I ride anything from 28mm to 54mm - but the tire size really changes the personaliy of hte bike. With 28mm, my bike rides like any good fast road bike, with 54, it feels like a '90s era mountain bike with drop bars (or a monster truck in comparison). Personally I usually go 32-40mm depending on the conditions.
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Right?? Hard to argue when she says go for it.
Just read your review of your Inflite, I've been looking over the geometry for the Grail and can't figure out if I would need a Medium or Large, I'm 6'. The stack and reach measurements from my road bike fit indicate that a medium would work, but if a large would work, they have leftover Grail 7.0s for $2000 (only L tho).
Just read your review of your Inflite, I've been looking over the geometry for the Grail and can't figure out if I would need a Medium or Large, I'm 6'. The stack and reach measurements from my road bike fit indicate that a medium would work, but if a large would work, they have leftover Grail 7.0s for $2000 (only L tho).
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,235
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 353 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 92 Times
in
67 Posts
So what do you do if you order the Large but you need a shorter stem since its just one whole thing? Pay $500 for a a new cockpit that's 10mm shorter?
#84
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
My impression is that Europe you can swap parts out when you buy the bike, but you can't do that in the US.
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
And that's why I don't do proprietary stuff. Good luck finding that one little part you need to finish a build 10 years down the road.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#88
junior
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Posts: 282
Bikes: 2020 Surly ECR / 2018 Norco Search XR steel gravel bike with GRX / 1983 Bianchi Campione D'Italia / Gary Fisher Wingra / Motobecane Nomade mixte (daughter's)
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times
in
11 Posts
I'm seeing suggestions for bikes than can handle up to 40c tires. you may be limiting yourself, and missing out on the fun a 650b x 47c or bigger wheelset offers. and it doesn't mean going slow. I know enough who ride the 47 width size tires which are becoming more popular, who can drop me with nary any effort. even riding 650b x 2.1.
eric/fresno, ca.
eric/fresno, ca.
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,624
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2975 Post(s)
Liked 1,182 Times
in
771 Posts
It's actually a D shaped seat post and in my opinion is a great idea. Why you may ask? Because the seat it ALWAYS straight. It can't be crooked!!!
The brakes I kinda get what you are saying, but it isn't that bad.
The brakes I kinda get what you are saying, but it isn't that bad.
Likes For prj71:
#90
Senior Member
my bike (inflite) is currently $2000 - its on sale ;-), and the equivalent specialized I was shopping it against (Crux) was about $5000. OPEN UP is about $6000 (actually, to get the comparable fame, the Open frame costs $4500). Not many gravelish bikes in the 7.5kg weight range without spending some big bucks. Its probably more accurate to say the $3000 canyons compare to $5000 bikes. Their road and mountain bikes are pretty nice deals too.
You may not always save $2-3000, and not everyone needs a ~950g gravel frame, but they can be pretty price competitive.
You may not always save $2-3000, and not everyone needs a ~950g gravel frame, but they can be pretty price competitive.
Last edited by Rvav8r; 04-08-19 at 08:25 AM. Reason: Typing error
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
This seller has taken considerably less than asking price on his others. I'm kinda wishing I had made an offer on the 56cm before it sold.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-Jamis-...frcectupt=true
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-Jamis-...frcectupt=true
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#93
Full Member
This bike is $2160 with corporate discount on diamondback (dbcorp.diamondback.com) :
https://www.diamondback.com/road-bik...-7c-carbon-d41
Very nice carbon frame (seen it in person) with huge tire clearances for 700c road / 650b mtb wheels, hydro Ultegra, 48/32 sub-compact crank and HED wheels/kit.
If your company is not a partner, you used to be able to sign up to corp discount easily using corporate code from Slickdeals, not sure if it's still the case.
Their prices fluctuate, so it might go lower, but even at that price it's pretty nice. All I would swap is the RD for RX-800 clutch based one, and maybe put an XT 11-40 cassette on it, if you have big hills.
https://www.diamondback.com/road-bik...-7c-carbon-d41
Very nice carbon frame (seen it in person) with huge tire clearances for 700c road / 650b mtb wheels, hydro Ultegra, 48/32 sub-compact crank and HED wheels/kit.
If your company is not a partner, you used to be able to sign up to corp discount easily using corporate code from Slickdeals, not sure if it's still the case.
Their prices fluctuate, so it might go lower, but even at that price it's pretty nice. All I would swap is the RD for RX-800 clutch based one, and maybe put an XT 11-40 cassette on it, if you have big hills.
#94
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So, bringing this thread to its logical conclusion:
Having taken my thinking to every corner of the gravel/adventure/cross bike spectrum, I came full-circle and got my carbon and hydraulics. Ended up on a Diverge Sport, taking advantage of the 2019 model clearance/rebate. I have a 2020 Roubaix Comp Sagan Edition on its way to me, so the Diverge-Roubaix tandem is nice, since the geo and fit of the bikes will be almost identical.
In the meantime, here it is, in its natural setting:
Having taken my thinking to every corner of the gravel/adventure/cross bike spectrum, I came full-circle and got my carbon and hydraulics. Ended up on a Diverge Sport, taking advantage of the 2019 model clearance/rebate. I have a 2020 Roubaix Comp Sagan Edition on its way to me, so the Diverge-Roubaix tandem is nice, since the geo and fit of the bikes will be almost identical.
In the meantime, here it is, in its natural setting:
#95
Reno/Seattle/NYC
Congrats! I imagine it was a little more than the initial $2000 budget, even with clearance prices? Still, good work, and enjoy the heck out of it!
I grew up in Reno by the way, if your location is correct. May the Diverge bring you lots of joy on the trails around there.
I grew up in Reno by the way, if your location is correct. May the Diverge bring you lots of joy on the trails around there.
#96
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yeah, I think I was around $2500 after discounts and rebates, so pretty close and a good deal for the package. It really is the ideal bike for what I was looking for. I have a Santa Cruz Bronson so didn't need anything too monster, don't need it to rip singletrack and don't need a dropper. Really was wanting something to rip fire roads and explore the endless gravel we have northwest of town, and still feel plenty fleet on the 15-30 mile approaches on road.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cj19
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
16
01-13-18 09:19 PM
RadioSuraksan
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
3
11-02-17 11:45 AM
Deskdreamer
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
15
08-16-17 03:33 PM