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07-13-20, 07:22 AM
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New To This
Hey everyone, I am just getting into Gravelbiking/cyclocross. The stock out there is very limited and very expensive. I have found a road bike that I was told could be modified gravelbiking and would like some input for a beginner in this. The bike is a Cannondale R500 Caad4. Can anyone comment on specific modification that could be made to this bike for light gravelbiking or if at $300 it is even worth it?
07-13-20, 10:08 AM
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I don't know about that bike specifically but if you can't run at least 32mm tires you should pass. Ideally you'd do at least 38mm.
07-13-20, 11:42 AM
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I don't know the geometry, but generally beginners find road bikes too twitchy to ride on gravel. you want the bike to react slowly on gravel. Not a big deal if you are experienced - you'll just have to adapt.
I'm assuming its rim brake? If so, you'll have a hard time getting anything bigger than 28mm on the bike. Disk brakes really open up the possibilities with tires, and tubeless really opens up possibilities with gravel riding.
If you are looking used, an old cross bike works - usually they can take 35mm tires (or a little bigger on the front).
I'm assuming its rim brake? If so, you'll have a hard time getting anything bigger than 28mm on the bike. Disk brakes really open up the possibilities with tires, and tubeless really opens up possibilities with gravel riding.
If you are looking used, an old cross bike works - usually they can take 35mm tires (or a little bigger on the front).
07-13-20, 11:46 AM
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Could be the right price for a passable road bike (depending on components and condition), but whoever told you this could be converted to a gravel bike is either dishonest or doesn't really know what a gravel bike is. Standard road bike rim brakes on a bike this this will struggle to clear 28mm tires which is not enough, and Cdales from that era will have very tight clearance around fork, bottom bracket, and rear brake bridge. Not to mention the criterium racing geometry will be extremely nervous off-pavement
07-13-20, 01:51 PM
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I don't know the geometry, but generally beginners find road bikes too twitchy to ride on gravel. you want the bike to react slowly on gravel. Not a big deal if you are experienced - you'll just have to adapt.
I'm assuming its rim brake? If so, you'll have a hard time getting anything bigger than 28mm on the bike. Disk brakes really open up the possibilities with tires, and tubeless really opens up possibilities with gravel riding.
If you are looking used, an old cross bike works - usually they can take 35mm tires (or a little bigger on the front).
I'm assuming its rim brake? If so, you'll have a hard time getting anything bigger than 28mm on the bike. Disk brakes really open up the possibilities with tires, and tubeless really opens up possibilities with gravel riding.
If you are looking used, an old cross bike works - usually they can take 35mm tires (or a little bigger on the front).
07-18-20, 07:38 PM
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This would not be a good conversion even in the best case... What area are you in and what size do you ride? Price range? There are still a few bikes I see around around $1.000 - $1200 out there. It would be hard toi find a used gravel bike now as they are so popular...
