Is there a more appropriate bike for my needs than the CAADX?
06-21-18, 12:07 PM
#51
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There's also something about chainstay length and how hard bumps hit by the rear wheel feel at the saddle (longer=less jarring), but that's not related to handling so I didn't mention it above.
06-21-18, 12:13 PM
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Yeah, tbh if my Sachs had 32 or 35c tires -- and more-than-enough clearance for them -- I'd be fine riding that on any of the trails I anticipate. And that's a full on "road bike", nothing "slack" or gravel-esque about it.
But it doesn't have the required clearance.
So as long as I have to buy another bike I might as well also get something with disc brakes, and a non-ferrous frame, and perhaps some slightly more forgiving gear ratios, and mounts for full-coverage fenders, and so here I am talking to the "Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)" crew.
btw, a couple nights ago I did some side-by-side geometry comparisons of two of my current road bikes with three of the off-road bikes I'm considering: The CAADX, the Trek Checkpoint ALR 4, and the Giant Anyroad Advanced 1. In addition to being the least expensive of those three, the CAADX had the closest geometry to the bikes I already own. And, arguably, the highest quality components. The fact that my wife owns a 2017 CAADX (which I presume means I could easily swap wheels with her) is starting to make me feel like the universe is telling me to just buy the CAADX.
But it doesn't have the required clearance.
So as long as I have to buy another bike I might as well also get something with disc brakes, and a non-ferrous frame, and perhaps some slightly more forgiving gear ratios, and mounts for full-coverage fenders, and so here I am talking to the "Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)" crew.
btw, a couple nights ago I did some side-by-side geometry comparisons of two of my current road bikes with three of the off-road bikes I'm considering: The CAADX, the Trek Checkpoint ALR 4, and the Giant Anyroad Advanced 1. In addition to being the least expensive of those three, the CAADX had the closest geometry to the bikes I already own. And, arguably, the highest quality components. The fact that my wife owns a 2017 CAADX (which I presume means I could easily swap wheels with her) is starting to make me feel like the universe is telling me to just buy the CAADX.
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07-03-18, 08:56 AM
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Personally I won't ever consider a "gravel bike" again because of the low bottom bracket. Constant irritation, banging my toe on rocks and the ground (I use clips and straps). After trying to learn to love the Diverge for a year, I gave up and bought a Raleigh cross bike and love it.
07-08-18, 07:27 AM
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OK. That's officially awesome. You win the day!
I had a CAADX from a few years ago and never quite loved it. I LOVE the look of your bike! I actually used my CAADX mostly on the road, and it wasn't until I actually ran a cross race that I understood what a great machine it was. LOVE the look of your bike. Enjoy it!
I had a CAADX from a few years ago and never quite loved it. I LOVE the look of your bike! I actually used my CAADX mostly on the road, and it wasn't until I actually ran a cross race that I understood what a great machine it was. LOVE the look of your bike. Enjoy it!
07-09-18, 10:18 AM
#59
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Is the OP (or are you, for that matter) Ted or Katie? Of course not.
Ted won DK overall on a slate not too long ago, is that also the perfect gravel bike?
To the OP: The CAADX has a decent head angle, but short chainstays and a medium height BB - it might be less stable at speed on loose gravel than you would like, and there are plenty of other bikes that offer similar features with a slacker overall geometry. You just don't need twitchy handling on a gravel bike - unless you are also expecting that bike to be good for racing CX or crits, but then it is a compromise bike.
I'd suggest looking at something like the Norco Search, Jamis Renegade, RLT 9, or Raleigh Tamland.
Ted won DK overall on a slate not too long ago, is that also the perfect gravel bike?
To the OP: The CAADX has a decent head angle, but short chainstays and a medium height BB - it might be less stable at speed on loose gravel than you would like, and there are plenty of other bikes that offer similar features with a slacker overall geometry. You just don't need twitchy handling on a gravel bike - unless you are also expecting that bike to be good for racing CX or crits, but then it is a compromise bike.
I'd suggest looking at something like the Norco Search, Jamis Renegade, RLT 9, or Raleigh Tamland.
07-09-18, 11:57 AM
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I'm looking at a Focus Mares, which has a 71 deg head tube angle. I'm not an expert on frame geometry, but this seems slacker than pretty much every bike out there. And it DID feel less agile than other bikes I tested. Is this something you would be wary of, especially as this bike would spend a lot of time on pavement for me as well?
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07-09-18, 01:45 PM
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Same, my first gravel bike was a steel slack framed touring/bikepacking geometry. I used it for pavement commuting and gentle gravel, and have a fast carbon road bike for the road. The slacked geometry was good, but never "fun". Once I brought it to my first cyclocross practice, the deficiencies were obvious. bought my first cyclocross bike(a CAADX) i knew the touring bike had to go.
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