I don't want an adventure bike. Options?
 

I don't want an "Adventure bike". Nothing against them. Just not what I want.

I want a fast, aggressive road bike. The roads just happen to be mixed pavement and gravel.

Think Cervelo R3 or SuperSix EVO but for gravel, fast group rides on mixed surfaces.

I'm looking at the Salsa Warbird Carbon Ultegra. What other options are there?

What else is out there that isn't an "adventure" bike?


-Tim-

How wide of a tire are you trying to fit?

...and...

How much do you weight (lighter cyclist can finesse gravel roads on narrow tires more easily than heavier cyclist)

What will be in the mix when you say "mixed surfaces"?

Post in the Road Bike Forum since you're interested in a road steed.

They can give you good advice on a classic road bike. Good luck.

195 lbs. 5' 8", not fat. I can ride 50+ miles on the road in an 18 MPH group ride.

Right now I'm thinking about Panaracer Gravel King SK 35 tires. Every review says they run at least 38mm and roll very fast on the road. The Salsa Warbird comes with WTB Riddler 37mm if it helps.

70% pavement, 30% gravel, maybe as much as 50% gravel. The gravel around here is well maintained over packed dirt. Lots of this...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/amiqf3x4y8...04.sm.jpg?dl=1


@NormanF, I know you are trying to be helpful but I'm not looking for a road bike and especially not a classic road bike. I want a fast and light gravel racing bike. Sorry that I was unclear. Not sure if you have seen the Salsa Warbird. It is designed for to be fast on gravel.Just trying to find out what else I should be looking at that isn't a comfort or adventure bike but more sporty. I'm looking to get into an Ultegra class bike or equivalent.


-Tim-

A drop-bar bike that fits a 700x38 tire is going to be called many things, but a "road bike" usually discribes something that will use much smaller tires. I presume you want to avoid expedition touring bikes with heavy touring tires.

The 700x35 Gravel King is a good basis for a lighter, more responsive mixed surfaces bike.

Bikes like the Jamis Renegade Elite, Salsa Warbird, Raleigh Roker Comp and several other are fast, competition level bikes.

I'd focus on Carbon fiber and titanium bikes with hydraulic disc brakes, thru-axles and tubeless ready rims. At some point you'll need to decide between Sram 1x and Shimano 2x11 drivetrains.

Mongoose selous comp or expert. See the review thread. GT grade. Access old turnpike.

I am nearly the same height and weight. I can do that road in the photo easily on my 35mm tires. You should have no problem at all.

I have a bike that is rather similar in design and gearing to the bike you linked. The main differences are that mine is Di2 and a (custom) steel frame. I don't feel like it is a compromise on-road. I did find having two wheelsets is helpful.

As much as I like the Mongoose Selous Expert, the OP is looking for a lightweight race-winning gravel bike. The Selous Expert is a heavier aluminum bikes, about 24 lbs worth.

The new SuperX is EXACTLY what you're asking for.

FWIW I did not find the Gravel King SK to be a fast pavement tire. It's faster than some gravel tires with more aggressive tread but significantly slower than a smooth road tire in the same width - on pavement. No difference on the gravel.

Forum favorite Diamondback Haanjo series bikes are same class as the Warbird and spec'd competitively. Weight is around 21 pounds for the aluminum models, lighter for the carbon bikes, similar geo.

Although really, I don't know if I'd call the Warbird series sporty. They seem to be regular on-trend gravel bikes: 430mm chainstays, 70ish headtube/72.5ish seatube, 1020mm+ wheelbase. I know it's marketed as a "road bike for gravel" but it's really not. A road bike for gravel would be closer to 410-420mm chainstays with relevant wheelbase and 73/73 angles.

shoota is right, you want a fast aggressive road bike: get a cross racing bike, add your preferred tires and go to town.

Or get a disc brake road bike - a lot of the newer models are coming with 28mm tires stock and will fit up to 32mm no problem. Diamondback Century 4 Carbon is one example: Diamondback Bicycles - Bikes - Road - Endurance - Century - Century 4 Carbon

That will be a fast aggressive bike on gravel.

I mean if I had the cash... wow, search over.
http://www.cannondale.com/en/USA/Bike/ProductDetail?Id=00d7d0d7-5a5d-486f-b0b3-bb60d522e73a&parentid=undefined

Here is your rocket ship

Exploro by 3T Cycling

This frame just won the 100K dash for the cash at the Texas Chainring Massacre

Here is your rocket ship

Exploro by 3T Cycling

This frame just won the 100K dash for the cash at the Texas Chainring Massacre

Woah. What's the tire clearance and price? Off to look up reviews...

Yikes never mind that price tag is insane. But cool bike. I'd still go SuperX.

The Jamis Renegade Elite has some really nice features including the American Classic MTB RACE wheelset I had read about. This bike has me excited.

Price is right on the Raleigh Roker Comp. $2639 at Backcountry/Competitive.

I almost bought a 2015 CAADX but wanted wider tires. Actually brought calipers into REI and measured the chainstays but didn't thing the tires I wanted would fit. @shoota, do you know if the SuperX will fit wider tires than the CAADX? Not sure of 46/36 with 11-28 gearing though.

These are all bikes I'm going to try to ride this winter/early spring, especially the Jamis. Really appreciate the responses.

Exploro... yikes! The frame alone is way over my budget.


-Tim-

The Panaracer Gravel Team is local and I've seen the bike at my LBS. It will take about as wide a tire as you want. It's not a cheap bike but, it's very fast. The OP wanted fast.

Does it have the wow factor to go with that price tag?

FYI - I ride a Felt cyclocross bike and it's plenty fast and lot cheaper than the 3T. Felt was the frame of choice the Panaracer Gravel team last year. Nice thing about Felt, the frame is the same no matter what price point you are looking in.

devinci hatchet.
DEVINCI

ridley xtrail.
https://www.ridley-bikes.com/us/en/b...x-trail-carbon

santa cruz stigmata.
http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/stigmata

that hatchet looks the business. the stigmata is more of a cx bike.

The Roker Comp is ~$1700 at Raleigh's corporate site.
The Renegade is awesome but not a racer.
The new CAADX can only squeeze in 35s with no mud clearance.
The new SuperX can run 40s with a little mud clearance.
Hope that helps.

Hope that helps? Are you friggin' kidding?

That saved me hours of research. :thumb:

The Salsa Warbird is not an adventure bike? Huh?

I'm learning. Cut me some slack.




OK, that Davinci is on my list for sure.


-Tim-