superdex

ok kids, I'm turning a "certain number" this year, and I'm daydreaming about an N=1, 4 season "Any road" bike in the $3-4k range. (Custom will wait till after the kids are outta college). I'm a mostly pavement, want to "go left down the dirt road if the mood strikes me" and maybe CC Tour a night or three. A lot of gravel bikes seem to be biased towards chasing hardtails on singletrack and a week in the woods. That's not me. I'm a "fast pavement endurance fondo bike with big tires and fender mounts" kinda rider. I'm also wanting a carbon bike, because, you know, I want to make it hard on myself. I also want something outside the big 4. It's gotta be a little 'ooh factor,' right?

So here's what I've narrowed down to, and perhaps someone here in BF-land might have an option I've overlooked? Unfortunately, availability is a factor. Which sucks, and why I'm not buying a Grail and calling it a day.

Would prefer a 2x, roadish drivetrain. Can't see being happy with a 40-11 top-end on the pavement. And 40mm tires (40 is the new 35, dontchaknow).

"Not Grail" options:
3T Exploro GRX 2x. A Serious contender.
Cervelo Caledonia (or Aspero) -- Seems Cervelo can't make up their mind. If the Caledonia had a scosch more tire clearance, I'd be done.
Rondo Ruut (also not available)
Ridley Kanzo Speed (not the Fast. I want 2x. If only it was available somewhere?)
Look 765 Gravel (Heck, why not? --and it's available!)

--I imagine someone (or three) will mention a Warbird or Warroad. I have a Timberjack and I like it, but the Warbird may be too "gravely" and the Warroad not enough tire clearance. Shrug.


So, my BF friends, what say you?

mstateglfr 

Caledonia/Aspero in the regular level and not the 5 series. You have a traditional cockpit and more flexibility on setup for less cost.
The Aspero has pretty neutral paved road geometey, 2x, and can fit your tire width requirement.

Cervelo does some pretty dumb/lazy/goofy stuff, but an Aspero in that shimmer paint is definitely something they did right.

KJ43

I have to recommend the bike I'm riding - Santa Cruz Stigmata. Great overall geometry on the road and the trail, comfortable on long rides, still a fairly quick front end, light, stiff but compliant where it needs to be. Mine is set up with GRX 2x and there is plenty of room for tire width.

I'm thinking about buying another in a frameset so I can build it up as a dedicated road bike with Ultegra.

MinnMan

A friend rides a Stigmata on road and gravel and it seems like a pretty sweet bike.

superdex

yeah the Stigmata grx build (and OPEN) are out of budget, sadly….

MinnMan

I'm not sure I get your point. The Warroad goes up to 35 mm in the 700c tires - that should be fine for the "I'm mostly on road, but I want to take this unpaved detour" kind of riding. And it goes up to 47 mm for 650c, so with an extra wheelset it would work for the "I don't usually do this, but I'm gonna ride this gravel event and swap in a different set of tires and wheels." In fact, for fast gravel, 35 mm 700c wheels are just fine.

superdex

Yeah, you've got something there, but I dunno. I had 35s on my Crux and after rolling around with 29x2.6s on the Timberjack, I found I really wanted a little wider. (The Crux was offloaded to make room --I'da kept it 'cept it was cantis and I want discs this time around). Dunno if I want two Salsas in the garage. Shrug. Might have to revisit it. The Aspero lacks mudguard mounts, but I have raceblades (still in the packaging, actually). I'm also going to ask Cervelo if the Caledonia fender kit will work on the Aspero. I asked Cervelo and the Caledonia fender kit isn't compatible. He actually said the bike was designed "to be the fastest gravel bike on the market at the expense of certain creature comforts, such as mounted racks and fenders." snark

Thing is, I love My Goodship. If only it had discs and wider clearance....

blacknbluebikes 

check out the Niner models. if you can find one... buddy of mine has several ponies in his stable and usually grabs that one

venturi95

Eddy Merckx Srasbourg 71? I think it looks like a 2019 model year Frame set on close out from Competitive Cyclist for $1750. Clearance for 40mm tires. Anybody know about this? I am always suspicious of online deals.

venturi95

Forgot to mention, earlier last month I was inquiring about any RLT. June is the best estimate I got from a local shop, could be longer. Anyone have solid info on delivery dates?

Random11

I like my Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon. Nice on pavement, and good for off-road riding. I also have a Caledonia, but I never ride it off-road. I ride the Diverge off-road. The Caledonia is more responsive and a bit faster than the Diverge, but I enjoy them equally on pavement and split my pavement riding time between them. Riding with a group, I'll take the Caledonia (faster, so helps me keep up), but solo, both are good. If I had to have only one bike, it would be the Diverge.

chaadster

superdex check in with Jochem at BikeSuperior in NL; they’re a good shop and showing Ruut CF2 2x in stock: https://www.bikesuperior.com/en/rond...2-2x-2021.html

LiftandPedal

Excel Sports and University, both up in Boulder, have some RLTs in stock.

superdex

Carbon RLTs (2x) are a grand more than I want to (can) spend --I've had aluminum, steel and ti. I'm up for carbon this time around.

And I'd be proud to have a Niner, being Colorado-local and all. Just not in the budget. (and no, I don't want to spend $3k on a 1x bike I then have to immediately spend money on changing things out)

Excel does have the Exploro (though not the drivetrain I'm looking for, but I can ride it), Caledonia and Aspero in stock too. Might have to take a drive up there (I'm down close to Castle Rock, almost an hour away, so it's a planned outing)....

40x11 @ 90rpm is 27mph. sorry kids, on pavement that's just not high enough. Not that I'm Tim Declercq or anything, just that I don't want to spin out on any reasonable downhill (or tailwind).

Then there's Ribble, which on paper and configurable spec seems like a solid option. But there's something about the name which (as vain as it sounds) would make me feel like I'm riding a Performance brand. sigh.

I need to take a trip to Boulder...

mstateglfr 

I get it- riding a house brand, but I would say that current Ribble and recent Performance arent even in the same category as house brands. Ribble's customization is incredible and a real competitive advantage to overcome the online experience. Ribble sponsors 3 teams, I believe- a women's conti team, a cx team, and a mens's conti team. Maybe more, I really dont follow that side of cycling too closely, but the point is that its a legit brand with actual design and effort(vs slapping a name on a frame).

But yes, I understand the hesitation.

nathand

Have you considered a Jamis Renegade? Looks like the top 2 models (C1 and C2) meet your requirements and are just within budget; no idea about availability. If you'd consider used, the ones from a few years ago had a road drivetrain before GRX came out.

LiftandPedal

I hear ya. I went up last weekend and bought an RDO off Excel after test riding the Steel and the Stigmata at University. The rides at University told me I really wanted carbon and, call me vain, but while the RDO and the Stigmata both felt great, I liked the look of the RDO better. Heading back up tomorrow for a fit appointment and to pick it up. The sticker price was a little painful, but I average a new bike every 18 years or so, so it amortizes well.

prj71

You might like this. It''s on my radar.

https://fezzari.com/products/shafer

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/09/fezzari-shafer-review/

https://www.feedthehabit.com/gear-re...-build-review/

mstateglfr 

The Fezzari seems like a good value and has a 2x option, though its only 2x10. It comes as a frameset, though a lot of the value is then gone going that route.
83mm of trail is very much not road bike like for steer/feeling.

superdex

Looks nice, but a 69.8' head tube (creating that luxurious 83mm trail) and 1079mm wheelbase, that's approaching mtb territory. Has me looking though

dwmckee

Yes!! Even if you find an aluminum one. I have put about 100 miles on one and it exactly fits your description. Some on your list like the Exploro are far too stiff for decent comfort (I have owned one of these too).. A used Open U.P is an excellent option and that is what I ride right now...

dwmckee

I have owned one of these and loved it but a roadie at heart like the OP would not be happy with it.

dwmckee

What size frame do you ride?

superdex

58 or Large. Howcome?

dwmckee

I have a Large (57.5) blue Open U.P with Ultegra groupset used but in very good shape if you are interested. PM me if you are interested. May be in your price range.