Leo001

At this time I have many bikes, I’m tired of maintaining numerous bikes. If you could only have one bike for road/ occasional gravel what would it be? I’m more concerned with comport than speed, don’t want a “race” bike, prefer a more relaxed geometry and disc brakes.
thanks for the input!

P.S. still keeping a fat bike for winter and muddy trails

delbiker1 

I have 8 bikes and would like to lower that number to 2 or 3. However, If I had to get it down to just one bike, I am pretty sure I would choose my Soma Smoothie. The why: relatively light Tange Prestige steel and Soma CF fork, rear rack and fender mounts, fits 28mm tires, nice handling and very comfortable ride. Also, I have a second Soma fork, steel with fender and rack mounts. With the Soma fork, up to 32mm tires fit. Certainly not the best gravel set up, but I do not do hardcore gravel. Good for everyday riding, commuting, errands/chores, light touring/gravel. My Lemond Poprad, Reynolds 853 steel, is a real close second option. It will fit up to 38mm tires with all the qualities stated for the Smoothie. Hopefully, I will not have to make that decision.

sarhog

Salsa Cutthroat. /thread

Wildwood

There are a ton of bikes available with relaxed geometry and disc brakes - probably several models from nearly every bike manufacturer in business.

How much $$$ to spend?

Steve B.

I have it, an aluminum Cannondale Topstone 105. Gravel King 43mm tires with an 11-34 cassette for dirt and gravel roads, unpaved bike paths, etc.,,. 2nd set of wheels with 32mm road tires and a 12-25 cassette. I ride this bike maybe 80% of the time.

Iride01 

I wouldn't. I'd only have one bike that did one thing well. And if it's going to be pavement that I ride the most. Then that will be a road bike.

Only if I knew I was going to do 50/50 road/gravel I might consider a gravel bike. Many are good road geometries. But if I was only planning for occasional gravel, I'd give up the gravel for consideration of a bike. In all likelihood your occasional will be once every three or four years.

But if you have many bikes already and want to downsize, why so extreme going to one. Two might be perfect.

skidder

Since you're actually suggesting two bikes, I'll keep two, too.

Utility bicycle - currently an old rigid MTB, 1x7 drivetrain, 26 x 1.5 road tires, rack on the rear and removable basket on the front. I also have a 1977 Schwinn LeTour set up with a 2x1 drivetrain and 700x35 tires and rear rack that can be used as a utility bicycle.
Road/gravel - home built 2x9 with 700x 35 tires (it can easily fit something larger), currently has drop bars but seriously considering using a flat/hybrid handlebar. Rack on the back and also have a front rack (removed right now) for 'credit card' touring.

Pratt

One bike? I'd keep my Bruce Gordon Rock and Road Tour. Here in Vermont, road means >50% unpaved.
But, even though you may love pizza, you might tire of it three meals a day, every day. Other bikes are different experiences.

Random11

Easy for me to answer, because I just have one bike: a Specialized Diverge. It seems to fit the criteria you listed.

70sSanO

1983 Sears Free Spirit FS10.

John

Fredo_Adagio

Meet Ginny. She's my Trek 520 from the mid-1990s. I have a strong sentimental attachment to her. She is robust enough for touring, but she also is a great bike for a Sunday morning ride. If I had to get rid of all but one of my bikes, she is the one I would keep.

Leo001

in the 3k range, current contender is a Trek Domane SL4

Hit Factor

I have a trek Checkpoint SL 5 (gravel) and a Marlin 7 (MTB). Those two bikes are all I need. I'll be selling off my hybrid and cruiser.

AlmostTrick

So now we're up to 3 bikes? Good. When we get to 6 or so I'm in.

msu2001la

I'd probably buy a gravel bike with 2x gearing and a second set of wheels to allow easy swapping between road and gravel tires.

kcaine

I have a (German) VSF 8 speed internal hub with hydraulic rim brakes - great commuter bike, and foolproof. It's got a strange rear steel fender that has a built in rack so small panniers can fit on it

Riveting

If it's mostly road with light gravel, then the Spec Roubaix (pre-Future Shock) works for me. I normally use slick 28's, but it fits treaded 32's as well. And the stock COBL-GOBL-R seat post absorbs gravel buzz nicely.

mstateglfr 

I would use my Fairlight Secan gravel bike.

853 steel with carbon fork, disc brakes, and hydraulic 105 shifters
Frame angles and fork trail that lean towards road bike
Stack and reach that are endurance since I chose the T sizing
2x drivetrain
43mm Panaracer GK SS tires that are smooth rolling.


I could lie to myself and buy a 2nd wheelset with the intention of swapping it out for road or gravel rides. Or I could save hundreds, just buy some faster 40-43mm tires, and accept that I wont change my wheels depending on where I want to ride.
I would be plenty fast on even faster rolling tires. As it is, almost all my solo rides are gravel rides and they typically end up being 30-40% paved roads on my way out of/into town and my currently tires are good enough for that to not frustrate me. Faster ones would be even better.

Ghazmh

I just can’t.

Troul 

If I could afford the costs in order to only have one bicycle, I'd want to be able to afford one new bicycle when I have the interests for another bicycle. That also means being able to have that one bicycle readily available with all the associated wants that I'd deem needed. Current times do not support this, therefore, I'll most likely always own more than one. N+1

Retro Grouch 

How hard can it be? I'd start with tires to match my anticipated riding routes. Next I'd consider how aero I wanted to be. Once those two decisions are made, the rest will fall into place.

Rolla

Maintaining numerous bikes is no more difficult than maintaining one. After a ride you just wipe it down, give the chain some love, and you're done. Whether you have one bike or seven, it's the same. Plus, wear and tear on the parts is spread out over the stable, so replaceables like tires and brake pads actually last longer on each bike.

guachi

Trek Domane. One wheelset with 11-30 and 28mm tires for road use. Second wheelset with 11-34 and 38mm tires for gravel.

Leo001

Thanks for all the input, maybe going to one bike is a little extreme! But I definitely need to “thin the herd” lots of great input and ideas.
Leo

rsbob 

THIS is THE question. How much? The rest is just blind guessing.