Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Have road and gravel bikes...should I sell one?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway
View Poll Results: Should I sell?
Keep both bikes....n+1!
34
69.39%
Sell the Lynskey since most riding is on the road
7
14.29%
Sell the Roubaix because the Lynskey can to road/gravel
8
16.33%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

Have road and gravel bikes...should I sell one?

Old 10-19-21, 01:26 PM
  #1  
FrankTuna
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 88
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 18 Posts
Have road and gravel bikes...should I sell one?

This year, I built up a Lynskey GR300 with GRX Di2 that was supposed to be my 1 bike to rule them all. I broke a shifter right before my A event, and with parts availability being what it was, I either had to buy another bike or skip the event. I don't have any cycling buddies my height otherwise I maybe could have borrowed a bike. I bought a Specialized Roubaix Expert and I'm absolutely in love with it.

The Lynskey is more versatile, but realistically I've only tried a handful of gravel events but it was primarily used on the road. The Roubaix is more comfy and rides more easily (subjective, I know) on the road than the Lynskey with road tires. I like the idea of riding more gravel, but it hasn't really worked out that way.

I'm thinking about selling one of these bikes. I don't need the money, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to recoup some. Hopefully with the used market being what it is I wouldn't totally lose my shirt. Any thoughts?
FrankTuna is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 01:28 PM
  #2  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,919

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22473 Post(s)
Liked 8,794 Times in 4,092 Posts
It's your decision, but personally I love having a backup/beater/foul weather/organ donor bike so my vote is to keep both.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Likes For datlas:
Old 10-19-21, 01:38 PM
  #3  
genejockey 
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
 
genejockey's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,471

Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10125 Post(s)
Liked 11,468 Times in 5,875 Posts
"Have Road And Gravel"? Wasn't that a TV series back in the 60's, about an itinerant gunslinger?
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."

"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
genejockey is online now  
Likes For genejockey:
Old 10-19-21, 02:08 PM
  #4  
Mojo31
-------
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,544
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9439 Post(s)
Liked 6,236 Times in 3,436 Posts
Where is the option for "buy a third?"
Mojo31 is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 04:23 PM
  #5  
genejockey 
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
 
genejockey's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,471

Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10125 Post(s)
Liked 11,468 Times in 5,875 Posts
Originally Posted by Mojo31
Where is the option for "buy a third?"
To be fair, option 1 is 'Keep both bikes - N+1!", and since N here = 2, N+1 means get a third bike. At least, that's how I read it.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."

"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
genejockey is online now  
Likes For genejockey:
Old 10-19-21, 04:45 PM
  #6  
FrankTuna
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 88
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 18 Posts
Originally Posted by genejockey
To be fair, option 1 is 'Keep both bikes - N+1!", and since N here = 2, N+1 means get a third bike. At least, that's how I read it.
The Roubaix was the n+1 since the Lynskey was supposed to be my do it all bike.
FrankTuna is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 05:18 PM
  #7  
Steve B.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,809

Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3179 Post(s)
Liked 2,006 Times in 1,149 Posts
I've a Cannondale Topstone 105, that I have a 2nd set of wheels and road tires for. I ride this as my slow ride road bike. I keep my carbon Di2 bike as it's 5 lbs lighter, feels quicker and is more enjoyable on fast group rides. If the carbon died, I might not replace it, I'd get a set of light carbon wheels for the Topestone and use that for everything.
Steve B. is online now  
Likes For Steve B.:
Old 10-19-21, 05:48 PM
  #8  
GlennR
On Your Left
 
GlennR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373

Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303

Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times in 1,187 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
It's your decision, but personally I love having a backup/beater/foul weather/organ donor bike so my vote is to keep both.
I have a Road and CX bike.
GlennR is offline  
Likes For GlennR:
Old 10-19-21, 07:11 PM
  #9  
PoorInRichfield
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Richfield, WI
Posts: 709

Bikes: Trek Domane SL7 Disc, Cannondale F29

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 385 Post(s)
Liked 321 Times in 182 Posts
I was going to vote for the Roubaix with a second set of wheels for gravel riding. However, it doesn't look like the Roubaix has much tire clearance (33 mm?). A 700x32 or 700x33 tire (if such thing exists) wouldn't be a very nice gravel tire. Hence I voted for the Lynskey as that bike would be the most versatile of the two with two wheel sets.

My 2021 Trek Domane has 700x32 tires for my road wheels and 700x38 tires for my gravel wheels. While the latter isn't a huge tire, it's more than I've needed for the 10% of the time when I actually ride off road.

BTW, pictures of both bikes might make me change my mind
PoorInRichfield is offline  
Likes For PoorInRichfield:
Old 10-19-21, 07:40 PM
  #10  
cyclezen
OM boy
 
cyclezen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Goleta CA
Posts: 4,340

Bikes: a bunch

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 502 Post(s)
Liked 623 Times in 425 Posts
both
cyclezen is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 08:40 PM
  #11  
chaadster
Thread Killer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,367

Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3071 Post(s)
Liked 1,624 Times in 999 Posts
One bike? What are you, in elementary school?
chaadster is offline  
Likes For chaadster:
Old 10-19-21, 09:36 PM
  #12  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,506

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10872 Post(s)
Liked 7,354 Times in 4,125 Posts
If you have a bike and don't like riding it, rather why keep it?

Perhaps you should look for a gravel bike with similar geometry(stack, reach, chainstay, bb drop, trail) to your Roubaix. That way you have a gravel bike like you want, but with riding characteristics that you like
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 10-19-21, 10:00 PM
  #13  
katsup
Senior Member
 
katsup's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,775

Bikes: 1995 ParkPre Pro 825 2021 Soma Fog Cutter v2 and 2021 Cotic SolarisMax

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 606 Post(s)
Liked 557 Times in 317 Posts
Going off the what the OP wrote, keep the Roubaix which you "love". It sounds like you don't love the Lynskey the same way, so I vote sell that instead of having it sit.

Look for a bike that fits like the Roubaix, but with wider tire clearance, if you ever get the urge to ride off pavement.
katsup is offline  
Likes For katsup:
Old 10-20-21, 03:49 AM
  #14  
waters60
Senior Member
 
waters60's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 562
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 203 Post(s)
Liked 107 Times in 62 Posts
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
If you have a bike and don't like riding it, rather why keep it?

Perhaps you should look for a gravel bike with similar geometry(stack, reach, chainstay, bb drop, trail) to your Roubaix. That way you have a gravel bike like you want, but with riding characteristics that you like
Not sure gravel and road geometry are at all the same. My gravel bike is set up to mimic my road bike but there is a reason the geometry is different.
waters60 is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 05:25 AM
  #15  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,506

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10872 Post(s)
Liked 7,354 Times in 4,125 Posts
Originally Posted by waters60
Not sure gravel and road geometry are at all the same. My gravel bike is set up to mimic my road bike but there is a reason the geometry is different.
It won't be exact, but it can certainly be similar/close. Gravel geometry isn't singular- an Evil Champis Hagar is significantly different compared to a Trek Checkpoint.

This is the same for road bikes since an endurance bike will have different geometry compared to a crit bike or a brand's lightweight climbing bike.
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 10-20-21, 06:18 AM
  #16  
FrankTuna
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 88
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 18 Posts
Originally Posted by katsup
Going off the what the OP wrote, keep the Roubaix which you "love". It sounds like you don't love the Lynskey the same way, so I vote sell that instead of having it sit.

Look for a bike that fits like the Roubaix, but with wider tire clearance, if you ever get the urge to ride off pavement.
I LOVE the Roubaix...it felt "right" the instant I test rode it. I've typically had to buy bikes without test rides because no one seems to stock 61cm!! If it could take a 38mm tire it would probably be perfect. I like the Lynskey, don't get me wrong. It's not as snappy as the Roubaix but certainly more versatile. Plus Ti should outlast me. I feel like I have to wear lycra on the Roubaix and I don't feel guilty for being slow on the Lynskey for just cruising around/Z2 rides.

It seems like there's a consensus in the poll! I think I will keep both and I really appreciate everyone's help thinking through this. Is it OK to spam with pictures haha...


FrankTuna is offline  
Likes For FrankTuna:
Old 10-20-21, 04:20 PM
  #17  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times in 6,053 Posts
I'm not a Spesh fan personally, but it's a much nicer looking bike too.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Old 10-20-21, 04:21 PM
  #18  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times in 6,053 Posts
Originally Posted by katsup
Going off the what the OP wrote, keep the Roubaix which you "love". It sounds like you don't love the Lynskey the same way, so I vote sell that instead of having it sit.

Look for a bike that fits like the Roubaix, but with wider tire clearance, if you ever get the urge to ride off pavement.
You're really not supposed to make this much sense in the road forum, but we'll look the other way this time because it's great advice.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Old 10-20-21, 04:37 PM
  #19  
tomato coupe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,863

Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3899 Post(s)
Liked 7,162 Times in 2,897 Posts
Sell the gravel bike and buy a new road bike, then sell the original road bike and buy a new gravel bike.
tomato coupe is offline  
Likes For tomato coupe:
Old 10-20-21, 05:39 PM
  #20  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times in 6,053 Posts
Originally Posted by tomato coupe
Sell the gravel bike and buy a new road bike, then sell the original road bike and buy a new gravel bike.
Breed the road and gravel bikes for ten generations and see what you wind up with.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Old 10-21-21, 02:01 AM
  #21  
Lazyass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,337
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times in 395 Posts
Sell them both and buy a CX bike. That is, if you can find an actual CX bike with a high bottom bracket and not a gravel bike they're calling CX. What's funny is on Specialized's website they have a cyclocross page with the CruX, and on their gravel bike page they also list the same CruX. And it has a 72mm BB drop. It looks almost like a road race bike that fits big tires which would be good for the OP.
Lazyass is offline  
Old 10-21-21, 09:41 AM
  #22  
rm -rf
don't try this at home.
 
rm -rf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,900
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 959 Post(s)
Liked 477 Times in 334 Posts
It turns out that I ride my road bike way more often than my Ti gravel/adventure bike. The road bike is better for the hilly small group rides I do.

But the gravel bike is set up most of the time with fenders and 28mm tires, and a rear rack. It has lower gearing too.

This is a great setup for getting out after a rainstorm, when the roads are still soaking wet. I stay completely dry.

And for all-day rides, where I can bring extra layers and lunch and camera. Steep hills or rough roads won't be a problem, either.

Last edited by rm -rf; 10-21-21 at 09:45 AM.
rm -rf is offline  
Likes For rm -rf:
Old 10-21-21, 10:03 AM
  #23  
jon c. 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,812
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,012 Times in 569 Posts
Originally Posted by FrankTuna
The Roubaix was the n+1 since the Lynskey was supposed to be my do it all bike.
The operative word there is "was."

Now, it's just of part n. You still need the +1.
jon c. is online now  
Old 10-21-21, 10:05 AM
  #24  
scottfsmith
I like bike
 
scottfsmith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Merry Land USA
Posts: 662

Bikes: Roubaix Comp 2020

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 267 Post(s)
Liked 283 Times in 191 Posts
Originally Posted by PoorInRichfield
I was going to vote for the Roubaix with a second set of wheels for gravel riding. However, it doesn't look like the Roubaix has much tire clearance (33 mm?).
I use a Roubaix as my gravel bike (and road bike and commuter bike ..). It has ~4mm clearance or more with most 700x35c tires, so those plus some helicopter tape on the closer spots for those super muddy days and I am in business. So far no problems at all. Note the clearance increased as of 2020 model year. I am currently running 25mm internal width rims with Conti Terra Speed 35c. The bike is fantastic on fast gravel and tolerates windy bumpy single track fine in small doses.

Anyway looks like a non-issue for the OP but wanted to clarify for other potential Roubaix owners.
scottfsmith is offline  
Likes For scottfsmith:
Old 10-21-21, 10:13 AM
  #25  
Hypno Toad
meh
 
Hypno Toad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,699

Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,011 Times in 518 Posts
I have 2 gravel/adventure bikes; 3 road bikes; plus one bike that kinda does gravel/road/commute/ ... (& I've got a city bike that's none of the above)

My rule: look at the mileage log at the end of the year, if a bike isn't getting ridden ... sell it!

I'm fortunate to have the space for this collection, the budget to maintain them, and Frau Toad is supportive (she talks me out of selling bikes )

Last edited by Hypno Toad; 10-25-21 at 01:17 PM.
Hypno Toad is offline  
Likes For Hypno Toad:

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.