Hello All!
I live in the UK and ride about 3-4 times a week (15-20 mile loops). A lot of my loops include large sections like this in the picture. I find this type of terrain is very common in the UK.
However I'm currently using a Triban RC500 but with Schwalbe G-One All Round 35c tyres on.
The thing is my Wife has spoke to me this weekend in regards to her wanting to buy a new sofa, and an expensive one at that. So in return I suggested she could get the sofa of her dreams if I could maybe purchase another bike that may be more suitable to what I ride.
The thing is, I don't know if what I've got is already more than fine or if I change to a full on 'Gravel' bike or a Nice XC Hardtail bike that it will make a massive difference?
I have around £1500 to play with. I was looking at the Canyon Grizl 6 One By, or the Ribble CGR AL.
If it's not going to be worth it I may just buy a nice cycling computer and a few new jersey and save a bunch of money and sleep easier knowing I've been sensible.
Any thoughts on this?
by newbiker321
21 Comments
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I’d ride that on 38mm tires, so you’re probably with what you have. That’s getting pretty close to MTB though.
Gravel bike with fatter tyres. Decathlon says you’re basically at the max size for your bike
I feel like:
Tarmac/pavel road: racebike (but not when its often wet and/or wet leaves)
Hilly with drops/jumps: mountainbike
Everything else: gravelbike.
The road shown in the picture is perfect territory for your gravelbike; if it gets muddy, change your tires to something more grippy/more profile. If you were to cycle more on dry typical gravel roads, you would want a less profile tire.
Similarly play with tire pressure: if you are on compacted, smooth gravel you want a higher pressure compared to riding on sandy roads.
Modify it to your needs. Want to reduce mud splashing? Get mudguards.
Edit: typos
The bike you’re on! With tires that preferably don’t spin when you push the pedals!
Run whatchya brung!
Gravel bike.
I ride very mixed and also go for blue singletrails (on rare occasions even red). I would go for 45mm tires, If you mainly Ride stuff Like this (or rougher) i would even Go for 50mm. Especially adventure gravelbikes and/or dropbar MTBs are what youre looking for. They feel more stable and have wider clearance.
I’m in the UK too, I went from a caadx with 35s (so a cyclocross bike) to a giant revolt advanced with 45s tubeless and it’s a world of difference. Much more comfortable, more capable and miles more compliant.
I just got a gravel bike this year (also from decathlon, the grvl 520 subcompact) and I find it perfect for nearly everything. Rarely I find myself in a terrain that would call for MTB and rarely I will find a silky smooth tarmac here in my country so the gravel is bike that feels fast on the roads and in the woods.
Just fit on the biggest tires you can, measure how much space do you have left and buy Tufo Thunderos 36 or 40 mm if you can fit, but beware the tires can be bigger on the rim. Your wheels are tubeless ready, so buy some sealant (the one from Tufo is quite cheap, at least here) and tape (I had to retape the wheels, because the decathlon factory tape job was shit, but its easy to diy), the lower pressures are perfect for rough trails and you can always pump it up for your tarmac rides.
Buy the tubeless valves with unscrew tool integrated into the valve cap, so you don’t have to care where you left your tool. Double wrap your bars if you need more comfort.
That is like 175€ for new wheels, sealant, rim tape, valves and bar tape. Buy yourself some nice bibs, cadence/speed sensors, bike computer and save the rest. Gravel is relatively new market and I guess you can get better deals 2-3 years later, when you reach the limits of your actual bike.
Gravel bike with some nobblies for the wetter/all months would be perfect.
I have a Boardman ADV 8.9 which was around £1000, that would eat this up. About to sell it so drop me a DM if you’re interested.
Where is this btw, looks really nice?
You may want to just try some chunky tires on that thing. And then you could add a suspension stem and seat post and you are set! Probably would feel better than the new bike.
Was curious and I found this: [https://thesweetcyclists.com/widest-tire-decathlon-triban-rc-520/](https://thesweetcyclists.com/widest-tire-decathlon-triban-rc-520/)
They tested 40mm tires and they fit! I think you could feel really good about 38mm gravel tires
Save the cash and just run that with some bigger tyres
Uni cycle
I’d ride that on exactly what you’re already riding. All road bike with 35mm semi slicks.
You don’t need monster tires to ride dirt
Gravel
Xc mtb
Get some 38mm tires, with more grip. I run 38mm gravel tyres on a giant revolt, and would handle that track easily
Gravel bike!!! YT szepter has some very USELESS fenders the core 2 version might be in your budget.
Gravel works here – but this is singletrack through and through and might be better on an XC bike; better clearance, more grip, more compliance
I have a Grizl AL 6 and it’s made for English countryside (Northumberland lad here)
I have a 2by and a 1by … if you want to do country roads too, and you might get a tie into improving your times… I might consider a 2by, but for trail defo 1by is fine.
I also have a CR SL 7, and it’s terrific and when looking at bikes it’s easy to rationalize getting the next one up, but that 6 is beyond awesome for the money, and frankly, the AL doesn’t make me nervous when it falls over :p
One thing: convert the tires to tubeless. Total no-brainer for me. You can also upgrade the fork to shox if you later want to (canyon have their own fit)
If not a tractor, a gravel bike will do the job.