Hi everyone! I am new to cycling and hoping to get some advice on what bike to purchase for myself.
- My longest ride is 40 miles, I am hoping to build some endurance and ride 80% gravel 20% road.
- I borrowed this bike from a friend, and LOVE it. The 2x system is perfect for me (I think), I care much more about ease on the uphill and not much about speed on the downhill. I dont like riding super fast downhill! Can someone help me identify what this 2x system is so that I can look for it on the model I want to purchase?
- My budget is ~$3k.
- Im 5'4"
- I was looking at this Diverge, though it is a 1x. Is it worth investing in this bike when I would need to upgrade to a 2x system immediately? https://www.specialized.com/us/en/diverge-4-sport-carbon-shimano-grx-600/p/4223514?color=5464916-4223514
Thanks in advance for the help.
Go easy on me, Im super new!
by cnebseattle
7 Comments
Do yourself a favor and go to every single bicycle store you can get to and cycle around on everything within your budget. You will be amazed at how different two similar looking bicycles can feel. You will eventually find “The One” that you find yourself going back to again. See if you can borrow other people’s bikes and get their experiences with ownership as well as your ride experience. You may very well have found the perfect bike in your friends. It’s certainly beautiful and fit for purpose. This is the honeymoon phase, don’t rush into anything until it feels right. The right bike is the one that best suits your needs.
ur height is the same as mine! the diverge is a good choice but make sure u get properly fitted, the right frame size makes all the difference especially when ur doing longer rides like 40 miles.
2* isn’t necessary harder, it’s just a ratio thing (so the combination of your cranking and cassette) usually by 2 set-up use a narrower cassette than a mono-build, where the use of mullet (11-51 cassette) is almost a norm.
They both got similar ranges.
For 80% gravel I’ll go with a 1* set-up, but that’s just me, and where I live gravel is pretty gnarly.
A mono set-up is in fact more robust while riding.
There’s no real differences in maintenance between the two.
I’ll say a by 2 build is made for smooth terrain whereas a mono build is made to go all in gravel.
The diverge is a great bike, if you’re unsure about it maybe go to your local bike shop and ask to try it out
I don’t recommend swapping your group on a bike, it’s usually less expensive to buy a bike with the group that you’re looking for.
I have the exact same bike. It’s a great rider!
Bike shopping is shopping is very much a “Get the one that speaks to you” scenario. Doesn’t matter how good or bad the bike and its components are if you don’t see it and immediately want to ride it.
Get the one with the cool paint job if that’s the one you’re more excited about. Get the one with a 2x if that’s what you want. Get the one that your favorite LBS sells.
Just make sure it fits you.
I like underbiking or building things that shouldn’t be done. I have no interest in fancy carbon bikes and all the newest tech. I can’t say that I would be very motivated to ride a fancy bike if I owned one, so I dont.
Whatever bike you end up on, snag some shorter cranks. I’m 5’5″ and I just went from from 172.5 to 160mm cranks and it was such an insane difference in comfort on longer rides.
Get a bike fot first.
Always get a bike fit first.
LBS have a string tendency to fit one if not 2 sizes too big because they use the manufacturers sizing tools…and they suck.
The 2x drivetrain is nice for the pavement.