Looking to get back into cycling after an extended break (between young kids, work, typical excuses). Last bike was a giant TCR from ~2000. My ideal would be to slowly build up to the point where I'm riding enough to justify a decent carbon road bike with wireless shifting. But I'm not sure if life will let me get there, so I don't want to drop that much money upfront and would be more comfortable in the $1500-$1800 range to start.
Might be strange, but even though I'm most interested in road riding, I was actually thinking it might make sense to start with a gravel bike in this price range so that 1) I could do some light off-road riding with my son and 2) if I buy a carbon road bike later I would have two somewhat distinct riding options rather than just replacing the original bike.
So trying to find gravel bikes in this price range I see the Specialized Diverge E5 Elite and the Canyon Grizl 6 RAW. Similarly priced on sale and also seem similarly spec'd. Any preferences between the two? Are the geometries all that different? After being out of cycling for a while and getting older and less flexible I worry a bit that something too aggressive could be uncomfortable and limit my progress…
If its stupid to go gravel first and I'm being overly influenced by the trend, I guess the Endurace 7 RAW would be the endurance option instead?
by dla369
1 Comment
I’m in a similar situation. I’ve been working out on my wife’s peloton a lot and I take a cheap Walmart bike out to MTB trails on occasion. I want a road/gravel bike that I can use on out local paved and gravel “rail trails”.
I’m stuck between Canyon/Specialized and the all-road bikes on Bikesonline.com. You can get a carbon frame with ultegra or 105 groupset for 1500-1600.
I feel like I have choice paralysis.