A new steel gravel/touring bike

[Punkawallah]

HI all,
I'n the opinion of the assembled masses, would there be any market for new steel framed gravel/touring bikes? If so, at what specification and what price?

 

[vickster]

Spacycles have several in the £1k-2k range. See their website for specs.
I'm in the process of ordering an Elan 725

 

[Dogtrousers]

As @vickster says Spa would be the first place I'd look. Also Genesis probably have something in that line.

Are you looking to buy one or are you pondering on the fact that there may be a gap in the market?

 

[vickster]

As @vickster says Spa would be the first place I'd look. Also Genesis probably have something in that line.

Are you looking to buy one or are you pondering on the fact that there may be a gap in the market?

Ribble have a steel model too, so do Sonder via Alpkit, plus there are more localised brands like Temple (plus some fancy bespoke frame builders)

 

[Dogtrousers]

And a bunch of others here too: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-steel-gravel-bikes

 

[chriswoody]

There's a lot of steel framed touring/gravel bikes out there at the moment. Fairlight, Bombtrack, Curve, Chumba, Mason, Brother, Norco, Ribble, Maverick, Otso, Breadwinner, Rodeo Labs, Ritchey, Sklar, Black Mountain Cycles, and Kona. Just to name a few manufacturers.

My own bike the Kona Sutra LTD is a steel framed gravel/touring bike. It's based on the famous Kona Sutra touring bike but kitted out as a gravel bike. So you get to choose, traditional Sutra with 3x groupset, Brooks saddle, mudguards and rack. Or go for the LTD which for my bike has hydraulic discs, 1x groupset, flared handlebars and room for wide tires.

In the 5 years I've owned mine I've modified it quite extensively and covered over 15,000 Kms. A big chunk of those kilometres have also been touring mostly off road on gravel and single track.

 

[wafter]

New steel gravel bikes are pretty common, tourers possibly less-so as it's probably one of the least "fashion forward" areas of cycling so presents very limited opportunity to push new tat onto the consumptive hoards.

Where IMO there is a gap would be more traditional frame geometries (most stuff now tends to have sloping top tubes; which have their practical advantages but IMO lack aesthetic appeal). Also I think there's a hole in the market fo retro-modern rando builds - personally I'd kill for a trad-styled lugged steel frame with provision for fat 650bs, through-axles and hydro discs.. but this would be super-niche and probably have next-to-no mass market appeal / commercial viability.

 

[Jameshow]

New steel gravel bikes are pretty common, tourers possibly less-so as it's probably one of the least "fashion forward" areas of cycling so presents very limited opportunity to push new tat onto the consumptive hoards.

Where IMO there is a gap would be more traditional frame geometries (most stuff now tends to have sloping top tubes; which have their practical advantages but IMO lack aesthetic appeal). Also I think there's a hole in the market fo retro-modern rondo builds - personally I'd kill for a trad-styled lugged steel frame with provision for fat 650bs, through-axles and hydro discs.. but this would be super-niche and probably have next-to-no mass market appeal / commercial viability.

I don't think you would find the right drop outs?
If you could then ask a custom builders?

 

[vickster]

New steel gravel bikes are pretty common, tourers possibly less-so as it's probably one of the least "fashion forward" areas of cycling so presents very limited opportunity to push new tat onto the consumptive hoards.

Where IMO there is a gap would be more traditional frame geometries (most stuff now tends to have sloping top tubes; which have their practical advantages but IMO lack aesthetic appeal). Also I think there's a hole in the market fo retro-modern rondo builds - personally I'd kill for a trad-styled lugged steel frame with provision for fat 650bs, through-axles and hydro discs.. but this would be super-niche and probably have next-to-no mass market appeal / commercial viability.

Rondo offer a similar type of bike
https://rondo.cc/ruut-st,18,pl
https://rondo.cc/mutt-st,473,pl

 

[T4tomo]

New steel gravel bikes are pretty common, tourers possibly less-so as it's probably one of the least "fashion forward" areas of cycling so presents very limited opportunity to push new tat onto the consumptive hoards.

Where IMO there is a gap would be more traditional frame geometries (most stuff now tends to have sloping top tubes; which have their practical advantages but IMO lack aesthetic appeal). Also I think there's a hole in the market fo retro-modern rando builds - personally I'd kill for a trad-styled lugged steel frame with provision for fat 650bs, through-axles and hydro discs.. but this would be super-niche and probably have next-to-no mass market appeal / commercial viability.

planet x did a Rujo, but not stocked at moment, which ticks those boxes except lugged. Building lugged steel frames is quite niche nowadays- Battaglin?

its a bit of a weird OP, I'm not sure he's asking for recommendations IAE

 

[Dogtrousers]

its a bit of a weird OP, I'm not sure he's asking for recommendations IAE

Maybe @Punkawallah has just purchased a storage unit that turns out to be full of new steel framed gravel/touring bikes and is wondering how much to sell them for

 

[Punkawallah]

Maybe @Punkawallah has just purchased a storage unit that turns out to be full of new steel framed gravel/touring bikes and is wondering how much to sell them for

No, but I can dream :-)
Question originally inspired by a discussion at my FLBS on the usability of steel, down tube shifter frames in these modern times and a musing on the Dawes Facebook page about the sales potential of ‘modern’’ steel touring bikes.
Apparently the ‘hive mind’ here says ‘they are already being sold.

 

[All uphill]

I recently saw a fat tyred, 26" inch wheeled Dawes with disc brakes here on Cyclechat.
Sorry I can't remember who posted it.

I'd find room in the garage for something like that.

 

[wafter]

I don't think you would find the right drop outs?
If you could then ask a custom builders?

I'm sure they're available; my CdF has some for a start

I don't doubt you could spec such a thing from a custom builder; however sadly I tihnk that would be beyond my depths of my pockets..

Rondo offer a similar type of bike
https://rondo.cc/ruut-st,18,pl
https://rondo.cc/mutt-st,473,pl

Thanks - tigged frames with placcy forks though

No, but I can dream :-)
Question originally inspired by a discussion at my FLBS on the usability of steel, down tube shifter frames in these modern times and a musing on the Dawes Facebook page about the sales potential of ‘modern’’ steel touring bikes.
Apparently the ‘hive mind’ here says ‘they are already being sold.

You didn't mention downtube shifters - that would be a bit of a stretch as most modern stuff will have STIs or bar end shifters..

 

[Gunk]

New steel gravel bikes are pretty common, tourers possibly less-so as it's probably one of the least "fashion forward" areas of cycling so presents very limited opportunity to push new tat onto the consumptive hoards.

Where IMO there is a gap would be more traditional frame geometries (most stuff now tends to have sloping top tubes; which have their practical advantages but IMO lack aesthetic appeal). Also I think there's a hole in the market fo retro-modern rando builds - personally I'd kill for a trad-styled lugged steel frame with provision for fat 650bs, through-axles and hydro discs.. but this would be super-niche and probably have next-to-no mass market appeal / commercial viability.

You mean one of these? no through axles but sort of thing you are describing

https://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/expedition

My son has the V Brake version, upgraded with Paul brakes.