Gravel Bike! Which one would you personally choose?

[T4tomo]

I wouldn't bother buying a gravel bike, especially if you live in England. Few gravel roads and most bridleways are so muddy that 40mm gravel tyres simply don't provide enough traction.
Better off buying a hardtail MTB. I bought a gravel bike 2 years ago and seldom went off road as it wasn't up to the job

+1. This gravel stuff came out from america where they have - wait for it - gravel trails. I think there aren't as many in the UK as they are more like mud trails than gravel trails. To that extent, I'm with @Falsesummat - I would rather get an XC MTB. There are uses for a gravel bike: the wider tyres make the potholed roads more bearable, overall comfort is better and usually the bikes are compatible with racks and full-size fenders. But then again, so are many road bikes. I've had a couple of gravel bikes in the past but I was always left with the feeling of "hey, I really want to like this bike, but I can't".

Oh yeah, ps: if OP does want me to choose one bike, then the Canyon. Although i like the colour of the Fuji better, the Canyon is not bad at all and I also fancy getting a Canyon.

I agree a gravel bike is not a replacement for a mountain bike.

YMMV or maybe you haven't looked hard enough, but I've found there are plenty of bridleways with a decent surface (more so when its dry) revived disused railway lines tracks and paths (think NCN network) that you can link up with quiet roads and make a decent on/off road ride, which is where a gravel bike comes into its own. You aren't much slower on the on road bits, but have the freedom to dive off-road on the paths less travelled.

Get an Alu or Ti frame and you can strap frame bags to it for light touring. Make sure you have mudguard mount and with a suitable or second set of tyres (+wheels for ultimate flexibility) and you have a great winter road bike and can keep your carbon mudguard-less dream machine for summer use.

A modern take on the classic tourer.

@kingspirit get the Fuji - prettier and with a BB that actually works as a BB should and canyon customer service is legendary in its appalling-ness

 

[Baldy]

It really depends where you live, there are plenty of gravel roads in Scotland.

 

[grldtnr]

Form over function, is it necessary to go full on carbon/ ALU for a gravel bike? Seems like a case of buying an SUV, for the image it portrays.
Me, I would plump for a high end steel frame, something along the lines of the SPA cycles Wayfarer, it looks right, it will do right, and be far more comfortable than, ally or carbon frames.
Mind you I have never ridden a carbon frame.

 

[T4tomo]

Form over function, is it necessary to go full on carbon/ ALU for a gravel bike? Seems like a case of buying an SUV, for the image it portrays.
Me, I would plump for a high end steel frame, something along the lines of the SPA cycles Wayfarer, it looks right, it will do right, and be far more comfortable than, ally or carbon frames.
Mind you I have never ridden a carbon frame.

I think Alu will be cheaper than high end steel. Alu is the thinking mans material of choice for a gravel bike......

.....as frame material for comfort sort of goes out the window a bit on a gravel bike, as you can run 35-45mm tyres at a pressure that gives you far more damping from vibrations that even the finest carbon layups, elastomers and marketing mumbo jumbo can give you.
Running on the road as a winter bike again you can run 30-32mm slicks @70-80psi for a real comfy ride.

 

[grldtnr]

I think Alu will be cheaper than high end steel. Alu is the thinking mans material of choice for a gravel bike......

.....as frame material for comfort sort of goes out the window a bit on a gravel bike, as you can run 35-45mm tyres at a pressure that gives you far more damping from vibrations that even the finest carbon layups, elastomers and marketing mumbo jumbo can give you.
Running on the road as a winter bike again you can run 30-32mm slicks @70-80psi for a real comfy ride.

High end steel bikes give a decent supple ride, ally doesn't, I'd pick steel over carbon & ally any day, might even go Ti , if the chrimbo fairies were bbenevolent.

 

[T4tomo]

High end steel bikes give a decent supple ride, ally doesn't, I'd pick steel over carbon & ally any day, might even go Ti , if the chrimbo fairies were bbenevolent.

I agree with you, but all costs a lost more than Alu. On 25/28mm tyres at 90spi on road bike, frame material makes a big difference to ride quality. I know this I have / have ridden a variety of alu carbon 531 steel frames.

The point you have either ignored or failed to grasp is frame material doesn't make a jot of difference to ride quality when you have large tyre volume on a gravel bike. Ti & carbon will make it slightly lighter and provide some bling factor, high end steel gives classic looks and a marginal weight penalty. Spend your money on that on a gravel bike if you wish, but not in the name of ride comfort.

On a gravel bike i'd go Alu frame every time and save the £££'s for the fancy summer road bike

 

[fair weather cyclist]

I'd never pick carbon for a gravel bike.

Aluminium/Steel/Titanium all good choices and better than carbon.

 

[grldtnr]

I'd never pick carbon for a gravel bike.

Aluminium/Steel/Titanium all good choices and better than carbon.

Thats what is being foisted on the consumers by the market, we mortal cyclist don't need it, but Money over function wins!

 

[Bike Tyson]

I'd never pick carbon for a gravel bike.

Aluminium/Steel/Titanium all good choices and better than carbon.

Why?

 

[T4tomo]

Why?

• more chance of terminal frame damage by crashing on the lose stuff with carbon
• less flexibility for using racks / frame bags etc for touring
• weight less of an issue on gravel vs road
• see about re comfort negated by tyres
• extra expense for no benefit

 

[Bike Tyson]

• more chance of terminal frame damage by crashing on the lose stuff with carbon
• less flexibility for using racks / frame bags etc for touring
• weight less of an issue on gravel vs road
• see about re comfort negated by tyres
• extra expense for no benefit

Its gravel not downhill mountain biking....
My Carbon gravel takes racks, frame bags, mudguards, etc
Agree frame material on 40mm tyres does not really matter in the comfort stakes.
My Carbon Gravel was priced similiar to steel/ALU of the same spec (£1300)

I went for carbon because my current carbon frame has about 60,000 miles on it and my last two aluminium frames snapped at under 10,000 miles, one snapped at the BB shell weld to the down tube (Spesh) and the other snapped at the seat stay(Giant).

 

[fossyant]

Not keen on the colour. Planet X Space Chicken or Free Ranger.

 

[vickster]

Whyte Friston

@kingspirit how will you be using the bike?

 

[Bike Tyson]

Not keen on the colour. Planet X Space Chicken or Free Ranger.

The red and black looks better in real life, more orangie than red.

 

[Grant Fondo]

I think carbon gravel frames are being confused with very lightweight carbon road frames - the former are significantly stronger.