Gravel Bike

[Blue Hills]

He’s talking about wheels (hubs) though with regard cup and cone?
BB is the first part of his post, square taper vs. Pressfit

ah thanks - read too quickly.
Personally I would favour cup and cone wheel bearings.
As at least one other has said, I think it may be best for the OP to get building.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Hi. I've just been to collect my brand new Cube Nurace gravel bike (£1750) from the shop when I saw it's fitted with a press fit BB. Having had bad experiences with them I've said I don't want it.

They've also got a Terra gravel bike, 2021, same money seems slightly lighter. Bit that's got cup and cone wheel bearings, I don't want them either.

Any ideas guy's, I'd spend a bit more for the right bike. I also don't want Sram, too many bad experiences with my other bikes.

Cheers!

To be honest my experience of press fit has been good but it’s on my/was best bike. The hollowtech II BB on my cx/commuter seems not to last long at all ? It’s noisy and clicking ! Horses for courses I suppose .

 

[figbat]

I’ve got/had a selection of press-fit and screw-in BBs on various bikes and none has been more or less trouble than the other. Whilst I might note it when looking at a new frame, I wouldn’t necessarily use it as a veto point If the rest of the bike was what I wanted.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Off topic a bit but the the price of a Htech BB hasn’t half shot up from my last purchase !

 

[ashley348]

are cup and cone ones the ones where you can totally take apart the BB for servicing?
I thought it was donkey's years since new bikes had been sold with those.

That's what I thought, I don't want to be messing around with those.

 

[alpine fenlander]

I've got a 2021 Specialized Diverge
E5 Comp, threaded bottom bracket so what you're after.

Good little bike, even got a bit of 'suspension ' on the front. View attachment 630775

Currently considering a Diverge as a do-it-all bike to replace my CX and road bike as most of my cycling is either gravel or on pretty bad roads.
Would you say it'll be OK for longer road rides? Potentially with more roady wheels and tires?

 

[Deleted User]

Currently considering a Diverge as a do-it-all bike to replace my CX and road bike as most of my cycling is either gravel or on pretty bad roads.
Would you say it'll be OK for longer road rides? Potentially with more roady wheels and tires?

Absolutely, I've got a pair of Campag Zonda's on with only 'mild' gravel tyres on and a set of 650b Hunt's with some 42mm rougher WTB tyres on for more muddy stuff.

My main bike is a Carbon Defy but the Diverge I would say is more comfortable than that, one small criticism is with it being a 1x groupset the gaps in the lower ratio's are a little far apart and obviously the lowest is 40/11 but you can still spin along on the flat easily enough.

 

[alpine fenlander]

Absolutely, I've got a pair of Campag Zonda's on with only 'mild' gravel tyres on and a set of 650b Hunt's with some 42mm rougher WTB tyres on for more muddy stuff.

My main bike is a Carbon Defy but the Diverge I would say is more comfortable than that, one small criticism is with it being a 1x groupset the gaps in the lower ratio's are a little far apart and obviously the lowest is 40/11 but you can still spin along on the flat easily enough.

Thanks @shep!

What would you say the avg speed difference is between Defy and Diverge?
My CX is ~3mph slower than my road bike and it does seem more of a drag after 50/60miles... I don't usually go much further so if a Diverge makes less of a difference then it'll be ideal :-)

Do you find the suspension useful at all?
I just had a Roubaix (from a few years ago) as hire bike with the same headset suspension and while I didn't find it particularly useful on the smooth roads of Gran Cananaria I'd have thought it'll be ideal for light off-road and to take the sting out of the deeper ruts we have in the roads here...

 

[Deleted User]

Thanks @shep!

What would you say the avg speed difference is between Defy and Diverge?
My CX is ~3mph slower than my road bike and it does seem more of a drag after 50/60miles... I don't usually go much further so if a Diverge makes less of a difference then it'll be ideal :-)

Do you find the suspension useful at all?
I just had a Roubaix (from a few years ago) as hire bike with the same headset suspension and while I didn't find it particularly useful on the smooth roads of Gran Cananaria I'd have thought it'll be ideal for light off-road and to take the sting out of the deeper ruts we have in the roads here...

I've got 50mm Carbon rims and GP 5000's on the Defy so it is a little quicker to be honest but with similar wheels/tyres I doubt you would see too much difference, Defy is Carbon and Diverge is Ally though remember.

Suspension makes little difference on the road but I bit easier on the wrist's on bumpier surfaces, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a bike with it on in all fairness as it makes adjustment more difficult.

 

[alpine fenlander]

I've got 50mm Carbon rims and GP 5000's on the Defy so it is a little quicker to be honest but with similar wheels/tyres I doubt you would see too much difference, Defy is Carbon and Diverge is Ally though remember.

Suspension makes little difference on the road but I bit easier on the wrist's on bumpier surfaces, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a bike with it on in all fairness as it makes adjustment more difficult.

Good point re adjustability, but I guess you can still get different stems of different legth and angles which should be fine as most standard 58cm frames fit me OK.
I'm looking at the Diverge Expert which is Carbon and seems well thought through with various storage bits and rack mounts for touring/ bike packing.
But the price is eye watering... it's gotta be the one for the next 10 years!
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Diverge-Expert-Carbon-Rival-AXS-Disc-Gravel-Bike-2022
(Threaded bottom braket though, so worth every penny - just to get back on topic ;-) )

 

[MrGrumpy]

Yes that’s eye watering , I could justify it not sure the wife could !

 

[bonzobanana]

ah thanks - read too quickly.
Personally I would favour cup and cone wheel bearings.
As at least one other has said, I think it may be best for the OP to get building.

I think that is what typically Shimano hubs have, it means you can have larger bearings and loose if you want to rather than caged. The seals are quite good on Shimano hubs so you shouldn't get ingress of crap next to the bearings but I understand many prefer sealed bearings nowadays although I think sometimes they have to be be pressed into the hubs. I've not got any bikes with sealed bearings except a front hub motor. A well setup loose bearing hub should be stronger and certainly cheaper to maintain but can also see the advantages of sealed bearings basically because of the benefit of the seals.

To be honest I wouldn't care what I got on a new bike it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me but I would avoid a press fit bottom bracket. I would do all the research before ordering though and wouldn't want to be a awkward customer to a shop. I've worked in a shop myself in the past and can see both sides. I know many people who are ok with press fit but for others it can be massively annoying with clicking etc. As a heavy rider I just know it would be annoying for me.

 

[Deleted User]

Good point re adjustability, but I guess you can still get different stems of different legth and angles which should be fine as most standard 58cm frames fit me OK.
I'm looking at the Diverge Expert which is Carbon and seems well thought through with various storage bits and rack mounts for touring/ bike packing.
But the price is eye watering... it's gotta be the one for the next 10 years!
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Diverge-Expert-Carbon-Rival-AXS-Disc-Gravel-Bike-2022
(Threaded bottom braket though, so worth every penny - just to get back on topic ;-) )

A carbon one would be really nice, impressed with the Grx as well.