One bike to rule them all

[MichaelW2]

I may be moving to a far off land with proper winters and summers, some spectacular moutains, poor roads and rough cobbled streets. I will only have one bike which I will use for everything from urban errands, leisure trips, fitness, mtb exploring and maybe some bike touring.
I currently have an urban commuter with hub gears and dynohub, 26" disc brake wheels and flat bars. Also a clasic English touring bike with Tiagra and 32 mm max tyre size and an old steel roadbike.

Considering a new bike for the new role. What style is good. Tyre availability should be 26" and 700c but not 650b/ 27".

 

[Arjimlad]

I use a Giant Revolt for the sort of riding mentioned above. It came with 700x35c CX tyres (Schwalbe Smart Sam) which do very well. So, a "gravel bike/adventure bike" would be my suggestion..

 

[Drago]

Ditto. Gravel bike, or maybe a high quality rigid MTB and a spare set of wheels to swap tyres in a jiff for the terrain. Only you can decide.

 

[Pale Rider]

I like the old saying 'there's a bike for every ride' which makes your question hard to answer.

You mention tyres, a choice of which is one of the best ways of making a bike versatile.

In other words, one bike with treaded CX type tyres, shallow tread good weather/road tyres, and studded tyres for the winter.

Your commuter probably has enough clearance and will be able to take all the luggage you need, so you could keep that.

Or the tourer if you think you will need the lower gears.

If it has to be new, the Pinnacle Lithiums - and other hybrids - from Evans have good tyre clearance and lots of bosses for racks, bottles and guards.

Some have mountain triples, although increasingly the fashion is for a rear cassette with a dinner plate bottom gear cog.

Here's one with a triple:

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-5-2017-hybrid-bike-EV275575

 

[MichaelW2]

My 26" wheel commuter has a folding frame which is a neat feature but not something I want on a bike for big mountain trails. I would prefer a classic mtb triple transmission, new fangled mtb doubles may be harder to find spares support.

 

[vickster]

Budget? How about a custom build (or at least spec) gravel/CX bike in titanium, like an Enigma eCroix or Kinesis do a CX type frame IIRC in Ti/alu

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Planet X London Road

 

[PeteXXX]

Would a 'far away land' mean a country other than Great Britain?
If so, some of the U.K. based selections may be unavailable.

 

[MichaelW2]

I would be buying in the UK.
My riding style so far would suit the Surley LHT or cx style doitall roadbikes, but I will probably be doing far more off road adventuring on steep, rough and high mountain trails in addition to my usual riding.

 

[HorTs]

You could get a frame that accepts 700c and 650b wheels/tyres then you could swap as and when you want/need.

 

[Vantage]

A tourer with big tyre clearances.
I've taken mine fitted with fast rolling Voyager Hyper tyres on club runs where everyone else was on skinny 23c tyred race bikes.
I've taken it mountain biking using 40c Schwalbe Landcruisers.
Snowy days are no issue either when the Schwalbe Snow studded tyres are on.
Short of 'trick' riding and 6 foot drop offs, it does everything I ask of it.

 

[Levo-Lon]

The planet X London Road is a good call. .weight and practicality. .and should be easy to repair...spares etc

 

[Saluki]

I am quite taken with the idea of a far off Ian. I know an Ian half way around the world in Queensland. Are you going there?

My go to, go everywhere bike is my CX. The Planet X London Road is an awesome bike. I don't have one but would buy one in a heartbeat if anything happened to my CX.