[Baron]

Tips/recommendations for a first gravel bike or gravel ebike?

Hub or mid power?

Budget is open ended - to a point.

Also, would be looking to get a bike fit before buying a bike - anyone know of somewhere in the East Midlands/Sheffield area?

Cheers

[Paul B]

Wanna buy my Space Chicken? Size S, 700c wheels, frame grilled paint job.

I think the big thing to answer firstly is do you want a motor or not?

[SA Chris]

I think you normally get a bike fit after buying the bike - the bike is adjusted to fit you once you have bought it. At least that's how the ones I've done have worked.

[Paul B]

You can get them done on a jig. They have these at the Ribble showrooms and can quickly set them up to represent their various models and their sizes.

[Baron]

Yes, motor or not indeed! I think I should book a session at Ribble and ride a few options. Thanks for the tips!

[TobyD]

Yes, motor or not indeed! I think I should book a session at Ribble and ride a few options. Thanks for the tips!

I think they do a similar fit service at the Giant store in Sheffield. Probably worth a call to check though

[TobyD]

Wanna buy my Space Chicken? Size S, 700c wheels, frame grilled paint job

What are you asking for for this? I have a M pro carbon, so I don't know if it might be a bit small anyway?

[Paul B]

I've taken a punt that your bike is a 2017 and compared it to mine below. It's a great website for anyone looking to buy a bike/hiring a bike (so might be useful for the OP rather than my tangent, sorry):
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/on-one-space-chicken-2018-s-51cm,planet-x-pro-carbon-track-2017-m/

Given On One and PX were/are essentially the same brand/manufacturer I think their sizings are likely quite consistent. The Space Chicken feels fairly aggressive so having a smaller frame might feel a bit lively?

This isn't a FS thread but I'd put it on the owner's group for 1200GBP and was looking to accept around 1000GBP. The reason for the sale, which might be relevant to this thread is that in the UK, certainly near me, gravel doesn't seem to be real. The bike's very versatile but you never feel like you're on the 'right' bike for the terrain, for instance I've thrashed round the blue loop at Gisburn Forest and whilst it was incredibly fast, I needed a new spine the next day. Riding it above Widdop and Gorple, as soon as things get a bit soft then it's equally not ideal. I haven't gone down the rabbit hole of 650b wheels and larger tyres which might be the reason I'm struggling but for me, I'd rather compromise by being on my much heavier MTB (alloy FS) or actually sticking to roads. Tow paths feel constantly fraught with dangers due to their shared use and the general lemming-like behaviour of the public.

[SA Chris]

you never feel like you're on the 'right' bike for the terrain,

TBH, my thoughts on gravel bikes in general

[Baron]

Will be primarily for thrashing around the Lincolnshire Wolds area - loads of gravel farm track birdleways round here!

[Paul B]

Will be primarily for thrashing around the Lincolnshire Wolds area - loads of gravel farm track birdleways round here!

Ok, back to can I interest you in a Space Chicken?

[TobyD]

Thank you for the update Paul, I think your bike would be a touch small for me; it sounds like a good deal at what you're asking for it though. Hope you manage to sell it soon.

[Baron]

Cheers Paul, but need to save up a little first.

[Paul B]

Thank you for the update Paul, I think your bike would be a touch small for me; it sounds like a good deal at what you're asking for it though. Hope you manage to sell it soon.

No worries Toby. It's been a while since we climbed together but I don't remember our dimensions being similar! 

It's a good bike and TBH if it looks as if I'll get much less it'll end up being kept and used for other purposes (i.e. condemned to a winter bike). I made a few mistakes buying it, one of which was to get one with quite an aggressive head tube angle so it was good to ride on road sections. Things easily get out of hand at speed.

[TobyD]

Thank you for the update Paul, I think your bike would be a touch small for me; it sounds like a good deal at what you're asking for it though. Hope you manage to sell it soon.

No worries Toby. It's been a while since we climbed together but I don't remember our dimensions being similar! 

It's a good bike and TBH if it looks as if I'll get much less it'll end up being kept and used for other purposes (i.e. condemned to a winter bike). I made a few mistakes buying it, one of which was to get one with quite an aggressive head tube angle so it was good to ride on road sections. Things easily get out of hand at speed.

I'm sure it'd probably be amazing if you lived somewhere with a lot of fast off road; New Forest or something perhaps? Or indeed the US...
I'm 5'8½" ...

[Paul B]

Or Adelaide, yes. 

I think it'd also make a good commuter with the 38c Gravel Grinders on it too (they're a bit twitchy on loose stuff due to the lack of tread in the middle of the tyre, essentially you need to lose grip to get onto the sides a bit  ).

[Johnny Brown]

Yes, motor or not indeed! I think I should book a session at Ribble and ride a few options. Thanks for the tips!

Hey Joe, I bought a Ribble gravel bike (CGR AL) about 20 months back, did a fair bit of prevaricating first but been very happy with it, looks and rides great. Mainly used it for the commute but have been giving it more of a thrash on the gravel the last few weeks. Thoughts:

You're too young and good-looking to get an e-bike. Paul's bike would be too small.

I don't have space for two bikes so it was intended as a road bike with options rather than a dedicated off-roader. Having had it a bit I think that it the right approach. Going downhill off-road is not much fun unless it's pretty smooth - even easy MTB terrain can be pretty grim. Uphill or flat I really enjoy it, you lose the traffic completely, get to much nicer places, and add a good bit of technical interest compared to the zone-based grind with close passes on the road.

Disc brakes seem great so far, work great and not had to touch them

There are a lot of options when ordering. Build took 7 weeks, with the order going unconfirmed for days which was alarming with £1500 out. Otherwise service good.

Single chainrings seem pretty common. That might make sense for a dedicated gravel bike but I wanted a significantly lower gear than my road bike without losing the ability to get on the drops and pop buses on Ecclesall road. Went for Shimano GRX with 170mm cranks, 46/30 front and 11/34 10 speed cassette.  It's great.

I went for 38mm tyres mainly to fit under reasonably sized mudguards for commuting. The frame will take much bigger and I would go bigger if possible. Ride much comfier than road tyres at much lower pressure.

Don't know the Wolds chemin blancs but they sound ideal.

[galpinos]

 I've had the steel version of JB's bike (CGR 725) for 5 years. I love it, but with the caveat it gets used for commuting, not "gravel"*.

I wanted a "one bike for everything" and it has done this job well, from the daily commute, the weekly shop, to chasing the kids on their bikes down canal tow paths etc. I think i would be happy on it on bike park blue runs but it's no mountain bike that's for sure. I'd also like swept drops for more technical stuff to give more stable maneuverability but in reality my standard narrow drops are great from the daily commute.

I was on 40c G-Ones with 45mm mud guards but have moved to 38c Marathon Plus as the amount of house renovations when cycling through Didsbury was leaving me with near daily nail punctures.

*All the "gravel riding" images and media I see seems to be in the US on gravel roads that don't seem to exist in the UK?

[Paul B]

Disc brakes seem great so far, work great and not had to touch them

For the love of God, go and show them some love (i.e. Holts brake disc cleaner) or you're heading towards a world of pain. Take the pads out, clean the pistons, exercise them, lube them, etc.

I'm not sure (a quick Google image search suggests I'm correct) on GRX but if it uses the same flat head retaining bolt (Chinesium alloy) as the road models, bin it and replace it with the hex-head MTB equivalent before it's too late (drilling them out isn't much fun). If you do need to get one out, make sure the screwdriver is a perfect fit.

PS - If people are looking for low maintenance disc options the cable operated hydraulic units (such as those made by TRP) get very good reviews.

The other option for people if they don't want 2x up-front is a Classified rear hub but this is still a bit niche (and still fairly pricey)? This combo seems fairly popular with the Backyard Bikeshop mechanic over on YouTube. Mine's 1x and on a route which shares a road section with a purely road loop with the same descent, I didn't find much difference in top-end speed.

In terms of NVH (or compliance) people seem to like the Redshift products such as their stem and seat post:
https://redshiftsports.com/products/shockstop-suspension-stem
https://redshiftsports.com/products/shockstop-suspension-seatpost

If you do buy a Ribble bike, I'd avoid their Custom Colour option. Plenty of people seem to be finding that they didn't do a great job of preparing the BB area so when they need a replacement it's damaging the paintwork. You can watch Hambini tear them apart if that's your thing.
https://www.hambini.com/ribble-cycles-cgr-al-multiple-failures-of-qa-qc-and-technical-service/

*All the "gravel riding" images and media I see seems to be in the US on gravel roads that don't seem to exist in the UK?

Scotland looks to have some pretty good stuff. I can't remember his handle but a UKBer and former Foundry employee lives up there and his Insta looks like gravel is real. There's some good looking stuff here in South Australia but I can't easily try it out as I think at a push I can squeeze 30mm on the bike I have here and a rear spoke broke fairly violently the other day on a ride when someone else kicked up a rock; the result was a wheel that wouldn't clear the stays (so instantly locked up) so I'm a bit nervous of pushing my luck.

[Baron]

Adamski/Galpinos - yes! There exactly what I've been looking at. Thanks. Might even save up for a posh steel Fairlight!
https://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/fairlight-secan-review/

[Paul B]

I think that'd be a solid choice, they look lovely (with a good range of frame sizes).

[Johnny Brown]

If you're going for a steely I was quite tempted by the locally-built and more affordable Cotic Escapade. Geometry looks a little milder too.

Have you got a cycle-to-work scheme you can milk? Recommended...

[galpinos]

Adamski/Galpinos - yes! There exactly what I've been looking at. Thanks. Might even save up for a posh steel Fairlight!
https://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/fairlight-secan-review/

The fairlight is 853 so will be a stiffer, if stronger, than the CGR 725. It is also a LOT priceier. No idea what steel Cotic make there bikes out of.

I am on the basic Tiagra 2x10 but regret not paying a bit more for the 105. The mechanical cable discs on mine are a real faff to keep the stopping power there.

[teestub]

I am on the basic Tiagra 2x10 but regret not paying a bit more for the 105. The mechanical cable discs on mine are a real faff to keep the stopping power there.

I thought this was just me being rubbish, glad to know it wasn’t!

[Johnny Brown]

No idea what steel Cotic make there bikes out of.

Sorry I linked the wrong frame. Steel one is 853. I think it was the wait for a batch build, and weight, that put me off. Although Ribble weren't exactly up front about build time.