[Paul B]

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!

Looks like the mech. actuated hydraulic calipers aren't 10spd compatible either? I'm pretty light but I'm still of the opinion that 160 rotors (back and front) are better for the UK and our steeper than usual gradients.

[teestub]

I’ve been struggling to get braking performance to match my campy callipers on my road bike, seems to be very little sweet spot between effective brakes and pads rubbing on discs. Looks like I might have to go shopping…

[galpinos]

I’ve been struggling to get braking performance to match my campy callipers on my road bike, seems to be very little sweet spot between effective brakes and pads rubbing on discs. Looks like I might have to go shopping…

I seem to manage to get them bob on then two days later........ I think I might be shopping too......

[Paul B]

I can't see the benefit of mechanical discs other than saving you from wearing out your rims (but if you're saving on the brakes I'd imagine you're not running Princeton Carbon Works anyway)?

[Ballsofcottonwool]

I've been running Avid BB5s mechanical discs for 14 years on my HT, then Gravel then Road bike, they've been much more reliable than the Shimano hydraulics on my FS bike which suffered from salt water corrosion from riding coastal trails and linking inland trails with heavily salted roads in winter. They are marginally less powerful, but we're rock climbers it is not like we're lacking in grip strength.

I run Discobrakes sintered pads, sure they squeal a bit when they get wet, but the pads last for years, my current set have done nearly 8000km

[Yossarian]

There’s a Francis Cade YouTube video of him touring Malaysia on a very bog standard / £1000 Decathlon gravel bike (Triban something) which has 1x Apex and the TRP cable / hydraulic brakes and it seemed to work amazingly well.

Re steel bikes - I nearly bought a Fairlight this summer, but the lead time is quite long and I’m too impatient. Also really like Sour (https://sour.bike), esp because they sponsor Quinda Verheul (https://www.instagram.com/avoidtheavoid?igsh=MTBvZHI3ZW5pb2hmdA==) who has done some amazing ultra races on their bikes.

[Paul B]

I think the Standert bikes (Al) also look lovely:
https://standert.de/collections/kettensage

[KeithScarlett]

I haven't read the entire thread so apologies for any repetition.

I reluctantly caved and recently bought a Canyon Grizl 1by

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/gravel-bikes/adventure/grizl/al/grizl-7-1by/3468.html?dwvar_3468_pv_rahmenfarbe=R075_P05

I say reluctantly as everyone has a gravel bike / is going bikepacking but it definitely was a good choice; I love it, it is so versatile / practical, I can go along little lanes and not have to think about potholes, detritus and so on. I've really enjoyed taking it to Gwydyr and Coed y Brenin and getting absorbed in the trees and quiet.

The gearing is good for me though I might want some even lower options for hills and the bike seems really well put together. I did a reasonable amount of research and thinking before going with the Grizl and it does seem to get high praise. I thought this review was very useful:

[webbo]

I have an old hard tail titanium 26” wheeled Mountainbike that is barely heavier than some of these gravel bikes. So given the lack of proper gravel roads in the UK  I’m wondering if gravel bikes are fashion over function.
My Mountainbike was reasonably fast on the road with road tyres on, I could manage to sit in on the local chain gang on it and I also did self timed 10 mile tt in 24.05 minutes.
Mind that was on one the fastest course in the UK.

[Yossarian]

I bought a carbon Grizl last year and immediately thought it was amazing / totally got why people love gravel bikes so much. (Unfortunately I managed to break it putting it back in the car after the first ride which meant it was out of action for a while. Basically the rear derailleur hanger which is mainly kept in place by the rear axle is attached to the frame by a small bolt, and for some reason it was supplied with a very short one, which ripped out when the back wheel was off. Canyon sorted it with a longer bolt, but I still don’t think it’s a brilliant design.)

There are loads of trails down here around the South Downs way which are like mini gravel roads, all of which feel ponderous on an mtb. Ditto the long flat dirt and grass bits. I used to do it on an old carbon Whyte 29er which was no slouch, but I’d get ulnar nerve numbness over a long day holding on in the same position and generally avoided riding on any tarmac. The fun bit now is joining up the best trail sections with nice quiet bits of road. Currently have the Whyte in bits and considering rebuilding it with drop bars and slightly longer front suspension for rougher stuff.

I did various adventurous tours in the 2000s (Ladakh, Vietnam, Morocco, etc) which would’ve been SO much more better on even the most basic modern gravel bike.

[kelvin]

I have an old hard tail titanium 26” wheeled Mountainbike that is barely heavier than some of these gravel bikes. So given the lack of proper gravel roads in the UK  I’m wondering if gravel bikes are fashion over function.
My Mountainbike was reasonably fast on the road with road tyres on, I could manage to sit in on the local chain gang on it and I also did self timed 10 mile tt in 24.05 minutes.
Mind that was on one the fastest course in the UK.

I still use a 94 Trek hardtail with ubiquitous skinny for today tyres and I've yet to feel any benefit from a gravel bike. I spent a couple of weeks riding a 29er with wide tyres and getting on a gravel bike felt lovely after.
I personally think the older bikes were far better allrounders, with skinnier bars, skinny tyres and lighter weight - and it's definitely harder to choose a gravel bike over one of them.

[Ged]

When I first moved to South Devon, I had a slick road bike. After my first winter of narrowly avoiding death via potholes, gravel, cowshit, mud, steep hills etc, I sold it and got a basic boardman gravel bike (although they actually sell it as a xc bike). I love it. I use slicks on the summer, chunky winter ones in winter, I have no fear on even the worst lanes. In France I've done loads of the marked vtt route that are everywhere, and been around font forest. My little ones seat goes on the back. I'd probably rent a downhill bike if I went to one of the uplift resorts, but other than that it does it all