Gravel bike purchase

[Super Sywurm]

1 hour ago, PappaWatTrap said:

Post Pics as soon as you have it.

It will look the same as on the website, with slicks.  But I will.👍

[fatcyclist]

...and then I made the mistake of walking in to Cycle Lab yesterday and I saw this.. everything I want, but more than I want to spend...  decisions decisions... 

[Baron]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQAqyC4UNA

All the bike manufactures is just waiting to release full suspension gravel bikes to make every one, spend money for a new gravel bike with full suspension. 

Edited November 23, 2025 by Baron

[Super Sywurm]

On 11/18/2025 at 12:27 PM, PappaWatTrap said:

Post Pics as soon as you have it.

[ChrisF]

23 minutes ago, Super Sywurm said:

 

[MongooseMan]

On 11/23/2025 at 8:27 AM, fatcyclist said:

...and then I made the mistake of walking in to Cycle Lab yesterday and I saw this.. everything I want, but more than I want to spend...  decisions decisions... 

I’m relatively sure that one is 60k at ECC

[fatcyclist]

@MongooseMan thanks for sharing, I'm planning on buying 1st week January, hopefully the post Xmas quiet have set in to stores and there's some bargains to be had. This is a good price though, 10k is a lot of money!

[Super Sywurm]

16 hours ago, Super Sywurm said:

I'm struggling with the setup.  Bike feels to long.  I'm going to test some shorter stems.  Saddle can't be moved forward anymore.  I can also try a straight seat post.

Or I should lift the handlebar somehow.

[Zebra]

4 hours ago, Super Sywurm said:

I'm struggling with the setup.  Bike feels to long.  I'm going to test some shorter stems.  Saddle can't be moved forward anymore.  I can also try a straight seat post.

Or I should lift the handlebar somehow.

Interesting. What size did you end up getting? Since there is a size ‘overlap’ between M/L and L suggested fitting, etc.

• M: 169–181 cm (5' 7"–5' 11")
• ML: 174–186 cm (5' 9"–6' 1")
• L: 179–191 cm (5' 10"–6' 3")

The shorter stem would be easier to try out than changing out the seat-post, which is a very bike-specific shape- and fit-…

Keen to see what works for you…

@ChrisF?

[Super Sywurm]

4 minutes ago, Zebra said:

Interesting. What size did you end up getting? Since there is a size ‘overlap’ between M/L and L suggested fitting, etc.

 

• M: 169–181 cm (5' 7"–5' 11")
• ML: 174–186 cm (5' 9"–6' 1")
• L: 179–191 cm (5' 10"–6' 3")

The shorter stem would be easier to try out than changing out the seat-post, which is a very bike-specific shape- and fit-…

Keen to see what works for you…

@ChrisF?

I went for the XL.  I am used to a XL Rapide. I am 1.92m tall.

I am reducing the length of the stem by 20mm tonight.

Maybe I'm just used to a mtb bike with wide handle bars.  The last time I rode a road bike was in 2005.

Edited November 27, 2025 by Super Sywurm

[Zebra]

At 6 foot 3” (1m92), feel free to try out my ‘bog standard’ ‘L’ revolt, to see if it is a better fit for you, but you are right on the upper limit for a ‘L’,…

I see there is 30mmof difference in ETT length between ‘L’ and ‘XL’…

[ChrisF]

4 hours ago, Zebra said:

Interesting. What size did you end up getting? Since there is a size ‘overlap’ between M/L and L suggested fitting, etc.

 

• M: 169–181 cm (5' 7"–5' 11")
• ML: 174–186 cm (5' 9"–6' 1")
• L: 179–191 cm (5' 10"–6' 3")

The shorter stem would be easier to try out than changing out the seat-post, which is a very bike-specific shape- and fit-…

Keen to see what works for you…

@ChrisF?

 

I have the ML, at 175cm.

 

The seat is NOT all the way to the front, to get best setup.

 

EDIT - the seat is some 30mm BACK.  this was done during the bikefit, testing saddle fore / aft against pedalling efficiency ..... without the correct setup it may well be tempting to just move the saddle forward to try and solve the reach.

 

I did go for a shorter stem, a 60mm stem

 

Last time I rode a drop-bar outside was in the 80's .... it was a shock to the system !!  The handling, the position .... took some getting used to !!

 

Now getting comfortable with it.  May just try the longer stem again in a few months time ....

Edited November 27, 2025 by ChrisF

[Super Sywurm]

39 minutes ago, Zebra said:

At 6 foot 3” (1m92), feel free to try out my ‘bog standard’ ‘L’ revolt, to see if it is a better fit for you, but you are right on the upper limit for a ‘L’,…

I see there is 30mmof difference in ETT length between ‘L’ and ‘XL’…

 

5 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

I have the ML, at 175cm.

 

The seat is NOT all the way to the front, to get best setup.

 

I did go for a shorter stem.

 

Last time I rode a drop-bar outside was in the 80's .... it was a shock to the system !!  The handling, the position .... took some getting used to !!

 

Now getting comfortable with it.  May just try the longer stem again in a few months time ....

I assume a 20mm shorter stem would be fine.  The issue is only when I am in the forward position.  Still need to do a long ride.

[michaelbiker]

I don’t think the size is incorrect. You just need to get used to the position on a gravel bike. I also had to get used to mine after quite a few years away from a road bike.
 

The difference is learning to rotate your hips more forward and also consciously moving your hands around more often. It eventually becomes second nature. A bike fit helps too but getting used to the low stretched out position just takes time. 

[guidodg]

On 11/17/2025 at 6:57 PM, ChrisF said:

 

I opted for 2x11 ... rather, I searched for 2x11.  (Ended up with a 2x12)

 

I have a full suss and a hardtail which are both 1x11.  Love it for its simplicity .... for its use the lack of range is not an issue.

 

For the gravel bike I wanted top end, not spin out mid 40's.  But, I need a granny for the hills .... only a 2x could deliver both.  It WORKS !!

 

Riders with stronger knees may rightfully approach this differently .... looking at the long gravel races on GCN, lots of 2x bikes ....

there is absolutely NO lack of range on a 1x12 mullet setup with a 40T and a 10-50 cassette… the only problem one can have is finding a comfortable cadence riding in a peloton since some gears are spaced a little too far apart

[Michael S]

On 11/27/2025 at 10:10 AM, Super Sywurm said:

I'm struggling with the setup.  Bike feels to long.  I'm going to test some shorter stems.  Saddle can't be moved forward anymore.  I can also try a straight seat post.

Or I should lift the handlebar somehow.

If you do want some rise.

I run these Balugoe chinese bars from Aliexpress. Pretty good.

Ran them for Gravelburn and did not put a foot wrong. (I am 93kg odd)

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003707117885.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.order_detail_item.2.548df19cDTHGOD&_gl=1*1dkp0pv*_gcl_au*ODY4MTE4MzU2LjE3NjQ1MjYzMjk.*_ga*MTM4NTI0MTM1Ni4xNzY0NTI2MzI5*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*czE3NjQ1MjYzMjkkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjQ1MjY2MjckajEzJGwwJGgw