Gravel bike purchase

[ChrisF]

16 minutes ago, Super Sywurm said:

Do you have a carbon or alu Giant?  I am leaning more towards the Merida as it seems to be more mtb orientated and probably a bit more comfortable?  It will mainly be used for road riding.

I want a comfortable ride, not a race machine.  Then again, the Giant is +-11k cheaper than the Merida.

 

@Zebra and I both have the Alu Revolts, just one year model appart.  The carbon was outside my budget ... rather in that budget carbon came with compromised drive and brake systems.

 

I use it as a commuter and some shorter fun rides, i.e. 20km. Mostly tar, though very impressed with the few trails I have done, linking tar sections.

 

Veey comfortable, even more so with double bar tape on the top.

 

@Zebra does significantly longer rides.

[ChrisF]

14 minutes ago, PappaWatTrap said:

You are right the Merida does seem to be slacker. You will have to check the reach though, but that can be sorted by a shorter stem. 

The giant can however fit larger tyres so you can really take it on some proper fire roads. 

 

I already went for a shorter stem on the Giant ....

 

This may be reach issue .... or simply being used to the more upright position of decades of flat bar bikes ....

 

Would be interesting to revisit this after a year or two ....

[PappaWatTrap]

4 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

I already went for a shorter stem on the Giant ....

 

This may be reach issue .... or simply being used to the more upright position of decades of flat bar bikes ....

 

Would be interesting to revisit this after a year or two ....

I am more legs than upper body and reach has always been an issue for me. The other day I used a epic 8 evo for a bit, felt planted and comfortable from the first few pedal strokes. Wen I went back to my 2014 Scott scale. I immediately realized how much more upright the newer bikes are and I should invest in a shorter stem for my Scale, reach has such a big impact on how comfortable a bike is.

My XL road bike is already on the shortest stem with a straight seat post. 

Edited November 17, 2025 by PappaWatTrap

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, fatcyclist said:

The website says it's 11 speed LTwoo? Don't know it at all.. Single blade up front.. 

 

Which bit are you unsure of ?

 

LTwoo - a newer groupset brand.  They have been around a few years, and seems to be getting decent reviews.  Quickest way to drop a bikes price, use a more affordable drive train.

 

Trust you are familiar with the 1x11 concept, i.e one blade up front and 11 gears on the back.

[fatcyclist]

3 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

LTwoo - a newer groupset brand.  They have been around a few years, and seems to be getting decent reviews.  Quickest way to drop a bikes price, use a more affordable drive train.

The last bicycle I owned had Campy Chorus, so I was a bit of a snob, that's why I am asking about the LTwoo 

[ChrisF]

Just now, fatcyclist said:

The last bicycle I owned had Campy Chorus, so I was a bit of a snob, that's why I am asking about the LTwoo 

 

Then maybe read up a bit about LTwoo first ....

 

Aimed as a decent entry level ....

 

You may well prefer the crisp feel of a Shimano GRX 

[fatcyclist]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

You may well prefer the crisp feel of a Shimano GRX 

..so it's 2x10 GRX or 1x11 LTwoo in my budget.. talk to me, I'm a decade out of this 

[Zebra]

Whew! Lots of facts interest/‘irritate’ about this thread… 😉

1. 50 sleeps tonite since OP posted; c’mon, people, what did you BUY?!

2. If the Giant is R11k ‘cheaper’ than the ‘equivalent’ Merida, AT THE LOWISH PRICE-POINT, then i think its a no-brainer all the way - Giant, and bank R11k…

3. Carbon vs. Alu, each material has its disciples; all i will say that Alu performs very well, and meets many peoples needs…

4. 1x is undoubtedly flavour-of-the-month, but 2x has it’s proponents, for good reason, try not drink the ‘must-be 1x’ Cool-aid I-F 2x can work - and work WELL - for you…,and often save you considerable Moolah… (my front derailleur does not need much fine-tuning…).

5. OP (Ryan Laaks); you've been quiet-ish since starting this thread; any update?

(we DEMAND an update…) italics on…

6. Finally, 50 sleeps since original post, a-n-d Black Fri-Yay FAST approaching; tik-tok, people, tik-tok…! 😆

Edited November 17, 2025 by Zebra
Italics, or not…?

[PappaWatTrap]

8 minutes ago, fatcyclist said:

..so it's 2x10 GRX or 1x11 LTwoo in my budget.. talk to me, I'm a decade out of this 

GRX very crisp shifting and definitely the safer bet

[Zebra]

Example, and not even a Black Friday price…

 

Giant Revolt 1 Alloy

Regular priceR 33,000.00 

Sale priceR 25,490.00

Sale

 

[Super Sywurm]

My family had a democratic vote, Giant it is.

[ChrisF]

35 minutes ago, fatcyclist said:

..so it's 2x10 GRX or 1x11 LTwoo in my budget.. talk to me, I'm a decade out of this 

 

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 ....

[ChrisF]

2 minutes ago, Super Sywurm said:

My family had a democratic vote, Giant it is.

 

Welcome to "me familia" ...

[thebob]

Revolt is a great bike. I did everything from a sub 3 hour 947 to riding some local MTB trails on my old one. Can’t go wrong with a Giant Revolt!

[Super Sywurm]

The Revolt has been ordered, last XL frame available.

[PappaWatTrap]

3 hours ago, Super Sywurm said:

The Revolt has been ordered, last XL frame available.

Post Pics as soon as you have it.