Matt Gibbs Posted March 29 Posted March 29 I’m seriously considering moving from my grave bike that I’m mostly ridden on the road since purchase )with little gravel to get to in a fair sum of time by bike or car atleast) and moving over to a full road bike. I’ve done the dud diligence online and all well and fair. But thought to reach out to our local community (a’la Bloubergers) to see if I’ll kick myself? Note; I’ve been running Maxxis high road 28mm’s since purchase as well. So I’ll likely stick with those on the next bike. I’ll also use the bike on my kickr core 👌🏼 Thanks all
NC_lurker Posted March 30 Posted March 30 Perhaps add some context as to what's fuelling your thinking. Also what gravel bike are you riding? 1x or 2x groupset? Most gravel bikes are really just endurance (relaxed) geometry road bikes with increased tyre size tolerance... ChrisF 1
Matt Gibbs Posted March 30 Author Posted March 30 (edited) 19 minutes ago, NC_lurker said: Perhaps add some context as to what's fuelling your thinking. Also what gravel bike are you riding? 1x or 2x groupset? Most gravel bikes are really just endurance (relaxed) geometry road bikes with increased tyre size tolerance... Thanks NC, I’m currently on an Orbea M30 Terra with grx 2x11 groupset and the road bike has SRAM rival axs 2x12 currently. I’m after more top end speed, especially for on the trainer. I also only have roadie buddies that I ride with, and haven’t actually take the gravel bike into gravel. I'm also coming from a dual sus Santa Cruz that I rode for years, onto the gravels bike, so the jump to road from gravel is one I’m trying to find all the pros and cons for really. Edited March 30 by Matt Gibbs
Mook Posted March 30 Posted March 30 26 minutes ago, Matt Gibbs said: I also only have roadie buddies that I ride with, and haven’t actually take the gravel bike into gravel. Save yourself a lot of money and rather get new cycling buddies that do gravel ............ 😁 guidodg, Mamil, peetwindhoek and 6 others 1 8
Gerlach Posted March 30 Posted March 30 (edited) 3 hours ago, Matt Gibbs said: Thanks NC, I’m currently on an Orbea M30 Terra with grx 2x11 groupset and the road bike has SRAM rival axs 2x12 currently. I’m after more top end speed, especially for on the trainer. I also only have roadie buddies that I ride with, and haven’t actually take the gravel bike into gravel. I'm also coming from a dual sus Santa Cruz that I rode for years, onto the gravels bike, so the jump to road from gravel is one I’m trying to find all the pros and cons for really. The Terra is a nice bike. Why don't you get a extra wheel set, like a 40mm or 50mm carbon profile wheel with 28mm or 32mm road tire, then you can swap between your gravel wheel set and road wheel set? Spotted some guys are doing it and planning to go this way to when I get a Gravel frame to build up, then I got a bike that can 2 things. Edited March 30 by Gerlach Matt Gibbs 1
NC_lurker Posted March 30 Posted March 30 58 minutes ago, Matt Gibbs said: Thanks NC, I’m currently on an Orbea M30 Terra with grx 2x11 groupset and the road bike has SRAM rival axs 2x12 currently. I’m after more top end speed, especially for on the trainer. I'm guessing it's the grx600 crankset running a 46/32? Not 48/31? As mentioned by others, that's a great bike. Honestly I'd keep the Orbea and just spend R6k on a dedicated trainer bike! Two examples below that you could probably pick up in the R4500-5500 bracket... Potentially replace the crankset on the Orbea for another R2k if really needed. I used to think i needed to run 52/36 but since switching to a compact 50/34 I've never looked back....but perhaps my ride buddies have gotten slower 😆 https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/cranksets/896519/ultegra-11-speed-crankset https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/892813/cannondale-caad-series-road-bike-medium-54cm https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/895424/merida-scultura-300-ml Matt Gibbs 1
Michael Dewing Posted March 30 Posted March 30 13 hours ago, Matt Gibbs said: I’m seriously considering moving from my grave bike that I’m mostly ridden on the road since purchase )with little gravel to get to in a fair sum of time by bike or car atleast) and moving over to a full road bike. I’ve done the dud diligence online and all well and fair. But thought to reach out to our local community (a’la Bloubergers) to see if I’ll kick myself? Note; I’ve been running Maxxis high road 28mm’s since purchase as well. So I’ll likely stick with those on the next bike. I’ll also use the bike on my kickr core 👌🏼 Thanks all I get you.. I went from mountain bike to gravel for the similar reason.. I could be cycling the half an hour it took to drive to northern farms in jozi.. got a gravel bike and did 35 then 32 and eventually 28mil tires.. I then bought a an endurance road bike with similar geometry to the gravel bike and I’ve never been happier on a bike.. I would like a gravel bike again one day but for now I’m just gonna stick some 30 maybe 32 road tires on for the dodgier road conditions up here.. but it’s awesome.. Matt Gibbs 1
KingZA Posted March 30 Posted March 30 What @NC_lurker said! Just put a bigger crankset on the gravel bike and you'll be sorted for your needs. You might need a longer chain. Personally I would keep the small crankset for when you decide to do gravel adventures/races. Swapping a GRX crankset is quick and easy. NC_lurker, ChrisF and Matt Gibbs 2 1
Matt Gibbs Posted March 30 Author Posted March 30 2 hours ago, Mook said: Save yourself a lot of money and rather get new cycling buddies that do gravel ............ 😁 Ha ha! Love the solution! I don't know a single person nearby with a gravel bike 🤣 Mook 1
Matt Gibbs Posted March 30 Author Posted March 30 1 hour ago, NC_lurker said: I'm guessing it's the grx600 crankset running a 46/32? Not 48/31? As mentioned by others, that's a great bike. Honestly I'd keep the Orbea and just spend R6k on a dedicated trainer bike! Two examples below that you could probably pick up in the R4500-5500 bracket... Potentially replace the crankset on the Orbea for another R2k if really needed. I used to think i needed to run 52/36 but since switching to a compact 50/34 I've never looked back....but perhaps my ride buddies have gotten slower 😆 https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/cranksets/896519/ultegra-11-speed-crankset https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/892813/cannondale-caad-series-road-bike-medium-54cm https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/895424/merida-scultura-300-ml NC I considered running the exact same upgrades to the bike, currently running a mix of RX610 / RX820 - I also looked at that exact Ultegra 11 speed crankset as an option. My ride buddies leave me 'in the dirt' so to speak - they're both on road bikes and both always in the lead which makes me sound slow (lol) but after the training I've done on the indoor Is hould by now be keeping up with them...so much to consider here and it all plays down to finances at the end of the day as the road bike I'm looking at is decently specc'd with super low mileage and use at 45k.. NC_lurker 1
ChrisF Posted March 30 Posted March 30 5 hours ago, Matt Gibbs said: ... I’m after more top end speed, especially for on the trainer. .... MANY gravel bike owners swop out the crank and/or rings for more top end Matt Gibbs, Mook and NC_lurker 1 1 1
W@nted Posted March 30 Posted March 30 Agreed with above. Change the crankset and get a set of lekker carbon road wheels with road tires. Matt Gibbs and ChrisF 2
Pieta Swanepoel Posted March 30 Posted March 30 If you basically only ride road, and all your cycling buddies are roadies, sell the gravel bike and buy a road bike. Stick 28 or 30mm tires and you are good to go. Get a bike that better suit your needs. And something you like 🙂 openmind and Matt Gibbs 1 1
W@nted Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Another opinion: Train harder and drop your buddies while riding your gravelbike on tar. This will bring the most satisfaction. Matt Gibbs and ChrisF 2
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