Handy geometry calculator really helps buying! (Also Marin Gestalt X10)

Bike reviews can be a bit hard to process: they're so subjective.  I'm slowly learning more about bike geometry, though, and trying to compare across brands to see what I want.   This is particularly important when trying to find lower-cost bikes that have the geometry you want.

https://geometrygeeks.bike/ is the place.   I just love it! 

Here's a same search:
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/bmc-urs-2020-l,bmc-urs-2020-xl,devinci-hatchet-2020-l-57cm,devinci-hatchet-2020-xl-60cm,rocky-mountain-solo-50-2019-l-700c,rocky-mountain-solo-50-2019-l-650b,rocky-mountain-solo-50-2019-xl-650b,rocky-mountain-solo-50-2019-xl-700c,cannondale-topstone-105-2020-lg,cannondale-topstone-105-2020-xl,framed-gavier-2019-56,framed-gavier-2019-580/

It's not perfect--there are missing data points, etc.  But it does allow for cross comparisons.   E.g. I read a very favorable review of the BMC URS--which has the MTB-esque handling I want, but not the price.  I can then look for other bikes with long reach, a slack head tube angle of 70 degrees, a long wheelbase, etc.

This leads me to see--again--the Devinci Hatchet (especially the updated 2020 carbon versions, which have more MTB-ish geometry than their alloy peers) as a more affordable option.  The Rocky Mountain Solo is okay, but a bit less desirable here.  The Topstone not so good.  The Framed Gravier is really not good at all, in these geometric terms.  Indeed, its sister bike, the Framed Basswood, has somewhat better numbers.  The Space Chicken's out too.  Or consider the Merida Silex, with its long reach slack head tube and super-long wheelbase: it's a tall bike with a high high tube and seat tube.  So it seems not as well-designed for singletrack.  Or the Jamis Renegade: nice, but the geometry doesn't quite compare to the more MTB-y adventure bikes. On the other hand, the Lauf True Grit measures up well.

One unexpected contender (at a good price, no less) comes from Marin.  "The Marin Gestalt X10 is a mountain biker’s gravel bike. It’s fun and flickable, aware that a bit of instability can be enjoyable, and designed for a rider whose range of terrain is almost wide enough to necessitate flat bars and suspension.  That makes it something of a love-it or hate-it bike. It’s not traditional. It’s not for everyone. But if it’s for you, it’s an impressively affordable way to put a smile on your face."  At $1100 USD, the best price for this bike (and $1800 USD for its carbon, dropper-post, hydraulic braked, better-wheeled upscale sister, the x11) is from The Bike Connection in San Francisco (or Palo Alto), California. My one big concern with these Marins is their super-low bottom brackets (i.e. BB Drop).  According to geometrygeeks.bike, the Marins are a full 10 cms lower than every other bike I looked at!  My serious fear with these bikes, then, is pedal strikes.  I had real issues with pedal strikes with the 2016 Cannondale Slate (at 65mm bb drop).  All of the bikes I've looked at are 70mm!  And the Marins are 80!  One solution is to use shorter crankarms, and the other solution is large volume tires. And a final adjustment would be tiny pedals.  But I think this Marin just screams "pedal strike!"

Framed Gravier looks like a deal!

At $1400 US you get a carbon-framed bike, decently outfitted with Tiagra.

Likes:

• 142x12mm Thru Axle. 100x15mm Thru Axle
• A tapered carbon steerer. 
• AVID BB7-S Mechanical brakes should work with top bar levers
• the wheelset (PUB Hub 100x15mm, 142x12mm, ALEX Draw 2.1p Asymmetric) is tubeless compatible.
• the 58cm size is said to fit 5'11 to 6'4''
•  the 52 x 30 (!!) crankset!

Concerns:

• a lower bottom bracket could mean pedal strikes when in single-track.  
• wheelbase, reach, and head angle are not quite as MTB-ish as some
• 31.6mm seatpost won't be flexing much
• Clearance might only be for 40mm tires
• presumably, this bike does not accept 650b wheels

https://www.framedbikes.com/collections/gravel-bikes/products/gravier-carbon-gravel-bike-700c?variant=30140183412787

Cool ride! The On One Space Chicken

Wow!  Here's promising bike!  The On One Space Chicken.
Full carbon, 650b or 700c wheels.  With Fulcrum wheels and 11-spd SRAM Rival groupset. $1516.11 US dollars ($2013 CAD).  Thru-axles.  Only problem is the atrocious shipping costs.  Would have to buy this in the UK and bring it home.

Cannondale Topstone: Could this be the one?

In the search for a stock bike that can handle light single-track, fire trails, gravel and more, this new arrival from Cannondale might punch the ticket:

The Sora-build level bike is only $1050 US retail.  The 105 build is $1750.

https://www.cannondale.com/en/USA/Bike/ProductDetail?Id=a0134726-7df9-4bae-a4b5-fb806888b5aa&parentid=undefined

You have to like that this aluminum frame is built by Cannondale, which made its name in aluminum.  And that the carbon fork has flat mount disc brakes, a thru axle, and a tapered steerer.

Comes with 700x 40 WTB Nanos, dropper post ready, and has thru-axles and 142mm spacing in the rear.  So they're boasting of clearance and off-road abilities.  Can't see any suggestion, though, that this bike would take 650b wheels.

The price-busting Motobecane Sprint CF Disc COMP

Hard to argue with this bike.  From BikesDirect.com you get this full carbon from, kitted with Shimano 105 shifters and derailleurs, with WTB tubeless-ready wheels, disc brakes and a decent crank.  Tire clearance is claimed at 45c.  At $1300US that's a pretty screaming deal.  It's called the Motobecane Sprint CF.  One can only hope the frame is worthy.

One might, hypothetically, add a Lauf fork for $800 and end up with pretty screaming bike for $2100 US. Or heck, leave it as is for $1300.  Hard to beat this bike.  Note that the Sprint can be had with Ultegra $1800.

Lauf True Grit looks promising

The addition of Lauf's new carbon adventure bike, the True Grit, is marvelous.  The Lauf fork is included, of course, but one also has the advantage of a bike that is purpose-built for the fork.  Other than the ridiculous bottle opener, this bike is solidly designed throughout.  Lauf claims the bike takes 700 x 45 tires with room for mud.  The gearing isn't low enough (a 42 single up front with an 11-42 cassette in the back), but that can be remedied.  Needs top bar brake levers, but that too is an easy fix. Kitted with American Classic AM28 tubeless-ready wheels and Maxxis Ramblers (40c), there's no need to upgrade on that front.  The lowest-end bike is on "sale" for $3290US.

Of course, the other option is to buy another bike and install a Lauf fork.  But, at $790US for the fork, not counting installation, it's not cheap.   Then again, it's not hard to find a carbon adventure bike for $1000 less than the True Grit.  With a bit of sale hunting, surely a carbon bike can be had for as low as $1500 CAD, with the possibility of adding that great-sounding suspension fork.

Merida Silex looks like the real deal for gravel, single-track, and more

This is an exciting trend and its gathering momentum faster than you can bomb down a steep forest path: bike makers are getting serious about multi-purpose bikes.  This Merida Silex will come in alloy and carbon frames and will take 29er or 27.5 wheels.  If I'm not mistaken, the tire clearance is bigger than any other bike its class.  So you can run true 650b mtb tires on this for a real single-track experience, or ride with narrow gravel tires at 700c.  That's exactly the kind of flexibility I'd love.   Can't wait to find out more about pricing.

Arriving soon: the CRANKSET we really need

Gravel / Ultracross / Monster Cross cyclists take note: a better crankset will soon be headed our way.  Mark at Bikehugger sums up the issues nicely.  We need a crankset that can go low enough to climb steep dirt paths, not unlike a mountain bike.  And that's true, even without being loaded: for bikepackers the need is even more extreme.  To meet the need myself, I run a 40/28 Shimano SLX crank.  I do spin out sometimes going downhill on pavement.  It's probably a bit low, but what other options do I have but a mountain bike crank?

Coming soon: some 46/30 cranks!  Here are three:

* SUGINO OX901D Compact Plus Crankset.  At a whopping $455 CAD (including BB), I won't be buying this crank anytime soon.
* the FSA TEMPO looks to be far more affordable.  Tempo is a budget line.  It's coming out for 9 speed systems,  which is a real drawback for a lot of us, and an indication that this is going to be a heavy and cheap crank for use on lower end gravel grinders.
* The IRD DEFIANT.  http://store.interlocracing.com/irdderodocr.html  Looks like they're asking $217 US for this retro looking 9/10 speed compatible crankset.  

I won't buy any of these, b/c of the cost and drivetrain compatibility, but I'm excited to see that the manufacturers are finally catching on!  

Giant TCX Advanced SX: a bargain priced off road rocket?

When I saw this bike in Canadian Cycling it just leapt off the pages: a full carbon TCX priced at only $2350 CAD (about $2000 US) retail.  This TCX is designed for a more gravel-like performance, as opposed to cyclocross.  So the frame has more give and a bit less go.

GIANT TCX Advanced SX

According to the magazine article, this is the first cross bike that's ever received Giant's "SX" badge, by which they mean that it's super rugged.  Because of the abuse I rain down on my bikes, that's important to me.

This bike goes out the door with some lovely Maxxis Ramblers, size 700 x 40.  One presumes that the frame would allow even larger tires. The thru-axles on both wheels are nice, as is the 142mm rear-spacing, which keeps you in the game for 29er wheels.

I like the D-Fuse seatpost, which promises to deflect a lot of bumps.  And I like that the cockpit is shorter, to give a bit more control off-road.

My concern with this bike is the SRAM Apex 1 x 11 drivetrain.  The massive 11 x 42 range of the cassette should help get up some steep grades, but... probably not the worst of the dirt slopes I like to climb.  That 40 tooth ring up front probably just can't generate a low enough gear for me.

I'm also worried that this bike is built more for speed on dirt roads than for mobility on trails.  BikeRumor sums up the bike's roles: "With the racing geometry of the TCX cross family and the comfort of an AnyRoad, the SX provides a great mix of dirt, gravel, and paved capabilities."  It would be interesting to take this beauty on single-track, to see whether she eats it up, or gets eaten.   My hunch is that this bike will fail as a dirt climber and as a single-track descender.  But, maaaaaan, I'll bet this thing just flies down the dirt roads.  And, on sale?  For $1500 CAD?  That would be hard to pass up.