New Bike Alternatives

cletus · 05-09-2021 7:18pm #1

I was going to post this in the Starting out- bicycle recommendations thread, but I don't think it fits there.

I was hoping to use the Cycle to Work Scheme to buy a Canyon Grail 6 Al in January.

Couple of issues. My employer runs the scheme between January and November. This means that the the repayments have to be made inside the 11 months. If I bought in October, the entire repayment would come out of my wages in November.

As a result, I want to buy in January, to spread the repayments as wide as possible.

I'm starting to think that I might have to look at alternatives to the Grail, as they're currently out of stock.

So, to the point of the thread. I'd love some recommendations for other gravel bikes to look at, in the same price range, and similar spec to the Grail 6 (I came across a bike with Claris groupset for €1100, seems mad)

Any and all thoughts or recommendations appreciated

fat bloke · 05-09-2021 7:27pm

If you're looking for alternatives to buying a new bike, then springtime in the new year can be a good time to pick up a lightly used, one-season, cx or gravel bike.

Alternatives to the grail - if you can push the boat out to 1950 for the Canyon inflite, personally I think they're awesome.

cletus · 05-09-2021 7:33pm

Thanks fat guy.

I suppose I should have clarified. I'll have to use the Cycle to work scheme. No buying a bike outright, unfortunately.

I'll take a look at the inflite, cheers

05-09-2021 7:39pm

Cannondale Topstone 2 would be a similar 10 speed grx spec but bonkers money compared to the Canyon. I think about 400 more.

Why not wait it out for the Canyon and stick a few quid aside each month until they have stock?

cletus · 05-09-2021 7:47pm

That may be what I end up doing, but if it's possible to get the tax break, I'd like to avail of it, seems silly not to.

I looked at the Cannondale range, but as you said, similar spec is much higher price, and similar price much lower spec

cletus · 05-09-2021 7:52pm

Quick look at the inflite, it's gone up a hundred quid from your price, fat bloke, but all the bikes on the Canyon website have gone up in the last few months.

Interesting looking bike, but Jesus the colours are horrible

fat bloke · 05-09-2021 7:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117850741#Comment_117850741

Gosh really? I think that's absolutely savage looking.

Prices are gone up 100 alright though, that's only in the last month.

05-09-2021 8:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117850724#Comment_117850724

Of course but if you have the cash in hand you can tell them to take the full amount from your wages rather than spread it out if you wanted. I hate owing money being my logic here I guess.

cletus · 05-09-2021 8:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117850766#Comment_117850766

I was actually thinking the orange was the nicer of the two 😀

@[Deleted User] I could do that, if I had the money in hand. Unfortunately, I don't 😉

iwillhtfu · 05-09-2021 10:22pm

Can you not just pay for the Canyon in January and just pay it off monthly and when it arrives it arrives.

I did the same with a commencal I ordered in Jan and the bike didn't arrive until June I think it was.

magicbastarder · 05-09-2021 10:37pm

i've had a few beers, which may affect my judgement, but when i saw that image my first reaction was 'have i had a stroke?'

(and no, i do not mean in a puerile schoolboy sense)

cletus · 05-09-2021 10:38pm

I'm not sure that HR will release the money. Canyon would have to invoice me for it.

If they'll invoice me, and then send the bike whenever, that would be grand

05-09-2021 10:58pm

Other alternatives could be the "all road" type affairs that some manufactures seem to have and don't come with wide tyres but have decent clearance for them. I threw my leg over a Trek Domane Al 4 a while back and that came with 32mm tyres with room for more !!!! Again though 1799 for an alu Tiagra equipped bike meant I wasn't biting.

The Orbea I had my eye on this time last year that was priced at 1599 with super tyre clearance and a 105 groupo but zero stock has gone to being in stock now and north of 2000.

Read a piece on road.cc today they mentioned "normal supply" would be a problem until the end of 2022 ffs.

nilhg · 05-09-2021 11:03pm

Would your employer be able to work with someone like Alltricks? Their parent Decathlon does some nice gravel bikes too, you might be able to talk to them?

https://www.alltricks.com/C-1375894-gravel-bikes

Or alternatively maybe it might be worth having a chat with one of the smaller suppliers like Fustle? They are in NI and might be able to work something in your budget and timeline.

https://www.ridefustle.com/collections/bikes/

One of the good things about looking for a gravel bike is that there are loads of small builders/suppliers out there. When I'm not so tired I'll think of some more.

cletus · 05-09-2021 11:14pm

My employer is an ETB, so they won't do individual accomodations for me. However, they don't seem to use a middleman, so that's a positive.

I'll have a look at the Alltricks website, and f there are any other small builders you can think of, nilhg, I'd appreciate it

wersal gummage · 05-09-2021 11:32pm

I'm planning to buy the titanium gravel bike off Decathlon website if it ever comes back in stock, just need to figure out what I'll do with it.... In Dublin is there any website or links to gravel type info /routes etc?

Mr. Cats · 06-09-2021 8:16am

Just took a look at Fustle and they’ve no groupsets in stock to build up!

Macy0161 · 06-09-2021 9:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117850705#Comment_117850705

In fairness to Cannondale, they are in bike shops rather than online only so that explains some of the difference with Canyon. I guess it depends, but as someone who's generally between sizes actually trying a bike before committing is worth a premium (and just getting it ready to ride).

CantGetNoSleep · 06-09-2021 1:35pm

Two alternatives to a Canyon Grail might be a Cube Nuroad (on paper these can look like better value but Canyon's tend to come with a wheelset that is a very worthy upgrade) or a Giant Revolt 1

cletus · 06-09-2021 5:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117851343#Comment_117851343

I'm just waiting on confirmation, but it looks like Canyon will process the order in January, issue an invoice for my employer, and then supply the bike to me when it's back in stock, fingers crossed.

Thanks for the steer, @iwillhtfu, and thanks to everyone else for the input

cletus · 06-09-2021 8:21pm

I have to issue an apology

I just realised I've referred to @fat bloke as fat guy across this entire thread😖

fat bloke · 06-09-2021 10:23pm

Yerra no worries, twas close enough :)

cletus · 07-09-2021 7:42pm

Just a quick update. Canyon e-mailed me to clarify that they don't take pre order, and I wouldn't be able to order the bike until it is in stock.

Looking closely at the Revolt 1 at the moment, seems like a good option

Weepsie · 07-09-2021 9:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117855462#Comment_117855462

I've met him, it's a complete misnomer too

fat bloke · 08-09-2021 9:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117860568#Comment_117860568

Such things are relative...! :D

lennymc · 08-09-2021 10:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859969#Comment_117859969

i got a revolt advanced 2 recently, very happy with it. Had it on gravel and -36% declines, as well as 20+% inclines, swapped out the standard wheels and tyres for road ones, and did 5 hr spins. Very capable bike. NOt too heavy or slow with the road wheels either. Geometry on the revolt 1 & the advanced look similar, so i cant see any reason why the alu frame wouldnt be as capable as the carbon

Seth Brundle · 08-09-2021 2:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117860568#Comment_117860568

Not a bloke?

cletus · 17-09-2021 7:53am

I may have another contender besides the Revolt and the Grail...

https://cyclebike.ie/products/cube-cross-race-sl-red-red-2021?variant=37866592731326

It popped up in another thread here. Any thoughts?

nilhg · 17-09-2021 9:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902316#Comment_117902316

I had a cross bike that I used as a gravel bike/winter trainer, loved it but eventually moved it on for two reasons, it was a full on race bike not really designed with long term compliance or comfort as a priority, the high crossbar leads to a short seatpost, at times it was like riding a jackhammer. Tyre clearance, my Ridley had very little extra over enough for 33mm cross tyres, I'd suspect the cube might be similar but it's not specified on the page you quoted.

cletus · 17-09-2021 11:38am

Thanks nihlg, that's exactly the sort of info I'm looking for.

Mr. Cats · 17-09-2021 1:04pm

The Cube spec looks decent value, as Cube often tend to be, especially in current times with price inflation on new bikes. The wheels are very basic and heavy though. I had a set on a bike and replacing them for something mid level made a huge difference.

Not sure if that helps any though as it’s probably the same story re wheels for a lot of bikes (ie that the stock wheels let down the rest of package)

New Bike Alternatives

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