Suggest a Gravel Adventure Bicycle for a Short Rider

Ljohnnybravo on 24/02/2018 - 00:08
Last edited 24/02/2018 - 12:01

Hi All,

For the past few weeks, I have been researching and looking around at bikes for exercising and light commuting. Based on some of the bikes I've looked at, I have put together some requirements and tried to find bikes within those parameters. However that seems to be a challenge; partly due to my height I believe.

Main Requirements (happy to consider other options too except indicated otherwise):
- Aluminium alloy frame with carbon fork (carbon frame preferable) - this seems to be the most common frame type
- Disc brakes (Hydraulic disc preferable) - This is non-negotiable
- Drop down bar handles - This is non-negotiable
- Minimum 32mm tyre width size (Max width up to 35 mm)
- Minimum Shimano Tiagra groupset or equivalent (Shimano 105 groupset or equivalent preferable)
- Standover height of 685 mm (I am 151 cm tall with 68.5 cm inseam)
- Relaxed geometry - something like an endurance road bike but with wider tyres (I've been told these kind of bikes are called Gravel Adventure Bikes)
- Price (hopefully) less than $2000 - This is non-negotiable too

So far my searches have included Giant Contend SL1 Disc (tyres not wide enough), Specialized Diverge (Shimano Sora groupset), Trek Domane (frame size may be an issue) and few other names. One of the other suggestions was to look at other brands however I was not sure on the other reasonably decent brands.

Are there any others that you can suggest keeping in mind the requirements? I'm having quite a challenge even narrowing the list due to the height limitation; so I can't even start testing it out.

Appreciate any help you guys can provide.

Cheers.

TL; DR - Need a gravel adventure bike with disc brakes for a guy with 151 cm height and 68.5 cm inseam.

Sports & Outdoors Bicycle

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2018 - 07:40

    151 cm tall

    Do they manufacture junior rider versions or xs frames of the models you are looking at?

    • johnnybravo on 24/02/2018 - 08:07

      Hi TightBottom,

      I didn't specifically have a look at the junior/kids versions; instead I looked at men's and women's ranges. The Giant Contend SL1 Disc had it in XS and was quite ok in terms of size and seating position however it does not have clearance for 32 mm tyres (I was told that the max was 28 mm and even that was pushing it).

      Wouldn't the kids version be unusually small? I preferred the adult version as it would be more consistent in terms of size eg. like tyre changes, etc.

  • pantsparty on 24/02/2018 - 08:19
    +2

    Goto a reputable bike store and ask the staff. I’m sure you arent the first short bike rider. Online research can only take you so far with bikes.

    • johnnybravo on 24/02/2018 - 10:08

      Hi pantsparty,

      I did visit a few stores in Sydney CBD; that's how I came to some of the requirements and challenges. The staff did admit that there may be a challenge on size and one of them even suggested a women's version since there would be a smaller frame size as compared to the men's one.

      Still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that there may be some brand I have not looked at and available here which would fit my requirements.

  • iforgotmysocks on 24/02/2018 - 10:16
    +1

    YZ250F

    • johnnybravo on 24/02/2018 - 12:02

      Hi iforgotmysocks,

      I was referring to bicycles not motor bikes.

  • 2ndeffort on 26/02/2018 - 18:09
    +1

    https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/gravel-bikes/scott/qld/for…

    If the perfect bike cant be found, get one with the right frame size. Changing the brakes or the shifters or the handlebars is expensve but pretty straight forward. Worst case you pay a bike shop to switch in new components for you. Parts are cheapest 2nd hand off the various facebook swap groups. Many parts are the erverse of what I've just ercommended, ie somebody buys a bike, add some upgrade bits then sells off the parts they just took unused off a new bike to help cover some of the costs. My current bike i bought new and had the bikeshop make it up with a different groupset that i had already bought off the Facebook swaps. I then took the brand new Ultegra Grouppo and sold it off on the same groups.

    • johnnybravo on 28/02/2018 - 21:44

      Hi 2ndeffort,

      That's actually a nice idea - let me see if I can find frames that might be more suited to my size and ignore the groupset specs for now.

      Just out of curiosity, if I were to buy the groupset new (any FB groups you can suggest so I can have a look too), what's the average price that the bikeshop charges to change it over (doesn't have to accurate - just a best guess is good enough).

      • 2ndeffort on 28/02/2018 - 23:40
        +1

        For new parts I've found some great deals locally from Pushys when they have one of their % off codes. For overseas theres the usual suspects wiggle and chain reaction but sometimes parts are cheaper on merlin or evans (other UK online shops). FB swap groups to look at include Bicycle Market, Cycling Buy Swap & Sell Australia or my favourite Buy/Sell Road Cycling victoria. https://www.facebook.com/groups/586498144700599/?ref=bookmar…

        It would depend on which bits you swap for parts. You might find that the cranks, chain and cassette are OK but you want to swap to an electronic groupset (so you just replace the derailleurs and shifters. Something that looked obvious to me for gravel bikes was that the low end ones used mechanical disc brakes. Obviously you would want hydraulic. You could buy the bike then just buy some hydraulic shifters and brake calipers. You would need to make sure the shifters worked with your derailleurs and that the brake discs were compatible but you probably wont have to replace the whole groupset.

        In terms of parts, I pay my bikeshop to fit parts for me. they openly admit that I can buy parts online cheaper than they can buy them trade wholesale from Shimano. I'm not sure what they would charge but theres so many bikeshops around. There's also a guy in a van that will come to you and do bike mechanic work at your house, 'the rapid wrench' I think he is called.

        • johnnybravo on 02/03/2018 - 21:19

          For new parts I've found some great deals locally from Pushys when they have one of their % off codes. For overseas theres the usual suspects wiggle and chain reaction but sometimes parts are cheaper on merlin or evans (other UK online shops).

          Ok, I checked out the Pushys site. There are some groupsets there although I wasn't sure which is the electronic version. I'm sure they're pretty expensive so that would be out of my budget.

          You could buy the bike then just buy some hydraulic shifters and brake calipers. You would need to make sure the shifters worked with your derailleurs and that the brake discs were compatible but you probably wont have to replace the whole groupset.

          Let's assuming that I select the entire groupset, I notice that the groupset does not have hydraulic brakes, so I'm guessing that may have to be purchased separately. So wouldn't I have two set of shifters then - one from the groupset and the other from the hydraulic set?

          FB swap groups to look at include Bicycle Market, Cycling Buy Swap & Sell Australia or my favourite Buy/Sell Road Cycling victoria.

          I'm in Sydney so I'll check out FB and see what groups are available. And I'll also check with the bike stores regarding the replacements.

      • Euphemistic on 01/03/2018 - 08:39
        +1

        If buying a frame, make sure it’s got disc brake mounts. Near everything else should be easy to swap over.

        • johnnybravo on 02/03/2018 - 21:25

          Hi Euphemistic,

          Thanks for the tip. Just to confirm - wouldn't a bike with mechanical disc already have this feature so that when I swap it over to a hydraulic disc, it would be a lot simpler? Or am I going on a tangent here.

        • Euphemistic on 03/03/2018 - 07:20
          +1

          @johnnybravo: there are a couple of different disc mount standards, but typically any disc system will mount to the modern mounts with an adaptor. It should be either ISO mounts (bolts sideways through the frame) or post mount (bolt straight into the frame)

          Mechanical or hydraulic doesn’t matter and are easy enough to change between.

        • johnnybravo on 03/03/2018 - 08:28

          @Euphemistic:

          Ah, I see. I realised that I read your previous comment incorrectly - you were referring to the frame only i.e. if I buy only the frame, I need to ensure that it has disc brake mounts. I haven't looked at frames only yet - I thought it would be really expensive if I go down the path of getting the frame + wheels + gearing parts + handles + pedals, etc. unless someone can show me otherwise.

          Mechanical or hydraulic doesn’t matter and are easy enough to change between.

          Ok cool, that's definitely going to help in narrowing the options a bit more.

        • Euphemistic on 03/03/2018 - 09:02
          +1

          @johnnybravo: kinda referring to frame only, but the same applies if you are buying another bike to switch stuff on.

          True about buying a frame and all the parts. It adds up pretty quick. I recently bought a new frame/fork to build a bike but I had 90% I had of the parts to use off another damaged bike. If I’d had to buy all the parts New it would have cost a lot more.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2018 - 01:34
    +1

    Stack and reach are more important measurements than stand-over height (provided that you can clear the top tube). Unfortunately at 151cm, it will be very difficult for you to find an adult bike off the shelf that will fit you. The Giant (I believe) will be too big for you even in extra small. Make sure before buying a bike that you test ride it first to make sure it will fit you and you are comfortable.

    Also, what is your motivation for fitting >32mm tyres? Do you just want this for comfort, or are you actually going to put wider tyres on it to take it off road? I'm asking this because endurance road bikes and adventure gravel bikes are two distinct categories. The Giant Contend SL1 Disc and Trek Domane are more endurance road bikes

    • johnnybravo on 28/02/2018 - 21:56

      Hi BJTorMOSFET,
      To be honest, I'm not sure what my stack and reach is as I have not measured that yet. Can I get it done at a bikeshop or can it only be done while purchasing a bike? I do admit it would be hard to find an adult bike my size but I'm still hopeful. The Giant in XS was actually quite close in terms of the stand over height and position - only issue was that it couldn't handle tyres beyond 28mm.

      Motivation for 32mm tyres is three-fold - light off-roading, bad roads in my area (I believe roads could be maintained better here), better grip and comfort.

      Agree with you that the Giant Contend SL1 Disc is more an endurance bike although it is classified as an all-rounder on their website - I loved it the moment I saw it. The fit was also better than most of the bikes I had tried until that point. Unfortunately, I can't get everything so have to keep looking.

      Btw, are you sure about the Trek Domane being an endurance bike? One their website, the Trek Domane ALR 4 Disc is classified as a Gravel bike.

  • octagonalman on 02/03/2018 - 19:40
    +1

    Have you considered the Toughroad?
    https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/toughroad-slr-gx-2

    I've got a 2016 Revolt 2 which appears to be awfully similar. I also had very similar criteria to you. The shop was good enough to order in a small size for me, with no obligation to purchase, just for fitting. Mine currently runs Schwalbe Big Ben 700x50 tyres.

    It does come with lower end components and I'm coming up to a bottom bracket replacement after 13000km and the middle steel chainring was starting to feel a bit grumpy after 12000km ish. Everything shifts fine with Sora though.

    • johnnybravo on 02/03/2018 - 21:29

      Hi octagonalman,

      Thanks for your suggestion. I think size was the issue there - the smallest size had a bigger stand over height. That's what I recall the salesperson telling me.

      Btw, the ToughRoad looked much larger compared to the Contend and the AnyRoad when I last checked it. Let me go and check again one more time.

      • octagonalman on 02/03/2018 - 22:24
        +1

        Another option is sneaking on smaller wheels to reduce the height, but still keeping the wider tyres. Of course, it'll add a fair bit of money. The shop said they couldn't help me with any testing as their 27.5" wheels were all through-axle and incompatible!

        • johnnybravo on 02/03/2018 - 23:08

          Wow, that sucks.

          I did consider this option as a last resort just to drop the height by a few cm. Didn't realise it would come at a much greater cost. My colleague told me to try and get 700c if possible since they were the most common. So for now, I'm keeping the 650b towards the end and putting all my energy on the 700c.

        • octagonalman on 03/03/2018 - 00:07
          +1

          @johnnybravo:

          The cost was more that I would be on my own in sourcing new wheels, but in theory one could recoup some cash by selling the stock wheels. The store did provide credit for the stock tyres though - they handled the replacement/upgrade from 700x35c to 700x50c. If you end up going to 50mm, my advice is to avoid Schwalbe Marathon Supreme. It's quite light but starts getting punctures after a year/7000km for me.

        • johnnybravo on 03/03/2018 - 08:20

          @octagonalman:

          Ok, will keep that mind. I was looking at these type of tyres though.

          http://road.cc/content/review/6490-kenda-small-block-8-700x3…

          That tyre looked more "stable" to me (if that makes sense).

  • octagonalman on 04/03/2018 - 19:18

    https://salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya/2018_vaya_tiagra

    I think this one matches everything in your criteria except your stipulated frame ingredients. The smallest size seems to be appropriate.

    • johnnybravo on 05/03/2018 - 22:27

      Hey,

      Thanks a lot for the link. The bike does look interesting - will have a look further in terms of reviews.

      Cheers.

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