Looking for feedback/ help on three bikes above. None of my LBS's have the exact bike in stock so which ever I choose I'll have to order somewhat blindly. I'm really looking for an all rounder in the truest sense. Each bike would come from a different LBS, so naturally they all say there's is the one. I never thought bike shopping would be so hard. Here are my planned uses:
\n1) morning work out rides
\n2) C group and hopefully moving up to B group rides
\n3) weekend gravel/ beginner MTB trail
\n4) a seasonal gravel race like D2R2
\n5) one or two Gran Fondos
\n
\nSo a bike that can handle it all
\nHere are the links:
\nCruz:
\nhttp://m.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/crux/crux-sport-e5-evo
\nWillard:
\nhttp://www.raleighusa.com/bikes-road-gravel-willard-willard-2
\n720
\nhttp://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/touring/720/720_disc/
\n
I just bought a Willard 2 this week; had it out on a short break-in ride today. Surfaces were mostly paved, but I wandered into some easy gravel as well. I'm very happy with it, but obviously 16 miles isn't going to tell me that much. General impressions:
Very responsive steering, and pleasingly quick under acceleration.
Stable on easy loose stuff (40mm tires with 45 psi). I haven't had it on the chunkier gravel yet.
Not a huge fan of the handle bars; the drops are kind of stubby, they don't sweep back very far. Other positions feel good.
Riding position is middling between relaxed and race.
Shifting (shimano 105 2x11) was sharp, but why wouldn't it be at this point?
Brakes are very smooth, and stopping power is acceptable.
Much prettier in person than in pictures where the base color looks white; it's silver. I'd recommend black bottle cages, and maybe a red computer if you're getting one. Yes fashion counts!
I spent months comparing bikes and it came down to the Willard or the Diamondback Haanjo Trail. The Raleigh won because a LBS found a 60cm size and brought it in for me to test a few times.
Alan, that's great. Can you post some pictures? I'm glad it looks better in person. How much does it weigh? Sounds like it would be well suited for my needs.
On all of them, you will want some knobbies on the mtb trails. I ride my cross bikes on the mtb trails around Atlanta a bit (but not the really rocky trails). I couldn't see doing the trails on slicks.
Alan, how much does it weigh? When you get more miles on it, please let me know how you think it'll do for Gran Fondos, I expect it to be fairly comfortable but would feel better with real world feedback.
It's listed as "Shimano External" which should be threaded. I honestly don't care; I have two bikes with pressfit BBs that have been fine so I didn't even pay attention on this on when I bought it.
How tall are you that the 60 works for you? I was looking at the Tamland in a 60 and am 6'2". I may consider this bike, though, since the Tamland is over 26 lbs and more expensive.
Alan, any longer rides yet? If so, how did it feel? I'm guessing it's more suited than the Crux for long rides. The Raleigh area rep is coming to my LBS on Monday. I'm hoping he can locate a Willard 2 in the area or convince the shop to carry one. I think you're right on the BB, Shimano External typically refers to a threaded one, the shops going to confirm on Monday. What other bikes do you have? How does the Willard compare as an all rounder?
Still haven't had a chance to take it too far, but tomorrow we have 32 miles of gravel planned out so that will be a good test. My other bikes are a Trek/Fisher "Lane" which is a steel cross bike that I turned into a bagger commuter, and an aluminum KHS cross bike that has been my gravel and single-track bike for a couple of years. From the riding I've done so far, the Willard feels like it can easily take on all roles aside from commuter (I don't want to load it up with racks and fenders etc).
One thing I have confirmed about the Raleigh gravel bikes (Willards and Tamlands) is that their bars have virtually unridable drops; the curve of the hooks takes up too much of the drop area so there is little room for your hands if you want a change of position, and the drops point down at a significant angle when the ramps are level. For a bike that was intentionally, and well-designed for gravel, this choice of bars is confusing. My LBS has ordered a set of Salsa Cowbells for me ($40-50) and will put them on for $25. It will be well worth the money to get rid of the stock bars.
All that said, I love the bike so far and would buy it again; it's well worth the extra $65-75 to replace the bars. And of course just because I don't like the bars (and let me be clear, they are a great fit except for the hooks/drops) doesn't mean you won't love them.
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