ksdog

I bought an All City Space Horse a few months ago, so naturally I need a "back up" bike. Would like something that is versatile like the Space Horse, with a little zippier ride. So far the Space Horse is the best combination of ride quality and versatility I have personally tested, however, in my quest for a "back up", I seek a faster, better climbing bike. Just wondering what you guys recommend.

NormanF

If you're looking for a gravel road/adventure bike, you have lots of options:

Specialized Diverge, GT Grade, Trek Crossrip, Schwinn Super Sport CX, Cannondale CAAD, Diamondback Haanjo, Kona Rove, Jamis Bosanova.

They should check your boxes.

LUW

CAADX, specially the 105 version.

GovernorSilver

Seems like quite a few of the bikes suggested to you have the same gearing so you probably won't get much of an improvement in flat speed or climbing speed as you mention in your OP - so be sure to check the crankset and cassette specs.

jtbadge

+1

Get some lighter wheels and a cassette with an 11t cog for your Space Horse. Lowering rotational mass will improve the speed and responsiveness. My Space Horse changed into a much smoother, faster bike with some 1500-1600 gram wheels.

A few tweaks like a lighter wheelset, seatpost, and crankset have my Space Horse down to 23 pounds, even with the heavy ass stock fork and a Brooks saddle.

ColinL

I think the Space Horse goes for about $1,500.

You will need to spend at least as much, if not more, on a second bike to make it meaningfully lighter and more 'zippy'. People are starting to sell last year's CX bikes to prepare for the latest & greatest this year, so you might find a complete bike or light frame at a good value, if you would consider used.

If you're looking new, I would agree that the Cannondale CaadX 105 is a good value, and the Felt F65X is very similar - my recollection is that the Felt has better tire clearance, but if you have the Space Horse and want this bike to be lighter, I'd guess that you will be running light 32-35mm tires on this one.

ColinL

This is not a bad idea. It is easy to find 1500g road wheels with rim brakes for a reasonable amount of money.

Discs, ah, not so much.

ambro

If you want to bike that really climbs well – you're probably looking at something with a carbon frame. Personally, I would save the money – and upgrade the wheels on the space horse and some of the other components.

DirtRoadRunner

I would just buy a road bike - I love my Space Horse, but it is a pig. My 17 lb CAAD9 climbs really well. Any carbon CX bike that fits fat tires like a Space Horse - and is light like a road bike - will probably have a pretty aggressive riding position (less comfort), and be expensive.

NormanF

If you buy a gravel road bike, its not for weight weenies. Off-road durability means lightness is sacrificed in the build.

Unless you're racing, its not going to make a lot of difference.

vitaly66

If you like your Space Horse, you might love a Macho King.

(I know I would...)

DirtRoadRunner

The Macho King is a sweet bike. I was about to post that it is a more aggressive bike than the Space Horse, until I looked at the actual geometry and saw it isn't that much different, other than less BB drop for the Macho King (resulting in a slightly more aggressive riding position). However, the Macho King does lack the versatility of the Space Horse, in that it doesn't have quite as many braze-ons and rack eyelets of the Space Horse. It would be an awesome bike for CX and gravel racing however, and I would love to have one.

Also, traditional CX gearing kind of stinks for hilly gravel riding (I know from experience), so the first thing I would do with that bike is swap the small ring for a 34t and add an 11-32 or even 11-36 rear cassette (which would mean swapping the RD too).