CBSOCAL

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Upgrade Giant Roam 2 or Move to Gravel Bike?Hi all,


I'm new to biking as an adult (1-2 years), am in pretty good shape, and looking to spend <$2,000 (half of that would be ideal). Here is my dilemma and hope experience can help me.


I ride 5-15 miles a few times a week and currently have a Giant Roam 2 (2021) that has a 1x10 Cassette - My first real bike. I think I'd like to start going further. I like the versatility of this bike a lot but I like to go FAST and feel like it's limiting due to the gear range (flat and downhill mostly). I stay on sidewalks and gravel roads mostly but cut through grass patches, go down/up curbs to dodge traffic, hard pack gravel, you name it. For my purposes, the hybrid seems great but the gear range is limiting and I find myself out of the saddle very often in my fastest gear and wish I had more. I'm not talking about jumping stairs, but just taking shortcuts and having fun. I want to be able to go faster and further easier but don't want to sacrifice the ability to do my jack*ss riding and have a bike that will bend rims and pop tires. Again, I'm new so sorry if this doesn't make sense.


Below are the bikes I am considering and want some feedback if possible:


1) Giant Roam 2 (Current Bike) - Upgrade to a bigger Cassette with more gears like 1x13 - will that work? Is this possible?

2) Sell it and buy a Giant Escape 2 and put bigger tires on it) - what I probably should have got in the first place, as I don't use the fork (Prob about the same cost) - Probably a downgrade in actuality, but an upgrade for what I want?

3) Upgrade to a real 2X Gravel Bike (I was looking at the Specialized Diverge E5 or open to other suggestions (Will cost me a lot more but I'll invest if this truly is a one bike fits all and I can ride like I mentioned above - Including curbs, dirt, etc....)


Any thoughts are appreciated, Thanks so much!


-CB

Fentuz

Hi CB,

to your 1st point
From what I can see on https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/bikes-roam:
roam 2 is 2x9 (30/46 x 11-36) using Alivio groupset
roam 1 is 2x10 (30/46 x 11-42) using deore groupset
roam 0 is 2x11 (30/46 x 11-42) using a mixture of deoreXT/SLX and Microshift groupset

but yours is modified to 1x10. Do you know what cassette and ring you have? If the wheel is original, I doubt you can do more than 1x11 or 2x11.

Then, the range - if you run a 10s cassette 11-42, you can fit either a 40T or 42T chainring and you will get cheaply the same range as most gravel bike but it will be spread on 10 gears rather than 11 (does not make that much difference). and if you want to spend a bit more, fit a 10s 11-46 ( SHIMANO CS-M4100 DEORE for example) with a 42 or 44 chainring.

Then, the feeling of speed, a lot of than comes from the tyres. if you want to go fast, you will need a fast XC tyre like continental Race King in 50-622 (max allowed) or a fast gravel tyre like panaracer Gravel King SK 43-622. Or if you ready want to go fast on tarmac and are not to bothered about gravel speed, go for slicks Gravel King (38-622).

to your 2nd point
It does not make much sense to sell the roam to get an escape which is possibly faster on tarmac but more limited when it comes to various terrain. You will get the same Range issues and the tyre upgrades are limited to 42c. the escape will be about 1.5kg lighter than the roam. Basically I think you would loose money on the trade, would still have the same issues.

to your 3rd point
Specialized Diverge E5 is 2x8 entry model, not the best but it would possibly do what you want for now. But, when you start to play around, you will want more a face the same issues. You might better to shop around and look for AL frame bike fitted with 2x9 Sora or 1x11 Apex. When it comes to stuff like Specialized, canyon, cannondale, you pay for the brand. In the UK, for the budget of the Specialized Diverge E5, you can get a planetX london road 1x11 or a boardman 2x10 GRX hydro or boardman 1x 11 Apex Hydro


When I was looking into gravel bike 2 years ago, I was looking at things like cinelli Zydeco Lala (2x9 sora) Al frame etc... then, I came across less "main stream" brand and found review on cycling website than was rating bike by value for money; basically, looking at the frames and components. Planet X in the UK came on top and for the budget of a somewhat limited cinelli, I got a carbon frame fitted with larger tyres and Rival 1x11 groupset.... the equivalent Cinelli (zydeco king) cost twice the price.
The bike got then upgraded for off road speed with 650b large tyre and a mullet groupset (MTB XC type) with all the upgrades, the accumulated cost is still 2/3 of the zydeco king....


So, if on a budget, I advised to mod a little the roam for speed - tyres, chainring, may be cassette and chain (due to length change) - and if you like it very much save a little more to get a "middle price" gravel bike ($2000 to 3000 depending of brands) or, find a good 2nd hand to rebuild/upgrade

mstateglfr 

Thoughts...

- Do you want drop bars or flat bars? That is a fundamental difference and needs to be clarified before you decide what to do. The Diverge has drop bars.
- Overall, the Diverge frameset and components are a higher level than the Roam or Escape. Carbon fork and nicer drivetrain, for example. The brakes are mechanical vs your current hydraulic. They are both entry level either way, for what thats worth.
- Your riding style sounds dangerous and frustrating to drivers due to the unpredictability. Dont ride on sidewalks unless there is basically literally no other possible way to get from A to B. Dont jump curbs and go from in the road to sidewalk back to in the road to dodge traffic as that is unpredictable and confusing for anyone that has to be near you. Just ride in a predicable straight line.

timdow

You can't go to more gears in the back - at least not without it being very expensive. It will also be financially challenging going from 1X to 2X in the front. If you like what you have except for the gearing, a bigger chain ring (and new chain) is the way to go, as long as you can afford to lost some of the easier pedaling bottom end gearing.

If you decide to change to a gravel bike, I totally agree with mstateglfr above about making the decision to do drop bars or flat. I like drop bars with a 2X chain ring setup for a net of less difference between gears (closer gearing), but opinions vary. The Diverge E5 seems to be a good option. Personally I would spend a bit more to have a 10 speed setup rather than 8 speed, but 8 would get the job done. I landed on the Specialized Topstone series as a appropriate choice, but there are a LOT of choices. Narrowing down the search criteria is the first step.

chas58

I think it really matters how fast you want to go.

Hybrids I've ridden are most comfortable in the 5-15mph range. They have long wheelbases, accelerated leigerly, and I can't really go very fast on them. They accelerate slow, handle slow, tend to have you more upright. They are great for shorter leisurely rides, stop and go rides, carrying stuff. Great for European style commuting & errands on bike paths. Worthless for any spirited group ride (or even doing something similar on your own). It is very limiting, and I'd avoid it unless your riding is limited to what I described.

A gravel bike can be anything. Some are super comfortable for all day rides, some are designed for shorter races (light, fast, agile, less comfortable).

FYI, there are flat bar gravel bikes. They do not excel at any anything, but still can be a lot of fun (and probably not very different from the '90s mountain bikes in my basement. I think the type of riding is more important than whether you want drop or flat bars. The biggest advantage of flat bars is how wide they are (MTB are too wide for comfort), but there are wide drop bar bikes out there in the gravel world that over the long run you would find more comfortable (unless you just really don't like drop bars).

CBSOCAL

Thanks for the reply and the suggestion, I've never ridden drop bars, so I believe that I'll have to try them out before I even consider, that's a great point. I appreciate the tips on riding, but I absolutely make sure I'm safe and don't make drivers uncomfortable. I live in a small master planned city that has very wide sidewalks and make sure if there is a pedestrian that I give right of way or hop into the street. I error on the side of caution with cars as people drive like idiots here, flying down the road and drifting over. Been almost hit two times by texters.

CBSOCAL

Thanks so much for the detailed response, this is the expertise I was looking for. So much to think about but before I invest and bail on a still-new bike, I think I'll play around with the mods you suggest to see what I think. Probably a good idea to make sure I'm going to stick with biking then invest more as you mentioned. Plenty of "Googling" to do now, thanks again. And in the US, the Roam 2 is a 1x10 Shimano Deore for some reason, not the 2X or it would have been perfect. The 2X was other countries.

black_box 

It sounds like you'll be better off with drop bars and either more aggressive 1x gearing or 2x gearing. You can do fast starts/sprints on a flat bar bike (I've ridden my wife's flat bar road bike and my 29er is set up for pavement and packed gravel), but I think they feel better/faster on drop bars due to the wrist angle. Given your riding, you'll want beefier tires, too, especially if you're losing the suspension fork. Maybe 38+? I have 32mm on my cross bike and 44 on my 29er.

Go with a gravel bike or cyclocross bike with disc brakes, preferably hydraulic.
Any idea how fast you're going when you run out of gears? That will help figure out appropriate gearing. Also, if you get clipless pedals and bike shoes, you'll be able to spin the cranks faster, comfortably, which will improve your top end.

cyclezen

You're not giving much about yourself... where you ride, how much you weigh, you say you're in good shape...
Buying new bikes is fun, but also brings with it doing things in different ways.
you currently have a bike which seems it might hold up to jackass riding... Going lighter/more speed oriented brings with it more need for finesse and skills.
You have plenty of gears for the next level - 40 - 11x36 covers a lot.
You;d prolly be better served riding what you have and learning more about riding and improving your cycling fitness.
A 40x11 ridden at 60 rpm (cadence) gets you to 18 mph, same gear ridden at 90 rpm would have you over 27 mph... find the 'speed' in between, by turning your cranks more often/faster...
Riding out of the saddle is not the way to more speed, after 30 secs or so.
Riding on sidewalks is best reserved for kids 10 and under and old folks with walkers.
Break a sweat and get your heart rate up for longer periods. Your bike can easily do more distance, faster, when you figure it out.
A lighter/faster bike will certainly prove a bit faster, but not that much. It will be susceptible to more flats, dented rims and accelerated wear in your current style.
There's a progression and balance to equipment and motor/rider in cycling, putting one well in front of the other doesn;t assure any lasting progress.
Eddy Merckx has a bunch of great quotes - one which applies to all of us "Ride the Bike'.
Ride On
Yuri

sean.hwy

If you fit a Large (5'11" to 6'4") I would buy this Topstone 1. It's 25% off. It's located in Northern California. Then won't ship it :/


https://shop.sportsbasement.com/products/topstone-1

less thank 2k. it's a lot of bike for the money.
It's an alloy frame. A tad heavy but it comes with threaded bottom bracket ( should not creak in the future ) 2x 11 shiamano group set, disc brakes thru axel. This is the perfect bike to up grade down the road as your budget allows and or wants.

My Topstone last year.

Rogerogeroge

The gearing isn’t slowing you down. I doubt you’re spinning out the top gear on your hybrid. What is giving you a disadvantage is the hybrid, with an upright riding style and fatter tires. Slightly narrower tires, lighter wheels and drop bars mean much better acceleration. When you’re over 15 mph aerodynamics become more significant. And in general, a gravel bike will weigh less than a hybrid. What you give up is greater maneuverability at low speeds and more shock absorption taking bit hits ( ie, potholes etc)

koala logs

Getting out of the saddle very often is probably the thing slowing you down. Pedaling out of the saddle can only possibly make you go faster on climbs and even that is debatable. Definitely not recommended for sustaining highest possible speed for long periods on the flats.

If you want to sustain higher speeds with relatively low gearing, you'll have to train to spin at high cadence while sat down.

dwmckee

Whatever you do, go with at least a 9-speed rear cassette. The 8-speed groups are rather clunky with big steps between gears; going to a 9-speed setup is not that much more money either and worth the extra cost.