db9091

Hi,
New to forum. Could use some advice.

Background:
Did MTB 25 years ago, got into soccer, getting too old for that, got back into cycling last July.
I have a MTB (Trek EX8 '17) so I'm set there. Great bike, I do a trail every weekend or two.
I did get a Chisel Comp to go on greenways/gravel with the choice of getting onto a single track MTB trail.
I go out 2-3 times a week for 1-3 hours (would like to expand that) Most for fat burning/fun/adventure some for cardio/interval workout.
However, I never go to MTB trails when doing this, so the Chisel is overkill and too sloggy on the greenways for me.
I'm putting on 40cm tires come Monday to see what that's like but I think it's the geometry. Love the front suspension tho on gravel.
Often, I like to make up routes on the spot, and go greenway, road, sidewalk (afraid of road sometimes but getting more used to it), wood section to connect roads,
sometimes a big gravel route at a big park. I'd say I'm tarmac/gravel 80/20 (count sidewalk with tarmac, but remember the uneven bumps for bike choice)

Recent Demo experience:
* Specialized Roubaix (liked a lot, but not enough clearance on tires, maybe too thin for gravel at 28cm, dangerous on gravel at 30-32cm if a rock gets jammed) But I REALLY liked this bike. If it had 8mm of clearance I'd buy it.
* Specialized Diverge - Good bike. Seems 500-800 more than it should be for it's groupset. Future Shock really good on hard bumps, so-so on gravel. Not better than other gravel-grinders IMO.
* Specialized Crux - Like this a lot. Afraid that the 1x is too limiting for road tho. I may need that extra easy gear for the late ride hill back to the car.
* Trek Domane - Liked the handling, felt a tad slower than the other 3 bikes above. Was told to come back and try others: Boone, Checkpoint (expensive tho)

I got on steep hills with all but the Crux. Got on gravel with the Diverge and Crux. Like the Crux road oomph.

Components I seem to want:
*Groupset: Of these, I've tested the cheap versions they have, but was thinking of minimum 105/Rival, and who wouldn't love a Ultegra/Force but that is not mandatory.
*I want 2Bliss ready on tires/rims.
*Discs/Hydraulic a must
*Ideally 2x or if 1x I might desire a 11-40T

Price range around $3k, wound not like to go much higher, much lower doesn't get those things above I want as a minimum.

I went to 2 Specialized shops. 1 said "get the Roubaix or Diverge" which seem not at all the same bike. The other shop said "Get the Diverge or Crux, but you'll LOVE the Crux" and while I did, I have concerns with the limited gears.

I would Like to be able to do looong rides, mostly on asphalt, with some other things mixed in as connectors mostly. I'm not aiming to do log roads, countryside ****. 80% hard surfaces. I CAN technically forego the gravel if need be. Not ready for a 100% road bike. Tires at least 28cm, ideally 30-38 somewhere.

I'm currently trying to make my Chisel into more of a gravel grinder. Getting 40cm tires Monday (currently 2.1/2.3 Fast Track) but the gearing only goes from current 22/36 up to 24/38T they say. It's 10 speed, so 1x is out of the question for the hills.

I love speed, but am forcing myself to slow down for fat burning. I like to sprint up hill, but take it easy elsewhere. Rarely do a STRAVA spring if I'm feeling frisky. Trying to push the 2-3 hours into 3-5 hours of natures watching make-the-route-up-as-I-go so I don't get bored.

Many many thanks!

ph0rk

For 3k there are scads of 35-40c tire gravel grinders to be had, or built, and you can fit 32mm tires in these, too. I wouldn't buy a frame that doesn't have clearance for 40's unless you're buying something used.

If you aren't wedded to that shop, seek out others with different brands - this is probably the hottest segment in cycling right now, and everybody has a bike that fits it.

Lazyass

The DB Haanjo 7C Carbon has an Ultegra R8000 group with hyd brakes. Regular price is $2700 but if you get the code to sign up for a corporate account (there's a thread on it), the price is $2160.



https://www.diamondback.com/haanjo-7c-carbon

DIMcyclist

If you don't mind new steel:

Soma Stanyan (650b conversion); Soma GR; Soma Doublecross; Soma Wolverine; Surly Straggler; Surly Crosscheck; Surly Disc Trucker. All of these have clearance for wider tires and are designed as tour-able all-rounders. The latter five have noted off-road/ CX capability.

Steel, if you prefer the higher end of the pricing scale, with bespoke custom options: Waterford ST-14 or ST-22.

Classic: LeMond Poprad. Reynolds 853 fame; threadless C/F fork; designed as a cross bike, with the longer, French-style TT associated with LeMond's road frames. An early/mid '90s Miyata Triplecross or Trek 700-series might also work for you.

Vintage: 1989 - '91 Bridgestone Eurasia EA-S or EAG-T. Not expensive if bought overseas, but don't expect to find one of these here; they were Japan-only frames, extremely rare in the U.S. That said, in terms of performance, they do sound like the droids you're looking for.

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That's my two cents, anyway.

02Giant 

In the 3k range the Orbea Terra M31D