Ian F
Well-Known Member
Mostly the D&R and D&L would be the gravel option.
I've ridden the D&R a lot on my standard road bike and it wasn't bad. The only time I really wished for a gravel bike was when it was wet and fenders would have been nice (my road bike lacks clearance). Even the cobble spillways weren't a problem - we are mtn bikers and supposed to be better than average at technical riding. Nothing like seeing a guy with a fat tire hybrid bike walking across as you ride past him on you skinny tire road bike.
I bought a GT Grade a couple of years ago and tested it for about 100 miles. The fat tires are definitely nice and comfortable and the carbon frame was stiff as hell when I got up to pedal. But there are so many components I want to swap out that I don't know if I'll keep it. It's currently at a friend's house so he can test ride it. My main complaint about the frame is a lack of pannier rack mounts.
And flared bars - not for me. Another reason I stopped riding the GT was even after setting up the riding position to duplicate my road bike, the strange angle of the levers would make my hands go numb after about an hour of riding time. Or I'm just really used to the smaller lever hoods of my vintage Ergopower shifters. Since I want a Campy drive train, my next road bike will likely be custom.