Yesterday I test rode a new Marin Nicasio + gravel bike (52cm) and just loved the way the bike felt. The skinny chromoly steel tube frame has fallen out of favor compared to the lighter aluminum and carbon composite materials but there is something about a steel frame bike that I really like. To me it actually felt lighter than I was expecting. Compared to the latest bikes sure it’s heavy but to me it didn’t really feel that heavy.

I snapped a pic of the bike and sent it to my mother. There was just something about the new Nicasio that felt familiar. My mother almost instantly replied “that looks EXACTLY like your fathers old bike”. My dad did have a bike that looked quite a bit like this new Marin.

The Nicasio defiantly does a good job capturing that vintage/ older look. The unique shade of dirt that it comes painted in helps add to the retro look. Its a polarizing color for sure but I like that it will hide dirt and muck from riding and it makes the bike appear to be an older machine.

I do a ton of street and gravel trail riding along with trail riding. Actual trail riding where a full suspension bike is nice to have makes up only about 25% of the cycling I do currently. A bike like this is beginning to make more sense to me.

Do we have any gravel bike fans here? What is your take on Marin’s entry level gravel bike?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stickman428,

I have been riding a Giant TCR for a few years. I wanted a second bike.
One with wider tires. I ended up buying a Giant TCX. It's a great bike.
If I was limited to one bike it would be the TCX with a second wheelset.
Across town, dirt roads or a trail the TCX is a blast. Clicking off miles
quickly on pavement I take the TCR.


https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/tcx-advanced

Giant's Gravel Bike
https://www.giant-bicycles.com...volt-advanced-2-2021

Perhaps a stupid question: what differentiates a gravel bike from a cyclocross bike?

Giants cyclocross is for cyclocross racing. It has only 1 sprocket on
the crank. The gravel bike has more gears for road riding.
I think the gravel bike might have more tire clearance.
My TCR has 700x28's and my TCX has 700x40's.

Felt bicycles has a pretty good description of the similarities and differences on their website.

“A good, simple rule of thumb to remember is that a cyclocross bike is ideally suited for, as its name implies, going fast along a cyclocross racecourse, while a gravel bike is optimized for all-day riding adventures over mixed terrain.”

They then go on to list the 5 areas where the bike designs differ. (Geometry, storage, gearing, wheel and tire size, and comfort and stiffness)

Differences between a cyclocross and gravel bike

after close to 30 years of mtn bike racing, its about all I ride now. I still get out on the mtn bike a bit, but with the gravel bike, I can link up all sorts of terrain and just ride; Road, gravel, moderate single track. It's fun on all of them. Keep it mostly off road, and you don't need to worry about traffic.

Regarding the Marin, no particular knowledge, but I always encourage people looking at new bikes to pick a frame that might be up a bit from entry in a company's line with lower tier components, if budget is a concern. That way you can upgrade as things break and maybe get longer use out of the bike if your wants/needs look to something better. That said an entry level gravel bike is better than no gravel bike.

For a guy who rode his first 10-speed at 14 back in 1981, the shifters on those bikes freak me out. LOL

Nice lookin' bike though.

I just got back into cycling last year and I bought a 2021 Trek Checkpoint ALR5 gravel bike and it’s been amazing.

The hydrid / gravel bike setups these days are perfect for people who like a little bit of off-roading.

I love the concept of a gravel bike as it takes away limitations on road surfaces.

Put some good tubeless tires (like a car tire with sealant inside) on the wheels, carry a spare tube incase the sealant isn't enough to fix a puncture, and ride.

I have a Specialized Diverge in 64cm and absolutely love it.

It's that road bike (and it is fast BTW) which I can take onto a trail and handle the roads which all show signs of neglect.

Gravel Bike?

Did you just make that up?

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
Gravel Bike?

Did you just make that up?

nah man.

So what exactly is a gravel bike? Gravel bikes, sometimes also referred to as adventure bikes, are essentially road bikes designed to tackle a variety of surfaces, carry additional gear and are suitable for all-day riding on roads less traveled. They are made to be more durable and robust than a standard road bike, along with having an increased gear range and space for far wider tires. They bare a striking resemblance to cyclocross bikes, but there are some subtle differences to note.

What is it used for?

The versatility of gravel bikes makes them a great option for multiple cycling pursuits. They are suitable for all but the fastest of road riding, while the wider tires and wider-range gearing make off-road trails, gravel and fire roads manageable. They are robust, comfortable and often can carry luggage making them ideal for light touring adventures or for those longer and faster commutes.

The features unique to gravel bikes

To start with the geometry of a gravel bike is targeted at creating stability and comfort. A long wheelbase helps provide stability on loose surfaces and over long distances. The headtube is considered 'tall' or 'long', and in association with a shorter top tube, puts the rider in a more upright position for improved comfort on touring adventures and better vision when commuting. The headtube angle is 'slack', which performs better at slow speeds and doesn't give a 'twitchy' feeling like some performance road bikes.

The frame is heavier than a road bike to enhance durability and make it resilient enough to accept any extra load from frame bags if you plan on doing any light touring. There are also commonly eyelets for mudguards.

Link to full article

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:

Nice bike, and you certainly have enough mounts for water bottles.

Having grown up in the country, all of the roads that were not a designated highway were gravel. Never needed a 'gravel' bike. Just road the balloon tired ones we had. Reminds me of the Barnum and Bailey adage. So after 60 years of bike riding and racing I really can't see the need despite the pontificates. Gotta love the 'marketeers'!

quote:

Originally posted by bigeinkcmo:
This is kind of an interesting read I recently came across doing some investigating on rim widths. https://www.theproscloset.com/...he-perfect-rim-width Kind of overlaps this subject a little bit.

Picked up my KHS Grit 440 from TPC last spring. 650b tubeless, hydraulic brakes, BB360 EVO Bottom bracket standard. I couldn't resist for the sub $2k price. I haven't looked on the site lately but they finally split out Gravel and Cyclocross into separate categories. There can be deals but mostly higher end usually.

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
Perhaps a stupid question: what differentiates a gravel bike from a cyclocross bike?

Geometry, BB Height in particular.

I have used my cross bike on plenty of gravel, but wouldn't use my gravel bike for cross.

To the OP, steel is real . And depending on the gravel 650b is nice. I am light and like to stay quick (or feel quick) so I prefer 35mm 700's for gravel but it can be rough.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
I have a Specialized Diverge in 64cm and absolutely love it.

It's that road bike (and it is fast BTW) which I can take onto a trail and handle the roads which all show signs of neglect.

64?!?
I'm 6'0" and ride a 54cm road bike.
Had a 58cm Cannondale & it was a stretch.

You guys must all be younger than me. And not yet suffered. But my learning in life is there is not a chance I'm getting on anything that is 'offroad' that doesn't have a full suspension. even cross offroad.

I’m not sure I get the distinction. But I also haven’t gotten on the fat bike train either so maybe I’m not 5he guy to ask.

hrcjon, the “Offroad” aspect of a gravel bike is more where you would be riding primarily gravel roads and dirt paths. Think light off-road and exploring. Think of it more of how a lifted truck or trophy truck is fast over terrain verses a rally car. They are both off-road so to speak but more specialized to the specific terrain they are designed to tackle. It’s a bike that will do well both on the street and on smooth gravel or dirt trails. You’re not going to take a gravel bike on a trail where full suspension bikes are flying around.

It makes sense to me. I do a lot of street riding and TONS of gravel, paved and smooth dirt trail riding. My mountain bike tires are absolute shit on paved surfaces. I learned just how awful they are a few months ago when I lost front wheel traction at speed on my hardtail and crashed.



pedropcola, I just got my first fat tire bike yesterday. The frame geometry and material (4130 chromoly steel) reminds me so much of a BMX bike. It’s at my local bike shop getting the derailleur adjusted/properly installed. I can assemble a bike just fine but the damn derailleur is a part of bikes where I struggle mightily. If it ever stops raining I’ll post up pics and a review of how it did on the trails hopefully sometime next week. My first impression of the tires is that they are bigger than I was expecting.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stickman428,