LCP

Best gravel bikes under £1,500 in 2024 - drop-bar machines that won't break the bank

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Dean Hersey's picture

Dean Hersey

Dean is a freelance cycling journalist based in Dorset, who enjoys travelling the world in search of the best trails. He has spent extensive time riding in the Alps and exploring iconic locations in Scotland, Aosta Valley, the Pyrenees, Finale Ligure, New Zealand and Whistler. In terms of racing, Dean has dabbled in DH, enduro to cross-country but has recently taken up exploring the UK with his gravel bike which has sparked a new interest in bikepacking culture.

Rides: Open U.P
Height: 180cm
Weight: 65kg 

3 comments

1 year 6 months ago

Talk about recycled content - the Camino review alone is at least 3 years old! This is the sort of rehashed rubbish that puts people off - either do fresh content or tell people from the outset that they've probably read this half a dozen times already...

1 year 6 months ago

Talk about recycled content - the Camino review alone is at least 3 years old! This is the sort of rehashed rubbish that puts people off - either do fresh content or tell people from the outset that they've probably read this half a dozen times already...

2 years 11 months ago

My recipe for a good cheap graveler would be:

  • 2x8 or 2x9 with a sub-compact chainset. 50t is really not useful, a 42-28 would make it cheaper and more versatile than most 1x11.
  • Rim brakes: cheap mechanical discs are terrible (I haven't tried all of them thou). This would unfortunately close the door for upgrades to f.ex. hydro/mech calipers.
    If you must have cheap discs, at least fit a bigger rotor at the front.

I am not against 1x or discs in principle, but most 1x road systems lack range and good discs cost money.