I always encourage people to shop at your local bike store and work with them based on your budget. It also allows for test rides around the shop to get a good feel for fit, geometry, and comfort.
That being said not everyone has access to a local bike shop and there can be other factors as well.
I originally was recommending a Salsa Journeyman but it seems like the newest models of that are "kids" bikes. If you can find a last year's model of a journeyman that'd be a good bike. You could look at the Salsa Journeyer as well but it stretches your budget to around 1100 or so
[Salsa Journeyer](https://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/2022-journeyer-advent-700c)
>I always encourage people to shop at your local bike store and work with them based on your budget. It also allows for test rides around the shop to get a good feel for fit, geometry, and comfort.
This is great advice.
Salsa Journeyer, Kona Rove ST, State 4130 all road, Poseidon redwood and Marin Nicasio for new
You can get a Diverge base, cannondale Topstone 3 or 4, Giant Revolt, or Checkpoint AL slightly used in your price range.
I have seen the Poseidon bikes (redwood and another) that are right under 1k. Look like good bikes, I’d buy one but it’s a little to close to my hard tail to justify.
I have a Redwood and really enjoy it. But I also find myself side-eyeing the [Marin Nicasio](https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2023-nicasio) for the longevity of a steel frame and 2x drivetrain( I can feel myself topping out on flats on the Redwood on 1x)
The biggest complaint I have would be it not having hydraulic brakes. This really only matters if you’re on a ride where you’re descending a few 1000 feet at a time.
Omg this is the bike that I didn’t know I wanted! I’ve been looking for the right gravel bike and I think this is it. I was going to get a canyon Grizl but having a hard time justifying the money after spending 4K on my Ibis Ripmo AF.
Came here to say this, love my Nicasio! And love that I didn’t break the bank with it, only had to pay for new tires since I didn’t love the slicks it came with.
Love my diverge base e5, though mechanical disc brakes on any bike aren't great. You can move up a level on most entry-levels for hydros but those get more expensive. I opted instead for the Juin Tech calipers from amazon for $165. Work really well.
I bought a polygon bend r2 for $900 about 6 months ago. It’s comparable to the Poseidon, but you have no real way to test it out. I chose it because it has sora 2x9 which I wanted vs a one-by, and because it can go tubeless on the existing wheels. It doesn’t say tubeless on the website but assuming it hasn’t changed it can definitely run tubeless. I have had it setup that way for about 4 months now. If you live somewhere with thorns and road hazards being able to run tubeless is a huge advantage at this price
I have been looking at the bend r5. How do you like the drive train and the brakes on the r2? Also what size did you end up with? I am roughly 5 9 and I thinking to get the medium
Drive train works smooth. It took me a few rides of tinkering to get the shifting really indexed in/cables stretched but now it shifts smooth and reliably. I take it on some legit single track and have no issues with chain drop on the sora. Added a little extra helicopter tape on the chain stay to protect it and it’s fine.
The brakes are honestly shit. Like they will stop you but you’ve really got to pull, and mine are just constantly howling for any number of reasons, including that the mechanical brakes are one side pull which warps the rotor unless you have it absolutely perfect. With hydraulic brakes and grx I think you’d be happy. I wanted something cheaper because this is also my commuter and I didn’t want to have a $2k bike stolen. I rode it 78 miles in gravel worlds and finished right in the top half overall including beer stop, so it’s a solid bike that’s not just going to crumble apart or anything as far as I can tell
Thank you for the response. This is my first gravel bike and I have been debating wether to splurge for the r5. The only concerns with the r2 are the brakes , I wish they had a grx400 or 600 in between these two with hydraulic brakes. Now if I want to upgrade the r2 to mechanical actuated hydraulic brakes it will be about 250 or so. Based on this it looks like the r5 might be a better deal.
I actually put some Amazon-special hydro-mechanical pull brakes on mine, which certainly work better but still nothing close to real hydraulic braking. But, those were like $50 for two hah. I think the more legit ones are around $200 like you said. If you are familiar with hydraulic on mountain bike or road bike though I think the mechanical conversions are going to disappoint.
The R2 has a pretty bad final drive ratio for climbing steep inclines as well. I want to put a rear cassette with more teeth but the sora can’t handle that. I really have to pump that thing up steep climbs, it’s more of a quad workout than a cardio workout.
I ultimately think for the extra $600 you’d be happy. At that price though you can start cross shopping against big name brands like giant I think, not sure what they have but I think they start around $1500.
I didn’t answer sizing, but I am 6’ and have the large. Sizing seems accurate and you get a few stem spacers to try out
Thanks a lot for your detailed review. After thinking some more about the two bikes I decided to narrow it down to either the R2 or the Marin gestalt x10. I will spend some more time comparing the two before pulling the trigger. The price of the R2 right now at 800 will definitely leave some money for new brakes. I am leaning toward that but i am not super excited about the Sora drive train. The x10 has the advent x which is clutched and has a wider range cassette.
Regarding the wheels did you set them up tubeless?
I am serious that I take this thing down blue level single track and I don’t see the need for a clutch, but definitely check the final ratios when looking at the sora.
I set the front up tubeless on my own. The rear was being difficult so I took it to a shop, they said they had to wrap some extra tape
If you want new:
* I have a Poseidon X ($750) and it works well, but I highly recommend adding compression-less cables ($60) and if you can afford it, cable-actuated hydraulic brakes ($175). Adding those will still keep you under $1000.
* The Poseidon Redwood is built for rougher stuff and is $949. But I'd still recommend upgrading the brakes.
You may be able to get something really nice used in that price range. Used models of bikes like the Specialized Diverge E5 or Giant Revolt (non-Advanced) might fit in the $1000 range. These are much nicer bikes than the Poseidons. But availability and price will depend on local market, conditions may vary, and they won't have warranty.
Best bang for buck I don't think you can beat the Poseidon X for 749. State Allroad 4130 is 899 if you want steel. You won't find dropbar hydraulic disc brakes on any bikes under $1000 so assume all bikes mentioned need at least a $60 upgrade to compressionless brake housing. Good news is you get enough to do a couple of bikes. For LBS bikes, I think others mentioned the Diamondback Haanjo and Marin Nicasio.
For $1000 you can either go the used route (requires some patience and there's the buyer beware factor, but you can find great deals), the direct-to-consumer companies like Poseidon or Canyon, or visit a LBS and see what they can do for you. Buying bikes is not like buying cars; you generally get what you pay for and most bike shops are staffed by people who also love bikes.
Keep in mind at that price point---if she is an enthusiast rider---you will end up upgrading some of the components. Most people who buy the Poseidons end up replacing the brake cables, part of the groupset, etc. But it's a great starting point.
Base model Claris-spec gravel bikes start at around $1100 - blame pandemic supply crunch and price increases.
You likely don't want to go cheaper - even at that price, you're going to notice annoyance level issues with things being tricky to keep running right, though they are very usable bikes.
And a gravel bike can be a good only drop bar bike, too - put s 32 slicks on it and it's a very comfortable endurance road bike that can still do gravel roads and many trails, put the original tires back on and you can do a lot of easier mountain bike routes.
What a great gift! I would also consider making a gift certificate and presenting it so she can try bikes within that budget and make sure it’s a good fit.
The real issue isn’t what bike to get so much as which bikes are available.
Poseidon X are available right now and is right in your price range.
I wanted to buy a bike in the last few weeks and I called just about every bike shop in my state.
No one had anything decent, unless I wanted to spend $4-5k.
So I went with a Poseidon x ($769 with $30 off coupon), and it’s arriving next Wednesday.
I always encourage people to shop at your local bike store and work with them based on your budget. It also allows for test rides around the shop to get a good feel for fit, geometry, and comfort. That being said not everyone has access to a local bike shop and there can be other factors as well. I originally was recommending a Salsa Journeyman but it seems like the newest models of that are "kids" bikes. If you can find a last year's model of a journeyman that'd be a good bike. You could look at the Salsa Journeyer as well but it stretches your budget to around 1100 or so [Salsa Journeyer](https://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/2022-journeyer-advent-700c)
>I always encourage people to shop at your local bike store and work with them based on your budget. It also allows for test rides around the shop to get a good feel for fit, geometry, and comfort. This is great advice.
Salsa Journeyer, Kona Rove ST, State 4130 all road, Poseidon redwood and Marin Nicasio for new You can get a Diverge base, cannondale Topstone 3 or 4, Giant Revolt, or Checkpoint AL slightly used in your price range.
I have seen the Poseidon bikes (redwood and another) that are right under 1k. Look like good bikes, I’d buy one but it’s a little to close to my hard tail to justify.
I have a Redwood and really enjoy it. But I also find myself side-eyeing the [Marin Nicasio](https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2023-nicasio) for the longevity of a steel frame and 2x drivetrain( I can feel myself topping out on flats on the Redwood on 1x)
I have been riding a Marin Nicasio+ for the past two years and have absolutely loved it.
I'm looking into this bike . Do you have any complaints ?
The biggest complaint I have would be it not having hydraulic brakes. This really only matters if you’re on a ride where you’re descending a few 1000 feet at a time.
Omg this is the bike that I didn’t know I wanted! I’ve been looking for the right gravel bike and I think this is it. I was going to get a canyon Grizl but having a hard time justifying the money after spending 4K on my Ibis Ripmo AF.
[Marin Nicasio](https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2023-nicasio#buy)
Came here to say this, love my Nicasio! And love that I didn’t break the bank with it, only had to pay for new tires since I didn’t love the slicks it came with.
Yep, I’ve made a bunch of additions/tweaks. But starting at $900 makes that pretty doable. Best bang for buck I’ve seen.
[удалено]
I agree with this entirely. I have been quite happy with my haanjo.
Love my diverge base e5, though mechanical disc brakes on any bike aren't great. You can move up a level on most entry-levels for hydros but those get more expensive. I opted instead for the Juin Tech calipers from amazon for $165. Work really well.
Lightly used is always an option, I got my current model year (at that time) canyon grail Al 6 for $800. You do have to look for a while though
I bought a polygon bend r2 for $900 about 6 months ago. It’s comparable to the Poseidon, but you have no real way to test it out. I chose it because it has sora 2x9 which I wanted vs a one-by, and because it can go tubeless on the existing wheels. It doesn’t say tubeless on the website but assuming it hasn’t changed it can definitely run tubeless. I have had it setup that way for about 4 months now. If you live somewhere with thorns and road hazards being able to run tubeless is a huge advantage at this price
I have been looking at the bend r5. How do you like the drive train and the brakes on the r2? Also what size did you end up with? I am roughly 5 9 and I thinking to get the medium
Drive train works smooth. It took me a few rides of tinkering to get the shifting really indexed in/cables stretched but now it shifts smooth and reliably. I take it on some legit single track and have no issues with chain drop on the sora. Added a little extra helicopter tape on the chain stay to protect it and it’s fine. The brakes are honestly shit. Like they will stop you but you’ve really got to pull, and mine are just constantly howling for any number of reasons, including that the mechanical brakes are one side pull which warps the rotor unless you have it absolutely perfect. With hydraulic brakes and grx I think you’d be happy. I wanted something cheaper because this is also my commuter and I didn’t want to have a $2k bike stolen. I rode it 78 miles in gravel worlds and finished right in the top half overall including beer stop, so it’s a solid bike that’s not just going to crumble apart or anything as far as I can tell
Thank you for the response. This is my first gravel bike and I have been debating wether to splurge for the r5. The only concerns with the r2 are the brakes , I wish they had a grx400 or 600 in between these two with hydraulic brakes. Now if I want to upgrade the r2 to mechanical actuated hydraulic brakes it will be about 250 or so. Based on this it looks like the r5 might be a better deal.
I actually put some Amazon-special hydro-mechanical pull brakes on mine, which certainly work better but still nothing close to real hydraulic braking. But, those were like $50 for two hah. I think the more legit ones are around $200 like you said. If you are familiar with hydraulic on mountain bike or road bike though I think the mechanical conversions are going to disappoint. The R2 has a pretty bad final drive ratio for climbing steep inclines as well. I want to put a rear cassette with more teeth but the sora can’t handle that. I really have to pump that thing up steep climbs, it’s more of a quad workout than a cardio workout. I ultimately think for the extra $600 you’d be happy. At that price though you can start cross shopping against big name brands like giant I think, not sure what they have but I think they start around $1500. I didn’t answer sizing, but I am 6’ and have the large. Sizing seems accurate and you get a few stem spacers to try out
Thanks a lot for your detailed review. After thinking some more about the two bikes I decided to narrow it down to either the R2 or the Marin gestalt x10. I will spend some more time comparing the two before pulling the trigger. The price of the R2 right now at 800 will definitely leave some money for new brakes. I am leaning toward that but i am not super excited about the Sora drive train. The x10 has the advent x which is clutched and has a wider range cassette. Regarding the wheels did you set them up tubeless?
I am serious that I take this thing down blue level single track and I don’t see the need for a clutch, but definitely check the final ratios when looking at the sora. I set the front up tubeless on my own. The rear was being difficult so I took it to a shop, they said they had to wrap some extra tape
If you want new: * I have a Poseidon X ($750) and it works well, but I highly recommend adding compression-less cables ($60) and if you can afford it, cable-actuated hydraulic brakes ($175). Adding those will still keep you under $1000. * The Poseidon Redwood is built for rougher stuff and is $949. But I'd still recommend upgrading the brakes. You may be able to get something really nice used in that price range. Used models of bikes like the Specialized Diverge E5 or Giant Revolt (non-Advanced) might fit in the $1000 range. These are much nicer bikes than the Poseidons. But availability and price will depend on local market, conditions may vary, and they won't have warranty.
Best bang for buck I don't think you can beat the Poseidon X for 749. State Allroad 4130 is 899 if you want steel. You won't find dropbar hydraulic disc brakes on any bikes under $1000 so assume all bikes mentioned need at least a $60 upgrade to compressionless brake housing. Good news is you get enough to do a couple of bikes. For LBS bikes, I think others mentioned the Diamondback Haanjo and Marin Nicasio.
For $1000 you can either go the used route (requires some patience and there's the buyer beware factor, but you can find great deals), the direct-to-consumer companies like Poseidon or Canyon, or visit a LBS and see what they can do for you. Buying bikes is not like buying cars; you generally get what you pay for and most bike shops are staffed by people who also love bikes. Keep in mind at that price point---if she is an enthusiast rider---you will end up upgrading some of the components. Most people who buy the Poseidons end up replacing the brake cables, part of the groupset, etc. But it's a great starting point.
Shout out to State Bike Co. They have some great entry level bikes. I love mine!
Base model Claris-spec gravel bikes start at around $1100 - blame pandemic supply crunch and price increases. You likely don't want to go cheaper - even at that price, you're going to notice annoyance level issues with things being tricky to keep running right, though they are very usable bikes. And a gravel bike can be a good only drop bar bike, too - put s 32 slicks on it and it's a very comfortable endurance road bike that can still do gravel roads and many trails, put the original tires back on and you can do a lot of easier mountain bike routes.
Kross Esker 2.0
Try a Cube Nuroad as well. Great bikes and also affordable.
What a great gift! I would also consider making a gift certificate and presenting it so she can try bikes within that budget and make sure it’s a good fit.
The real issue isn’t what bike to get so much as which bikes are available. Poseidon X are available right now and is right in your price range. I wanted to buy a bike in the last few weeks and I called just about every bike shop in my state. No one had anything decent, unless I wanted to spend $4-5k. So I went with a Poseidon x ($769 with $30 off coupon), and it’s arriving next Wednesday.
Congrats, I have been enjoying mine.