![]() That’s not a practical problem, since fenders don’t suit rugged off-road use anyhow. The stock 650b x 47mm tires are at the upper limit of tire clearance, so you’d need to drop to 42mm for fenders. The 44t x 18t gearing gives about 65″, which I find great for town but a bit stiff for hillier trails. It uses the same sliding dropouts as a few of its geared siblings, so derailleur installation is simple (if desired). Think Cross-Check or Straggler, but a little steadier over rocks and roots. As one of the few bikes on this list that I was able to personally test-ride, I can attest that it’s mellow but nimble feel. In standard All-City fashion, it’s a chromoly steel frame and fork. (Speaking of jargon, at least their website is blessedly free of the word “downcountry.” You know, trail bikes, but brandable!) I still don’t know exactly what an “urban cross machine” is, but apparently that was All-City’s vision for the Super Professional Single Speed. All-City Super Professional Single Speed ( $1599) Salsa claims 21 lbs for the 56cm version, which is reasonable for a mid-priced aluminum gravel racer. The TRP Spyre-C mechanical discs aren’t impressive at this price point, but they do indeed work well, and are easily one of the better mechanical sets I’ve tried.Ĭhainstay length is adjustable from 435mm-450mm, which I consider the sweet spot for a drop-bar bike that’ll see significant dirt. And if you ever regret your single-speed decision, you can buy a little dropout accessories to accommodate a derailleur for a 1x drivetrain. The dual cogs yield gearing of about 62″ and 59″, respectively, based on the stock 700c x 42mm tires. Gearing is 38t front x 17t and 18t rear, tensioned by sliding dropouts. Tire clearance is a solid 700c x 47mm with fenders, so all that air volume will also soak up quite a bit of buzzing and bumps. In my mind, aluminum + gravel = Vibration City…but they’ve engineered some vertical flex into the chainstays and seatstays to help take the edge off. Typical of mid-priced, race-oriented bikes, it uses an aluminum frame and carbon fork to keep weight in check. Salsa has deep roots in all things not-exactly-road biking, so their Stormchaser was a fitting addition to the line. As a member of programs including Amazon Associates, I earn from qualifying purchases. This article might contain affiliate links. They aren’t always labeled “gravel” or “CX” but they’re functionally similar. I’ve also included a few flat-bar models that serve similar purposes but with more upright, neck-friendly posture. From a recreational rider’s perspective, they accomplish most of the same things for the same terrain. Why include gravel and cyclocross? Simple: there’s a thin and blurry line between them. The events of the last couple years threw the bicycle supply chain for an unprecedented loop, so no promises on availability. To that end, I’ve rounded up just about every production gravel and cyclocross single-speed on the planet as of 2022. We’ll eventually tweak and modify and upgrade endlessly in a vain pursuit of cycling nirvana. ![]() And virtually any frame can get the single-speed treatment with the help of a chain tensioner.īut when possible, it’s nice to pick up something that’s ready to roll, no tweaking needed. Heaps of frames are great candidates for a rugged, drop-bar, single-speed build. Unfortunately, these bikes are extremely uncommon off the rack. Single-speed gravel biking isn’t everybody’s cup of tea.īut for some us, ditching the derailleur is the ticket to lower maintenance, all-conditions performance, and-not to get too metaphysical here-even a certain purity and simplicity that adds to the appeal of gravel bikes.
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