It is a well-worn joke among cyclists that the ideal number of bikes to own equals n + 1, where (n) is the number of cycles you already possess. However, a new category of bike has arrived in the shops that threatens to disprove that equation. The new genre is known as the adventure bike and for a few pounds more it promises to be the only bike you need. You’ve guessed it: the textbooks about the right number of bikes to own may have to be rewritten.
The adventure bike should be capable of shuttling you to work, carrying you on countryside bridleways and transporting you over long distances for sponsorship money. Granted, many bikes could do all these things but the adventure bike should convey you with less effort and fewer mishaps.
The adventure bike recipe should include all or most of the following ingredients:
1. Tyres with a little bit of grip that are at least 27mm wide, to cushion you from bumpy terrain and give you traction on the soft stuff
2. Disc brakes to stop you promptly in all conditions, including mud.
3. Relaxed frame geometry that’s gentle on your lower back and shoulders.
4. Eyelets for fixing mudguards and maybe some panniers, too.
Optional ingredients include: fixings for a third water bottle; a top tube that is cable-free and flattened for easier shouldering over obstacles; and thru-axles to keep the wheels firmly in place.
Here we put six examples through their gears…
Raleigh Roker Pro
Carbon, 8.5kg, £2,000
This bike’s winning feature is its Sram Rival 1X gearset. This dispenses with a front derailleur, which saves weight, ends chain rub and drop and simplifies gear changing and maintenance. Occasionally, I felt like I needed a higher or lower gear but this can also happen with a double chainring. The accompanying Sram hydraulic brakes offer great power and modulation. The 35mm Schwalbe Gravel 1 tyres soak up bumps and have enough grip for most off-road surfaces. In addition to the excellent components, the bike feels well put together – there were no unexplained noises and no mechanical tune-ups were needed to keep it going. Plus the top tube is a hand-friendly flattened shape for when you have to lug it over footbridges and stiles. Pretty light too.
Verdict
A winner. Will deal with pretty much anything you throw at it.
Genesis Datum 10
Carbon, 9.38kg, £1,800
Probably the best looking bike here, with an eye-catching metallic red paint job that includes jacquard detailing on the inside of the forks. It was a joy to ride, especially in the city, where its 33mm tyres were adept for rolling around corners and the TRP semi-hydraulic brakes could be relied on to bring you to an abrupt stop when needed – although they don’t offer the same level of modulation as the full hydraulic sets on some of the other bikes tested. The Shimano Tiagra gears are solid and reliable, and easy to adjust if required. Off-road the carbon frame and chunky rubber did an efficient job of smoothing out the jolts. The frame has fittings for three water bottles for long expeditions, mounts for full mudguards and the wheels are attached with a traditional quick release at the rear and a thru axel at the front.
Verdict
Great handling, great looking; other Datum models have better brakes.
Planet X On-One Pickenflick
Titanium, 9.24kg, £1,600
We called Planet X and asked for an “On-One Bish Bash Bosh” but instead of laughing and putting the phone down they pointed out that our colleagues at the Guardian were reviewing that bike so they sent a On-One Pickenflick our way instead. The Pickenflick frame is titanium – and although £1,600 is a lot of money, it’s cheap for a titanium bike – models from other brands retail for around twice that amount. Aside from being indestructible, titanium has a following amongst riders for it’s relative lightness, plush ride quality and aerospace-y looks.
The model we were sent was equipped with a Sram Force gears and hydraulic brake set-up, with a compact chainset that would more likely be found on a road bike, and the kind of knobbly tyres normally found on a cyclocross bike. It was definitely at home churning through the mud – I took it on a couple of cyclocross rides and discovered a love of messing around in the mire. It performed well on gravel too, buffeting my shoulders from the worst of the jolts. Climbing hills on the road was more of a struggle: cyclocross tyres don’t gain sufficient purchase on smoother surfaces.
Planet X produce other versions of the Pickenflick with gearing more suited to mud and gravel. If you were after a bike for cyclocross or the kind of gravel routes that are becoming increasingly popular it would be an astute, value-for-money option.
Verdict
Fantastic bike for muddy trails, muddy paths… basically anything involving mud.
Mason Resolution Ultegra Di2 Hydro
Steel, 9.17kg, £4,200
Mason is a relatively new bike company, based in Brighton, which, in a short space of time, has been picking up awards and plaudits for its “four seasons” frame which is available in aluminium (called the Definition) or steel (the Resolution, as shown here).
Although it doesn’t tick all of the adventure bike boxes (you can squeeze 32mm tyres on but only if they don’t have too much tread) Josh Ibbett won the 2015 Transcontinental Race on a Definition. The TCR is a ride of around 4,300km from Geraardsbergen, Belgium to Istanbul, Turkey. Riders make their own route and the ride is totally unsupported – ie everything you need should be strapped to your bike. Which certainly qualifies as an adventure, hence the bike’s inclusion here.
The bike’s designer Dom Mason has created a beautiful, thoughtful piece of British engineering. Mason has integrated many of the features of modern carbon bikes, such as internal cable routing and a large D-section downtube, into a frame made from top-of-the line Columbus steel. And where other bike builders might stop designing at the frame and complete the bike with off-the-shelf components, Mason has designed his own carbon fork and collaborated with British wheel company Hunt to produce his own wheelset for the demands of year-round riding in all weathers. This dedication to detail pays off – the bike feels incredibly well-balanced on the road and it sails over long distances, convincing you that you’ve got many more miles left in your legs.
This Resolution came equipped with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes which offer confidence-making powerful stopping power and great modulation for taking corners and the like. It also featured Shimano’s Di2 electronic shifting – anathema to mechanical purists – but they never miss a beat and the whirring sound of the front derailleur changing is a joy.
Verdict
A supreme road bike for all conditions; but only go off-road if you’re relaxed about chipping the lovely paintwork.
Jamis Renegade Expat
Steel, 11.24kg, £805 (sale price)
This is a tank of a cycle – its weight is in the realms of a typical hybrid bike. This makes it fine for cruising on tarmac but compared to the other lighter bikes here you might find the extra kilos less welcome on hills. Let a few puffs of air out of the 35mm tyres and it’s great for ploughing along bridle paths too – and if the terrain is really juddery you could even fit a more voluminous 40mm tyre. The bike’s geometry is so relaxed and upright you almost feel like you’re standing rather than sitting on it.
It comes with the same Shimano Tiagra gears as the Genesis but with TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. Although these don’t perform as well as the pricier hydraulic models they are still way more reliable than rim brakes – especially when you’re not riding perfectly dry roads.
Verdict
For riders who like to meander in comfort rather than smash personal bests.
Marin Gestalt 1
Aluminium, 10.06kg, £800
This does the basics well. The Shimano Sora gears aren’t the smoothest but do the job – do you really need more than 18 gears? The 30mm Schwalbe gravel tyres are wide and grippy enough for most conditions – do you really need more than 30mm of rubber? And the Tektro mechanical disc brakes won’t let you down – and demonstrate all the benefits of discs. (One of the side-benefits of this is that you feel more confident riding one-handed – since you know you’ll be able to slow or stop using one finger – and can be generous with your hand signals, rather than employing a hasty flick of the hand to alert other road users to your intentions.)
Although aluminium has a reputation for producing a harsher ride quality than other materials, this bike didn’t cause any lingering aches and pains post-ride.
All the cabling is neatly tucked away within the frame’s tubes giving it a neat appearance and one less place for mud and grime to collect. It also features mudguard and rack mounts, to keep you clean and supplied, whether for trips to work or longer expeditions to offbeat destinations.
Verdict
Good choice for the commuter who wants to get off the beaten track.
How the bikes were tried and tested
All the bikes were ridden a number of times over a selection of different types of terrain: long tarmac rides of 100km or more; the Downs Link gravel ride between Guildford and Brighton; cyclocross rides; bridle path routes and city commutes.
Brake breakdown: why disc brakes?
The main advantage of disc brakes over rim brakes is that their performance shouldn’t be compromised by wet weather or mud. They come in three types (in ascending order of expense): mechanical, hybrid and hydraulic. Mechanical work much like rim brakes do and they will probably require adjustment as the cables stretch. With hydraulics, the cables are filled with fluid that should ensure smoother braking and they tend to self-adjust. With hybrid, the fluid is stored on the fork with a wire cable running from the lever.
Other kit: bike bits you might need for your adventures
Fabric C02 inflator, £20
Punctures are inevitable but this stylish gadget means no more pumping by hand.
Rapha brevet jersey, £130; touring shorts, £80
Top features reflective stripes and lots of pockets. These light, breathable shorts are great alternative to more revealing fabrics (modelled in the main picture, above).
POC Octal AVIP MIPS helmet, £275
Lightweight and hi-vis with a “multidirectional impact protection system” for your head.
Restrap frame and saddlebags, £59/£99
Tough storage handmade in Yorkshire from military-grade Cordura. Employs a very clever system of Velcro and buckles to remain very securely attached to your bike frame (as seen on the Raleigh in the main picture, above).
Wahoo Elemnt satnav, £280
Stop getting lost with this satnav for your handlebars.
Oakley EVZero sunglasses, £130
Large lenses to keep debris away from your eyes and enhance your vision on hazy days.
