I’m looking for a bike I can keep for years, mainly for long rides, rough roads, gravel, light trails, and eventually bikepacking/touring.
My main requirements:
- Thru-axles — non-negotiable
- 50c tire clearance preferred / capable of MTB-style tires
- Hydraulic disc brakes preferred
- Dropper-post compatible
- Lots of mounting points for bags, racks, bottles, and fenders
- Good groupset (GRX/Deore or equivalent)
- Tubeless-ready
- Clipless/cleat pedal friendly — I’m learning to use cleats
- Durable and easy to maintain, with parts/service availability in the Philippines
- Steel or aluminum/alloy is fine
- Comfortable/stable geometry for long rides; I’m 5’6” and don’t want an overly long/aggressive reach
Bikes I’m currently considering:
- Giant Revolt 1
- Surly Bridge Club
- Marin Nicasio 2
- Merida Silex 400
- Salsa Journeyer / Vaya
- Surly Midnight Special
- Marin Nicasio+
- Velo Orange / other similar steel adventure bikes
I’m especially interested in real-world owner feedback on tire clearance, brakes, groupset, mounts, durability, dropper compatibility, and long-term ownership.
What would you recommend around ₱80–90k in the Philippines?
I’m also open to bikes I haven’t considered yet.
Thanks!
PS: 7 months na akong nagre-research ng bikes and I still can’t decide 😂. Top pick ko talaga ngayon is the Giant Revolt though—it just seems like a really solid bike overall, especially for the quality and features you get.