Hi, I don't know much about gravel cycling and I was wondering if thus bike is worth it. It's a 2014 Trek Boone 5 for cyclocross and gravel cycling for $500
Ehh, that’s a dedicated cross bike. It has a steep steerer and won’t clear big tires. If you’re racing CX it’s great. It’ll be a twitchy, top heavy gravel bike tho
UserM16 on
I would find a disc brake bike.
MikuMiiku on
I have a 2017 boone with rim brakes, looks like the frame is the same / similar. I ride/race gravel with it, really fast and rim brakes means it’s easy to get it as light as any current modern race bike. That said if you have never ridden a race oriented bike it’s not really the most forgiving geometry.
It is a good deal if you think it will work for you.
csmdds on
Assuming the frame fits you and is in good condition, yes. I use my CX bike for lots of gravel riding. The geometry is often a little less relaxed than a dedicated, current-day gravel bike, but likely you would not notice any real difference. $500 is a good entry level expenditure, especially we consider that the current model retails for $4000.
The carbon cantilever brakes alone cost about $300 for the set and are much easier than hydraulic discs to keep well-tuned. Unless you are doing a lot of mountainous riding, the cantis are just fine. SRAM gearing is a solid choice and the wheelset seems is a little older, but they are reasonably robust.
Remember you will need to buy some decent cycling shoes if you don’t already have some. I think MTB shoes are best for gravel and CX. Plan on this being a fairly well-worn drivetrain, but unless it doesn’t shift properly you can update/upgrade that as you go.
AndiCrow on
No. Used bikes are lucky to get more than $100.
drewbaccaAWD on
If it’s in good shape, no issues, and fit me… I’d buy it for that without a second thought. The biggest negative is that standards have changed a bit, newer bikes will give you more tire clearance, disc brakes, etc. but then you’re paying six or eight times that for something that is only marginally better.
I’m running the TRP Revox on my touring bike, they’re good brakes. If you don’t need extra wide gravel tire clearance or hydraulic brakes, it’s a good choice.
guidedhand on
looks like someone stuck a 1x chainring on it without updating the cassette to one with large range. This will succccck at climbing.
Subtract the cost of new hoods, derailer and cassette from the selling price, because you’ll probably end up needing to/wanting to replace those.
8 Comments
Yes
Ehh, that’s a dedicated cross bike. It has a steep steerer and won’t clear big tires. If you’re racing CX it’s great. It’ll be a twitchy, top heavy gravel bike tho
I would find a disc brake bike.
I have a 2017 boone with rim brakes, looks like the frame is the same / similar. I ride/race gravel with it, really fast and rim brakes means it’s easy to get it as light as any current modern race bike. That said if you have never ridden a race oriented bike it’s not really the most forgiving geometry.
It is a good deal if you think it will work for you.
Assuming the frame fits you and is in good condition, yes. I use my CX bike for lots of gravel riding. The geometry is often a little less relaxed than a dedicated, current-day gravel bike, but likely you would not notice any real difference. $500 is a good entry level expenditure, especially we consider that the current model retails for $4000.
The carbon cantilever brakes alone cost about $300 for the set and are much easier than hydraulic discs to keep well-tuned. Unless you are doing a lot of mountainous riding, the cantis are just fine. SRAM gearing is a solid choice and the wheelset seems is a little older, but they are reasonably robust.
Remember you will need to buy some decent cycling shoes if you don’t already have some. I think MTB shoes are best for gravel and CX. Plan on this being a fairly well-worn drivetrain, but unless it doesn’t shift properly you can update/upgrade that as you go.
No. Used bikes are lucky to get more than $100.
If it’s in good shape, no issues, and fit me… I’d buy it for that without a second thought. The biggest negative is that standards have changed a bit, newer bikes will give you more tire clearance, disc brakes, etc. but then you’re paying six or eight times that for something that is only marginally better.
I’m running the TRP Revox on my touring bike, they’re good brakes. If you don’t need extra wide gravel tire clearance or hydraulic brakes, it’s a good choice.
looks like someone stuck a 1x chainring on it without updating the cassette to one with large range. This will succccck at climbing.
Subtract the cost of new hoods, derailer and cassette from the selling price, because you’ll probably end up needing to/wanting to replace those.