Best Value Carbon Gravel Bike under $3K?! (Propain Terrel CF review)

[@bjorne46]

Finally, the first actual review of this bike! Been waiting for this one.

[@bjorne46]

As for the handlebars being to narrow to your taste, you can configure it up to 46cm, the same as the ritchey you proposed. (I opted for the 46 on my own) Also; how did you find the saddle? I found the surface to be a bit too grippy.

[@davidarthur]

Sadly the online configurator doesn't allow you to change the components, just colours and decal options. Found the saddle more comfortable than it looks, didn't really notice it being too grippy I have to say

[@Alex-wl1je]

​@davidarthur really? I've just had a look and you seem to be able to change components

[@davidarthur]

@@Alex-wl1je Ah yes you're right, so I was selecting the base build first but it doesn't give you any options, you have to select individual first and then you get some limited options. I should have read the small print!

[@nilsverbeeck732]

@@davidarthuryes it does😅 I chose every component on the bike…

[@hansolo1508]

I've been riding this bike for more than 4 months in southern Spain. I ordered it with the Selle Italia SRL saddle which I find quite comfortable. The first big upgrade needed for my riding was the wheels, specially in hard hard steep rocky climbs, the 20 degree hub engagement for the rear hub, doesn't feel great. Now I find the bike fast, responsive and I think is the best do it all bike I ever had!

[@ewanmackenzie6777]

Awesome David, Thank you so much for doing this unbiased review, gives me a lot of food for thought, Very much appreciated. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and lots of biking in the New Year!

[@davidarthur]

Glad it was helpful!

[@georgekrpan3181]

I just got a gravel/adventure bike with a DROPPER, 700x50 tires, and wide flared handlebar, Ritchey Beacon, MUCH better than the VentureMax. I wasn't looking to buy a new gravel bike but the dropper enticed me. What I like best about the dropper is raising the saddle to full height for full power when returning to the road.

[@Paula-2000]

Fahre seit 4 Monaten das Terrel GRX 1by mit Carbon Laufrädern auf 50mm Reifen. Natürlich in Orange. Besitze auch Canyon Grizl und Rose Backroad aus Carbon. Das PROPAIN ist eindeutig mein Favorit. Grüße Paul

[@N0BIgDEal]

Hast Du die DT swiss oder NewMen Laufraeder?

[@bitgeist21]

I love the geometry!

[@thsaintful]

The most anticipated review of the year for me :) Thanks David!!! Judging by the website and the specs, I had hoped it was a faster allround gravel bike. From your review i conclude it's more like the Mondraker and therefore a drop-bar MTB. As I allready have plenty of MTB's, I will look for a bit more mild gravel focused, faster option. Difficult with the things i want in a bike: UDH, 45mm clearance at least, comfortable frame design (vibration dampening and not-too agressive position), relatively light, preferably in-frame storage, 2 piece handlebars, so only semi integrated cabling, threaded BB and wireless SRAM.

[@davidarthur]

Just described the latest Crux there 😜

[@thsaintful]

@@davidarthur If only those weren't so overpriced 😇(6k for the expert which is the cheapest that ticks all my boxes). and tbh, I dont like round tube profiles and the paint scheme they come in. Currently looking at the new Cervelo Aspero. Heavier than the Crux, but that Rival Apex they have with reserve carbon wheelset looks like a relatively good deal.

[@igadokenpancit7410]

Sounds like Specialized Diverge

[@andydodds6396]

Great review, been waiting for this one. Any chance of a Lauf Seigla rigid review, similar price point?

[@davidarthur]

Thanks. I have asked Lauf in the past but didn't get anywhere, but I'll try again in 2025 - it sure looks an interesting bike

[@leerichy6489]

Interesting review, I wonder if the drain holes just fill up with mud. So the upgrades....a mountain bike tyre.....a mountain bike front fork.....maybe a mountain bike bar and stem ....see where it's going? Love my road bikes, love my xc race bikes.

[@carltonholmes8061]

Yep,getting more and more like a 30yr old mountain bike. I’ll have to dig my old one out again. 🤣🤣

[@YannickLB]

To say it's not a race gravelbike while it has nearly the exact geo as Keegan's Santa cruz Stigmata, but lighter, is strange to me, since he's winning almost every race xD You just have to go 1 or 2 sizes down and build it up with a longer stem etc.

[@bikeherb]

Exactly my thoughts. I compared it on bikeinsights with the Crux and the Terrel S is almost the same as the Crux 56 cm. Except for that the Terrel has more top tube slope. it is not much different that the Enve MOG either... Just stem and spacers need to be changed depending on what you want to ride...

[@dcv9460]

AWESOME BIKE! 😎💯👍

[@DarrellSharpe-i5b]

Happened to have a ride on a Terrel with the optional Newmen carbon wheels only last week. I was on road and compacted gravel. I am not looking at out and out racing and I found the bike very comfortable and had a lot fun. I am guessing the wheels I used would make the bike quicker off the mark and livelier than the one tested. The carbon wheels add £450 (I think cheaper than trying to swap out later) although I couldn’t find any reviews for them online.

[@K9Manhunters]

Thanks for the review! I admire your skills, I wouldn‘t ride my gravel bike there. I think I‘ll stick to my XC Hardtail for this stuff. But great bike and very nice to look at, especially in orange.

[@N0BIgDEal]

I'm thinking of getting this bike and adding the reverb dropper to it, SRAM APEX GX T-AXS & the NewMen advanced G.34 ; Have you tested the NewMen rims, I wonder how those are. Thanks for the great review!

[@JC-pm5sh]

Plz review the model with suspension fork. 🙏🙌🙏🙌

[@igadokenpancit7410]

Patienly wating for year end sale on their Frame only.🥶🥶🥶 @David Arthur Did you forget their Frame only? Or misses the video?😅

[@adriansmith38]

On-One Free Ranger with GRX ?

[@dominicfree7517]

The Oreo Terra C 105 di2 is a gravel bike and under £200??

[@Chris-my9id]

Could you compare it with the new Boardman gravel bike please, its even cheaper! Thank you

[@jazzfan7491]

Nice bike. Seems to compare well to my Lauf Seigla.

[@davideca3402]

Similar canyon grizl or more slow?

[@tedmanner1086]

Nice bike if you’re into carbon. Commencal 365 (Al frame and fork) at $1800 USD is a better deal in my opinion. Absolutely rips with Schawlbe G-One RS 45mm tires on pavement. Floats on gravel. Rough on single track but that’s expected on a rigid.

[@czechian]

It isn't the only carbon gravel under 3000. I bought Scott Addict Gravel with electronic shifting for 2850 EUR. You can buy it even cheaper now.

[@mortlow6688]

I think at the end a good metal frame is much better than cheap carbon …

[@MAGAmaniac1000]

The geometry of this bike is for knarly trails. I would be hesitant to ride this bike on the road with a change of wheels. I feel descending a twisting downhill would be like driving a dump truck.

[@radovanlozej6740]

Cube Nuroad Pro 2025 is even a better deal I think, fully carbon, lighter, cheaper

[@pipi1485]

Hands down, this is a better canyon grizl

[@Thomas-fk6ep]

Hank Hill approves this bike.

[@frienduro24]

Not a fan of the stand over. The med is 820 and the large is 843

[@pxldgn7129]

basically, it has a road bike geometry with a sluggish steering (very long reach with slack head tube angle and long wheelbase) - to put it simply, it brings the worst of the two categories the reason behind this that this is like a drop bar slapped on a rigid fork MTB - the result: extremely long (because of the additional reach coming from the handlebar) reach, with a road bike reach / stack ratio of 0.69 I presume that the designer forgot that it will come with a drop bar, and it was too late to fix this mistake

[@YaniofWigan]

Shocking positioning of the rear mudguard!

[@davidarthur]

you're welcome to position yours however you want ;)

[@cityslacker6221]

Look again at where the back of the guard falls in line with the back of the seat. It’s perfectly inline to block splash back

[@YaniofWigan]

My pleasure

[@henrie6782]

That water in the frame probably gets in at the top of the headset, where the shift cable and rear brake hose is entering the headset. Any water on the cable/hose glides down the cable/hose, and into the frame. Rubbish design. It's better to have it fully integrated, including the handle bar. Or not integrated at all...

[@windy415]

Bargain?

[@darrinschwarz7446]

That saddle is terrible.