New allroad/gravel bike

Yeah I've looked at Raleigh, Ridley, Jamis, GT but harder to find for me. It's hard to see good prices online in USA but for me, it's not an option. I'm in Canada and due to some warranty experience in the past, I want to buy from a LBS. I have many of them in my town but some make are harder to find if not impossible...

I think I will use the bike 80% road and 20% gravel and maybe not for long gravel ride (like centuries) so cyclocross geo should work ok? Maybe more snapier/reactive than more pure gravel oriented bike?

How about a Specialized Diverge.  They do have some limitations but overall are very nice bikes.  The carbon ones are very nice and I've heard good things about the Smartweld aluminum versions too.  They lean a bit toward the road side w/short chain stays and endurance road geometry but do well in the dirt too.  They are pretty much limited to about 35c tires, maybe a 38c in front, and also have an almost proprietary SCS hub system.  So do some research before you buy.

The Diverge was designed exactly for those who want to do 80% road 20% off road. I selected it because I wanted an all purpose bike that was reasonably fast on the road for what I could afford, I had a $1500 cap. I thought the Smartweld was the best value at the price point. I've spent a few days on the Carbon and thought it was the best bike I've ever ridden, I just couldn't afford that much.

The other reason I went with the Diverge is because Specialized LBSs are everywhere. I wanted a bike with a strong dealer network. \n \nTire size is an issue if you want big, aggressive tires. I know someone who put compass 38's on their bike. It's the largest road tire compass makes and they just fit. For me that's plenty and thus not an issue.

Really nice bike Walt. I will have to throw a leg over a few bikes (including a Diverge) when I'm ready to make a purchase. Right now, I'm shopping for fun on the web looking at reviews, geo charts and promotionnal videos!! Not the best way to make a decision! I'm more into mountain biking so my Tricross is the only "road" bike tat I've own. I need to have a bigger sample to really know what will suit my need.

I have a natural tendancy to look at smaller cies offering (probably all QBP anyway!) to have a bike different than the guy next door... It has some drawbacks like actually testing a bike before purchase...

Lewis, NP, I shopped for over a year. Drove a few LBSs a little crazy. Diverge's were hard to find.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=SeMetnOdd7Q \n \nA video of the Diverge on different terrain.

Nice edit!

Great Video.  Perfect example of why Gravel Bikes are great.  No need for pavement.

I liked that video too - and have forwarded it to my friends w/a Diverge.

There's a lot of them on the Diverge Facebook page: \n \nhttps://www.facebook.com/SpecializedDiverge/ \n

 
Finally, I've decided to do some upgrade on my tricross. If I ride a lot (I'm mostly a mountain biker), I'll eventually get a new bike (carbon, disc, thru-axle, etc). Right now, can$ is killing us so new bike (parts as well) are really expensive.

Here's a quick list of what I did:
-New TRP Cx 8.4 mini-vee-brake (tektro al926 were rubbing on the fork)
-New cables/housing
-Absolute Black CX NW ring
-11-32 cassette
-Fulcrum racing 5 CX wheelset
-New bar tape (not so sure about the camouflage design!)
-From my spare parts: saddle, thompson X4 stem (taken from my fatbike)
-35c tires (continental cyclocross speed)
-Shimano CB-90 to help remove the wheel with mini-vee-brakes

I think it is now a decent do it all road/gravel bike. I think I'll keep it for city/commute even if I get a pricier bike eventually.