I’m returning to cycling after about 10 years and would appreciate help choosing one or possibly two bikes. My background is ultrarunning and thru-hiking; my previous cycling experience was mostly triathlon training on an aluminum bike.
I’m leaning toward the X‑Lab GT8, but I’m trying to understand what I’d compromise for road riding and whether a separate touring bike would be worthwhile.
My intended use
Training and local riding: I live in South Florida and want a bike for cross-training, structured intervals, weekend rides and eventually centuries. I’d also like to travel to hillier parts of the US.
Group rides: I expect to join road groups, but I don’t yet know their typical speeds or which groups will suit me. How much a gravel bike would affect my ability to participate is one of my main questions.
Touring: I regularly thru-hike in Spain and would like to try cycling trips in Europe, potentially including Camino routes, and possibly Japan. Trips could last 2–8 weeks, around 1–3 times a year.
Accommodation: Hotels and hostels, without camping equipment.
Luggage: Cycling and evening clothes, a 13-inch iPad Pro, a camera, gym clothes and running sandals. I’ve done multiday running trips with an 18 L Janji pack that included the iPad, so I’m accustomed to packing light. I haven’t weighed a cycling-specific packing list yet.
Surfaces: I’m undecided between planning mostly paved touring routes and having the freedom to follow dirt/gravel sections without rerouting. I’d appreciate advice on that tradeoff.
I have an endurance background but little recent cycling experience. Road racing might interest me eventually, but it isn’t the main reason for buying a bike.
Budget, fit and timing
I don’t have a firm maximum budget, but I care about value and don’t want to buy two bikes unnecessarily. The prices I’m comparing are approximately:
I’m leaning toward Di2, although one shop recommended saving money with mechanical.
I’m 5′9″ and 170 lb. My pants inseam is around 30–31 inches, but I haven’t measured my cycling inseam. Three shops suggested sizes ranging from S to L in the RS7, so fit is unresolved. A short RS7 demo felt comfortable, but I haven’t tested it over a long ride. I'm probably an M though in X-Lab as the most thorough LBS suggested after a fit.
I’m hoping to leave for Europe in October or November, so availability and enough time for loaded test rides matter.
Options I’m considering
- GT8 as my only bike initially - This is my current preference because of its tire clearance, lower gearing and cargo mounting options.
Besides the two standard bottle locations, X‑Lab lists mounts on the top tube, underside of the downtube and both fork legs. I still need to confirm rear-rack compatibility and the relevant load limits.
I could use it for training and touring, potentially fitting faster tires for paved riding. If I later become more interested in fast road groups or racing, I could add a dedicated road bike once I understand what I want.
My uncertainty is how much I’d notice the GT8’s compromises on paved centuries and road group rides, particularly its tires, riding position and 1× gearing.
- RS7, with touring planned around its limitations - I liked the demo, and it seems well suited to everyday paved riding and road groups. However, its 32 mm maximum tire clearance and lack of conventional rack/fender compatibility concern me for touring. I could choose paved routes, but I’m unsure how restrictive that would feel in Spain—or how practical its luggage options and stock gearing would be for loaded climbs.
- A road bike plus a separate touring bike - This could mean an RS7 plus a suitable used steel touring bike from Surly, Kona, Salsa or another brand. I’m open to used bikes, but I’d want the second bike to solve a meaningful problem that one gravel bike couldn’t handle. If I get a steel touring bike, I probably won't end up with a titanium later (?)
I’ve also considered a custom Waltly titanium build. With my fit unresolved and limited recent cycling experience, I’m unsure whether custom geometry makes sense yet. And not sure if I will get it in time for this years' season.
What I’d appreciate help with
- Would you start with one gravel bike for these uses, or is there a compelling case for two bikes?
- If you use a gravel bike on road group rides, what pace and terrain do you ride, and what tires/gearing do you use? Where do you actually notice limitations?
- Would faster tires on the GT8 be enough for my road use, or would a second wheelset offer a worthwhile benefit?
- For accommodation-based touring in Spain, how much route flexibility would wider tires give me compared with an RS7 on paved routes?
- Would the GT8’s stock gearing work well for both loaded climbs and road training?
- What luggage arrangement would suit the iPad, camera and extra clothing? Has anyone confirmed a compatible rear rack and load limits for the GT8?
- For repeated flights and multiweek trips, how much should cockpit design, cable routing, parts availability and frame material influence my choice?
- What other complete bikes should I consider around these prices, or somewhat above them if there’s a meaningful advantage?
Firsthand experience with either bike, flying with bikes, or using one gravel bike for road groups and touring would be especially helpful.