I have been a mountain biker for decades, enjoying nothing more than some technical singletrack, open moorland or flowing bridleways with some mates. I never fully understood road riding, having gone out a few times in the 90's on my trusty steel Ribble, it didn't have the rush associated with off road.

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I learned as I got older that I didn’t bounce as well any more, and while I still enjoy MTB, Road and more specifically Gravel has become the new obsession.

 

I got the Cannondale Slate back in 2017 (yes, now contemplating its successor…) and its mix of short travel front suspension, well designed frame and a Very heavy-handed upgrade path have lead to a bike that is simply outstanding. Not that far from road bike on the road, not that far from XC MTB off road. If I can only take one bike somewhere, its this one. Indeed on our recent EU road trip with the caravan and the dogs, it was the Only bike for 9 months, and enjoyed everything from the flattest of flat (Netherlands) to some pretty rowdy stuff in France/Austria/Switzerland. Its just the best thing for ‘multitasking’

 

I’m also lucky to have a good selection of Road bikes MTB’s, the Genesis CDF Ti and the Ibis Ripmo leading the charge for second place.