Gravel bike up to PLN 3,000 - do cheap gravel bikes make sense?

Let's be honest – gravel bikes are relatively expensive. Why is this? Partly due to the manufacturers' marketing power and their growing popularity, though admittedly, this isn't the main reason. Most gravel bikes rely on road bike components, which cost significantly more than mountain bikes, mainly due to the more complex lever-shift mechanism. Added to this are wide wheels and the mandatory disc brakes in this segment. Therefore, the mid-range price range falls between 4500 and 8000 PLN. And even bikes closer to the upper end of this range often contain significant compromises. So, does a budget gravel bike even exist?

The offer is not very rich

A gravel bike under 3000 PLN is an extremely budget-friendly proposition. However, there are several bikes on the market at this price that can easily be classified as gravel bikes. The popular sports store leads the pack. Decathlon bikes have, to put it mildly, a rather shady reputation, but their low prices are hard to deny. The Triban Gravel 120 costs 2399 PLN and offers, among other things, a 1x10 drivetrain and a carbon fork. Considering that most competitors (not all) offer similar features only in models twice as expensive, it's worth your while. If the price seems suspicious, there's a reason. The drivetrain does have 10 speeds and a clutch derailleur, but it's supplied by Microshift. Their products' build quality and performance lag significantly behind Shimano and SRAM, and you'll notice it. The brand's unbranded crankset and Promax brakes, known for their tragically poor performance, are also noticeable. These are serious drawbacks in everyday use. Despite all this, it must be admitted that at this price, the Triban literally has no competition. Also check out our short gravel bike ranking . We've included the most popular models. So what other gravel bikes under 3000 PLN are worth considering? Then there's a small price jump from the Kona in the form of the Rove model at 2700 PLN, landing at the magical 2999 PLN, the same price as most budget gravel bikes like the Kross Esker or Marin Nicasio. They all have very similar equipment (Shimano Claris reigns supreme), and the biggest difference is usually the frame material. A steel gravel bike will be more comfortable, but at this price point, it's also downright heavy.

And cheaper? Is it possible to buy a gravel bike for under 2,000 PLN?

It's possible, but under no circumstances should you do it. These are the options from Allegro and supermarkets, weighing three tons and not going to make you smile. All of them are equipped with Shimano Tourney road components, which don't just perform poorly—they don't. A gravel bike under 2000 PLN is the worst kind of junk, offering none of the advantages of this type of bike. With that budget, it's better to buy a basic cross bike and not deal with constant breakdowns and terrible ergonomics.

Will cheap gravel work?

When considering which gravel bike under 3000 PLN is best, we're often stuck with the one available. However, as I mentioned, they're quite similar, so we can safely generalize. The Shimano Claris drivetrain, which dominates among them, works perfectly, although cheap cranks can slightly compromise the smooth operation of the front derailleur. Poor-quality wheels will be a problem, but unless you plan to use the bike for multi-day rides with heavy panniers, they should be able to handle it. The biggest problem will be the brakes. Oversized mechanical disc brakes are ineffective, and a budget gravel bike under 3000 PLN will undoubtedly be equipped with the worst ones (the Romet Aspre 1 is an exception, although its basic Shimano brakes are also hardly outstanding). The result is zero-one braking with no modulation or no braking at all in extreme cases. It's safe to say that a gravel bike priced up to 3000 PLN will ride reasonably well, brake poorly, be heavy, and, under heavy use, pose a risk of failure. Nevertheless, it's still an interesting alternative to a cross-country bike or trekking bike for those who don't use their bikes intensively. It can also be a good "test" purchase for those undecided and curious about road riding . Some people don't want to spend 7000 PLN on a bike they've never ridden before. A gravel bike priced up to 3000 PLN is a decent compromise in this case.

Alternatives?

Regardless of your preferred gravel bike, some things are hard to ignore. A gravel bike under 3000 PLN will involve a lot of compromises, so my first recommendation is to increase your budget, as around 4000 PLN is a much better choice. But what if that's not an option? It's worth checking the used bike market. At this price, you can easily find a slightly higher-end gravel bike with low mileage that doesn't require major maintenance to get started. For under 3000 PLN, you can also buy a decent new cross or trekking bike with hydraulic brakes, straight handlebars , and no compromise on components. This will be a less glamorous solution, but it will certainly last longer and offer more options.