Mongoose Selous Comp Gravel Bike HYDRAULIC $690 or Mongoose Selous Sport MECHANICAL $465 shipped

By | January 15, 2017 2:36 pm EST

Anybody who has read my bike posts before knows I’m a big fan of cyclocross / gravel bikes. They are more relaxed, can go anywhere, work great for urban riding, they just do it all. Invest in an extra set of wheels and you can change them over to a half decent road bike in 2 minutes.
Nashbar is running 25% off selected items and here are two that I think are great deals:
Mongoose Selous Comp Gravel Bike HYDRAULIC $690 shipped
http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs…_595052_-1
Mongoose Selous Sport MECHANICAL $465 shipped
http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs…1___206930
They’re compared together here with the top end Mongoose Selous Expert
http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs…SKU=595066
The Selous Comp is superior across the board to the Sport, with Tiagra 10 speed, carbon fork, better crank, etc. But the big distinguisher to me are the Tektro HY-RD cable-actuated hydraulic disc brakes. I have these on my CX bike after throwing the original SRAM mechanicals in the trash. The HY-RD brakes go for about $125 each (as low as $96 ordered from UK-based Merlin) and are tons better than the mechanicals. What’s more, it’s a better design for bikes operated out "in the wild" than integrated full hydraulic brakes like the ones on the top end Selous Expert. Break a shift lever on the midrange bike and it’s no big deal. Heck, might as well upgrade it to an 11 speed for chump change. But break a lever on that Selous Expert and you’ll be into some serious cash to replace the Shimano 105 hydraulic lever. Plus, I really can’t recommend the Expert bike at that price, because if you’re up that high $$, you’d probably want a brand with more prestige (snob appeal).
The Selous Sport also looks pretty darned good for the price – I recommended it a few months ago – but you’ll wish you had those hydraulic Tektro brakes before long and you’ll want the other upgraded parts too.
There are a bunch of bikes on Nashbar today that get the extra 25% off. A lot of them only have one size, but worth a look.
Happy riding!

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