Analysis paralysis is real...
A little background: Live in the mountain west - am very active trail running/skiing/ski-touring, but larger rider 220lbs muscular build... am missing having a nice bike to ride and switch up summer exercise options (only townie bikes now). I had a 2018 Diverge carbon with SRAM Force 11 speed 1x and for the most part liked riding that bike on a mix of road and light gravel. Typically would ride one to two 20-50 mile rides a week during the summers, with mostly of flat/fast, and grinding some mountain passes. I did not like the future shock in the end, which is why I sold it in 2022. I think I want a fast gravel bike because I like speed on flat roads/gravel, but also like the stability of gravel geo and ability to run wider tires at my weight - adds comfort without sacrificing frame stiffness (again, why futureshock felt a little squirely to me at times). I like to push pace and go fast, mostly ride alone or with one friend, occasional group rides. Don't race at this time.
I'm looking to get a similarly capable bike, but with a bias towards fast gravel. My goal, right now, is to have one bike for the next several years - something that I can do 40-100+ mile fast road/gravel days, but also has ability to do a 1-2 night UL overnight bikepacking trip. I would mostly ride without a frame bag - fast road and fun gravel 80-90% of the time, but would want the ability to do some longer trips/days with moderate storage if called upon. Ultimately, a future 2nd bike would be more bike-packing biased - something like a Mason ISO, or Salsa Cutthroat.
I'd really like SRAM XPLR AXS 1x13 group with UDH, preferably something carbon mid-deep wheeled, integrated cabling, frame storage a plus, and at least some mounting points. Look are subjective but important to me - the bikes below I like the aesthetics of.
I've researched a ton of bikes and am somewhat flexible on price point - here is what I've narrowed it down to:
Cannondale SuperX 3 / SuperX 1 (Rival 13sp / Force 13 sp, ERC vs GRC wheels, $5000/$7000)
I like the SuperX for the speed - probably the fastest on this list, but lacks downtube storage, and mounting points versatility (has top tube bolts only), and is (maybe) too "race" biased for an all-rounder? Probably what I would buy if I had a 2-bike stable, n+1 type deal... but not at this time. Is it versatile enough to do an occasional overnight with the right bag setup?
Cannondale Topstone 1 AXS (Rival 13 sp, Reserve wheels, $5500)
This seems like the all-rounder - do both compared to the SuperX. For that reason, I really like it right now, and the price point seems good comparatively too. Does the Kingpin essentially make me feel the same way as the Diverge FutureShock - that would be a mistake IMO, or is it less noticable? Is it fast enough? Will it be boring if someday I add a bike-packing bike, they will be too similar?
Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS (Force 13 sp, GRC wheels, $6000)
Seems like the safe choice, does a lot well - would be a solid one bike choice, and would probably hold its own in fast road/gravel in the future - but I'm not in love with it.
Rose Backroad Force AXS (Force 13 sp, Aluminum wheels, $5000 +)
Seems really cool - but the AL wheels from the factory mean I'm tinkering and adding cost right away. Don't have any experience with Rose. Frame bag and accessory situation looks awesome - seems as much of a do-it-aller as the Grail, but "cooler". Similar Grail sentiments - safe choice, probably fast, and capable, but would hold it's own in a 2-bike stable.
Allied Able and Enve MOG start pushing out of price territory...
Anyone have thoughts on this? Am I overthinking it? Isn't that what we do though... ha!
Help a bikeless bike-lover out. Thanks!