Right from the get-go, it’s very clear what the Adventure Disc 1’s intentions are. A steel frame, made from Reynolds 725 tubing for strength and durability, paired with a steel fork, bomb-proof tires and a generous array of mounting points delivers a multi-talented tank of a bike.
Temple Adventure Disc 1 Frame
Ed Westrop
When testing the Temple Adventure Disc 1, my primary aim was to push the boundaries of what a bike with ‘Adventure’ in its name is capable of. From a heavily laden tour, spanning Calais to Rotterdam, and gravel excursions seeking out the muckiest terrain possible, to long-distance road rides and work commutes enduring the worst of the appalling British weather, it’s fair to say I vigorously put this bike through its paces.
Handbuilt in Bristol, the heat-treated, butted Reynolds tubing fashions a frame with the timeless, signature look that Temple bikes are so well recognised for. Unlike typical steel road frames, the geometry here is slackened slightly for a more endurance-focused ride thanks to the generous 1023 mm wheelbase, 71.5 degree head angle and 45mm fork offset. The top tube is slanted by a few degrees, offering better standover clearance and a more responsive ride. The frame leaves little to be desired in terms of mounting points, with eyelets for a rear rack, mudguards, three bottle cages and two eyelets per fork leg.
There are five color options available, and as much as a block finish might seem a bit unimaginative, the ornate head badge, lugged fork and seat clamp detailing result in bikes of understated beauty. My only bugbear is the sticker logos on the frame. It’s only noticeable up close, but they do feel like a pretty flimsy feature of an otherwise indestructible bike.
Temple Adventure Disc 1 Components
Ironically, as is often the way these days, the more you spend the fewer chainrings you get. Temple’s top-tier, gravel-going Adventure Disc 1 comes wearing a 1x Shimano GRX RX810 mechanical groupset with hydraulic disc brakes. The stock gear ratio combines a 42t chainring (40t on our test bike) with an 11t-42t cassette, making for a decent spread of gears that never left me lacking at either end of the block. The brakes pair GRX hydraulic levers and calipers with 160mm Tektro rotors, a mix that inspires confidence. When you consider the heavy loads this bike can carry and the gnarly terrain it can cover, you don’t want to take chances. Fortunately, the brakes provide fantastic modulation for scrubbing off small amounts of speed.
This bike can accommodate up to 45mm wide tires that will enable you to push the limits of its off-road capability
The bike runs on 24mm deep Hunt 4 Season All Road Disc Wheels shod with 38mm Panaracer Gravelking SK tires, set up tubeless. The Gravelking tyres have a low profile tread pattern making them a fantastic option for traversing both road and hard pack gravel. However, this bike can accommodate up to 45mm wide tires that, shod with a gnarlier tread, will enable you to push the limits of its off-road capability.
Temple completes the classic look of this build with its own polished chrome finishing kit, consisting of 42cm handlebars with flared drops, a 90mm stem and 27.2mm seatpost, which comes mounted with a Brooks Cambium C17 Saddle.
Temple Adventure Disc 1 Ride Quality
I first rode the bike on a week-long tour from Calais to Rotterdam, not the most challenging or varied of parcours, but it did offer the Adventure Disc 1 the opportunity to display its ability to carry heavy loads and cover long, albeit flat, miles in great comfort. Having then tested it on some of my go-to road riding loops I concluded that the Adventure Disc 1 is wasted on purely tarmac routes. This bike comes alive when seamlessly transitioning from road to off-road surfaces, a versatility I found liberating.
The Adventure Disc 1 bowls along dry, flat-pack surfaces much like it does on rough tarmac. It offers a confident ride feel, helped by its endurance-focused geometry. The long wheelbase and slack head angle provide a stable platform, but it remains an agile bike. Climbing can be a bit cumbersome – a sit-down and spin approach is called for – but the 38mm tires and weight help the bike feel planted on descents, a great attribute for nervous riders.
At 1:1, the lowest gear is an ideal ‘spin up anything’ gear, more than sufficient for the steepest gradients, even fully loaded. The highest gear is more than burly enough to get up to a decent speed on the flat too. It’s a gear that I found myself using solely when riding on tarmac, and although you’ll inevitably start to spin out on the descents, for me this only occurred when I approached speeds I would normally freewheel at anyway.
If I ever find the time to cycle around the world, this will be the bike I do it on. Thanks to the 45mm tire clearance, you can rely on the bike's aptitude for off-road riding, just consider tire choice carefully if embarking on such an expedition. Something like a Pirelli Cinturato will be a more inspired choice if you plan to ride in wet and muddy conditions.
Temple Adventure Disc 1 Value & Comparison
Temple Adventure Disc 1 Value
At this sort of price, other brands are offering electronic gears and carbon wheels, both of which have been omitted here. Some argue that these attributes are unnecessary for an adventure bike. Consider this, if you’re out in the wilderness, it’s easier to true an alloy rim and repair a snapped cable. That being said, it’s hard to comprehend how Temple has landed at this price point. When I specced this bike up using the frameset option from Temple, using the best prices online, I was able to complete the build for 20% less than the factory build’s RRP. For comparison, you can buy the Genesis Croix de fer 40 for £2,499.99, which may not be as much of a looker (and doesn't have quite the same spec), but will do a very similar job.
Specification
- Frame: TIG Welded Reynolds 725 Heat Treated Steel
- Groupset: Shimano GRX RX810, Crankset 42t (40t as tested),Cassette 11-42t
- Wheels: Hunt 4Season tubeless ready
- Tires: Panaracer Gravelking SK 38mm, tubeless
- Rotors: Tektro 160mm
- Handlebars: Temple AL-6061 Flared 42cm
- Stem: Temple polished headset stem, 90mm
- Seatpost: Temple Alloy 27.2mm
- Saddle: Brooks Cambium C17
- Weight: 10.7kg (as tested, inner tube front wheel, tubeless rear wheel)
