Corelli Goat 1.0
Three months review
Choosing a bicycle
To me cycling has always been the ideal way of transportation. Safe, cheap and reliable, it came alongside me from my childhood to my adult life.
As a law student and then as a young lawyer, I had the opportunity to ride a number of machines to go to university and courts. Road bike or fixed gear restored by myself, mountain bike, dutch bike, they all accompanied me for the daily commute or for the weekend sports outings.
When I left my first job to move to Berlin and become a full-time photographer, I decided to look for a versatile frame that could follow me in all my activities. The choice of a gravel bike was then obvious.
I discovered the Corelli brand at a Fahrrad Markt ("bike market") organized every Saturday in Berlin. The Korel group, a Turkish aluminum manufacturer, offers frames mounted with Shimano Claris groupsets, certainly entry-level, but produced by a reference equipment manufacturer.
After a quick negotiation, I bought this new bike for 430 euros, a straw especially if you compare with the crazy prices of the second hand ones (I've seen rinsed bikes for more than 300 euros)! So I own a Corelli Goat 1.0 in size 52cm. After three months of daily use, I'm very happy with my purchase.
Aesthetically
The bike is successful. The livery is sober and efficient. The welds on the frame are a bit rough though. For such a low price, it is forgivable.
A sober bike that fits perfectly with the autumn colors of the Tiergarten.
Welds are a little rough, the so contained price excuses them.
To driving
An open geometry, original off-road oriented tires and disc brakes make the bike very safe. It's not the most dynamic bike with a weight of 11.2 kg and a questionable choice of tires, but it allowed me to ride both on Berlin's asphalt and on the dirt roads of the surrounding forests without any trouble.
On asphalt roads, the bike's behavior is healthy and stable. On the gravel roads, the wide tires of 35 swallow the roughness of the ground without difficulty. I quickly had fun dropping a few gears, putting several pedal strokes to launch the bike and then standing up, in enduro position.
The gravel handlebars allow you to adopt a comfortable position to enjoy nice rides. This makes the Corelli ideal for riding off the beaten path or in bad weather. The riding position is slightly sporty but without too much pressure on the wrists. A change to a shorter stem (I'm 5'7") made the bike completely adapted to my height and I can ride for hours without any back pain.
A gravel handlebar and a short stem make the bike very comfortable.
The Claris groupset, the double chainring and the Shimano CS-HG31 11/34T cassette allow to go everywhere. If needed, the overdrive allows to grind to face the strong differences in level.
Urban only riders will have to change the original tires for a more rolling model. I personally added a pair of removable fenders and a phone holder to be able to orientate myself and ride in the frequent Berlin rain.
Removable mudguards, lighting kit, ready for winter!
Long distance travelers will particularly appreciate the luggage mounts on the fork and rear triangle.
In conclusion
The Corelli Goat 1.0 is for riders looking for an affordable and versatile bike. This entry-level gravel bike is, in my opinion, perfect for commuting, recreational riding and travel. The Goat is an efficient platform for those who want to enjoy gravel without looking for the pure performance of more expensive machines. With a price announced at around 500 euros, it would be wrong to deprive yourself of it!
