u/faxfodderspotter

Relatively newbie cyclist here who hasn't needed to change bar tape before. Took a fun tumble down steep loose gravel last week, which tore up the bar tape on one side of my Seigla.

I like the stock Lauf tape and ordered from them, but the current shipping time seems to be a little slow. Probably need to find another long-term preferred tape. Any recommendations for readily available tape that's like the Lauf tape? Thanks.

TL;DR: Do tri/TT bike fits often lead to permanent alterations, and thus make buying used risky?

Background: If you post about needing a bike fit in my large city, the guy at my LBS will be among the first recommendations. He's done a couple road bike fits for me that turned out great. They did include some upselling - shoe inserts for one, a new seat for the other. But maybe that's normal, and I'm definitely overall happy with the fits and service.

Triathlon is popular here, and, thus, Facebook Marketplace and other places have a ton of used tri bikes - often high-end ones for 1/4 - 2/3 the original cost, depending on age.

I've sent the LBS guy a couple listings for advice, and he was pretty adamant that buying used tri bikes can be dangerous because fits can involve permanent changes to the frame like cutting. I don't know if he's just trying sell me an $8k new Cervelo, and I'm a gullible mark, or if there's wisdom there.

This is my first year of tris. Signing up for 2-3 70.3s in 2027 with plans to expand to a full in 2028. Planning on doing this for many years. (I in no way need a tri bike yet but you know how it goes.) Certainly not planning on buying new this year but want to be ready for good used deal if one arises.

Bought an Uthald as an upgrade over my cheap first Facebook Marketplace road bike. Like it and biking so much that I also just got a Seigla...

My brother is looking into getting into mountain biking - sounds like with an XC focus. I know Lauf has that eMTB, but he doesn't want that.

Question: Is there a MTB brand that's most like Lauf in terms of quality, value, and customer service?

Edit: I apparently can't read or scroll - there is a non-e version of the Elja, so Lauf has the bike for it.

Me: 40s, male, San Diego, CA, USA

Current bikes: Surly Bridge Club, Cannondale Synapse 105, Zwift Kickr Ride

Ride my Surly as a mix of a rigid MTB bike on dirt trails and easy singletrack and in the neighborhood bike with my kids.

Bought a used 2018 Cannondale Synapse 105 carbon earlier this year to get into triathlon. Realized I love going fast and light on the road bike but really hate cars and traffic. Will probably do group road rides 2-3x per month.

Previously bought and sold a full-suspension MTB. Got into riding with some younger colleagues, who I should not have tried to keep up with. A couple big falls. Don't really enjoy the rock garden stuff. Not for me.

A gravel bike seems like the right answer. It seems San Diego has good routes, though I gotta find a riding group of some kind. Doing something like the BWR eventually would be awesome.

This is probably gonna lead to two bikes in the long term:

Option A: Spend $3k on a gravel bike and eventually two wheel sets - one for gravel, one for road training and triathlon. The Canyon Grail CF SL 7 was proposed by a friend as an option here. If I get more into triathlon, I might later buy a used tri/TT bike on FB Marketplace or Craigslist for $1200-1500.

Option B: Spend <$2k on a less expensive gravel bike now. Next year upgrade the road bike significantly and use that for road and get aero bars for triathlon. I feel like I'd be more reckless on gravel and more likely to wreck, which would make this option feel safer.

Which option? Or a third? And which gravel bike?