2023 Road'n'Gravel Biking

[scott43]

Gawd I love that bike. 853....

 

[cantunamunch]

And the crankset looks like 40t to me. 1x. Not low enough.

Not low enough for what? Moving slower than walking?

It's a gravel bike.
She's not going to be doing super-technical climbs at 18%-20% and it's not a bikepacking bike where she'll load it with 60kg+ of cr@p.

For up-to-12-15% fire roads and limited loads, I honestly don't see the problem.

The biggest problem I foresee with that setup is - goatheads. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

 

[Tony Storaro]

For up-to-12-15% fire roads and limited loads, I honestly don't see the problem.

I envy your fitness level Mr. Vingegaard.

For mere mortals it is too high. Hence some of us use 46/30 cranks paired with 11-40 cassettes.

 

[cantunamunch]

I envy your fitness level Mr. Vingegaard.

Pfft. I'm older and fatter than she is, with significantly less track experience.

If I can get by on fire roads with 36x34 (29 gear inches), she'll be just fine with 40x42 (26 gear inches). And if she wants an MTB she can get one of those.

 

[scott43]

I'm using a 34x34 as my low right now and I'm good at 6-8% for 1-1.5kms. After that, tough! But I'm a fat old man and I'm pretty sure @Wendy is pretty fit. I think it really depends on the roads and rider..

 

[cantunamunch]

I'm using a 34x34 as my low right now and I'm good at 6-8% for 1-1.5kms. After that, tough! But I'm a fat old man and I'm pretty sure @Wendy is pretty fit. I think it really depends on the roads and rider..

I'll just point out that the Raleigh Super GP upthread has 42x28 for a low gear ... and all I got was a seat position comment

 

[Wendy]

Yup, shop here said they only sell tubeless because so many thorns.

Tubeless?

 

[Wendy]

Not low enough for what? Moving slower than walking?

It's a gravel bike.
She's not going to be doing super-technical climbs at 18%-20% and it's not a bikepacking bike where she'll load it with 60kg+ of cr@p.

For up-to-12-15% fire roads and limited loads, I honestly don't see the problem.

The biggest problem I foresee with that setup is - goatheads. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

If I'm riding within Santa Fe proper, it's actually fairly flat. It'll be awhile before I acclimate to the altitude (nearly 7000' in town) so no real climbing yet anyways. It's also going to be used as a "ride to the farmer's market bike" on Saturdays.

 

[Wendy]

Gawd I love that bike. 853....

I was set on a steel frame gravel bike. Ended up with a carbon fork which felt better on rough roads. Still can attach panniers to this fork if I want.

 

[Wendy]

True story. Back in the very early 2000s, pre-Niner, I was a regular contributor to MTBR.com, a mountain bike discussion forum. At the time I had a strip of electrical tape on my toptube with "Pedal Dammit!" written on it with a sharpie. I posted a pic of that on MTBR, and I'm convinced that's where Niner got the idea. Sadly I no longer have the pic. But I do like the bikes.

When I saw that on the top tube, I thought, "This is the bike for me!" So cool, and so funny.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone did steal your mantra.

 

[Tony Storaro]

I'll just point out that the Raleigh Super GP upthread has 42x28 for a low gear ... and all I got was a seat position comment

You are not a lady so we don’t care how much you suffer. You probably deserve it anyway.

 

[Tony Storaro]

I'm using a 34x34 as my low right now and I'm good at 6-8% for 1-1.5kms. After that, tough! But I'm a fat old man and I'm pretty sure @Wendy is pretty fit. I think it really depends on the roads and rider..

Totally. I have it too on my road bike but on the gravel I ride routes where 8% for 2 km is only the warm up. Like 44 km constant ascent with the last 10 or so with long sections firmly into the double digits. Only way to not go completely nuts is to be able to spin it.

 

[cantunamunch]

Yup, shop here said they only sell tubeless because so many thorns.

On the upside, tubeless also makes repair with a rack (or fenders ftm) a lot easier.

I was set on a steel frame gravel bike. Ended up with a carbon fork which felt better on rough roads. Still can attach panniers to this fork if I want.

I'm sure you're already aware rack loads and fork loads do weird things to bike handling.

You are not a lady

You calling me a slut? Wait... (counts bikes. counts frames) ...OK, you're probably right.

Only way to not go completely nuts is to be able to spin it.

...with an e-bike motor

 

[Wendy]

On the upside, tubeless also makes repair with a rack (or fenders ftm) a lot easier.



I'm sure you're already aware rack loads and fork loads do weird things to bike handling.



You calling me a slut? Wait... (counts bikes. counts frames) ...OK, you're probably right.



...with an e-bike motor

yes, shop said repairs are way easier with tubeless here.

I've ridden bikes with racks and panniers before. Even with some heavy stuff like shovels, gardening tools, sacks of soil. Don't ask.

Super happy with this fit of this bike. Very comfy and great handling. I feel a bit younger than I really am when I ride it.

 

[scott43]

Totally. I have it too on my road bike but on the gravel I ride routes where 8% for 2 km is only the warm up. Like 44 km constant ascent with the last 10 or so with long sections firmly into the double digits. Only way to not go completely nuts is to be able to spin it.

I mean, if you can't spin the gear...

 

[cantunamunch]

That’s why I am considering a Roubaix as everyday bike and will keep the Leo for gravel/adventure riding. With 40-45 mm tires it will be superb.

I feel like I should point out that the BMC URS LT One comes in yellow.

 

[Tony Storaro]

I feel like I should point out that the BMC URS LT One comes in yellow.

View attachment 213663

Yellow is good only for helmets and Porsches. For bikes-absolutely not. Plus I dont like BMC

 

[scott43]

And this bad boy...

 

[Tom K.]

True story. Back in the very early 2000s, pre-Niner, I was a regular contributor to MTBR.com, a mountain bike discussion forum. At the time I had a strip of electrical tape on my toptube with "Pedal Dammit!" written on it with a sharpie. I posted a pic of that on MTBR, and I'm convinced that's where Niner got the idea. Sadly I no longer have the pic. But I do like the bikes.

The massive royalties from Niner help explain how you can while away so much time here.......yeah, pot meet kettle, I know.

On the upside, tubeless also makes repair with a rack (or fenders ftm) a lot easier.

SO easy. Buy a perhaps overpriced, but beautifully made, Dynaplug Racer X.

I fixed a flat the other week with one in about 30 seconds. The old duffers group I was riding with were blown away.

 

[cantunamunch]

For bikes-absolutely not.

The ghost of Marco Pantani just poured some itch powder on your chamois.

Plus I dont like BMC

*totally suspects this came first*