What have you bought/upgraded today.

Going all-in on gravel this summer. Cross-post from bikepack/gravel-nerd thread but anyway. Just need a few more days for my bone bruise to heal and for roads to dry up again. Already swapped the skinny G-One 40cs with Rambler 50s & Orange Seal. Cannibal H2O cages. Ready to roll, got a few gravel centuries lined up this summer including here at home, SBT. This bike will also see it's fair share of singletrack and chunky stuff on long rides all around the Yampa Valley, Flat Tops, Wyoming & beyond.

I will say those Ramblers were so easy to mount up & seat with just a basic Spec HP floor pump, my first time to do it instead of my bf or some shop dude. I did put them on backwards, didn't notice until after took the pic, lol. So, I got practice doing it all over again and somehow managed to not make a mess of it. God the internet is great, heh.

Planning on Revelate Shrew seatbag & gas can for top tube, Garmin Varia radar tail light. Still deciding on options for temporary front light. Eventually would like sinewave beacon, Dynamo hubs & carbon wheelset, frame pack for the GDMBR 2023, as well as conversion to 1x... A girl can dream right. But first things first.

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Nice ride. I prefer 2x, but the Easton cranks make it easy to swap to 1x if you like the bigger gear steps on the cassette.

Why a Varia? You know it's not a force field, right? Unless you're going to ride into the shoulder every time it beeps, i don't understand what it will do for you. Either the car will hit you or it won't--knowing it's somewhere back there doesn't change that.

Have fun! Gravel is way more fun than I expected it to be.

Looks like a blast of a bike. I've left my half-framebag on my gravel bike just about since I bought it. Might give you a little more on-bike access compared to the small seat bag. And you can cram a bladder style water bottle in there for extra dry rides.

Agreed on the half frame bag. I made one for my first gravel bike and it's worked for the subsequent 2 as well. I never take it off.

However, on that small frame a bag will probably make bottle use difficult or impossible. Top tube bags are good, but get a narrow one so it doesn't hit your knees.Attachment 413259

Banjo brothers makes a nice sized one that still allows for water bottles. This is my bike fully loaded for a 140 mile ride (around the Rock)

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Originally Posted by climberevan

Nice ride. I prefer 2x, but the Easton cranks make it easy to swap to 1x if you like the bigger gear steps on the cassette.

Why a Varia? You know it's not a force field, right? Unless you're going to ride into the shoulder every time it beeps, i don't understand what it will do for you. Either the car will hit you or it won't--knowing it's somewhere back there doesn't change that.

Have fun! Gravel is way more fun than I expected it to be.

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I bought one after a situation where car was coming ridiculously fast with a car in oncoming lane and I was hugging right white line (no shoulder). Had I know would have taken the lane completely instead of letting this Human waste give me <1’ of room. Honestly though that experience has mostly pushed me off the road bike. Too many horrible pieces of shit behind the wheel these days.

Varia small step to piece of mind. Couple riding friends were both hit years ago and neither ride w/o now as well.

YMMV and I hear your point, but proactively taking the lane in some scenarios can make a huge difference in your safety


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That's the first time I've heard of anyone moving INTO the lane when the radar says traffic is approaching from behind. Ballsy! (But why not just ride in the middle all the time, then?)

I see so many people saying they swear by radar but no one has really been able to articulate the mode by which it increases safety. I personally think it's a false sense of security and fully acknowledge that I'm rolling the dice every time I ride on the road.

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Originally Posted by climberevan

That's the first time I've heard of anyone moving INTO the lane when the radar says traffic is approaching from behind. Ballsy! (But why not just ride in the middle all the time, then?)

I see so many people saying they swear by radar but no one has really been able to articulate the mode by which it increases safety. I personally think it's a false sense of security and fully acknowledge that I'm rolling the dice every time I ride on the road.

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I'd love radar purely so I knew when a vehicle was approaching, so that when they blow the horn as they overtake (to be a dick) it's not such a fucking surprise. I hate that shit.

I got a varia last year also and I think it's invaluable. I'm going to buy my wife one this summer also.

For me it comes down to awareness. I can (generally) make better decisions with more information. Sometimes I can hear cars approaching from behind but on windy days I'm much less likely to realize that a car is there for a variety of reasons. The first place the varia helps is chirping to let me know that there is one or more cars coming up behind me.

At that point it's a quick scene survey exercise - Are there any cars approaching from the front? How fast is the dot moving up the screen? You can generally tell from the speed of the dot and the closing distance of the car approaching from the front whether they are going to get to you at the same time. You can tell if the car behind is slowing down for a safe pass, and if so, it's reasonable to think that same driver is likely to give you room when going around.

You can tell if the driver continues his/her speed when going around and if you realize they are going to go around you at the same time a car passes from the front you know you have little room and better get over to the very edge.

Is there more than one dot? How close are the two dots to each other? You can tell if the second driver is giving the first driver space and if not, you can assume that they may not give you space either.

There is more that you can glean from the little dots but I don't find myself getting surprised by cars anymore. I've never had the varia NOT detect a car so even when the driver cuts it close I'm already paying close attention to my line on the road and ready to react if I have to.

I originally bought it due to needing a tail light and finding a good deal. I really think that it's one of my best pieces of safety equipment - right up there with my helmet. I can't recommend it enough.

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Originally Posted by climberevan

I see so many people saying they swear by radar but no one has really been able to articulate the mode by which it increases safety. I personally think it's a false sense of security and fully acknowledge that I'm rolling the dice every time I ride on the road.

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There are times (like in traffic) where I totally ignore my Varia.

There are other times I’m stoked to have it because it gives me info that would be difficult or impossible to get without it. Like spotting a car a turn or two back on fast, steep downhills, or quickly telling me the relative speed of the car behind me without me having to look, and showing me there’s an otherwise invisible car tucked in right behind the dually coming up behind me, etc. Does all that info add up to increased safety? Yeah. I don’t think you could argue otherwise.

Is the Varia some life changing thing I tell everyone they have to buy? Nah. But like Seth above I got a good deal on mine and now I’m getting one for my wife.

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Originally Posted by climberevan

Why a Varia? You know it's not a force field, right? Unless you're going to ride into the shoulder every time it beeps, i don't understand what it will do for you. Either the car will hit you or it won't--knowing it's somewhere back there doesn't change that.
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It's not so much as a safety thing for me, so many of the gravel roads I ride I don't see cars for sometimes hours, remote. Always nice to get the bloop bleep from my computer that a car or cars are behind so I'm not totally surprised while in the zone. Happens a lot when I'm 60, 70 miles out, so this will reduce that annoyance. And taking the lane is my line of defense in certain scenarios. The integration with my Wahoo Roam looks seamless and I like the features.

Half Bag is already in the mix for S24H or super long day rides, forgot to mention. The shrew is just for day trips, easy to swap back and forth with my other bike but has overlapping repair stuff. I also have two revelate feed bags that I've used past few years, love them and will use one or both depending on length of ride. Between those, 2 cages, top tube strap on, I can carry a lot of freaking water if needed without a pack, but I'll use that too if needed (chase pack). Also stoked with the bosses on the fork, opens up a lot of options I haven't had previously.

I started getting into endurance riding only 2, maybe 3 years ago. I've yet to do more than 100 two days in a row (back to back), but now that I have the right tool, that's a goal of mine this summer, see how things go for the future. It's how I get over skiing now. :)

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Originally Posted by climberevan

That's the first time I've heard of anyone moving INTO the lane when the radar says traffic is approaching from behind. Ballsy! (But why not just ride in the middle all the time, then?)

I see so many people saying they swear by radar but no one has really been able to articulate the mode by which it increases safety. I personally think it's a false sense of security and fully acknowledge that I'm rolling the dice every time I ride on the road.

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Depends where you live. No shoulder at all means I’m taking the lane when there’s oncoming traffic and prevents someone from squeezing in. I’ll move over as soon as it’s safe to pass so people can semi-cross double yellow to get around. Again this all happens on 35mph type quiet roads. I’m not out taking the lane on anything where people are really hauling. I ride road less and less each year though, just not worth it.


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Originally Posted by VTskibum

Depends where you live. No shoulder at all means I’m taking the lane when there’s oncoming traffic and prevents someone from squeezing in. I’ll move over as soon as it’s safe to pass so people can semi-cross double yellow to get around. Again this all happens on 35mph type quiet roads. I’m not out taking the lane on anything where people are really hauling. I ride road less and less each year though, just not worth it.


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I'm in agreement on this also. It's a case by case. Sometimes hugging the very right side of the road encourages people to try to sneak by when they should just wait putting me more at danger. It isn't super common but there are situations where I'll do the same.

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Just like with a car, I use to fantasize on long rides about having an led scroll on the back of my Jersey, with changeable messages like “look, there’s no shoulder!” And “Chill, bro!”

But given the average ‘Murican, it would just make them madder.

i was actually really satisfied with the lyrik that came with the bike. butt, i gotta a bias for coil springs, so i went for this fox 36 performance with push acs3 conversion found on pinkbike. initial impression: fuck yeah.

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New bum bag. This company makes the most overbuilt bags I've ever seen.

https://waveproducts.com/


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Originally Posted by parkmeister

i was actually really satisfied with the lyrik that came with the bike. butt, i gotta a bias for coil springs, so i went for this fox 36 performance with push acs3 conversion found on pinkbike. initial impression: fuck yeah.

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That looks nice! Speaking my language right there

Coil is good

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About to build up this GG Smash and throw a Secus on the Lyrik while I’m changing the travel. Big shout out to Dee Hubbs and ssmokan for parts going into this build. Attachment 413705


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Whelp, I'm pretty sure after 11,000 miles my Evil The Following is just about used up. It's a good thing tax season was kind.




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Nice, that’s on my list for next bike. Will be interested to hear your opinion. (Yea, I still ride)


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Originally Posted by Phall

Nice, that’s on my list for next bike. Will be interested to hear your opinion. (Yea, I still ride)


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We need to get together. I'll let you know when the new whip arrives.

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Originally Posted by Touring_Sedan

Whelp, I'm pretty sure after 11,000 miles my Evil The Following is just about used up. It's a good thing tax season was kind.




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Your new bike weighs 1/2#!!! Talk about down country!!

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Originally Posted by Canada1

Your new bike weighs 1/2#!!! Talk about down country!!

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Shit, I was hoping for 30#. That fuckers gonna float up the trails.

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Originally Posted by Touring_Sedan

Shit, I was hoping for 30#. That fuckers gonna float up the trails.

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Yeah bud! I've got the Izzo Pro Race, which is the Core 4 but with a Fox dropper and XMC1200 wheels; a smidge lighter. My large was 27.2lbs before pedals and a bottle cage. With everything and a tube/multi tool I'm right above 28lbs.

Thanks to all the help on the Ask The Experts thread (!!) I switched the 125mm dropper that came on my new Capra for a 170mm PNW Loam

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aaf31bff_b.jpg

Couldn't resist matching the grips and lever with that peanut brown while I was at it either...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d6e7375_b.jpg

Install was actually super easy, and it did work with the already-installed lever and cable on the bike (ie just plugging and playing with the post) if I wasn't planning on switching anyway. Max insertion on the (medium) Capra seems to be more than the 238mm YT told me as I can slam that 'max insertion' line past the rubber seal, but I have it about 1cm out for my ideal pedalling height.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bf507f05_b.jpg

Also got a Wolftooth B-Rad medium strap for the top tube mounts:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8d033092_b.jpg

Comfortably holds a tubolito tube, multitool, 2 tyre levers and a 25g CO2 cartridge + inflator head. Still plan to pick up a hip pack for longer 'adventure' rides but this set up is pretty damn nice for pack-less afterwork laps on the local trails

Trimmed the bars from 800mm down to 780mm too and that made a HUGE difference: the bike feels so much more nimble, so much easy to steer into corners, but also feels like I can lean it and move the bike under me (/move me around the bike) much more.

Tan wall tires for ultimate matchy-matchy?

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Originally Posted by rideit

Tan wall tires for ultimate matchy-matchy?

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Thought had crossed my mind haha :D

And one of these!

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Originally Posted by rideit

And one of these!

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what if your balls get stuck in there?

That’s actually where I keep them stored out of harms way.

New grips — ahhhh so plush!
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Built. Maiden voyage today at Klondike Bluffs. Will see Mag 7 and Ahab soon. Shoutout to Dee Hubbs and ssmokan for good deals on parts that made this build possible. Attachment 413920


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Originally Posted by rideit

And one of these!

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Or you could get the non hipster version.....

https://us.chromagbikes.com/products...railmaster-ltd


FWIW, They're comfortable AF.


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Pulled the trigger on a Ripley v4. First new bike since 2000 (previously riding a 2014 OG Ripley but I bought that used). I was dithering but Ibis just bumped the MSRP on their website by $500, figured I should get it now before the dealer changed their price to match (or just ran out of bikes). Wanted XT but could only find SLX in my size.

What should I upgrade? Thinking of getting the XT 8100 shifter for multi-shift, plus the usual cockpit stuff (saddle and grips). Other than that the SLX parts seem fine, a little heavier but not a big difference. Probably better to plow any leftover funds into a new wheelset. I can always upgrade the drivetrain as stuff wears out.

I rocked these from 90-00’, and would again.

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Originally Posted by teledad

Pulled the trigger on a Ripley v4.
What should I upgrade? .

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Wheels for sure. My BTLOS 27mm IW rims with DT240 hubs have been great. I put DVO on both ends of mine and it gained back 200g or so but was worth it. The Fox stuff wasn't terrible though. I hate Shimano brakes so I went to Hope 4 pistons (actually lighter than the XT 2p), but SLX brakes are fine if you like the Shimano feel. I like the double upshift on the XT shifter and would say it's worth $73 to have it. Plus then you have a spare.

It's been a great bike. It isn't the new hotness, but I think it pretty much typifies the downcountry segment and remains the benchmark. (Plus Ibis doesn't make a moped, which gives them credibility in my book.)

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Originally Posted by rideit

And one of these!

Attachment 413899

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Attachment 413933

Not a Brooks, but I got a little carried away with the brownlights.
Copper chain and cassette for the dorks.



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Originally Posted by Touring_Sedan

Or you could get the non hipster version.....

https://us.chromagbikes.com/products...railmaster-ltd


FWIW, They're comfortable AF.


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I’ve had 3 of these saddles ( 2 dark brown leather and 1 black) and they are pretty damn comfy. I somehow bent a rail on one and Chromag gave me one for half off after multiple years of use so I think that was solid as well!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by teledad

Pulled the trigger on a Ripley v4. First new bike since 2000 (previously riding a 2014 OG Ripley but I bought that used). I was dithering but Ibis just bumped the MSRP on their website by $500, figured I should get it now before the dealer changed their price to match (or just ran out of bikes). Wanted XT but could only find SLX in my size.

What should I upgrade? Thinking of getting the XT 8100 shifter for multi-shift, plus the usual cockpit stuff (saddle and grips). Other than that the SLX parts seem fine, a little heavier but not a big difference. Probably better to plow any leftover funds into a new wheelset. I can always upgrade the drivetrain as stuff wears out.

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On my wife's v4 SLX we did the XT shifter, carbon bars, ibis carbon wheels. Will probably do an XT der and cassette down the road.

The upgrade that almost happened...

New bike, XT drivetrain. Wanted an Oval and also to pare some weight... so I was going to get an E13 LG1 Carbon crankset.

But stupid compatibility:
Need an E13 30mm BB that is $78 to replace the 24mm Shimano and maybe that E13 BB is a few grams heavier.
Very limited in options for Ovals, only Wolf Tooth makes an oval (CAMO spider) that fits on E13s proprietary direct mount AND is HG+ compatible, and I'd be limited to 32T or 34T, and its 10g heavier than an Absolute Black and $10 more than OneUp.

So all of a sudden I'm not knocking off 106g with carbon cranks, I'm only saving 89g for more $ than I thought.

Boo.