Gravel/Bikepack nerds enter...

[Hopeless Sinner]

27.5" vs 29", what are the pros and cons of the 2 tire sizes? My use is anticipated to be mostly closed or gated FS roads and 2 tracks, w a bit of asphalt to get to the trail heads. The bike I'm looking at has WTB Venture 700 x 50c tires. Thanks.

[riff]

What’s a decent rack for a 29+ bike? I have a surly Karate Monkey, looking to tie on a pack and skis more easily for spring exploring. Ibera option on amazon seems ok, but obviously amazon quality is a concern. Thoughts?


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[mntlion]

roswheel (ebay) has been good for me. No idea if it will fit 29+

[bennymac]

New bike day. Seems like it’ll be awhile before I can properly ride it.

[Flyoverland Captive]

That’s a beauty.

[tgapp]

@bennymac I don't know much about gravel bikes but that looks like a stunning ride; what are the details of it? Congrats!!

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[bennymac]

Thanks!

It's a BMC frame called the URS (for "unrestricted") - it has a small suspension where the seat stays meet the seat tube (hidden inside that black strip) - gets good reviews for the frame.

I was just stoked to find a bike in my size that could be mail ordered easily. And it was on sale which is just weird given the current bike climate.

It's entry level brakes and drivetrain but I bought my current road bike in 2006 and this is my first gravel bike so I think I'll be satisfied.

[Colorado_Freeskier]

Can't wait to take this for a spin...'20 Pivot Vault. Couldn't find a complete bike anywhere...LBS, online. Luckily I did find last years frame in my size marked down by $800 and the online dealer says they have all the parts to duplicate the factory build. Same frame as the 2021s but IMO it looks much better. Was really hesitant to go electronic but in the end I went with the SRAM etap rear similar to the factory build.

[CovertM]

Can't wait to take this for a spin...'20 Pivot Vault. Couldn't find a complete bike anywhere...LBS, online. Luckily I did find last years frame in my size marked down by $800 and the online dealer says they have all the parts to duplicate the factory build. Same frame as the 2021s but IMO it looks much better. Was really hesitant to go electronic but in the end I went with the SRAM etap rear similar to the factory build.

Have it in Coyote Brown, whatever they call it...Love it, incredibly nimble and responsive bike that seems to eat up the bumps just fine. I was leery of the seatpost tech and thought it was quite gimicky, but in fact I notice the benefits on really long bumpy rides. I haven't taken my "real" road rig out in a long time after getting the Vault.

[Colorado_Freeskier]

Have it in Coyote Brown, whatever they call it...Love it, incredibly nimble and responsive bike that seems to eat up the bumps just fine. I was leery of the seatpost tech and thought it was quite gimicky, but in fact I notice the benefits on really long bumpy rides. I haven't taken my "real" road rig out in a long time after getting the Vault.

Although I've got a heavy 1x commuter bike with 700c/40mm wheels, this is my 1st gravel bike. My plan is to sell both the road and commuter bike.

[Peruvian]

So who's running flats and who is running clipless?

[ticketchecker]

Just picked up a Norco Search XR s2. It was cheapish and in stock at a local shop. Now I need to move to Vermont where there’s endless mileage of dirt roads.


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[half-fast]

So who's running flats and who is running clipless?

I have pedals with a platform in one side and clipless on the other. I use clipless 99% of the time

[jamal]

Breezy out there yesterday and a little cold but the dirt was nice. We have a 3 day gravel race thing coming up this weekend, more team time trial format though to keep people apart. So anyway I basically checked out all three days worth of the course.

South side road along the clark fork is a fun ride on it's own and goes from missoula to alberton







Then I went up ninemile a little bit. Thankfully the water fountain at the ranger station was working because the ride back was rough. Like 2 hours into a 20mph headwind.

[huckbucket]

Looks fantastic.

Buddy and I did a wet 45mi, 3K climbing, gravel slog on Sunday in 55degs. Was surprisingly good once you got wet and couldn't get any wetter. Found some new roads but was too occupied to take pics. Western NY state. No one lives where we go unless you own livestock.

[chaka]

that looks great Jamal, good luck with your race. I'm realizing how far away from race shape I currently am, yikes.

Anyway, with all of the new bike love going around, I figured I would add to the pile. Say Hello to my Donkey, we've been getting along nicely since December. Like some have posted here, I'm a fan of collapsing the bike quiver, this is a great do it all road, gravel, trail, commuter, bikepacker etc etc

[Peruvian]

that looks great Jamal, good luck with your race. I'm realizing how far away from race shape I currently am, yikes.

Anyway, with all of the new bike love going around, I figured I would add to the pile. Say Hello to my Donkey, we've been getting along nicely since December. Like some have posted here, I'm a fan of collapsing the bike quiver, this is a great do it all road, gravel, trail, commuter, bikepacker etc etc

And it comes with a spork!

[Peruvian]

[bennymac]

that looks great Jamal, good luck with your race. I'm realizing how far away from race shape I currently am, yikes.

Anyway, with all of the new bike love going around, I figured I would add to the pile. Say Hello to my Donkey, we've been getting along nicely since December. Like some have posted here, I'm a fan of collapsing the bike quiver, this is a great do it all road, gravel, trail, commuter, bikepacker etc etc

That’s a great looking bike

[chaka]

That’s a great looking bike

thanks! really enjoying it.

[phatty]

Looking at buying a gravel bike for getting in good climbs on the forest roads we have around Seattle. Unfortunately I need to upgrade my MTB as well and the gravel would get ridden less, my budget is going to be less. Looking to keep it under $1500. Is it better to try and find used or to build up something on my own. Not needing anything fast/super light. Just something durable that can handle some punishment. Any help is appreciated.

[Iowagriz]

Looking at buying a gravel bike for getting in good climbs on the forest roads we have around Seattle. Unfortunately I need to upgrade my MTB as well and the gravel would get ridden less, my budget is going to be less. Looking to keep it under $1500. Is it better to try and find used or to build up something on my own. Not needing anything fast/super light. Just something durable that can handle some punishment. Any help is appreciated.

If your MTB is a hardtail, grab a rigid fork and make that the gravel bike. Take the savings for the better MTB upgrade

[retirwntm]

If your MTB is a hardtail, grab a rigid fork and make that the gravel bike. Take the savings for the better MTB upgrade

I’ve been thinking about doing something like this. A gavel grinder / bike with the fam bike.


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[phatty]

If your MTB is a hardtail, grab a rigid fork and make that the gravel bike. Take the savings for the better MTB upgrade

It's full suspension so that plan won't work. Good thought, though.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

At $1500 the Journeyman or Rove might still be a couple good options. But if you can swing $1700 the Trek Checkpoint AL4 or the Canyon Grail 6 both come with solid builds well worth $200 bump in my opinion. There are probably lots more options in this range I'm not thinking of. That said, bikes are so hard to find I'd just buy what you can find if you want something soon.