Gravel/Bikepack nerds enter...

[Jax]

Once again I have major fomo as the TD "classic" riders roll through town. It's been really dry up until yesterday, rains are cooling things off now, it's so nice. Here's a few pics from past few weeks, not as green and lush as it usually is. Hopefully big ride next week in the flattops, been putting it off due to smoke from the fires.

[chaka]

^^^ very nice, Jax!!!

[Peruvian]

Mag get together for a weekend bikepacking trip is always going to lead to escapades. Our focus was hitting various maple creemee stands in Northern Vermont.

MNIAW and I started from Burlington and rode just under 60 miles on day one with plenty of time to take a swim and savor the flavor.









Goniff and biggins joined us on day 2 for a 41 mile, 3700’ elevation day in the pouring rain. Adventure cycling is always a hoot.







A few mechanicals slowed us down but didn’t stop us from the ultimate goal.





After another night in the tents we started our 45 mile ride back to home with stops for snacks along the way.



Be sure to stop at kids’ lemonade stands for hydration.



Back in town we had 2 more creemee stops before we had to part ways.



Pics from me, Goniff, and biggins. Thanks guys for a terrific weekend.

[JPaul]

^ great job on the Creemee Crusher!

[biggins]

Creemee Crusher!

Boom- say it with rolling r's and it's the dopest route on the books

Thanks for crushing the route-plan and execution Peru. Rockin' good time.

[scharny]

Attachment 377834

Routing is a bit of a pain,but worked out alright. You can reach the lever from the hoods and the drops. Not super intuitive, but that was only the first ride. Demoed a Camois Hagar with grx leaver dropper and worked so good. If axs is an option, that’d be sweet!

Nice setup - I have a 90mm LEV KS dropper on my gravel bike and really enjoy it. So I do have a question - if you have a dropper post and pretty fat rubber (45mm Maxxis Ramblers?), why in the heck are you using road shoes and pedals? Great power transfer, but road shoes w/ road cleats are IMHO just about the worst tools possible for hikeabike, dabbing technical sections, stream crossings, etc.

[climberevan]

I played hooky from work this morning and rode my new favorite loop from the house. The Flume trail is pretty boring on a MTB but the drop bars make it more interesting.Attachment 378381Attachment 378382Attachment 378383

[climberevan]

PicsAttachment 378410Attachment 378412Attachment 378411

[Vt-Freeheel]

Nice ride last night, couple of tail slaps from the hardworking beavers.

[klauss]

Got a nice little ride in the heat on a whip I picked up from smmokan here. Not much mt biking round here that I know of, but some decent unpaved sections around the lake

[mntlion]

https://singletrackworld.com/gritcx/...-1000-winner/?

this years winner, and shredded the FKT for women. and this with 40'C+/100'F heat


and mrs mntlion/ Skibee is off doing this in reverse. over 3 weeks, NOT 3 days.

[Peruvian]

The man don’t tell us where we can ride!







Earned

[Dee Hubbs]

Does it count as Gravel Riding if I'm on a bike with 25c tires, 50/34 - 11/30 gearing, and non flared curly bars?
I ride this section weekly on my road bike with one of my buddies. It has sections over 15% and tops out around 8400'

[huckbucket]

If it ain't paved, it counts. Chip seal is the exception.

[grskier]

Once again I have major fomo as the TD "classic" riders roll through town. It's been really dry up until yesterday, rains are cooling things off now, it's so nice. Here's a few pics from past few weeks, not as green and lush as it usually is. Hopefully big ride next week in the flattops, been putting it off due to smoke from the fires.

This up near the 'boat?

[jamal]

Long one yesterday. up rock creek and over skalkaho pass















https://imgur.com/a/B662wvD

[Jax]

This up near the 'boat?

Yeppers!

[brutah]

Bought a gravel bike last week. After riding mountain bikes all my life, pretty stoked to dip my toes into the world of road biking. Plus I needed more excuses to squeeze my fat ass into spandex. only a few rides on it so far, but damn is this thing fun!

[mall walker]

ahh man. let’s ride up emi and then up/down mopi and back down emi, totally manageable on the rigid bike

[greenmachine]

I need some feedback. Just spent way too much money on new gravel bike not because I wanted a gravel bike per say but because I think the future of road/gravel bikes is 1x with wide tires that can be used on road and gravel. the goal was to replace my road bike with a bike that would be good on the roads and gravel. My expectation would be around 80% road, if it were only gravel I would have spent a lot less. The questions I have are pedals, shoes and tires. For my use why would I use a MTN bike pedal like a shimano XT rather than a road pedal? In a perfect world I'd have two sets of wheels but that's not going to happen right now so I'm looking for a tire (slicks?) that are really good on the road and get the job done on gravel. Any suggestions? Thx.

[greenmachine]

Looking at the ReneHerse Barlow Pass


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Peruvian]

File treads like the Barlow Pass will be fine on dry gravel/dirt roads but will become dicey if it gets wet and muddy.

If you don’t expect any hike-a-bike or walking whatsoever, road shoes are okay.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

I think you’d get the same performance from a Gravelking for less $. Although people swear by Rene Hearse so maybe they’re worth the premium?

Personally I don’t even think you really need a file tread for rides with 80% pavement and fairly mellow, dry gravel (assuming that’s what you’re riding). I run a tubeless GP5000 32 for those days w/out issue.

As said above - you def don’t need mountain bike pedals if you aren’t planning on walking.

[geomorph]

I don't know why anyone would choose road pedals if they plan on spending any time walking around. Is the platform really that much better than a mtb pedal with a cage? Weight difference? As far as tires, Gravel King SK are surprisingly fast on pavement, but I also think tread is not a must have and running 32 slicks or semi slicks is fine for mixed use.

[Peruvian]

Personally I don’t even think you really need a file tread for rides with 80% pavement and fairly mellow, dry gravel (assuming that’s what you’re riding). I run a tubeless GP5000 32 for those days w/out issue.

I’ve had excellent luck with WTB Byways on mixed surfaces, including some pretty rough roads. I expect WTB Horizon would work with smooth and dry surfaces.

I really enjoy the road plus style tire to allow me to run much lower pressure (40psi and below) which evens out gravel roads and provides a lot of comfort.