Gravel/Bikepack nerds enter...

[biggins]

Peruvian bikepacks in jeans.

[Peruvian]

Peruvian bikepacks in jorts.

FIFY

[VTskibum]

Hiding from the wind for a bit between road and gravel bits.


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[chaka]

I don’t wear a chamois on my gravel bike.

wait.... what?!?

Iowagriz - wishing you the best, my magic 8 ball says you are going to crush it and have a great adventure.

[bamboocoreONLY]

Anyone tried those new Aeroe spider racks for bike packing? Going to order one soon and try it on the CT this summer, they look pretty cool since you can have two dry bags on it on your rear triangle.

[climberevan]

Maybe it will be fine, but that's quite the lever acting on the seat stay. I can't imagine it would hold much weight.

Old Man Mountain has been reincarnated and offers an extremely sturdy rack that carries the weight on a through axle adapter and has braces going forward to the stays with feet like the Aeroe ones. I would be way more confident in that arrangement: triangles are inherently strong.

[jhyatt]

Anyone tried those new Aeroe spider racks for bike packing? Going to order one soon and try it on the CT this summer, they look pretty cool since you can have two dry bags on it on your rear triangle.

Report back. I am very skeptical of that rack. Long lever arm on ashort attachment on the chainstay not designed for that load. Offroad bouncing big dynamic loads.

[huckbucket]

I don’t wear a chamois on my gravel bike.

Wait. What? Ouch.

[406]

Maybe it will be fine, but that's quite the lever acting on the seat stay. I can't imagine it would hold much weight.

Old Man Mountain has been reincarnated and offers an extremely sturdy rack that carries the weight on a through axle adapter and has braces going forward to the stays with feet like the Aeroe ones. I would be way more confident in that arrangement: triangles are inherently strong.

Looks like Aero can only haul around 9 lbs. Attachment system looks a lot like the thule rack I have, but less burly. I would never use the thule rack on a carbon bike, but works fine on my Ti bike when I really clamp it down. It can haul good amount of weight, like my 6 yo kid. But I would get an Old Man Mountain rack if planning to do anything substantial, I got the thule years ago when that was the only option I could find.

[chaka]

Anyone tried the Tailfin racks? Seems pretty slick for a variety of applications. Nice they offer less expensive alloy versions (still far from cheap)

[Jax]

^^^ just came here to post same link. If it's good enough for JP...

[Jax]

55 days until the start of the Tour Divide race. I've dialed in my gear and just need to keep piling up the hours in the saddle. It should tip the scales near 47lbs before food and water. Plenty of food storage capabilities, top 1/4 of the framebag, all of the gas tank and 75% of the front pocket are available. I could probably lighten up a little more (bivy instead of tent), but I'll need some comfort. Goal is under 25 days.

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Baller. Wanted to do it this year but covid and logistics bs...

That's a heck of a goal man, happy to be one of your dot watchers. May the wind be at your back!

[buttahflake]

Looks good except for that saddle, why not a snub nose, cut out? Specialized Body Geometry or a Pro from Shimano or the nice 3d units from fizik, spend the money and get something better than that WTB.

[Iowagriz]

I was a Specialized Phenom guy for a long time, but then my body changed or they changed the form. No Bueno any more. This is the WTB Silverado, feels like the old Flite to me and works well for me.

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[Dumbest Known Time]

Anyone tried the Tailfin racks? Seems pretty slick for a variety of applications. Nice they offer less expensive alloy versions (still far from cheap)

I was also going to link over to these. The crew at Bikepacking seem to really love them.

Also another vote for chamois free gravel biking. Taints are like cast iron pans. Once seasoned appropriately, they'll never let you down. Just wipe clean after use and store dry.

[scharny]

Anyone doing the Gravel Grape Crusher on June 11th? It’s a kickass gravel/trail 60-miler that dips into Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

https://www.bikereg.com/ggc

[jamal]

Yeah my PI mtb liners are not nearly as comfortable as my pro bibs, plus are see through, and generally I feel like a second layer rubbing around isn't great for long term comfort or durability of fabric.

The other day I got rained on really early on a long ride. That made the rest of it pretty uncomfortable and I was wishing for dry feet and shorts, a mini chamois cream, and chain lube. I've never heard such bad noises out of a drivetrain.









https://www.strava.com/activities/7025616478

[sethschmautz]

Is anybody using a dropper on their gravel bike? Do you like it? What lever are you using and where is it mounted?

I have had one for over a year but never installed. On building my new bike I've run housing and am thinking hard about installing. I have only run into a few instances where I think it would be helpful...

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[Dee Hubbs]

In mid March I built this up for one of my clients. She is riding for Revel Bikes, but her bike Rover Gravel bike did not arrive in time for a project she had planned in Mexico with support from Bici Bucerias.
So we got our hands on a Why Cycles (sister company to Revel Bikes) and built up a R+ V.3 Gravel bike in a size small.
Shimano provided us with a full Di2 GRX groupo.
We went with a 1x system with 42T chainring matched to a 11-42 cassette.
For the touch points Shimano/Pro bars and Pro seat post, Ergon Womens saddle, and some Lizard Skin bar tape (I finally got rid of some pink take I had in my inventory for ever)
The wheels are DT Swiss GRC 1400 with 40c Maxxis Ramblers set up tubeless, with 160mm rotors front and back. These are super nice and aero (I'm just glad i have never had to true them or replace a broken spoke because of their (so aero!) internal nipples)
With Ergon carbon bottle cages, XTR race pedals, and a Garmin mount this build came out at 9.18 kg or 20.24 lbs.





The build was finished 2 days before its departure to Mexico where it would be tested on a 155 km (96 mile) 4327m (14,200') climb!

Here is a video of Karen riding the bike in Mexico.


We just got notification that Revel has received her new gravel frame, so I look forward to build that one towards the end of this week.

[Supermoon]

I for some reason thought they made a 1x brifter with dropper on the left lever, but I am apparently smoking dope cause I can’t find it.

[hball]

I for some reason thought they made a 1x brifter with dropper on the left lever, but I am apparently smoking dope cause I can’t find it.

I run a sram force brifter set but only have a 1x drivetrain and I modded the left brifter to be used for the dropper. I use a OneUp dropper and put a “gnarp” (cable stop with set screw) on the post end. Other posts that use a set screw at the post instead of the swaged end would be easier to set this up.
Lots of YouTube turorials on how to mod the shifter, basically you need to take a small ratchet out.

[Supermoon]

Ah. Maybe that’s why I’ve seen them

[sethschmautz]

... and some Lizard Skin bar tape (I finally got rid of some pink take I had in my inventory for ever)

Nice build Dee.

Any interest in getting rid of more of that pink tape?

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[Peruvian]

Given that this was my old neighborhood, color me intrigued.

[kalisto]

I for some reason thought they made a 1x brifter with dropper on the left lever, but I am apparently smoking dope cause I can’t find it.

Shimano grx 800 has it. i want to say 812? honestly can't remember. it's there.