Gravel/Bikepack nerds enter...

[joetron]

What gearing? Looks like maybe running a 42T with Eagle (10-50?). What's your opinion on your setup? I'm collecting intel - not sure if Eagle or XPLR is the route for me. Ride a good bit of road, want 1x... so was leaning XPLR with 44t x 10-44... other options are 42t upfront with same 10-44 or going to Eagle 44t x 10x50.
Thoughts?

I was set up 42 with 10-44 and swapped it for 10-50 Eagle for Telluride Gravel b/c there were a few ruthless climbs.
For most everything else I thought XPLOR setup was great (and lighter).



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[gointhedistance]

I was set up 42 with 10-44 and swapped it for 10-50 Eagle for Telluride Gravel b/c there were a few ruthless climbs.
For most everything else I thought XPLOR setup was great (and lighter).

+1 Great to hear - thanks!

[Peruvian]

Goniff and I have been trying to figure out a late season overnighter for some time. We finally found a cheap hostel and route here in Vermont and headed out this weekend.

Day one was 33 miles and 3900’ elevation with some HAB due to this summers flooding. The ground was very wet and the “road” was blown out almost 10’ below grade in places that required bushwhacking through the forest.







The hostel was like staying in your great aunt’s farmhouse, but it was warm and dry with a hot shower and kitchen.



Day two was 30 miles and 3750’ and included some sightseeing in Noah Kahan’s “hometown”.







The Tunbridge General Store is one of the nicest in the state and almost worth a trip on its own.

[Falcon3]

Anybody been on a RM Solo 50? Apparently RM is going to SRAM E-grupos and is blowing out their mechanical versions. Currently I do 99% MTB but would like to have a comfy bike for longer tours like RAGBRAI and STP and also for Z2 forest road tours. My shop is giving me a hell of a deal on their pricing and told me this is the MTBer's gravel bike.

Also, what's sizing like now on gravel? Is it LongLowSlack like mtb geo has gone? My only sizing reference is old steel road bikes with flat top tubes. Usually comfy on a 55cm top tube with a 56 or so seat tube and a short 90mm stem with compact bars.

[alive]

Love seeing some of these trails in other parts of the world. Nice work

Something a little different. Definitely some cheesy parts, but shows some amazing capability of these new bikes

https://youtu.be/oX4V0F4e6Ss?si=BIcDws-unbbi9pNC

[Vt-Freeheel]

Go big or go home

[jdadour]

Anyone with a Rockshox Rudy or Fox 32 TC tried fitting a 29x2.25 inch tire? Does it rub?

[dan_pdx]

I was looking hard at the Niner RLT RDO, now marked down substantially at a couple of places including the LBS, then I got curious about what else is out there, and saw that Litespeed and Lynskey both have gravel bikes that are in the general range of that Niner.

I've never owned carbon or titanium bikes, but I understand that as an old fart dentist, I should look to add titanium to the stable, and I like the idea of something that's pretty immune to rock dings and abrasion. I forget who it was, but someone here had enough mud caked on their tire that they sanded away a chunk of their chain stays, and that's a little off-putting. The titanium frames also have threaded bottom brackets which is a plus for me -- pressfit has been pretty ass in my aluminum Cannondale.

Any sage advice out there?

[Iowagriz]

My 12yr old Salsa El Mariachi Ti 29er MTB has been the most comfortable bike that I've ever owned. I'm retiring it from mtb, putting a rigid fork on it, and will use it for years to come for gravel duty. I love that bike. Ti rules...

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[climberevan]

I'd love to have a Ti gravel bike. Even the $$$ ones are quite a bit heavier than even the cheap carbon frames, though... It's like 400+g penalty, or more like 700g if you're comparing to a light frame like a Crux.

Otherwise, Ti has some appealing qualities. Durability is #1, but I also like the look. Many carbon frames use threaded BBs as well (my Carbonda 707 has one, as well as a regular 27.2 seatpost), and some Ti frames use press-fit, so that's not a hard-and-fast distinction.

The "Ti/steel" metal frame is more comfortable thing is BS. Like wheels (delusional thoughts about which I've debunked in other threads), frames don't flex vertically enough for anyone to feel. The double-diamond configuration is inherently rigid, and if it did flex, it would quickly break. Seatposts and handlebars (or suspension stems) can flex substantially, and of course tire pressure has more to do with "feel" than anything else by a wide margin. Geometry is also hugely important. I'm convinced that peoples' claims of frame comfort are either psychosomatic or largely based on subtle geometry differences that make them think the frame is "absorbing vibration".

[Peruvian]

The "Ti/steel" metal frame is more comfortable thing is BS. Like wheels (delusional thoughts about which I've debunked in other threads), frames don't flex vertically enough for anyone to feel. The double-diamond configuration is inherently rigid, and if it did flex, it would quickly break. Seatposts and handlebars (or suspension stems) can flex substantially, and of course tire pressure has more to do with "feel" than anything else by a wide margin. Geometry is also hugely important. I'm convinced that peoples' claims of frame comfort are either psychosomatic or largely based on sublte geometry differences that make them think the frame is "absorbing vibration".

My wife and I have essentially the same frame (Kona Rove & Sutra), both in steel. There is no doubt that hers has more torsional flex than mine (the Rove has thinner tubing) so if that is what people refer to as “comfort”, I think they are correct. This is particularly noticeable when loaded with luggage.

[plugboots]

I was looking hard at the Niner RLT RDO, now marked down substantially at a couple of places including the LBS, then I got curious about what else is out there, and saw that Litespeed and Lynskey both have gravel bikes that are in the general range of that Niner.

I've never owned carbon or titanium bikes, but I understand that as an old fart dentist, I should look to add titanium to the stable, and I like the idea of something that's pretty immune to rock dings and abrasion. I forget who it was, but someone here had enough mud caked on their tire that they sanded away a chunk of their chain stays, and that's a little off-putting. The titanium frames also have threaded bottom brackets which is a plus for me -- pressfit has been pretty ass in my aluminum Cannondale.

Any sage advice out there?

Do it. If you go to one of the smaller Ti manufacturers, they’ll make the bike exactly the way you want, and it will last forever.

[El Chupacabra]

The "Ti/steel" metal frame is more comfortable thing is BS. Like wheels (delusional thoughts about which I've debunked in other threads), frames don't flex vertically enough for anyone to feel. The double-diamond configuration is inherently rigid, and if it did flex, it would quickly break. Seatposts and handlebars (or suspension stems) can flex substantially, and of course tire pressure has more to do with "feel" than anything else by a wide margin. Geometry is also hugely important. I'm convinced that peoples' claims of frame comfort are either psychosomatic or largely based on sublte geometry differences that make them think the frame is "absorbing vibration".

I don't think it's BS necessarily - - but it isn't an absolute. To me it does feel more like a vibration absorbing thing than anything else.

I've ridden carbon aluminum frames that each were brutally stiff and unpleasant, and others that were nice and smooth. Some steel bikes are smooth, some are stiff and burly (like a loaded touring bike frame). I've never ridden a titanium bike that I thought was overly rigid, but I imagine they're out there - - the ones I've had were pretty smooth, on the verge of whippy (lateral flex).

I've never ridden a stainless frame, but like titanium, the perceived durability is kind of interesting.

[chaka]

I find ti and steel to both be definitely more comfortable than carbon based on my small quiver. And my Ti was built to be stiff af... its still a super smooth ride. I think Chupa is right... more due to vibration damping. A well built carbon frame can also cut out a lot of vibration in my experience. To the question at hand.... +1 on the Ti. Its worth it to have at least one Ti bike in your life, and it will likely last a lifetime.

[joetron]

Oh boy, I can’t wait to post my delusional thoughts when I install some Zipp 101s on my Ti frame.
It’s gonna be so smooth….OR IS IT?!


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[Dee Hubbs]

Oh boy, I can’t wait to post my delusional thoughts when I install some Zipp 101s on my Ti frame.
It’s gonna be so smooth….OR IS IT?!

I wanted to make a smart ass comment about my Carbon frame with Ti Rims, and wanted to make sure how many Ti rims were actually produced.
Instead I'm 20 pages deep on a forum about Ti as a material vs other alloys. Learning that the density of 6061 Al = 0.0975 lbs/in^3 vs the density of 3al/2.5v Titanium = 0.162 lbs/in^3.
Now I'm making my second coffee as I read about the properties of Ti spokes in wheel building.

[dan_pdx]

Thanks everyone for the moral support. I just pulled the trigger on a Lynskey GR300 2x build. They're closing out that frame and I think I got the last one.

Years ago I test rode an aluminum Masi back to back with their steel frame with the same geometry. I definitely noticed a difference in ride quality (and power transfer), but that was on 25 mm road tires at 120 psi. On a low pressure gravel tire, I expect those differences to be unnoticeable, as others mentioned, but the durability (and sexy brushed finish) of a ti frame are big selling points for me.

They say they're about 6 weeks out on shipping finished bikes, so I'll let you know how it goes when it's here.

[Peruvian]

The off season and post pandemic sales are getting unbelievable. 50% off WTB tires, 70% off Sram disc rotors, and Kona Rove full builds for just over $900.

[TripleT]

^where you seeing roves for that price?!

[MCS5280]

^where you seeing roves for that price?!

MCU in Boise has them for around that price right now

[Peruvian]

MCU in Boise has them for around that price right now

Yup. I reached out to see if they are the 1x or 2x version but haven’t heard back yet.

[CantDog]

The off season and post pandemic sales are getting unbelievable. 50% off WTB tires, 70% off Sram disc rotors, and Kona Rove full builds for just over $900.

Can you link the discounted rotors? Need some new ones after they got bent traveling.

[Peruvian]

Can you link the discounted rotors? Need some new ones after they got bent traveling.

Look through the sales at Jenson. It looks like the 160s I bought sold out.

[Peruvian]

[wendigo]

went to




at the beginning of the year.
flew into santiago de cuba, setup our bikes and headed out


soon there was a flat, but a convenient bus stop to change a tube


the trip included propaganda










new year effigies, to be burned


land crabs


some hurricane destroyed roads


some nice hill climbs


a real shithole of a town (moa)


and some great scenery








cool place and people, i'd go back


oh and a pig being cooked up for the new year at our airbnb