The "Show off your bike" thread! (Vol 2)

[wobert]

Natural environment you say?

Mine has suspension on the front, a whole 30mm and yes, it does make a difference

[sam.rog]

WhisperingWasp said:

Guys what's the deal with these "gravel" bikes? The green & black one above looks amazing but what are they used for? Rough roads or actual off-roading? With no suspension I can't see that they would be very comfortable?!

Anyone got any photos of them in their environment?

Mines the green one. I think of it as a road bike+. I have a road wheel/tyre setup of 46mm deep carbon rims and 28mm tyres for pure road rides where I know I’m not venturing off the tarmac.
I also have the wheelset pictured, Which consists of a wide aluminium rim and a 45mm knobbly tyre, for rides on canal paths and fire road gravel paths.

When the road ends I don't have to.

Edited by sam.rog on Tuesday 14th June 22:00

Edited by sam.rog on Tuesday 14th June 22:01

[WhisperingWasp]

Great info and pictures all - thanks.

[wobert]

I have two sets of wheels for the Slate.

One set shod with 42mm file-edge slicks which cope with Road and light off road duties, the second set are fitted with harder-core offroad tyres, 47mm up front, 42mm out the back.

I ride a mix of terrain, the slicks cope pretty well with most off road conditions, it’s only on the more knarly stuff that the knobblies come into their own.

I also have a Canyon Endurace, but my go to is the Slate more often than not.

[WhisperingWasp]

wobert said:

I have two sets of wheels for the Slate.

One set shod with 42mm file-edge slicks which cope with Road and light off road duties, the second set are fitted with harder-core offroad tyres, 47mm up front, 42mm out the back.

I ride a mix of terrain, the slicks cope pretty well with most off road conditions, it’s only on the more knarly stuff that the knobblies come into their own.

I also have a Canyon Endurace, but my go to is the Slate more often than not.

Does the replacement rear wheel have its own set of gears or do you swap them over?

[wobert]

The replacement wheels have their own brake discs and cassettes. So to switch is relatively straightforward.

The Slate only runs 650b wheels (27.5)

Other gravel bikes give you the option to run 700c with road tyres and 650b with off road orientated tyres.

Downsizing the wheel allows you to up the tyre width to give greater volume for shock absorption or grip.

Gravel bikes truly are do it all bikes allowing you to vary your route on a whim to explore where you may not have ventured before.

Take a look on your local council website, many have an interactive map showing where the local bridleways are and you can pick a route that takes them in. I’ve discovered all all sorts near to me that I didn’t know existed.

It doesn’t alway end in success!

[GravelBen]

WhisperingWasp said:

Is it the tyres - and maybe the disc brakes - that make it a gravel bike? If I put chunky tyres on my road bike is it then a gravel bike?

I think they also tend to have frame design (geometry and stiffness/compliance) that is more comfortable and stable/forgiving, compared to road bikes being stiffer and sharper handling.

[Tickle]

Thinking of Gravel bikes use, always reminds me of the Orange X9 video 'The Thing'. Not sure if gravel bikes were a thing then, it may have been more a cyclo-cross bike.

... anyway great video, makes me want a steel gravel bike.

https://youtu.be/lf8DyAGWfZo

[Pulse]

I’m now about 9 months in with my Orbea, and it’s been fantastic. A much better all-rounder than the Kona it replaced.

I often get asked if it’s an e-bike.

[Scoobyshue]

Pulse said:

I’m now about 9 months in with my Orbea, and it’s been fantastic. A much better all-rounder than the Kona it replaced.

I often get asked if it’s an e-bike.

Nice! Is that an e-bike?

[wobert]

Tickle said:

Thinking of Gravel bikes use, always reminds me of the Orange X9 video 'The Thing'. Not sure if gravel bikes were a thing then, it may have been more a cyclo-cross bike.

... anyway great video, makes me want a steel gravel bike.

https://youtu.be/lf8DyAGWfZo

Yes, the RX9 was more cyclocross orientated, but that video nicely sums up what a gravel bike does (particularly in the UK where we don’t have the mass of unmade dirt roads like they do in the US)

[Pulse]

Scoobyshue said:

Nice! Is that an e-bike?

…and my standard reply - I wish! (Normally it’s after a big climb!)

[Scoobyshue]

Pulse said:

…and my standard reply - I wish! (Normally it’s after a big climb!)

[twohoursfromlondon]

I may start frequenting this thread as I just put an order in for a new bike.

Had a Bianchi road bike for many years previously so this is my first step into gravel bikes and I can’t wait until I can get out and hit the roads and trails!

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBTIGRCAMEKAR/titus-...

[keith2.2]

Finally got around to finishing this at the weekend - 99 Santa Cruz Super 8.1 - back when bikes were built from girders.

The frame was sand blasted and treated to a Honda Boost Blue re spray with a pearl fleck. There’s a NOS Tioga Multi Control Saddle and ex GT Asia DH Team X-vert carbons. Stoppers are Hope Mono-6 Ti. 6 drilled titanium pistons which really help keep the weight down…

XTR oily bits and we’ll worn 321cd wheels.

No idea what I’m going to do with it. It has cost too much to sell and it’s too small for me to ride. The 400lb spring means my 90kg bottoms it just standing on it.



I say finished - I need to re-alight the chain rollers and put ted pedals on.

[Tim O]

Interesting, if perhaps a little obsessive, blog guide to riding the GB Duro route. Bike and kit selection. If you’re serious about gravelit’s got plenty of very good advice.

https://www.sirguylitespeed.com/a-complete-guide-t...

[Hugo Stiglitz]

wobert said:

Tim O said:

Two of my daughters go bikepacking and adventure riding and have encouraged me to get out exploring. So, bought this Cannondale Topstone Carbon frame module and will be building it up this weekend.

I’ve got a choice of Shimano GRX800 or SRAM Force, both 1x, not sure which to go for. I do like the SRAM double tap shifters but I’m not convinced about their reliability. Thoughts?

I’ll be heading for the East Devon Way. I might be some time.

Not the best photo, it’s actually very dark metallic purple. Looks great.

A couple of guys in the Gravel Division of our club ride these, very capable, but being BB30 the BB is made from cheese. All good other than that.

Convert to a threaded with a cup conversion

[Tim O]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

wobert said:

Tim O said:

Two of my daughters go bikepacking and adventure riding and have encouraged me to get out exploring. So, bought this Cannondale Topstone Carbon frame module and will be building it up this weekend.

I’ve got a choice of Shimano GRX800 or SRAM Force, both 1x, not sure which to go for. I do like the SRAM double tap shifters but I’m not convinced about their reliability. Thoughts?

I’ll be heading for the East Devon Way. I might be some time.

Not the best photo, it’s actually very dark metallic purple. Looks great.

A couple of guys in the Gravel Division of our club ride these, very capable, but being BB30 the BB is made from cheese. All good other than that.

Convert to a threaded with a cup conversion

That’s what I did to my old CAAD10, converted the BB30 shell to BSA threaded with FSA threaded sleeve. Worked very well.

However, not possible with the Carbon Topstone. The bottom bracket shell is BB30A Ai, which is based on BB30A (asymmetric, 73mm wide) but widened further to 83mm, which limits cranks choice considerably. Fortunately I have a Cannondale Hollowgram chainset spare, and with the appropriate crank axle, sourced, I’m sorted.

Edited by Tim O on Tuesday 21st June 12:50

[Woody]

GCH said:

Love that nukeproof. Like an angry wasp.

Thanks - yes it does, sounds like one too with the freehub!

[troc]

Tim O said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

wobert said:

Tim O said:

Two of my daughters go bikepacking and adventure riding and have encouraged me to get out exploring. So, bought this Cannondale Topstone Carbon frame module and will be building it up this weekend.

I’ve got a choice of Shimano GRX800 or SRAM Force, both 1x, not sure which to go for. I do like the SRAM double tap shifters but I’m not convinced about their reliability. Thoughts?

I’ll be heading for the East Devon Way. I might be some time.

Not the best photo, it’s actually very dark metallic purple. Looks great.

A couple of guys in the Gravel Division of our club ride these, very capable, but being BB30 the BB is made from cheese. All good other than that.

Convert to a threaded with a cup conversion

That’s what I did to my old CAAD10, converted the BB30 shell to BSA threaded with FSA threaded sleeve. Worked very well.

However, not possible with the Carbon Topstone. The bottom bracket shell is BB30A Ai, which is based on BB30A (asymmetric, 73mm wide) but widened further to 83mm, which limits cranks choice considerably. Fortunately I have a Cannondale Hollowgram chainset spare, and with the appropriate crank axle, sourced, I’m sorted.

Edited by Tim O on Tuesday 21st June 12:50

That’s why I bought an Al topstone. It has a normal BB