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ferrals – Member

Nice one, I’m the same, want to buy from a localish shop (esp as have never ridden a drop bar so want to test for size etc). For mainly commuter use, with a bit of random riding (fitnesss riding on road when its been peeing down and i dont have time to clean the mtb of 25kg of mud!) and trying a couple of ‘cross races. Am weighing up the genesis or the cheapest ridley cx bike. Sounds like the gnesis will probably do what I am after fine and is a bit cheaper. Now that I’m pretty much 100% on getting one or the other I’ll head off for test ride at some point after work in the next week or so.

Stop thinking, start buying! I’m bored of being the only Pig with a cross/gravel bike. (Although I think there may be a couple of others starting to take an interest.) You can certainly take my CAADX for a spin, but I think the 54cm might be a little too big?

PJ266, I’ve just fitted Strada Bianca open tubs from Challenge. On the faster end of gnarmac, but they’re rather lovely. A bitch to fit, but lovely.

Those Strada Bs are ace tyres Flash, good choice.

Just out on mine, got the hplus/griffo on today.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/wbcNXX]Untitled[/url] by tangwyn, on Flickr

IdleJon – Member

Stop thinking, start buying! I’m bored of being the only Pig with a cross/gravel bike. (Although I think there may be a couple of others starting to take an interest.) You can certainly take my CAADX for a spin, but I think the 54cm might be a little too big?

Haha – cheers Jon. I’d been half planning on popping out to U.C today after work and biting the bullet but they are closed!

I run the Strada’s on the Pick as a road bike.
Haven’t had a problem fitting them. Not overly sure about their life span. Plenty of small cuts with just road use.
Nice to use though.

I had the Stradas as well. A bitch to fit, as you say. Destroyed 3 tubes doing it.

Did a 20 mile commute. Then, on the way home, blew off the rim. Refitted. Pumped up. Lasted 500 yards before blowing off the rim again.

Lots of nice bikes on here, it’s interesting to see what tyres people are choosing to use for these bikes, my bike came with 41mm knards but i quickly changed them to 38mm barlow pass tyres, my riding is roughly 60/40 in favour of tarmac, the barlow pass tyres have proven to be great so far.

This is pretty typical of the type of dirt i ride around here, slicks tyres make more sense on this type of surface imo.

Anyone used Hutchinson Sector tubeless? Bit more road at 28.

London_lady I recognise that bike!

My GT Grade set-up for the Dorset Gravel Ride earlier this year.

That’s with Kenda small bloc 8 front and Happy Medium rear which was actually gripped really well off-road.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/wf7Y2f]Ragley Rodwell[/url] by Beanum, on Flickr

Ragley Rodwell with On-One Pompino forks..

I used Schwalbe One 28c tubeless on the road. Very hardy on gravel as well. But I’m waiting for the Schwalbe G-One 30C gravel tyre. Looks good, perhaps a little thin mind.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/pSUdeB]IMG_0545[/url] by thom1984, on Flickr

Gravel mode

[url=https://flic.kr/p/wggryr]IMG_0780[/url] by thom1984, on Flickr

On route to Amsterdam.

Need to do an update as it’s on a bit of a diet atm.

My GT Grade.
Loving this bike. Nippy on the road and pretty capable off it. 😀

Not my photo.. but do have a Tripster…

Tripster Porn….

Gravel bike / all road bike / gnarmac bike? Call it what you will. A look in the tripster thread shows how popular this type of bike is getting, but the tripster isn’t the only game in town, so lets have a look at yer bike mister.

Yes, but it’s the best one and when mine arrives and you see it’s titanium loveliness, you’ll be so upset that they put black paint all over yours ;-x

So this is another Tripster thread now? Brilliant.

Bike sold itself, it knew it had picked the wrong rider and was getting bored!

Quick picture of it when we were still talking (and a preview of what it looks like with brown tape, just for MussEd)

Well so far, it’s making me take longer rides to and from work so that must be a sign!

LOL! ok Susie. 😆

So this is another Tripster thread now? Brilliant.

No. This thread shows there is far more variety and interest in the genre once you move away from the sheep.

😉

I actually have a pair of Strada Bianca tyres sitting here, I just can’t bring myself to put them on a bike I know I will end up bouncing around off-road on!

I think I will order a pair of the Gravel Grinders, will let you know how they are, 38mm wide sounds like a great idea to me.

@ epicyclo – thank you, it’s good to see flat pedals being used on a cx. I can’t bear spd’s but not sure whether my cx would appreciate Straitlines and 5:10’s. Think I’ll try it! 😀

I’m really looking forward to building Susie’s tripster up for her… 😈

No. This thread shows there is far more variety and interest in the genre once you move away from the sheep.

Ti is bl**dy lovely and that’s why the Tripster is my second Ti bike. 8)

😉

BAAAAAA!

😉

Blows raspberry. 😀

Here’s mine. Love it.

cinnamon_girl – Member
@ epicyclo – thank you, it’s good to see flat pedals being used on a cx. I can’t bear spd’s but not sure whether my cx would appreciate Straitlines and 5:10’s. Think I’ll try it!

I use flats on my fixie too. 🙂

Anyone used or heard much about the Challenge Gravel grinder tyres? They look ideal and a bit tougher than the Open tub options:

http://www.challengetech.it/products/gravel/gravel-grinder-053/en

I bought a pair of them from OO as they’d sold out of their own Gravel Road tyres (I got the best part of 3000 miles out of those). The Challenges are quieter on tarmac, not noticeably faster though. They aren’t as good in the mud as you’d expect but the side lugs are just as good so at least cornering off tarmac is as safe.

My Dirty Disco

Not specifically a gravel bike but for me a pretty much ‘do it all’ bicycle. Pretty much my #1 bike for rides from the house, where I go and what I do depends on the wheelset and tyre combo I throw on. 105 10sp with 9sp XT rear mech and 36t cassette for added range.

I’ll try again (previous complete failure at sharing photos) – My do it all cross bike. My commutes are becoming more and more varied (and more fun).

[url=https://flic.kr/p/wf6MRY]DSC_0325-01[/url] by Simon Langdon, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/wgKfHM]DSC_0328-01[/url] by Simon Langdon, on Flickr

My classic Tripster ATR in lightweight B&B touring mode in NW Scotland last week. Thinking of swapping to 37mm Conti Travel Contacts tyres for a ride in the Pamirs next month anyone had much experience on gravel with them?

My Genesis CdF. Nowt too fancy, but it might be my favourite bike.

Wellington’s monument by J Grant Hill, on Flickr

I’ve got one of these GT Grade 105

Have either of the other Gt Grade owners had issues with the stock rims?

My rear wheel has been rebuilt once already with new spokes and still wont stay true 🙁

soma rich – my wheels are ok so far, although I’ve only had the bike a couple of months and probably only done about 500 miles on it. Mostly on road as well. That said the stock wheels make it feel really sluggish so I’m on the look out for some lighter replacements.

quote davidtaylforth – Member
Way too many stem spacers in this thread

Way to many manufacturers making not enough sizes so people end up with stupid low head tubes imo.

Another Arkose here. As much as I love her, she’ll be going soon to make way for something else.

Headtubes? I had a Ritchey Road logic. 55cm. I could slam the stem, but the top tube was too long.

My Swiss Cross is a 53. I could probably drop one more spacer. But it fits.

I do love a spacer discussion. 😉