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Rapid rob are ok but i wore the back out in 600km running small block 8 now rides well not draggy on the road will see how well it lasts.
My Clemente tyres are pretty good, Xplorer or something.
wtb nano here, I've just pumped them up a bit and done a road century on them with no drama
Built a rgid 29er to be good on road but still serve as proper MTB.
I bought a new one a month or two ago a still have not been further than the end of the road 😳
Saying that, it was bought more for winter. Even so, it might not last that long!
I sold my Cotic Soul after I injured my back and now have a Croix De Fer and Cannondale CAAD 10. I miss the weekends away in the Lakes and Wales and would have it back tomorrow if it wasn't for my back.
Just checked out the nanos, at 40c don't think they'll fit the cdf
Looked at the Clement Las 700x33 think they'll be able to cover all of my riding
I've yoyo'd between 1-3 bikes in recent years.
This was partly driven by a hankering / misty eyes for as few bikes as possible, having recalled from my youth that I had only a hardtail (Lefty-forked Cannondale) to do everything from local MTB to John O'Groats to Land's End. (On examining those memories, I found that I actually had 2 bikes for most of that time!)
I did indeed return to one bike for 6 months in 2010 (hardtail) and I've tried various forms of "gnarmac" bikes since that time - most recently an Escapade with 29er wheels and MTB finishing. I've also tried a rigid 29er (Stooge), when trying to pare back my MTB'ing to the simplicities of yore.
I'm fortunate to live close to man-made trails, have road-riding mates and to commute a reasonable distance by bike. At the moment, I've settled on a hardtail, road bike and a hybrid. One bike is just too much compromise; two is better but still limits me; three is optimal for my needs.
Here are a few notes to consider from my experience:
[b]MTB'ing:[/b] rigid is fine for around 4 months of winter, but once the trails dry out I really miss the zing of a bike I can push harder. I now fit rigid forks and singlespeed my hardtail over winter. I couldn't imagine seriously MTB'ing on a drop bar bike.
[b]Road, touring and "dad biking":[/b] riding a proper road bike really is a thrill in its own right. A gnarmac bike can do everything a proper road bike can, but it's definitely slower and less exciting on a "road" ride - and yet superior for touring and Sustrans-style gravel paths. A road bike definitely can't do gravel-road pulling of Tagalong trailers, nor is it really suited to collecting curry from a takeaway / popping to the shops / pub riding.
[b]Commuting:[/b] cobbles, traffic lights and disjointed city centre riding is where I've found the gnarmac bike type to be really suited - especially on wet days. But, on dry days, a road bike is a fair bit quicker, especially on the open road sections. A flat bar / hybrid (as my Escapade is currently set up) is also really quite good.
If I were to need to reduce my bike tally from 3 to 2, I'd go for a gnarmac bike and possibly 2 sets of wheels... but there would be compromises.
.Built a rgid 29er to be good on road but still serve as proper MTB
Here here.
[img] https://goo.gl/photos/5CCU1A93ZMTi7BsU8 [/img]
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[s]For rone above because its very pretty.
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I can't link it, so here's a pic of what I use as a gravel bike 😆
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7484/26743936382_9d95ed5f03_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7484/26743936382_9d95ed5f03_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GKgExq ]IMG_1300[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/94658862@N08/ ]Martin Robbo[/url], on Flickr
For rone above because its very pretty.
That would be this:
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Where the hell did you find the url?
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Must admit I would keep a hardtail MTB if I had the funds, just for dicking about on the Hills etc. I also tried the 2016 Longitude out and it was a close-run thing - but 50% of my out of town riding is on the backroads farm tracks/moorland and the other half on connecting B-roads. Not sure such usage fits easily into the many categories as is multifunctional inasmuch as I require to carry a fair bit of kit for 30-60 miles per day, often camping out, yet often go for unloaded fitness or pootling sessions.
Mostly it (drop-bar rigid cromo 2x10 29er) just feels so comfortable, fuss-free and will encourage me to keep cycling on in the (hopefully) late-summer of life. Looking fwd to maintaining just one bike (the other - the Dutch utility bike - mostly looks after itself) as it got silly at 4 (used/ageing) bikes in the stable, let alone when the number crept up to 7!
2unfit2ride - that's a beauty - what is it?
[img][url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1618/26701968811_34fa830d3f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1618/26701968811_34fa830d3f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GFyz3B ]IMG_20160424_215345[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/16899333@N03/ ]IamDeathside[/url], on Flickr[/img]
I do love my cheapo GT Grade, I was running it with two sets of wheels with one with CX tyres on. But I just prefer my MTB off road, it's far more fun, so the Grade sports 28c slicks pretty much permanently. Horses for courses......
[img] https://goo.gl/1U3AG0 [/img]
Another Grade, this one is a loaner from the LBS while mine is at the importer for a warranty claim (see the other thread for more info). 28c slicks are not ideal for muddy climbs but I'm not averse to jumping off and pushing. Just off out on it for the afternoon, a nice trail which I haven't got time to do entirely so I can bail midway and the 25km road ride home isn't as painful as it is on my SS MTB.
For me the hard part is not getting carried away on the descents. This is where a section of roots or similar gets me into trouble, nothing you would even blink at on an MTB (even a rigid one if shod with sensible rubber).
Where it shines is surprisingly on the climbs and long draggy bits. Although that is no surprise at all.
Mine came with 105 hydros that seem more than up to the job and Clement xplor at 35c which i have yet to pinch flat on the rough but seem to go well on the gravel and even the tarmac.
Never having had a road bike I can't comment on how much it loses to one in the speed stakes but I really only use the tarmac when I have to. Here in Aus there are a lot of gravel (unsealed) roads I can put in a 100K loop from the door with no more than 2 or 3k of roads so an ideal bike.
Another vote for nanos.
Id suggest if you cant fit a 40c in there what you have is a regular old cx bike..... I found my cx bike so limiting compared to the rove, headangles slacker and the 5mm on the tyres + mudclearance remaining really makes all the difference in the offroad ability,
Where the hell did you find the url?
Yeah thanks Otsdr, I did this at 5am and I couldn't do it with the phone. Went back to sleep.
Yes, it's a fab bike. Bit different notany about. Opposite of my Czar. Running qx1 oval rotor chain ring and a few tweaks from new. An easy 18.5lb.
On the subject of URLs, gotta love Bob's:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PgEgrJwnpCZCrA25BrQfnssW_kaarsI8P6Df1gxq_AoBxNe92ObHjrwAlRE1AV4b4-2uqDSkKFGwVV-N-lKZaPjh9Dx56-ZnXIvGgYO8OOFlxM0CXFLiYrK4CTkVVJc4RbUe2ShCIwLrGJLWkDUwUoSZMGobIm5cd5THvdYNoAnbxkMNuIt9WzeOLnWJQEohaXK6bzpFqMhJjXnyz8feN7WTL1dCJE36HWgnvgavDK7i303xp2Yme9_bGMXoa7MMYkxTahkAlcRh6X2uT0rnznDlxvrt-f0d1YcSEgHTlFgJgAtzdHUWsDRX0Z9i4lDZpwjfLLkicyju00iDtw6FyH3NaWybQqCcCgcCRfHeKD_btqfUL2Osfbe3sTtty-3jXAdkcunfMQrDvgPQat2NrdlqnNq2WjFXt1oWsooWq6NtpOGqwmiqgeyT_QlR9J4K5eWp19wSjpoFMqMWKL7Fe_Zok_1VQLw0akPGe_r_RBjV0qaL2SDNXq45Utt-1NBe2dohF3nduv-DWadr1KxoStNg1U9ehIvWokpqThYskcoWy5A8nM9dZQ8=s1112-w1112-h625-no
...might be why the image isn't showing 😀
Back on topic. I had a CDF and it was excellent, if a little heavy. I fooled myself into thinking it could be a do everything bike, but the bottom line is even a rigid 29er is heaps more fun off road. If I was to get a gravel/endurance bike now, it would be full in the knowledge it's a road bike that can do a bit of flat mud pack/dirt road riding, but it's always got to be relatively smooth.
Malvern Rider - Member2unfit2ride - that's a beauty - what is it?
Cheers, it's a Singular Pegasus.
An easy 18.5lb.
Jeez, mine as pictured above is over 20lbs 😥
My Kinesis Pro 5 is enjoying a new lease of life after a service and a disc brake on the front. It's not my most ridden bike but it is the most versatile (not hard against an out and out summer roadie and a fat bike)
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and considering it only owes me about £300 I can't really complain.
An easy 30 mile mixed today; loads of lane, gravel, hanging off the back and single track. Most enjoyable.
45c, nice.
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Baaw
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All roads lead here; Gnarlic.
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On the subject of URLs, gotta love Bob's:...might be why the image isn't showing
Bugger, I put it through the image shortener too, at least I thought I had. I'll stick to photobucket from now on!
From today's ride, two 800m offroad climbs linked by about 10km of road
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Got very sticky on the last descent...
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Is this sort of bike any good for flattish smoothish bridleways or would I be better off on a light rigid 29er? Since moving house I've seen a lot of nice bridleways/footpaths through the local crop fields which might be fun for a change of pace from the roadie all the time. Not much fun on my dh bike (which I'll keep) but not sure if a cx/gnarmac would be better than an xc bike.
You'd be a brave man to try and ride this style of bike on my local xc trails even when they are bone dry, and an exercise in futility for the other 95% of the time. They do look nice though.
The thing I like about these bikes (and a strong brief for my custom) is versatility and the ability to ride all winter through the mud on narrow tyres or race. Once the season is over bigger tyres, maybe some packs or slicks. Anything else crack out the MTB proper.
Race
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All road/winter
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Gnarish
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Sounds like the definition of xc trails might be getting stretched a bit.
Is this sort of bike any good for flattish smoothish bridleways or would I be better off on a light rigid 29er?
Funny this.
I asked about skinny tyres on my rigid 29er for bridleway type stuff and everyone advised against it. However over on this thread, people seem to think 40c is plenty for bridleways. Not sure what's going on here 🙂
Well there is a subtle difference in that your 29er can take bigger.... My gravel bike cannot.
The gravel bike copes but if i took my 29er on 2.4 inch tyres it would be faster - how ever the other 30k of my commute would be significantly slower 😉
Well that's what I was asking on that thread - making it quicker on road at the expense of comfort off-road. The consensus seemed to be not to bother; but if that's true then why bother with a gravel bike at all?
why bother with a gravel bike at all?
such heresy
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Had mine about 2 weeks now and am loving it! Faster than my MTB almost everywhere off road apart from the really rough stuff (up Rivington today and you notice the skinny tyres and lack of suspension!) and not too much slower than my road bike on the road either.
Not going to get rid of my other bikes as they definitely both have their place, but for an all round bike it's surprisingly capable.
Surely there's a wide range of rubber-width between 40c and 2.40"
The following rigid bike choice rulez seems to work for me: (not getting into gearing)
Road/gravel/farm track/longer time in saddle bias = drop/flared drop bars+ (choose tyre)
Offroad/gnarly/drops/descents/thick mud/wet rock/shorter time in saddle bias = flat/riser bars + (choose tyre)
If you cycle road and offroad on one bike it simply means having to choose which riding style you can live with compromising. Or have two bikes and mix it up depending on mood/weather 🙂
Right off tomorrow to road cycle 12 miles to my "local" trail and try out the cdf off road, will be using the contis that came on the bike but have narrowed my choice of tyres down to
1. Clement Las
2. Vittoria Cross XN pro
3. Richie Speedmax Pro and finally
4. Kenda Happy Medium Pro.
Any other tyre suggestions appreciated.
I've got a Salsa Vaya for commuting/gravel/shopping/road/chasingmtbersaroundllandegla and I love it! I also had a full sus 29er and a Salsa El Mar frame.
I've just sold the full sus frame and put the forks and gears on the El Mar and think I've got the balance right (for me) the Vaya is my everywhere bike as I don't have a car and now the El Mar is my mtb for when I want to get a bit more "gnar"
I still use the Vaya for most rides and love taking it where it's not really meant to - but that make me worry about punctures and what not. As someone who doesn't go hell for leather on the trails and want to start bikepacking I think I've got the only 2 bikes I'll need (for now)
Surely there's a wide range of rubber-width between 40c and 2.40"
Wouldn't say wide range but the sizes in between are where your bike becomes really in the middle.
When I was solely use a CX bike it had room for 48c tyres so I switched from a very fast 32c that felt more like a road bike to a big (and relatively heavy) 48c that made it feel more like a MTB. At that width and any wider the point of the road style bike was getting lost and I wood prefer an MTB as they are better fun.
Ultimately ended up on 28c tyres as they were great on road and not that much different than a 32-35c off road. On rough, rooty single track there isn't much difference between a 28c and a 32-35c - they are both awful.
Surely there's a wide range of rubber-width between 40c and 2.40"
I couldn't find much. Spesh do a 2.0 something.
I'm gnarmac-curious, but when I picked up a CDF in a shop, it felt heavier than my Cotic Soul (which has a dropper and forks). Maybe it was just that it was the base model with inordinately heavy wheels.
i dont really want to change my tyres from 2.4 for 5 rides the week - plus change back on a tuesday and thursday night for the group rides where my rigid bike needs the 2.4 to ride the terrain the gnarduro guys i ride with are riding.
I want drop bars , i want decent speed on the road and the ability to see a trail and ride up it without worrying ill run out of grip or puncture. The 40c nano makes my bike "gravel" bike into something that handles all the local lanes and trails as well as land rover tracks etc meaning i rarely have to change tyres on either bike instead of 3 or 4 times weekly.
If i only had one bike it would be a 29er with lockable sus up front and 2.0 tyres
You'd be a brave man to try and ride this style of bike on my local xc trails even when they are bone dry, and an exercise in futility for the other 95% of the time. They do look nice though.
I live in the East Midlands. There's no "gnar" to be had here, just miles of rolling countryside. I walked some of the paths yesterday and whilst they're not rough I don't think I'd want to take my road bike on them. Can get a bit rutted from the tractors etc.
I thought some of you might like this post: http://rivbike.tumblr.com/post/143502071534/stretch-yourself-your-bike
Most of the time, ride in the middle, or at least buy a bike that’s ideal for your commonest riding, then stretch it.
I've just swapped the 35c cyclocross tyres on my Cotic X for 28c Marathons. It's made it much faster on the road, but harder work off. I discovered their limits on gravel yesterday afternoon.
I'm doing the Sustrans C2C overnight in June, so I'm happy to live with their sketchiness until then.
Would agree with Kerley re widths. If your riding proper gravel/fire road/towpath then 32 is ace. However, if like me you really like the option of rooty, rocky stuff then 40/45 seems the best option. Again having this sort of bike with a couple of wheelsets or tyre options makes it all the more fun.
I didn't know you could get 45c or 48c tyres. In theory that's more or less 1.9" - does anyone know how these things actually measure up? Does a 40c nanoraptor compare to a traditional 1.5" tyre?
Just noticed after a bit of Web surfing that my 2014 Croix de Fer is actually a 2014 Cdf should I be gutted or delighted it only cost me £200.00? It is mint though.