Always ran two and sometimes three bikes, recently in the last couple of years scaled back to one bike a Salsa Vaya which I ran with two wheel sets 700 x 42c and 650 x 2.2. Then I convinced myself I needed a rigid 29er, but it had been on my mind for several years and liked the Surly Krampus. So bought a frame and built it up 29 x 3.0 1×12 gears with a dropper. A year later I do enjoy two bikes BUT recently started experimenting with riding the Vaya where I ride the krampus.
Now yes I know I’m slower and line choice is crucial I’m enjoying concentrating on riding and enjoying it. This has lead me to the same conclusion as you perhaps will one bike do everything for me. That bike currently would be a Salsa Cutthroat or similar in steel.

There are new Chronicles available in Poland

I think my thinking on this has been the worsening of my wife’s health and the limitations that has on driving to the mountains with some regularity and the appeal to just jump on a bike from the house has its advantages at the moment. A drop bar 29er/rigid like the cutthroat with two wheel sets just seems to fit that hole at the moment. I know my Vaya will take 700×50 tyres which I thought we the same as 29×2.0 but according to Salsa the Vaya won’t run 29x 2.0? As 2.0 Maxxis Ikons would have been worth considering

@wind-bag now that looks awesome and the more I think about where I ride and the type of riding I do I’m nearly convinced I could do it on a cutthroat with two wheel sets. Now to get brave and put stuff up for sale to fund it.

Sounds like the consensus of opinion is that I’m better off with what I have considering the Cutthroat is best with 2.25 tyres. I’m going to put a Chronicle on the front of the krampus and see how it goes

I’m just going through the same mental torture, experimented over the last few weeks riding trails/singletrack and gravel on my Salsa Vaya that I was riding on my Krampus that I recently finished building. I discovered I can ride the same stuff on the Vaya albeit a bit slower. I have been deliberating dropping down from two to one with a wide tyred gravel bike like a Cutthroat but when I’m down to one bike I always feel like I need another one 😂. This has been my never ending circle for the past twenty years. I know exactly where you are coming from.

I’ve seen on some forums Salsa Vayas running 29×2.0 ikons on dry trails might be worth trying to get a subjective view

Some really good opinions about my dilemma and good to get some insight into those that have done it , tried it and went back to a rigid 29er or two dedicated bikes, and those that wouldn’t make that choice. Some more thinking to do with regard to where I ride the most and consider the overlap

That ALICE is a contender but I believe quite heavy. For my I enjoy dropbars and mtb equally but where things get complicated I have to cycle 11 miles to reach gravel or drive 19 every time I want to use the Krampus

Bump for the evening crowd now the footie is over. But on a more serious note is this worth considering? Anyone on here running a Cutthroat as their do it all bike?

Yes I approve I think if I do go from two to one bikes I would have a dropper

Question still remains anyone swapped out two bikes into one that’ll run wider tyres and if so what bike. I like the Cutthroat and the Sutra ULTD

Looks like Pipedream ALICE

Can a grx 812 long cage derailleur be run with as a 2×11 with an slx 11-40 cassette?

My train of thought is to use a drybag on the top of the rack.

Any suggestions as to a good quality drybag with good abrasion quality

https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/

@steexysix I like your sentiment. Totally agree.

@saynotoslomo that was my reasoning also, neither my Salsa Vaya nor my Surly Krampus have fork bosses so these are a good alternative. The T rack is definitely my favoured version for clearing a 29×3.0 Tyre as I fear the Tailfin might not but took a chance anyway, plus it was ordered several weeks ago before the T rack presale launched. I can always return it and I only intend to keep one rack so not too concerned.

I’ve preordered a Tailfin S3 alloy rack with the intention of strapping a drybag to the top of it. Then on Instagram last night up popped the presale for the Tumbleweed T rack so preordered that. So will try both and keep one.

Yes had that light bulb moment and fitted shim before fitting cassette.

So just installed new slx 11-40 cassette, new chain 116 link and a wolftooth roadlink. Everything went smooth except that the rivets on the cassette are slightly rubbing on a few of the spokes. Anyone else experience this? Is it anything to be concerned about or just ride on and enjoy?

Cheers I’ve opted to keep the 105 chainset and bought a new 11-40 cassette, chain and a wolftooth roadlink to see how it goes. Same as you don’t ride with roadies so not worried about spinning out, I’m more in the “go slow and enjoy the ride camp”. Might possibly update to grx in the future when this wears out. The Salsa Vaya frame set is a fantastic base for upgrading but concentrating now on a set of tyres for it.

So just ordered a roadlink, slx 11-40 cassette and a new chain. As a result I have a brand new 5800 105 cassette 11-32 for sale.

@honeybadgerx cheers for that think I’ll give them a go, just a pity they aren’t in 50mm

Good question it seems most of the gravel bikes are being specced with grx ( another marketing ploy?)

So which option would be better ?

So what’s the better option

1. Keep 105 crankset and add a roadlink with an 11-40 cassette or

2. Change cranks to 46-30 grx and keep 11-32 cassette

And by choosing option 2 am I in a better position to upgrade complete drivetrain to grx?

Anyone a real life experience of the Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss?

I’ve discovered lots of lanes and byways recently while out on my Krampus but if I wanted to ride these from home I’ve a nineteen mile ride from home and the same back , have you ridden the ventures on long stretches of road?

Anyone recommend a gravel tyre other than the byway that has a slick centre tread for road but decent side grip for off road. Recently doing lots of tarmac which links off road byways and lanes.

@Dougd super informative video even for a non technical person like me. I suppose it comes down to weight and cost

Grx Chainsetvs11-40 Cassette and roadlink

And the availability seems cassettes are scarce at the moment

@Dougd would my 105 rear derailleur with a road link allow for the larger 11-40 cassette

Thanks for that guys seems a go.

@boxwithawindow I’ve just got a confirmation email that mine are shipped, showing just one left

@andyg1966 good shout on the Rekons, as Maxxis seem to have discontinued the Chronicle these appear to be a good substitute.

Here:

https://www.grawitacyjny.pl/en/maxxis-chronicle-29×3-00,3,26775,36664

Yes managed to get two 29×3.0 Maxxis Chronicle tyres from Poland a few days ago. Haven’t arrived yet but fingers crossed

+1 Specialized Roubaix Pro 2Bliss 32’s

@tuboflard probably just salsa hd cages with light clothing/food or just a nalgene with water. I’ll check those out seem just the job without drilling fork cheers

@paton cheers for the list.

Anyone had this done? Who did you use?

My Salsa Vaya runs 700×50 and is steel, it’s super stable snd fast , don’t think my riding would need a dropper though. I did run it with 650b 2.1’s but I prefer the 700c’s.