Galibier Tourmalet – picked mine up in a sale for £42. Brilliant bit of kit (as is most of their stuff to be honest).

I put helicopter tape on the inside of the forks and around the seat stays for when I use the rear gravel hugger – the rear one is supplied with it and found there was sufficient for both the seat stays and forks.

Gravelhugger on the front – find it is usually sufficient to stop the worst of it.

I’ve run SKS Speedrocker and rate them. Simple to set up and take on and off depending on the weather. Got them on my winter gravel/road bike (Boardman ADV).
Not wide enough for current gravel bike though – currently run 47mm tyres on 650B wheels – so using Gravel Huggers. The front one I leave one all the time and does a decent job (not full guard job though obviously), the rear one I gor the velcro straps for and just put it on if it’s going to be wet and muddy. Think the rear doesn’t necessarily “look the best” but keeps me dry!
S

I’m still using an old Hope Vision 1 – must at least 10 years old and take 4 (rechargeable) AA batteries,
No idea on lumens, but just have it on low on road and turn it up higher off road. Keep looking at new ones, but if it ain’t broke…

I had a 50cc Vespa about 17 years ago when I lived in SW London and commuted to the West End – for London traffic it was ace. Great fun, never an issue of being underpowered even with my wife on the back (we are both vertically challenged and lightweight though).

If I was to have one now though, living and working in the Leeds area would have a 125cc as the general flow of traffic is faster.

S

Loved reading that and some great photos. Good inspiration there. Thank you.

Enjoyed reading that. Nice one.

For me a gravel bike.
Pre Covid we were planning a summer trip to French Alps and I was going to take gravel bike. Was hoping to do a gravel ascent of Alpe d’huez and generally explore. Perfect for linking the trails, road climbs and descents.
Maybe next year.

Cards, ales, toblerone and haribo. Result
About to go on a 60km or so gravel ride and back for Chelsea match, then roast dinner and finally the Merseyside derby. And some of those ales obviously.
Quite happy with my lot.

Does any one have the restrap canister bag? What’s it like and would you recommend? How much stuff can you actually fit in? I like the look of the Chapter 3 version currently On pre-order.

We’re currently spending about £200 per week. Family of five. That includes beer and wine (which is probably best part of £30).

I had annoying creaks on new gravel bike. Was the bar/stem interface. Sorted with a bit of grease.
Also had an annoying rattle from the rear brake lever (SRAM Rival 1) – there’s a metal rod in there which seemed to spin and rattle. Fixed by stuffing a bit of blutac in there.

<img src=”http://CA33121C-FE55-417F-91EF-9F090D188F9F

Managed to find some new (to me) gravel routes this morning
<img src=”http://

Skills! Love it.

My go to bike…
<img src=”http://

Try Galibier – good kit at reasonable prices. Been very impressed with the bits I have (shorts, wind jersey, gilet and gloves). Just picked up a rain jacket from them in sale but not used yet.
I’m planning on getting a few more things from them as well.
S

Well played STW.

After much deliberation I went for the Substance CRX – just over £2k with platinum discount on Wiggle.
Seriously considered the Free Ranger but worked out would need to spend a fair bit more to get set up as wanted.
As a vertically challenged person I would have had to change the crankset (PX only ship with 172.5mm and ideally wanted 165mm). The stock wheel and tyre options were also limited and not great so by the time I changed those costs would not be too dissimilar.
Pleased with my choice. The Substance CRX is great on and off road and the only thing I’ve changed is the bar tape and set up tubeless.
Planning on some hunt 700c wheels or similar and narrower tyres for winter commuting duties later in the year.
Standard STW practice of recommend what you own!!!
In fairness so many great options but I was limited due to my (lack of) height.

My setup with toolkeg on downtube…
F3A25446-F19B-4C3F-B218-E4BDB9FDC2C2 by Simon Langdon[/url], on Flickr

337C2255-E7D2-470F-AEF6-B06C85E251BE by Simon Langdon[/url], on Flickr

Not in full carpet mode yet.

I currently use a bottle cage canister thing and a pump on frame. Been looking at the smaller bar bags Though, like the Restrap Canister or the Rapha one. Anyone used one and find them good?

In true stw suggest what you own style – Vitus Substance CRX.
Had mine a couple of months and love it.

Just watched Anna
Really enjoyed it.

I’ve used G-One Speed in 700×38 but not the tubeless ones – found them pretty good as long it was dry.

Currently using WTB Venture 47 on 650 wheels. Much prefer them and the smaller wheels for all round gravel. The Ventures have tread and therefore I would imagine offer more grip than the Byways in damp conditions and I’ve not had any issues, but, like a lot of tyres are rubbish in proper mud. But I don’t tend to ride through proper mud that much.

My caveat though, used the different tyres on different bikes – G-ones on farily heavy Boradman ADV8.9 and the Ventures on much lighter Vitus Substance with carbon wheels.

For anything with off-road sections much prefer the smaller wheels – more nimble, quick acceleration etc. Also my times are the same if not quicker on road sections than on the G-ones, but obviously a lighter bike. Slower than road bike though.

Like Jameso, I’ve settled on 650B for gravel and a separate dedicated road bike.

My original plan was to get a second set of 700c wheels, but don’t really see the need now.

An annoying rattle in 1x SRAM brake rival brake lever – fixed with blue tack and tape and all quiet now!

For balance I disagree with the 2x setup comments.
I much prefer the 1x, particularly if it’s a muddy ride as it seems to shed the mud a lot easier and runs smoother.
Have not had a problem with gaps in gearing being an issue and have run it on road and off. I’m running Rival 1 with 10-42 cassette.

My old man had one done on NHS last week, he’s 73. Only had to wait about 2 to 3 months I think.
Done with mesh and seems to have gone well.
S

15 and 12 year old boys – as others, only restriction is leave downstairs at bedtime.
8 year old daughter too younf for phone!!

Devonboy, good to hear.
How do you find it on the road? Does it feel sprightly enough to cope with long winter road rides (obviously would put road tyres on)?
I need to shift a couple of old bikes first before pushing the button – not sure which colour to go for though, sometimes I like the creme egg look, other times I’m not so sure!
Thanks for the info.
S

Has anyone got a Free Ranger yet? Am considering one of these and after some real world reviews.
Was looking at the Space Chicken, but I’m a short a**e and even the small in that would have probably been slightly too tall – they do an XS on the Free Ranger and looking at geometry seems spot on.
I am thinking along lines of getting a set of 650B wheels for running offroad and putting some 32mm road tyres on the 700c wheels for winter road rides and commutes.
Cheers in advance.
S

Rides 397
Hours 415h 31 mins
Distance 9,958km
Elevation 79,438

Road and gravel. Mostly commuting but plenty of fun rides as well and alpine road rides. Most commutes are extended and not just door to door.

About to get up and head out on gravel bike which should put me over my 10,000 km target.

Lots of mud
Single speed fun
Commute to work

Compressionless cables for the SSCX – my brakes now actually work.

OK. Don’t tend to go that way luckily. I just went straight in on A639 then down past Arla. Wet, but no petrol/diesel.

Nice :o(
Hope the elbow and knee ok.
Was grim cycling into Leeds this morning. Where were you (so I can avoid the petrol)? I cycle in from Methley so not too far from you I think.
S

Chapeau.
Enjoyed reading through the blogs and makes me think about doing something like that myself one day.
Nice one.
S

SKS Speedrocker – better coverage than raceblades and can fit in a couple of minutes.
I run with 38mm G-one Speeds no problem.
S