CX bike morphing into Gravel bike...

[Schmed]

I feel like I'm not fitting in anymore with just a "regular" cross bike, so in an effort to fit in with the cool guys riding gravel bikes, I bought some 40mm tires (Clement MSO) and converted my cross bike into a gravel bike. <>

Maybe a gravel race / ride is in the cards for next season?

Almost 1/4" of clearance at the chain stays with these tires. Hopefully, they won't be a problem with mud build up.

Either way, it's fun to string together road, trail, and gravel roads around town:

[45K10]

Nice!
Is that a trail near Golden?

[Schmed]

Originally Posted by 45K10

Nice!
Is that a trail near Golden?

Good eye!

North Golden / West Arvada. Along Ralston Creek trail, etc.

[bcgav]

Gorgeous bike and beautiful scenery! I ran the X'Plor MSO 700X40mm 120tpi last weekend on the 160K D2R2 route, great dirt road tires with a supple ride.

[45K10]

Yeah my son goes to Mines. I have been on that a trail a couple of times. Last time I was there I had to yield to an elk herd, very cool

[Schmed]

Originally Posted by 45K10

Yeah my son goes to Mines. ...

Mines was just recognized as the #1 engineering school in the nation! Congrats!

[Schmed]

Originally Posted by bcgav

Gorgeous bike and beautiful scenery! I ran the X'Plor MSO 700X40mm 120tpi last weekend on the 160K D2R2 route, great dirt road tires with a supple ride.

They were much more supple than the 35mm cross tires I had on the bike before. Even at 50 psi in the MSOs. So far, so good.

[bcgav]

Originally Posted by Schmed

They were much more supple than the 35mm cross tires I had on the bike before. Even at 50 psi in the MSOs. So far, so good.

I got you beat there lol. Formerly riding Schwalbe Marathon 700X47mm which were over 800g each. MSO's are a magic carpet ride compared to those.

Looks like you have the perfect setup for the roads and terrain out there.

[mistermo]

Originally Posted by bcgav

Gorgeous bike and beautiful scenery! I ran the X'Plor MSO 700X40mm 120tpi last weekend on the 160K D2R2 route, great dirt road tires with a supple ride.

I did the same: Ran 40c MSOs on the 160K route at D2R2 last weekend (@60 psi). Last year I ran 30c Challenge Almanzos on the 115K route. Apart from that steep, rutted, muddy downhill stretch towards the beginning, I thought I was over-tired. I think 33-35c will be my sweet spot.

[bcgav]

Originally Posted by mistermo

I did the same: Ran 40c MSOs on the 160K route at D2R2 last weekend (@60 psi). Last year I ran 30c Challenge Almanzos on the 115K route. Apart from that steep, rutted, muddy downhill stretch towards the beginning, I thought I was over-tired. I think 33-35c will be my sweet spot.

Don't want to hijack Schmed's thread, and ymmv. I think the rain this year the day before the event helped pack down sections that were loose and sandy last year. I rode with guys on 33-35c cross tires and they were knifing in on those sections last year while I was able to float right through them. My personal preference is to go a little wider with higher volume and lower pressure for that reason, as well as enjoying a less harsh ride and reduce the chances of a pinch flat. I think I found the perfect D2R2 tire for my personal preference and riding style in the X'Plor MSO in 40mm and 120tpi.

[ceolwulf]

Nice. I think I'll have to get a set of those tires as well. I've been using Vittoria race tires which I do really like but you can almost watch them wear away.

[krismac23]

Sweet. I have the clement x'plore(?) on a wheel set. Basically throw them on for Cx style mtb'ing on my local trails. I think "gravel bike" is a ploy in a sense. With the option of disc and etc. People are just exploring more.

[Schmed]

It is fun to explore your usual mountain bike trails on a CX bike. I get a lot of weird looks when 6" full suspension mountain bikers see me ride by on a drop-bar bike.

[shovelhd]

So the difference between a cross bike and a gravel bike is the width of the tires? Serious question.

[Schmed]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

So the difference between a cross bike and a gravel bike is the width of the tires? Serious question.

I think they lower the BB and maybe beef up the frame a little, but I think it's mostly marketing. I do think, though, that most factory "gravel" bikes allow for bigger tires than most cross bikes.

My IF was a custom for someone else, and I'm not sure if they had it made to accept this 40mm tire, or if all Plant Cross IndyFabs fit wide tires.