Show me your gravelbikes....inspire me.

[fourflys]

so many beautiful bikes on here! I want them all!

I think most old-school bikes would be great on gravel as long as they have adequate tire clearance... that's what kills me about most current production bikes, most can fit a 25mm at best... it seems around 30mm is the sweet spot in my opinion...

[kramnnim]

An Iowan friend of mine does all sorts of crazy gravel rides...here's a picture of his La Cruz



And his Fargo-

[OTB]

Originally Posted by ergott

I just spilled my drink. Hurt me...that is awesome.

[ergott]

Swapped the brakes for Paul mini motos for better braking.

[happycampyer]

Originally Posted by jpw

very nice.

what calipers are they, and the fork is a....?

Those are Velo-Orange Grand Cru calipers. christian keeps reminding me that friends don't let friends ride machined brakes, and even went so far as to track down a set of BR-60's for me. The fork is the Seven touring fork. Lots of clearance, and eyelets for fenders. Not the most elegant fork, but imo it works better aesthetically with oversized ti tubes better than a Wound-Up. Considered the Serotta touring fork, but I'm not sure it has enough clearance for a Jack Brown.

Originally Posted by christian

...You really should scratch that itch! You wouldn't want to have to ride caliper brakes on D2R2 again! What is it, 1955?...

Ha! Fingers crossed this will be yours by the time D2R2 rolls around...

[firerescuefin]

Agree with Chris (Fourflys)...some great looking rigs. The picture is coming together in my mind. Thanks for the input.

Geoff

[SamIAm]

Originally Posted by jr59

No worries! Geoff and I have a pact to come to ATL and ride a few miles with some friends.

Hmmmm..... I wonder who that might be??? If/when we can work it out, I'll bring this if it's done, and a Ti Spectrum, We can always trade for the day or so! Cause I like yours as well!

Originally Posted by firerescuefin

PS..Rob, we're comin to the ATL...sooner than later

Gentlemen, I stand ready to assist you with your trip to the ATL. Maybe a base camp out of my cabin in North Georgia?

[gavingould]

i'd ride my Focus Cayo in the gravel if it'd take a tire bigger than 25. actually maybe a 27mm would fit but i don't have any to guinea pig with.

if it's sandy or loose i prefer a 32mm anyway.

[August]

I rode D2R2 on a touring bike in 2010 with Dave Wages and a friend of his, and pretty early into the ride it was obvious that I had too much bike for such an event. So afterward I talked to Dave about building something with all of the conveniences of a road group, specifically Di2 with DA road brake calipers; he suggested XL tubes, a stretched chainstays, more BB drop and a bit of extra trail. I requested clearance for a 28mm tire, maximum, and couplers.

The Parigi-Roubaixs I have mounted measure close to 30mm, and with the pads at their maximum reach in the caliper slots, there's still plenty of clearance. The bike rides pretty much like a normal road bike, but the longer stays, slacker HTA and added rake make it feel bigger and more stable. I am happy that I don't have weird gearing or (especially) cantilever brakes. Even in the **** DA brakes are fine.

If I were looking to have another mixed surfaces road bike built, I'd look to those builders who like to ride those kinds of roads and make a habit of doing it. Dave Wages, who participates in multiple gravel road centuries every year, Dave Kirk (do they even have pavement in Montana?) and Carl Strong, who has been building his "dirt road bikes" for years and years--those are a few of the best.

Chris--

Oh, and 'cross bikes are for racing.

[jr59]

Originally Posted by SamIAm

Gentlemen, I stand ready to assist you with your trip to the ATL. Maybe a base camp out of my cabin in North Georgia?

Oh NO!!! no you don't! No chance!

I've ridden up the wall to many times when I lived in Peachtree corners! 6 gap, Brasstown bald, and a rando event called 10 gap. VERY HARD!

I'll wait for you guys to get back. I'm a FAT guy and not built to do that shi....errrr stuff any more. Geoff is from Co. and maybe he will handle it, maybe not as well. Those rides are Tripple Bypass hard, Death ride hard!

I watched the pros have to get pushed up the wall in the tour of Ga.

HECK NO!

Just let me know when. I can walk up hills as well as anybody you have ever meet!

[SpeedyChix]

Originally Posted by ergott

Swapped the brakes for Paul mini motos for better braking.

bit off topic, but
How do you like the mini motos?
Any comparison to the TRP Vs?
Thanks

That Zanc continues to look just so so right.

[ergott]

Originally Posted by SpeedyChix

bit off topic, but
How do you like the mini motos?
Any comparison to the TRP Vs?
Thanks

That Zanc continues to look just so so right.

Never tried the TRPs but I can say that the mini motos are awesome. They have to be run closer to the rims so keep your wheels true.

[dd74]

Found this article, which talks about the cross/gravel bike as the most versatile bike of any on the road.

http://teamrodrigo.com/2012/11/17/cr...ile-bike-ever/

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by dd74

Found this article, which talks about the cross/gravel bike as the most versatile bike of any on the road.

http://teamrodrigo.com/2012/11/17/cr...ile-bike-ever/

While I agree with that article, I find it funny they used a Full Tilt Boogie as their example... Unless they changed from when they first came out, the FTB doesn't have water bottle bosses or any braze-ones...

I do agree a cross or gravel bike is the bike to have if you could only own one bike though... Not that I ever want to be in that situation!

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by SpeedyChix

bit off topic, but
How do you like the mini motos?
Any comparison to the TRP Vs?
Thanks

That Zanc continues to look just so so right.

I've had both and I think the Paul brakes have much better modulation... The CX9s were great brakes but almost too strong and the modulation just wasn't as good for me...