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:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j192/schmed123/IMG_6325_zps853017c5.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j192/schmed123/IMG_6313_zpsd6edf882.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j192/schmed123/IMG_6312_zpsd2e7052c.jpg

[45K10]

Nice!
Is that a trail near Golden?

[Schmed]

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]

Yeah my son goes to Mines. ...

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

[Schmed]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[phutterman]

I use those Xplor MSO tires on my CX bike most of the year for general dirt/mixed terrain use, and then throw narrower tires on it for cross season (knobbier if it's muddy, which it never is, and a file tread in back most of the time otherwise). Knobby enough for the dry dirt around here, and great float and volume.

Only time I really regretted it was on a ride (the so-called Tainthammer, a central CA 'gravel' thing) that turned out a lot muddier than I'd expected and where I'd have been much better off with like 32 or 35 slicks.

[Admiral Ackbar]

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

as mentioned, marketing

atmo

[firerescuefin]

as mentioned, marketing

atmo

That's interesting, because road bikes and cross bikes feel noticeably different to me. I can ride a CX bike in a road race, but I'd prefer a road bike

The idea of a gravel bike...geometry like a road bike with a longer wheel base for stability/road bike bb height/ and room for a wide range of tires isn't a reach at all. Actually makes quite a bit of sense. Organized gravelbike rides and races tend to be very long, which for a lot of folks makes them want something comfortable and fast.

Can a CX bike do duty as a gravelbike? Yep. Is is the best tool for the job. No. Has the industry jumped on the bandwagon and used marketing magic to make a larger differentiation than is there. I'd buy that.

I'm building one because I love the idea of a do it all gravel/adventure bike. I'll never ride a cross race in my life, but have real gravelbike ride plans.

Would love to hear your actual experience.

[Tandem Rider]

I just use a basic welded aluminum Trek cx bike. 28 mm Gatorskins/Armadillos or cheap cx tires, depending on how slippery things are. Modified also with road size rings, tighter cassette, same bars and saddle as my road bike. Exact same position as my road bike. This bike sees about 2500 to 3000 miles of gravel every year. I think the only stock parts left are the brake calipers and the headset, everything else has been worn out or broken.

Be prepared to change out shift cables, chains, and tires frequently, I buy several at a time when they are on sale. I usually get less than 1000 miles out of any of these parts. Gravel riding is not the cheapest per mile, but it will keep your handling sharp, you will find out how to keep rubber side down when everything starts to slide around on you. You will work hard and go slower making cold weather more bearable.

[GeorgeTSquirrel]

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

"Gravel bike" is mostly a marketing thing... I could easily modify my touring bike into a good gravel machine with the right tires and a different fork. Most gravel bikes are being built with disc brakes, but honestly, I fail to see where discs are any advantage on a gravel bike.

I'd say the biggest differences have to do with the length of a race. A CX bike is more designed for a closed course, frequent dismount, mud and more mud but with a higher bottom bracket, shorter top tube, and relaxed head angles (to reduce toe-overlap on a tight and slow course) as compared to a road racing bike.

Gravel bike on the other hand is either a rebadged CX bike or sometimes a bike covering the middle ground between a CX bike and a touring bike (longer wheel base, comfort a consideration in the design). Case in point, the Kona Rove "gravel bike" is the same redesigned frame that it shares with the Kona Sutra (a touring bike). My guess is the comfort thing is why a lot of bikes being marketed for gravel as opposed to CX are made of steel.

In the end, I suspect any real-world differences have more to do with tire and component selection than the geometry of the frame itself. Where I find it difficult to make a distinction is between a bike designed as a drop-bar commuter vs gravel-bike as they seem to be targeting the same market; might as well throw in entry level "CX" bikes with rack mounts into that same category.