I am not a groader - Page 6

simplemind · #76 03-22-2018, 11:28 AM

Can you post the route?

David Tollefson · #77 03-22-2018, 11:34 AM

I'd suggest a Camelback over the Profile seat-bottle launchers, but YMMV.

cinco · #78 03-22-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weisan

Looking forward to the epic gravel ride this Sat. Hopefully will come back with some nice pictures.

A couple more pictures taken this morning.

Weather was better for the Holey Roller this year, wasn't it? You doing Corsicana?
Haven't signed up for it myself.

Next (organized) gravel ride for me is going to be Castell, 4/7. Ever done that one? Beautiful course. But, sells out in less than an hour.

Glad to hear you are finding more ways to enjoy being on the bike. I never have a bad thing to say about anyone's riding choices. Whatever gets you out there.

Andy in Houston

rousseau · #79 03-22-2018, 12:10 PM

Always nice to hear people enjoying doing the riding they do, because riding a bike is awesome.

I don't get the appeal of the gravel bike thing myself, but that might be because there are lots of paved country roads in my area with very little traffic. And gliding along at high speeds on skinny slicks is the ultimate experience of self-propulsion (IMHO).

Though I do regularly take my road bike over short stretches of unpaved roads if they haven't recently been graded. Like this:

weisan · #80 03-23-2018, 10:49 AM

Fully loaded.

Bob Ross · #81 03-23-2018, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Tollefson

I'd suggest a Camelback over the Profile seat-bottle launchers, but YMMV.

I only have a dataset of 1, but fwiw the Profile seatpost-mounted bottle holder that I use when I'm riding around the AZ desert (so that I can carry a total of four water bottles) fits tighter than any cage I have ever encountered. It holds the bottles so firmly that you actually can't remove or re-insert them while riding, you need to climb off the bike and muscle them in/out!

C40_guy · #82 03-23-2018, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weisan

As much as I get excited every time I made a trip up to do D2R2 - I have done it twice so far. Really, the part I enjoyed the most is the company of friends and for that, i am willing to "tolerate" the gravel. Yes! - tolerate!

You know...all you really need for D2R2 is a '74 Raleigh Pro set up as a single speed.

joosttx · #83 03-23-2018, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EPOJoe

It’s interesting how ‘gravel grinding’ seems to be a love it or hate it deal. I personally don’t get it, and when I ride off road I use a hard tail mtb. Don’t see how drop bars or road geometry would give any kind of an advantage.

The advantage is, for me at least, is it is versatile. I can ride on the road without feeling I am in slow motion. I think I can climb a lot better than on a mountain bike off road.Descending is another story. So in other words it does it all. I got really turned off by MTB when they started to really segment the market into specialized uses.

I am planning a trip where one day we climb for 20 miles on crap asphalt then dirt road. Tranverse on pavement and descend on dirt roads and fire roads. I would not do it on a road bike nor would a mountain bike be that efficent . But a gravel bike checks the boxes. Simply put its very versatile.

joosttx · #84 03-23-2018, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

I only have a dataset of 1, but fwiw the Profile seatpost-mounted bottle holder that I use when I'm riding around the AZ desert (so that I can carry a total of four water bottles) fits tighter than any cage I have ever encountered. It holds the bottles so firmly that you actually can't remove or re-insert them while riding, you need to climb off the bike and muscle them in/out!

another alternative is the sks water bottle mounts. I too rode over really challenging terrain with the setup below without issue.

jtbadge · #85 03-23-2018, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joosttx

another alternative is the sks water bottle mounts. I too rode over really challenging terrain with the setup below without issue.

Are you running a SRAM 11-36 under your 6800-GS? No need for a RoadLink? After a couple of mountain climbs in the Verdugos, I think I need to get on this setup.

joosttx · #86 03-23-2018, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtbadge

Are you running a SRAM 11-36 under your 6800-GS?

Yes and for like 4-ever. No issues when properly setup. I know a couple other guys running the same setup and they also have no issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtbadge

No need for a RoadLink?

No, F' RoadLink.

oldpotatoe · #87 03-23-2018, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weisan

Fully loaded.

Caliper brakes, QRs, more than 1 chainring, no thru axles, discs or tapered fork....indeed not a GRoad bike. In fact, it may be illegal....

DrSpoke · #88 03-23-2018, 06:23 PM

Last Saturday, 3/17/18, in SoCal - Redlands Strada Rossa V. My 3rd year - the 1st two on a gravel bike and this year on a mtn bike. Great ride.

joosttx · #89 03-23-2018, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSpoke

Last Saturday, 3/17/18, in SoCal - Redlands Strada Rossa V. My 3rd year - the 1st two on a gravel bike and this year on a mtn bike. Great ride.

Awesome! Did you guys get rain?

bigbill · #90 03-23-2018, 06:40 PM

I spent last week in AZ staying at Fountain Hills and doing daily rides on pavement and some a few days on gravel/trails. I took this bike, a Coconino Dirt Road Racer and two sets of wheels. The wheels in the picture are WTB KOM I-23's with 35mm Gravel Kings. The other wheels are Boyd Altamonts with 32mm Maxxis ReFuse. I did 190 miles on the road and 52 off road. I rode the Pemberton Loop at McDowell Mountain which has some smoothish single track and a bunch of gravel service roads along irrigation canals.