I am not a groader

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by nicrump

Maybe I'm not up on what the kids are doing on gravel roads these days but looking at the spec on the med, 70*HTA with a 45mm rake and 430CS length.

Do you ride these down a straight flat road, stop to pick it up, turn it around and ride back?

(like)

To be fair that is a big wheel and tire combo.

[AngryScientist]

your bike is already groad-a-licious weisan pal.

[benb]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

The technical skills and fitness required to be a good, fast gravel rider are not for everyone. Kudos to Diamondback for working with you to resolve this to your satisfaction.

As long as you're not in a race these comments are always weird.

Racing is clearly obvious where the danger comes from. You have this tendency to take tires that are faster for an advantage but are worse if you hit a downhill where the gravel is particularly loose.

But if you're not racing you just slow down and stay within your limits and it should be a really safe form of riding. Less cars & traffic than normal road riding, and less technical than MTB.

[Luwabra]

im laughing pretty hard at this thread already... different strokes for different folks. I hate traffic. I like the quiet, the nature viewing, the access to everything hard pave to dirt, the slower pace. YES the racing is sketchy AF but remember no worse than any crit ive ever been in. heres a map of my unique situation to illustrate. The red is gravel.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by Luwabra

im laughing pretty hard at this thread already... different strokes for different folks. I hate traffic. I like the quiet, the nature viewing, the access to everything hard pave to dirt, the slower pace. YES the racing is sketchy AF but remember no worse than any crit ive ever been in. heres a map of my unique situation to illustrate. The red is gravel.

Way to gloat.

[bigbill]

I've put around 3000 miles on my gravel bike since last October. A trail system runs behind my neighborhood and I can use a headlight to ride all winter. With the right clothes. I still have four road bikes.

[jtbadge]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

your bike is already groad-a-licious weisan pal.

Yeah, let's see this instead. Probably more useful for the average gravel ride than that Centurion pseudo-MTB you almost bought.

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by Luwabra

im laughing pretty hard at this thread already... different strokes for different folks. I hate traffic. I like the quiet, the nature viewing, the access to everything hard pave to dirt, the slower pace. YES the racing is sketchy AF but remember no worse than any crit ive ever been in. heres a map of my unique situation to illustrate. The red is gravel.

I hate you

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Luwabra

The red is gravel.

Luwabra -

when is the first annual "Lewa-Fondo" gravel ride? I'm in. Dibs on your couch.

[mistermo]

I just bought a used Haanjo EXP for $1400. I put it together two nights ago and it looks uber cool at a good price. My buddy got a new one too, and just had the bar end shifters replaced with the new, very nice, 9s Sora shifters. He changed from a triple to a 44-28 double too. Love this bika.

[cadence90]

.... ..
.

[Luwabra]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I hate you

Lol 1/4 mi fro my house is my entrance

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Luwabra -

when is the first annual "Lewa-Fondo" gravel ride? I'm in. Dibs on your couch.

This is the hardest race you’ve never heard of
http://transiowa.blogspot.com/2006/0...-news.html?m=1
I’m in again this year. Last year was a high of 35° and pouring rain. I made it just shy of 200 at checkpoint which was a bar LOL. Aaaaand we’re done. We were fringing on hypothermia. Not to derail this thread.

[Luwabra]

Originally Posted by cadence90

RAGGBRAI...?
r
.

I like what you did there

[mtb_frk]

i love that can go out for a 2-3 ride and not ride any pavement, and get passed by only 1 or 2 cars. For me to go ride my road bike it is either a paved MUT or a 6 mile loop in our of our local parks. Either of those options involve getting in the car and driving there. Or I can get on my gravel bike and ride to either place all on dirt roads or pretty much ride as far as I want. I haven’t even ridden my road bike but once or twice in the last couple years. I think it is time to finally sell it and get a custom monster cross to replace the Wolverine.

[Peter P.]

Great story, weisan! Glad you pulled out of your delirium in time to recognize your rash decision.

And as you have learned; it's not the bike that makes riding enjoyable, but the experiences.