ti for gravel

[robt57]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

rides like a magic carpet over any surface.

Anything does on that pristine packed graded stone.

My Rail Road Ballast jaunt yesterday OTOH. With 47x650b had me wanting a fat bike....

[nobuseri]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

this bike is filled with pixie dust magic. steel fork, fixed gear, one brake. rides like a magic carpet over any surface.

Fixed gear on gravel. That's pretty baller. Hats off to you, good sir.

[zap]

Originally Posted by colker

Titanium is indestructible. Untill it breaks. (who hasn´t heard of a high end titanium bike that cracked somewhere?)

Hand up. Busted a ti frame.

Crack in titanium tubing is pretty scary and not something you want to have happen in the middle of nowhere.

[tuscanyswe]

actually i think cracks and faults in high end titanium are very few. Hard to say without data but that would be my impression.

[boomforeal]

so it sounds like the reasons ti as a frame material is well suited to gravel bikes is

durability
- doesn't corrode like steel
- stronger/less prone to dent than aluminum
- not as brittle as carbon in a crash

aesthetics
- classic look
- raw finish less impacted by debris or bag-related wear

ride quality
- lively and compliant, like steel but lighter

full disclosure: i bought a 2nd hand ti frame last year. i tried the compliant steel thing and enjoyed the ride but cracked my frame doing something i'll likely do again. my first ti frame; i've only been out on a handful of rides but i like it quite a bit. i'm a bit of a chronic underbiker so i'm hoping the material is as strong as it is reputed to be

thanks all

[tmadrecki]

to the gentleman with the fixed moots - i salute you. #hero