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Why not just ride touring bikes?

October 25, 2017, 12:51 am
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As I'm browsing the internet, window shopping for a new bike, I'm wondering-is there a reason I shouldn't broaden my search to touring bikes?  It seems like they often have enough tire clearance, or even tons of it.

I'm specifically looking at the Kona Sutra(sadly, not available in my size for weeks and I want to be rolling faster than that) and the Marin 4 Corners(stack is a bit high for me, I think.).

I'm 6'4" and 240 lbs.  And doubt I'll ever get below 185 again.  So I'm not really concerned about touring bikes supposedly riding weird unloaded, given my size.

But what other touring bikes seem like great gravel bikes to the rest of you?  Or am I crazy for considering touring bikes, given that I'm not expecting to ever tour longer than a weekend?

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Devinci Hatchet? Which of these 3 builds will give me more for my money?

October 29, 2017, 7:29 pm
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Hi! Need some advice! I've been looking for a new bike for an eternity (as you can see here: http://ridinggravel.com/forum/?p=post%2Fnew-allroadgravel-bike-7792146%3F%26trail%3D25).

I'm almost ready to buy a Devinci Hatchet Carbon. It has clearance for at least 40c (even 47c with 650b), a light carbon frame (1050g for a medium), decent price IMO and Devinci is a local brand. I tried in vain to find an XL 2017 locally. I found a 105 build and an ultegra build in a bigger town 3 hours away and they can ship one to me. I could also wait for a 2018 ultegra and buy at the lbs. Not sure about the color of the 2018 cause no pic in real life on the website but it has the new Ultegra R8000 and a lighter wheelset (looks like a fulcrum racing db7-1740g).

So 2017 105 build (9.22kg) with Mavic Askium all road disc wheelset (above 2000g) for 2975can$ https://www.bicyclesmcw.com/fr/product/2017-devinci-hatchet-carbon-105

2017 Ultegra (8.72kg)with Mavic Askium allroad disc wheelset for 3570can$ https://www.bicyclesmcw.com/fr/product/2017-devinci-hatchet-carbon-ultegra

2018 Ultegra (8.48kg) with fulcrum racing 7 (I think) for 4300$

I will eventually get a better primary wheelset but it seem to me that the fulcrum is a better keepers as a second one. I really like the color on the ultegra 2017.

Just to give you an idea, the price on a 2018 Salsa Warbird carbon rival is 4500$can and an ultegra 5800$, with better wheels at least

Feel free to give my your opinion. Thanks!

Category: Bikes

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Upgrade Kona Sutra LTD to Rove LTD

November 7, 2017, 5:38 am
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Hi,



I have 2016 Kona Sutra LTD with Specialized Sawtooth tires, which I enjoy very much, mostly for tarmac and light gravel roads.

Since Sutra is MTB frame in essence, and it is made from relatively heavy tubing, I am considering “upgrade” to Rove LTD.

Can you please share some thoughts regarding:



- difference in frame materijal (Kona Cromoly vs. Reynolds 853)

- Sram Force vs Rival - is there significant difference in brake quality?

- WTB Horizon 650b vs 700C wheels/tires in real world - is there a significant difference?



Many thanks in advance!





Category: Bikes

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Bianchi Volpe

November 10, 2017, 7:59 pm
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Let's Hear it for Willard

November 11, 2017, 6:53 pm
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I've been riding a 2015(?) Willard 2 for about a year now. I picked it up from Jenson for $999 and it came with a $300 "money card" that I used to buy Mtn bike parts. A good deal, I think.



I mostly ride it on the road with the occasional foray onto gravel trails/roads for some training miles and when I can't mountain bike. This year, I've raced a few cross races, and while I wouldn't mind something with sharper handling, I can't really say the bike is holding me back.



I wouldn't mind hydraulic brakes, but the TRP Spyres are surprisingly good. I'd like a second set of wheels so that I'm not swapping tires so often, and I'll probably go tubeless on those.



At some point, I may move to a cross bike as my "only" and live with the compromises, but I'd have trouble letting go of this Willard. Once you get into the realm of Shimano 105, you can really get a lot of bike for your $$. I wish dollars would stretch as far when buying a mountain bike!

Category: Bikes

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Chinese carbon gravel bike - Tideace

November 13, 2017, 3:12 am
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Hi guys,
i've been asked to do a little review of this "exploro like" frameset, the Tideace FM-CX039 from Hadeli/Tideace factory.

Thanks to this forum (and you guys) i was planning to purchase a Carbonda, but the kind of lattency between my emails and their replies pushed me to try another thing.
I should have stuck with Carbonda... despite a very fast reply (and good english) from Tideace, they sent me the wrong frame... a road aero frameset (which was nice, and i ended up keeping it)
My frame was in fact at another customer's door in Italy...
Long story short, they finally sent me a black frameset, they gave me a carbon bottlecage as en excuse. It took 1 month 1/2 with all this mess

So be careful when ordering, they make mistakes... the packing was not super good, but hey, you're not buying a Canyon

Included with the frameset : seatpost (did not tried to tighten it yet, but it seems okay), axles, headset. There was missing the little rubber plug for DI2 and of course, no protections on the frame (for chain slaps).

The geometry is exactly like the 3T exploro. However, the seatpost is very different, and therefore, i think it won't be super comfy to ride.

We will see that in the next few days... For now, this is a quick built to check if everything's okay.

I'll give you the final weight. I think it's going to be around 8kg (not less i'm afraid, even if it's a size small).

More impressions in the days to come !




tideace-fm-cx039.jpg

Category: Bikes

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Ibis Hakka MX

November 13, 2017, 7:42 pm
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What do you all think of this new one from Ibis? Here's the website, if you want to dig in more. Saw it today and I'm interested to hear the opinions of the crowd. 


4.JPG 


This is the info they have on the website:

The Hakka MX is our answer to the Swiss Army Knife. It’s the bike we’d choose if, heaven forbid, we could only have one bike. 

The Hakka MX is a gravel bike. It’s also a cross bike and a road bike. We’ve logged a few bike packing trips on the Hakka too. 

You can outfit the bike with 27.5 mountain bike wheels, where it’ll accept up to a 2.1” tire. 

In 700c mode, it’ll accommodate very nicely tires from 23c to over 40c.

With the hydraulic brakes being so good on CX/road/gravel bikes now, coupled with the ability to run big-volume big-traction tires, this bike is a total blast on dirt (especially fast flowing singletrack).  

FEATURES

  • Ability to run 700C Wheels or 27.5" Wheels
  • 142mm through axle rear dropout spacing
  • T47 Threaded Bottom Bracket
  • Versatile Internal Cable Routing
  • Compression Molded Carbon Dropouts
  • Disc Brake Compatible
  • Two Color Choices, Fireball or Coal
  • Dropper Post Compatible
  • Headset is: IS 41/28.6 upper, IS 52/40 lower
  • 1.5" Tapered Head Tube
  • Warranty: 7 years

Category: Bikes

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2017 Raleigh Roker Questions

November 14, 2017, 3:55 pm
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Ok so I have been looking at the Roker now for at least 2-3 months now. More so since the 2017 is going to be the last year of production of them.

I just happen to read in Velo News today that it has the capability of being 2x since there are 2 cable ports or something like that.

So calling Raleigh today they said I would need the following

Sram Rival 2 speed hydro shifter

different crank

and

Sram Rival braze on derailleur

Any guesses as to what this would cost parts wise and then labor to have an LBS to install. Finally would the set up be as good as factory installed.

If I bought the bike I would like the option of going 2x if I didn't like the 1x set up. I have read that you either have to be able to buy into the 1x or not when buying the 1x bike but looks like the 2x could be an option here. I wouldn't go 2x right away unless the LBS would be willing to give me some credit for the new 1x parts.

If I was only riding/racing in the Mid West I think the 1x would be great or near perfect. Here in the hilly East Coast I am not sure especially when I see a write up saying in you live in a hilly area you might want 2x.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Zman

Category: Bikes

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Opinion on Ritchey Outback

November 16, 2017, 12:01 pm
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Ritchey just came out with the allroad Outback. I don't suppose anyone has had time to get one yet, but based on specs, any opinion? It ticks a lot of boxes for me, except it doesn't have fender mounts which is almost a deal-breaker (I'm in the PNW). 

https://ritcheylogic.com/outback-frameset

For my purposes, I'm looking for something steel (carbon fork OK) and racier than my Ocean Air Rambler (which is actually pretty damn great on gravel). I'd use it for gravel events (maybe with 650b wheels), the occasional cross race, and general road riding. I've also been looking at the Singular Kite and Wraith Paycheck. 

Category: Bikes

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An interesting take on B.B. drop

November 17, 2017, 6:32 pm
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I didn’t know which forum this would be best in but since it pertains to bikes I thought I would post it here. Always lots of discussion about bottom bracket drop. I have even heard people say they don’t like “said” bike for gravel because it does not have enough drop yadadadada. I have been on the fence about it at the mercy of advice from people more experienced than I but still haven’t fully subscribed to the hoopla. On a bike the weight of the cyclist gives it a high cg regardless of bb drop. I talked to a well known frame builder recently and he said it was hype. I won’t get into everything he said cause that’s too much typing but he definitely got me to re thinking. I stumbled across this article tonight and really found it good reading. Maybe you guys have read this and maybe not but for those who can’t decide on what their next frame or bike may be, maybe this might be of interest to you. http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2007/2/21/bottom-bracket-height.html

I certainly don't know everything but I am always on the quest for truth and knowledge.

Category: Bikes

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Views on Merida Silex and Momsen GP300?

November 18, 2017, 12:03 pm
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A. Has anybody had the chance to try out the new Merida Silex? Pretty interesting bike, with a geometry of its own - very tall stack, long reach, few spacers and a really short stem. Views or comments would be most helpful! I'm most interested in the Silex 300 - alu frame with spyre brakes and Apex x1. About $1450:



https://www.merida-bikes.com/en_int/bikes/road-fitness-gravel/gravel/2018/silex-300-9362.html





B. Has anybody out there heard about Momsens GP300? A South African gravel bike, alu frame with spyre brakes and Apex x1. Racing the remote gravel roads of Sweden on an African bike would be such a thrill. The price isn't bad. About $1100 without shipping:



http://momsenbikes.com/bikes/gravel/gp300

Category: Bikes

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Raleigh discount code

November 24, 2017, 10:24 pm
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Was in the Raleigh site tonight looking at my Corporate account and looking to see what my price would be on the Roker Comp.

For some reason I left it in my cart for a couple of days and they were trying to give me a bigger discount to buy the bike.

The code was

save 5

When I plugged that in under the promo code not only did it discount the bike but it didn't charge the sales tax.

1st price on the bike was $1799  with $100 or so tax

now the price was

$1652.99 with no tax. Hope that helps anybody on the fence who was deciding to buy a Raleigh or not.

Zman

Category: Bikes

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New Roker Comp is on it's way!!!!!!!.

November 26, 2017, 1:26 pm
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Well I finally bit the bullet today and bought the 2017 Roker. I didn't think it would get any cheaper.

$1799.00 Corporate price
$1739.99 Black Friday price
$1652.99 with the save5 discount By using the save5 discount not only did I save another $87 off the bike it also didn't charge me any sales tax.

My LBS that I use is a Giant/Lynskey dealer but I couldn't justify or afford a $3300 bike right now. He also isn't a big 1x fan but I guess he will take my money on the assembly. I figured $75 for the final assembly and figure with the no sales tax/shipping/and or the save5 discount I could afford to have him assemble it. I don't know how to get the front caliper on as that was off the Tamland when I received it. 


Thanks to everyone on this forum helping me get through this process. I do feel like I got a great deal on this bike just like I did the Tamland 1 in the spring.


Thanks everybody
Zman

Category: Bikes

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How aero can you get on Jones bars

November 26, 2017, 6:22 pm
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I edited this to simplify it. I talk too much lol. Does anyone here, who has tried both Jones H bars and dirt drop bars, find that even in the aero position, the Jones bars just don't feel as aero in a stiff wind as drops? On my bike with drops, the bars are at seat height but I still feel more fluid riding in a headwind than I do on my other bike with 710 H bars also at seat height. As comfy as the H bars are, they just don't feel the same as far as aerodynamics. Am I crazy?

Category: Bikes

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Diamondback Haanjo Carbon Comp Sizing question

November 27, 2017, 1:12 pm
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Hi Guys,

 I am thinking of buying the Haanjo Comp Carbon, I am about 5.9 with a 31 inseam and ride a 54 on the road, so I was thinking of getting a 53 (which is rated as having 54 TT), but talking to one go the DB reps, he said that these bikes have a short reach and that I should size up and go with a 56, which sounds contrary to what I would do, but without being able to try one before I buy it, I am wondering if anyone has any insights?.
Here is the Geo chart
https://www.diamondback.com/road-bikes/adventure-gravel/haanjo-comp-carbon

Thanks in advance

Category: Bikes

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How many ride fat bikes on gravel

November 27, 2017, 6:15 pm
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How in the heck I managed to accidentally post twice is beyond me......Sorry folks

Category: Bikes

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Fat tires on gravel anybody?

November 27, 2017, 6:15 pm
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As the title states.......I have been riding 2.4 ardents on gravel a lot lately at around 20-30 psi and they way they soak up the road bumps and float over the big loose rocks is way way better than the 42s (so called wide gravel tires blaahaahaa ) on my other bike could ever dream of. The 2 bikes are different, geometry is different, bars are different, but all else aside the tires make the ride so much more fun. Anyone else get tired of running skinny so called "larger" tires on their gravel rig and feel like breaking out the flotation?

Category: Bikes

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Need suggestions for a dropbar-suitable mountain bike frame (Cutthroat on the cheap!)

November 28, 2017, 9:48 am
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Hey all,

I'm looking for a rigid 29er frameset that I could build into a good drop-bar knockoff of the Salsa Cutthroat.

The main issues here are:
1) Cost --- I'd buy a Cutthroat today if I could rationalize spending that kind of money on a bike, but I cannot.
2) Frame material --- oddly, I prefer aluminum to steel, and carbon is probably out of my budget.
3) Geometry --- Just any old mountain bike frame isn't necessarily suited for drop bars.

What's the point, you ask? I like big wheels and big tires, but not on the scale of a fatbike. I already have a satisfactory gravel bike with 700x42c tires, but I want something a bit more rugged for jumping curbs, light single-track, and commuting.

Determining a suitable frame is the biggest gap in my knowledge, and why I'm on here asking. I have had little luck googling up information on what frames are good for this task.

Thanks for any help!

Category: Bikes

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Roker Comp Review

November 30, 2017, 6:30 am
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I only have about 200 miles on my 2017 Roker Comp, but here are my initial impressions:

Purchase – The Raleigh corporate discount was too good to pass up (I could not find a similarly spec’d carbon gravel/adventure bike for less than $2000).  I received the bike about a week after ordering.  My bike had a bent rear derailleur hanger because the derailleur was resting unprotected directly against the side of box.  A simple fix would be to ship bikes with the rear derailleur unattached.  Raleigh sent a new hanger, but it took them 3 weeks.

Assembly – Easy for anyone with a little bit of experience working on bikes.

Fit and Contact Points – No issues with fit, just the usual fine-tuning.  I’m 6’ tall with “normal” proportions and got the 58cm.  The Raleigh saddle was OK, but I swapped it out for my personal favorite (Specialized Toupe).  I didn’t like the shape of the drops on the Raleigh handlebar and replaced it with the same FSA compact that I have on my other bikes.  I like the grippy bar tape.

Frame/Fork – Finish and construction appear to be excellent.  Having an otherwise internally routed shifter cable exposed below the bottom bracket is an odd design decision and I’ll be curious to see if this leads to shifting issues over time.  I like that Raleigh spec’d a standard threaded bottom bracket.  Tire clearance is excellent, but not without limits.  Out of curiosity, I tried a 29x1.95 Specialized Renegade and 29x2.0 Maxxis Beaver—neither tire would fit.  45mm (1.8) seems to be the limit for 700c tires.  Eventually I’ll pick up a 27.5 wheelset and experiment with wider mountain bike tires.  The Roker frame isn’t specifically designed for a dropper post, but you could easily repurpose the front derailleur cable route and the Di2 hole in the seat tube for a stealth dropper post installation.  I like that the fork is 15mm thru axle because if you want to use different wheels there are lots more 15mm mtb options to choose from than 12mm road. 

Wheelset and Tires – No complaints about the wheelset.  The confirmed weight is 1860 grams (1000 rear, 860 front).  The unbranded hubs (Novatec?) spin smoothly.  The rims are tubeless ready and come pre-taped so you just need valve stems.  I have a nice set of Hope/Stan’s Crest wheels I’ll put on the Roker eventually, but the stock wheels are good enough that I’m not in a hurry.  The “non-tubeless” Clement MSO tires have been a pleasant surprise.  I set them up tubeless without any trouble and they hold air better than most of the actual tubeless tires I’ve owned.  My typical ride on the Roker includes a mix of road, gravel and single track so there’s no perfect tire, but the MSO’s have been outstanding for most surfaces.  I’ve been running 35 psi front and 38 psi rear for mixed surface rides.

Drivetrain – 1x vs 2x was not a big factor in my purchase.  They both have their advantages/disadvantages and I would have been fine with either.  I’ve been riding Shimano STI equipped road and cyclocross bikes for 15+ years and the Roker is my first experience with a SRAM road groupset.  I’m still getting used to the Double Tap shifters, but so far I’d give a slight edge to Shimano STI (more precise and less prone to miss shifts).  The 42x11-42 combo was OK, but most of my rides include long and relatively steep climbs so I replaced the 11-42 with an 11-46.  So far, the 11-46 is low enough, but I might pick up a 38T or 40T chainring for special occasions.

Brakes – Hydraulic brakes were a prerequisite for any gravel bike I was considering.  The SRAM HydroR brakes are awesome.  The Roker uses post mount vs the newer flat mount road standard.  I'm not aware of flat mount having any real advantage except they are more "future-proof".

Ride and Handling – In general I’m happy if a bike fits well and works for its intended purpose(s)—the Roker does both.  My last “gravel” bike was an old aluminum cyclocross bike and the Roker is a big improvement in pretty much every way.  It should come as no surprise that the Roker excels on gravel.  The long wheelbase, thin seat stays and wide tires add up to a comfortable ride on rough surfaces.  On the road it rides like, well, a road bike with 40mm tires.  Heavier, but not unlike my Cervelo R5, i.e. classic road bike handling.  With a nice set of road tires I would be perfectly happy using the Roker for rides that are 100% road.  The frame is plenty stiff where you want it to be, i.e. bottom bracket area, and feels responsive pedaling out of the saddle.  On single track it rides like a drop bar 29er with skinny tires.  The Roker is fun on easy single track, but obviously no substitute for an actual mountain bike when conditions get rough/technical.  Although, with a dropper post and 27.5 wheels I think you could push the envelope.  If you're familiar with the PNW I've ridden the Roker on the Grand Ridge, Tiger Mtn and Olallie trails without feeling too underbiked.

Category: Bikes

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Raleigh Roker Shipment questions

November 30, 2017, 8:39 pm
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Ok so I finally unwrapped my Raleigh Roker Comp bike tonight. Really disappointed. The rear derailleur is really bent into the spokes. I guess I have to take the bike to an authorized Raleigh dealer now which I didn't want to do. My main question is even though he probably could straighten it out if it was your bike would you make Raleigh ship you a new derailleur? Even if it is straightened out will the derailleur ever be the same?

Thanks 
Zman

Category: Bikes

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