Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

.

1 Attachment

Ahh nice, it has the 14 speed ratchet in the back and just uses both shift levers to move the ratchet either up or down by disengaging the ratchet inside the shifters. Cool stuff.

Still would go for a di2 Alfine.

Can di2 wires be routed internally in a regular (non-LTD) Arkose without any frame modding/drilling?

Crust Evasion.

1 Attachment

Readers here. Absolutely loving this thing at the moment. Picked it up pretty much spec for peanuts and turned it into a drop bar gravel/mtb thing. Eats up firetrack, flowy singletrack and rooty bits but still fast on country lanes.
Smiles for miles.

1 Attachment

Rad

@edscoble where would I find one of these easton 46/30's?

It only been announced when I posted that I think.

Think they're only out in tippy toppy EC90 spec currently ($150 for the rings, $450 for the cranks). Maybe they'll filter down eventually.

So I have just bought an Arkose as instructed by the thread title. I absolutely love it - well done everybody.

The question, though, is this: I currently have a set of Hope Pro 4 hubs (currently laced to stans crest mk3 as an xc wheelset) which I am tempted to build up into a 650b wheelset for some road plus action. I understand that 650b will offer more comfort and grip but what, if anything, do I stand to lose over a standard 700c wheelset? Mud clearance?

Interested in internet derived opinions as well as actual experience. Fill your boots.

Cross-post from the SSCX thread:

I've got an XL 2015 Arkose SSCX (khaki splatter) that I was gonna convert to geared. Before I do, would anyone consider a trade for a geared Arkose (or similar)? As I really cba to do it myself.

No disadvantage to putting 650b wheels on it, none.

You can even put 38mm and it feel nipper like a road bike, abet with a low BB.

Excellent - you make a good point. Thanks, Ed.

Is there a go to rim for the WTB Horizon/Byway tires?

Internet derived opinion: might be a bit worse cutting through bad mud?

Potentially a bit twitchier handling and slower rolling for the same size tyre?

Readers from the weekends riding. Hardtail was out of action so spoilt the Kepler with its first proper off road runabout. Couldnt be arsed to change out the tyres, so some of the corners were a bit sketchy. So much fun.

1 Attachment

KOM i21 to i25s, imo. Full TCS sets up so easily. Great rims.

It's beginning to take shape. Very excited.

Is there any reason why an Arkose Alfine model can’t just be converted to a regular single speed with a rear wheel change? Or is the spacing different? Or any other reason I’m overlooking? I’ve come across one very cheap and it would be the ideal SS disc bike I’ve been looking for. Cheers!

135 10mm QR axle spacing so anything QR will go in there...as long as it’s 135 or thereabouts.

An mtb hub with a SS converter on it or a dedicated 135ss hub from surly or whatever will slot right in.

Splemendous, thanks for clarification.

So presumably the 135mm QR road disc wheels I already own would work with a SS converter kit installed?

I've got the rear wheel of an ss arkose if you want it.

Cheers, I’ll bear it in mind! Got to see if I can acquire this alfine one first..

Thats exactly what I've done. Got a road wheel with a surly cog and spacers on. Works an absolute dream. Just have to watch out for the chain line from the EBB.

For whats its worth, i'd defo recommend it. I rode about 500 miles with the alfine before i ditched it. Setup SS it feels like a completely different bike.

Good to know. Seems like it’s the best of all worlds really, I can use all the wheels I already have, plus I can always stick the alfine back in or even just convert it to traditional gears if I ever wanted to.

Has the EBB given you any jip? I’ve never quite been sold on the idea but the consensus seems to be that the pinnacle ones are ok. I definitely prefer the look of their system to the ones with grub screws - they look like a recipe for disaster, getting full of muck or stripping threads etc.