Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Genetic have a few options. There are the Flare, Drover and Digest models.

Ritchey Evomax. I think I still have a 40cm pair i need rid of.

Sheldon Brown knew.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

Cheers - didn't know alpkit did a 'road' version.

I had seen those Ritcheys before, just forgot and yeah Cowbells seems so expensive...

Sounds good to me - let me know if you do!

Mine? Set of Genetic Flare bars going for £8. Not much flare, but enough to be extra comfy on the drops, while still feel like normal bars when on the hoods.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/310586/#comment14305448

ROUTES....

Anyone have a recommendation? I'd like to shoot out of London for a weekend, get two nice gravel rides in and nip back. Any inspiration?

Dorset Gravel Dash.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12771914

Looks interesting. Is it all off-road? Any spots in particular good for a bit of wild camping? I could drive to any point in the route on Saturday morning, ride 50 miles, have a kip, ride the rest, drive home...

hey, it's small roads, forest tracks, gravel. don't take anything less than a 32mm cross tires. ideal would probably be a 2.0" with minimal tread

I've wild camped in the woods above kimmeridge, it's so lovely there and you can roll down the hill in the morning and go for a swim first thing!

there are loads of writeups online which you can read to get a feel for the course

also if you don't have time to do the whole thing just do the southern half - eg Wareham to Morton - it's the most beautiful part for sure

That sounds great. Looks like a brilliant option. I'm actually being kicked out of the house for the next two weekends (kinda - Mrs Sparky has lots of friends staying so I'm going to try and make myself scarce) so am looking for two routes potentially. This might be good for the second.

Does anyone know of a good 100 mile gravel route from Glasgow with a mid-point camping spot? Looks like I could get a cheap-ish spot on the Caledonian Sleeper this weekend.

Is there anything he didn't know.

Right just got to swap my 5 bolt for a 4 bolt Absolute Black ring.

If you're in that region (Dorset / Swanage way) check out the MOD schedules - I've been caught out round there as there are sometimes closures for live training exercises. Not sure if your route would cover it, but worth a look if it strays onto MOD land at all.

The way I've gone round there is to train it to Poole, then get the ferry onto studland and cycle around - really beautiful countryside, definitely worth it

Top tip, ta. I'm liking the idea of this Dorset Gravel Dash and may have a mate on the hook for it the weekend after this one - pending approval from his better half. Also trying to put together a route from Glasgow for this weekend and, if possible, booking a Caledonian Sleeper. But that's a bit tight to arrange this quickly. Also need to buy a saddle bag of some description... Anyone have a secondhand one going spare?

I've got a saddle bag if you need one, I upgraded to a restrap but still have the old one - can dig it out tonight and see how it looks.

Yeah, that'd be great, thanks. Which one is it?

Can't remember the make - it was made by a guy in Poland...

Let me dig it out tonight so I can check condition etc. - have a feeling it's not in A1 condition but would be cheap and should get you through if you need something short notice

buy a revelate viscacha saddle bag from charlie the bikemonger, in swanage, who organises that route. you can go and pick up in person :)

Thanks Andy.

@platypus - that'd be cool, but I'd have to take all my stuff in a plastic bag until I reached his place!

fair enough.
well this is the best saddle bag you can buy, well worth the money
https://www.charliethebikemonger.com/revelate-design-viscacha-seat-bag-black-6042-p.asp

Zipp Service Course 80 and FSA Vero have a little bit of flare, 4° per side.

Kinesis Tripster, QR version.

SL80 too.

Easton do a various weights of an adventure bar with (I think) 6° flare.

2nd hand cowbells are so worth it