Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

reach quite long tho, not sure how much shorter I can run my stem as.

Always the same issue I have. I like wider bars, but then the reach needs to come in. I used to ride a mates Domane which was way too big for me, with 46cm bars and it was fucking fun!

Why not some dirt-drops? On One Midge has reach of 60mm, Salsa Woodchipper has 50-something mm, as far as I can tell. Maybe not quite as wide but reach is better.

In a year or two you’ll all be riding these silly wide drop bars.

It's a good question, I guess like to have a more road-focus shape than a proper dirt drop bar as the shape is more awkward if you intend to ride on the hood predominately.

Having said that, you remind me of the old Ragley Luxy handlebar, it got a real nice shape;

Yeah they ain't great on the hoods. In a straight swap (didn't move my stem etc.) I find the "drops" - the little nook really, not the very ends - really comfy.

^ The future of gravel bikes?

The Daija might be a good compromise, I guess it's time for me to experiment on the Arkose again...

Or ritchey venture max? Comp version is quite cheap and very wide in 46cm configuration.

Despite their ugliness, I have no issue with all this bar experimentation. I think road drops dampened the idea for some time, and now needs to be opened up again. Daija bars look interesting.

I got a Salsa Cowbell 2 in 46cm, although the Ritchley shape is different, it's not much to warranty swapping bar;

Biggest concern is the hood of the shifter, Shimano are rather boxy so having them at a severe angle might be uncomfortable, or even might actually be more comfortable.

Part of the reason I've always liked SRAM hoods. They've always been comfortable for me personally and at angles. The roundness of the hoods and closeness of the levers was a joy to use.

And the old Shimano one with the external cable routing

I actually think Shimano missed a trick when they made their modern levers very angular, that the hood is very flat and work best in a more nominal angle.

Bang on point. I genuinely thought they were going to progress from the 6/7x series to the 8/9x series in terms of shape, as I really believe as a main point of contact, it's all too important a design requirement. I love the grip change, but feel like the shape hasn't changed much and puts pressure on your purlicue and you keep shifting your hands.

I'm a fan of the RS505 for this exact reason.

I am waiting for a new Kepler Disc frame to be delivered in the post. Which wheelset do you suggest (~1500/1600 g, ~£500, 23/24 mm wide rim)? Mavic AllRound, Hunt four season gravel disc, handbuild?

I want to run it with GK SK

Hunt

Thanks

What frame is that? I'm looking to give my SO a gravel bike.

Mini gravel bike kind of done. Steered to be chopped when she’s given it a ride. And a black saddle at some point

Also, I think it was in this thread that someone posted the 8bar Grunewald bike and (maybe) @mdcc_tester posted the open mold frame picture of it. I cannot for the life of me find it again.

It’s an XS On One Bish Bash Bosh but not original forks. My better half absolutely loves it.

This one?

Shimano R8020 or Sram Rival 1x? Which one do you suggest?

My missus bought an arkose about a year ago, in tiny women's size (48cm from memory).

Due to house purchase with less bike room/incoming wedding/change of commute, she is considering selling it.

It's had maybe 6-9 months of commuting maybe 3 days a week, <10km each way, so fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things.

It's got 9s sora, trp post mount brakes, bolt thru fork etc.

Thought best to give a heads up here, will likely make a formal sale add over the coming days.