Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

How shitty a terrain can you possibly be riding on those tyres to really need a dropper?

Don't try to understand gravel trends.

Droppers are for drops right? Could even be paved drops or steep descents.. Getting the seat out of the way so you can move your center of mass further back.

I quite like that Marin.

@Rodolfo any luck yet? I'd like to see it!

hopefully get some time this weekend on the cx pro gravel conversion ! got all the bits i need 'cept those flared handlers from p.x.

Anybody with experience how wide knobby 650b tires can fit the Pickenflick? PX has 27.5x2.1 Mezcal TNT for 9 GBP, will it fit? If yes, won't it be an overkill for this kind of bike?

Have we had this in the celebrity lookalike threads yet?

I’ve got 650x47 Terrene Elwood on my Pickenflick and there is still plenty of room, specially on the forks. They’re not full knobby but have got side knobs.
Found this pic while ago. Looks like it’s fitted with 27.5 tyres and they come in 2.1 & 2.25, so judging by this they should fit.

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Where can 650b Elwoods be bought? I have seen them some time ago at PX but now they only have 700c.

Not sure now. Bought them a while ago at PX.
Cannot really compare them to Byways but centre of the tread seems more rugged.
I’m really happy with them. Roll fast on tarmac and have good grip on loose stuff.

For a while it seems they are only available in US sadly.
Anybody can compare GK SK with Byways? Considering two wheelsets (700c with 28c road tyres in summer and 32c CX ones in winter and 650b for gravel and general hardpack off-road riding), which one would be better? GK SK seem to have more thread but they don't have the side knobs like Byway, don't know which is more important.

Clement Strada USH is a thinking mans Byway

You ain’t been “on here” much in a while that I’ve seen. You back in London at the moment?

I actually think they may be useful, especially for touring.

Mostly in photography threads I guess. Been back a few weeks but sadly going back next weekend. Not that I'm gonna miss london commuting

I have been thinking they are more like Horizons not having side knobs, also they seem particularly bombproof with 42 mm weighing over 500 g like Horizons 6 mm wider. Have you been riding Stradas or any WTBs?

I'm aware of the purpose of a dropper post. My point was on that specific bike it seems like a second arsehole.
On the other hand, as @edscoble says, I could see a use for them on a touring rig to adjust position for long days in saddle.
Or I should just stfu.

Yeah, for the sake of 300g or whatever why not try it? You can drop it on descents and when you're going up/down something a bit technical. Really wish I'd got a 27.2mm post and shim for my MTB instead of 31.6mm so that I could try it in my tourer.

I always agree with all of your opinions on components/gearing/geo/etc. High five.

Built up my Arkose again. Now a partsbin SSCX.

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Ive got the 650b Stradas yeah. Absolutely love them, even considering a 700c set. Theyre very grippy even in 'proper' off road and fast on road. For 1/10th of the price of Byways on px theyre worth trying:
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYCLSUSHT6/clement-strada-ush-tyre-650b

Anyone with better eyes than me: does the rose backroad have a third bottle cage? How important is it for bike packing?

How important is it for bike packing?

Vital if you want to get the most likes on the gram

I was thinking that might be it's key benefit.

I guess it may be handy if you’re going somewhere remote but otherwise I always found two normal ones to be fine. Very few places if any in the U.K. where you can ride far enough to drink two full water bottles and not have reached a place with a tap.
Handy for carrying a bottle if you’re full framebagging though I suspect.
Just my opinion ^

does the rose backroad have a third bottle cage?

Doesn't look like it:

No idea what that black thing over there is though. Di2 housing?