Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

TBF I don't see many hardcore MTB guys interested in gravel bikes. The original "just get an MTB" crowd.

All this chat about GRX and disappointment, not seeing anyone in here moaning about Ekar. Really makes you think

Like this but fatter always right.

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not seeing anyone in here moaning about Ekar. Really makes you think

Because no one is buying it?

This is why you'll never see me in white.

Because no one has actually received their group yes as Campagnolo cant deliver

GRX is actually really sound mechanically, shame the finish on top is only going to last the test ride for the cycling magazine review

The di2 levers are different. Been fine

But yeah I'd be annoying if I were you and complain. But untill they remedy the same thing will happen...

could you complain and try to get them swapped for 105/ultegra shifters ? not sure if they're compatible with the rest of the group tho and is probably a long shot

now i know how the people who find widebar talk boring feel

.

But can you even buy Ekar in the UK right now?

Ekar is also twice the price

... but yeah kinda wish I'd waited for Ekar

Truth is I won't be replacing them because of an ahestetic mark, but I still care to hear what they say

I kind of want a gravel bike because I rode on the road for years and years but just got really sick of the conflict. Being able to spin along the tarmac before heading onto a track strikes me as appealing. Would I choose the gravel bike over my hardtail? I think that depends, if I was doing my SDW loop that is half tarmac half bridleway then yes, and the light off-road routed that you can get too from SE London would probably be better on something with drops as you need to ride a certain amount of tarmac, although I will say that my experience in recent years is that you get far fewer close passes on an MTB, which I put down to bar width making your effective/perceived width much larger to a following motorist.

Ultimately a 150mm fork seems a bit much for a muddy field.

Just think how much lighter they will be after 12 months...

Ultimately a 150mm fork seems a bit much for a muddy field.

You underestimate #ukgravel

Was joking as I haven’t seen a single Ekar in the wild

Would probably have also gone Ekar if it had released when I built my bike. Guess finding n3w (think that’s what it’s called?) hubs would be a pain but I’m not seeing any 2nd hand xdr wheels popping up anyway

what's your hardtail?
imo there is no speed difference between a XC hard tail and a proper gravel bike. The difference is in asthetics. Plus the xc bike will likely be faster off road...
I rode my hardtail out from beckenham, opened up another world.

Ultimately a 150mm fork seems a bit much for a muddy field.

Get a cross bike. Faster than a gravel bike on road, better in the mud and you have a hardtail for those chunkier rides.

What's the durability of the finish like on flat bar levers? Is it better on XTR?

XTR levers are carbon. From experience the finish on everything from Deore to XT lasts ages and gently fades rather than wearing to a polish

You should see the state of my brake levers

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I’ve got one, and as long as I don’t want to stop it’s quite good fun.

Cantis?

Yep.