Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

I do identify myself as a roadie still, not having ridden the road bike outside for about 6 months

Steel is still real💪

I got an lbs to swap my cassette while they were already dealing with some bits. I asked them to swap like with like (34t) and it took me months of struggling up certain climbs and wondering what was wrong with my legs before I realised they’d stuck a 28 on.

Csb etc.

I bet they shortened the chain and kept the spare links as well, bstards

Yeah I can ride an MTB on the road but I tend to ride long distances and drop bars + aerobars are much more comfortable than flats. Also to clarify, I'd love an MTB but I already owned the gravel bike.

Can doesn't mean should.

Or "as slow as a gravel bike on the road" because you're the one powering it :P

That is far too much sense for this thread.

I know, what was I thinking.

I only post here to keep arguments going as it means workmates get an easier day.

1x is shit!

and there is the secret gravel road by streatham common

Gibson's Hill?

yes

or OFFICIAL SOUTHEAST LONDON GRAVEL 100Climbs No21

1:1 you should have bought an “endurance road bike”

Is 37 old enough to identify as a MAMIL yet?

GRAVEL*

Di2 is cross compatible but #BallerGravelBikes aren't within everyone's reach

Though you can't mix and match road and MTB derailleurs, which is a real shame because a road FD and MTB RD would be great. I do that on my bike, only cable actuated.

with a grx mid cage you can run a 46 anyway, and that's likly without wolftooth

with a grx mid cage you can run a 46 anyway

The 1x version (817) perhaps (though it's rated to 42T), however the 2x version (815) is rated to 34T max largest sprocket (officially by Shimano).

But apart from that, MTB RDs have significantly bigger capacities, which is especially relevant if you want to run a wide range cassette in combination with a double chainset.

oh sure it's not ideal, sram is better in this sense. grx doesn't have enough rear range.
What they need is a grx derailleur that works with a 10-51 cassette. but then 12spd chains are different etc.

officially by Shimano

Mine does 40t no problem, 42 might just work.

Shimano's large sprocket limits are more conservative than Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Especially the recent stuff.

Resident fat lad at the back (aka @hippy ) runs a 42t no issue.

More recent stuff?

OK, more conservative than Jacob Rees-Mogg saying fish are happier now they’re in British waters, while the fisheries minister admits she failed to read the Brexit trade deal because she was "very busy organising local Nativity trail".

Probably the toughest on road climb I've done, it's like riding slowly up steps. It finished off my hanger one time too.

That’s pretty shitty that they did not tell you this.