Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

The 2021 Arkose has very slim seat stays, hydroformed top tube, clean welds, triple butted, etc. It’s really impressive.

the enduring arkose... aka get an arkose

Does look good, and they went TA front/rear. Shame they don't have my size in the frameset only option, it's a tidy price if you're an XL but I lie much lower down in the size range

No, still sourcing parts, I'll weigh it for you when I get a chance, just bear in mind that its a size S/50cm frame not a 54

Also @swmlon to add fuel to the fire of your Steel vs Alu debate, I used to have both a Trek Crockett AL and a Curve GXR steel. Rode both of them on similar terrain and never found the aluminium frame to be uncomfortable or harsh compared to steel. The Crockett was a great bike and lots of fun to ride and I really regret having to sell it but ultimately I do prefer the Curve*

*This is probably entirely psychological because it looks cooler, cost more and gets more likes on insta

And dynamo routing on the front. It might be the best designed frameset I’ve had, and probably the cheapest. I’d have the bb a touch higher and wheelbase a touch shorter but that’s personal preference. Oh and bento mounts are an omission.

Yeah, I keep going about in circles, and in either case, I'd be running 700x40mm minimum tyres so that will make either feel pretty plush.
I know alu is the practical choice, but I feel like the Insta-looks of steel

And don't get me started on the mugs who buy titanium....

Don't stop on my account.

*This is probably entirely psychological because it looks cooler, cost more and gets more likes on insta

thread title update pls

the enduring arkose... aka get an arkose

And then spend the extra £50 to a local bike shop to make sure it is put together properly.

Instagram account?

we should add "just get an Arkose" to the thread title imo

Did we have Aero Aggro Gravel yet?
Also: Only noobs argue about disc brakes when you can have a 'chute.

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we should add "just get an Arkose" to the thread title imo

I fear that's a golden age of gravel which I won't see again in my lifetime

Needs blue SID

I enjoyed the discussion about mechanical cable discs. I have had a bike with hydraulic brakes on - Shimano 105. To be honest they were ok - but not much more than that. I really couldn't see that much difference on road (where I do most of my riding) between them and a well set up pair of 105 side pulls. I don't really do much in the way of hard riding because I like to stop and take photos. The Hydraulics were superior though to my old Weinemann 730s!
Does the hive mind have any thoughts on the Spa cycles Elan model with cable discs for light touring/towpath riding?

After enduring the annoyance of having to replace my hydraulic brakes on mine and a mates bike due to just swapping out handlebars, I'm seriously considering going back to cables and getting the spyres I used to run to allow me to easily swap parts in my endless quest for getting the perfect bike set up.

Hydros are really easy to swap out and replace etc. The only issue is when the hose is too short but then that problem can apply to cable discs too. What am I missing?

you don't swap handlebars, you buy a new bike.

What am I missing?

A set of Maguras

That's where I've been going wrong all these years :)

lol, the only time cable discs would have been a more sensible choice

Hydros are really easy to swap out and replace etc.

As long as you don't have internal routing and already own a bleed kit

You need one hex key and some cable cutters to install cable disc brakes

cables are just as much of a ball ache to route internally- that's a frameset issue, nothing to due with what runs within the hose.

Also you don't need a bleed kit to swap or even install hydro discs assuming they are already bled. One 8mm spanner is all that's needed.

Looks like I stopped at the lights and rested my right arse cheek on the top tube.

I mean sometimes you have to cut the cables to get them out of the frame if they're internally routed due to the olive or whatever the press fit chunky bit at the end is called