Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

On point.

It’s really …. something.

That stem.........................

Arkose replacement finally built up last week...

Anyone ridden good gravel routes in Tenerife? Staying in Los Cristianos for a few days after riding the Gran Guanche route so looking for single-day loops ideally

Was it worth it and why?

Arguably not too dissimilar from the Straggler you sold me in 2016, albeit perhaps lighter and with more modern standards

Arkose was genuinely a perfect allrounder, had all the fittings and clearance you'd ever need, the M was always on the verge of being just too small though...the compact geo / massive seatpost always hurt my eyes :/

But with this Faran (56T), now I've swung a leg over it it's actually probably sized up too tall for me now, at the front end at least, so realistically I'll probably now be moving it on sooner before I'm the initiator of the first chip in that glorious paintwork (it is unbelievably good)! Will prob go for something 'cheaper' too actually, I genuinely feel nervous moving this around in the shed it's that nice. I'll almost certainly be heading @amey's direction and getting a Checkpoint ALR...just like the Arkose but a horizontal/ish TT that will be easier on my eyes, and I won't be too squeamish if it gets scratched!

Yep, that was a beaut too!

Given the limited number of spacers for a surly, I’m surprised you went with the 56T!

I spent a long time contemplating the geometry of the Faran, before settling on the 54R with 30mm of spacers, the T versions do add serious stack.

It has seen many revisions since that picture ;)

Yep, just impossible to find 2nd hand 56R in this or Secan, so took a risk...frameset was bought on the forum as near-new, so still saved a lot there vs new / correct sizing. I knew stack would be high, but forgot that standover also reduces significantly too, so all in all it's just not going to work. Lesson learned...measure twice etc

I'll prob switch a few things on it and hope someone out there is looking for a 56T now!

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standover also reduces significantly

eh?

Good point, I was meaning more with respect to my particulars, rather than the correct reference vs ground:)

If that stem is -6°, changing it to one that points straight forward would already drop the bar by about two cm.

That whole bike is clearly a Jan Heine fever dream. The build is contrived

A middle finger to the throwaway culture we live in today.

It's the opposite of that, you're just mass-producing junk that is outdated before it even leaves the factory.

Agreed. And the fork is ugly. But do proper low trail fork, add disc brakes, thru axles and and modern swappable dropouts and my opinion changes.

Oh snap, I'll be finishing on Thursday evening and we're planning to do this after; https://www.komoot.com/tour/1000480643?ref=atd
You could slice that up to make it a one dayer from Los Cristianos?

I’ve always wondered what those gravel roads on Tenerife are like but I always play it safe and just take my road bike when I go.

Would be keen to see some photos and hear your thoughts on that route.

Nice one thanks. Interested to hear how you've found the GG route too.

I was looking at some of the climbs that run between the TF-1 and TF-21, but also hoping to get further north up the coast to Buenavista (which I've been to on a road bike and was, aptly, very beautiful). Though might also be totally shagged after the GG and just do a bit of pootling instead

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We got onto the island this afternoon and got 50km done, mainly road but some lovely off-road parts in the North of the island. Will share some photos with you when we've done more over the next two days. The route has been amazing, @Brain-Stew, can confirm that you will feel battered at the end! Second half of gran Canaria my favourite. Feel free to DM me with any questions

Nice one, looking forward to it.

I found some New England grav grav.

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The Fells?

Chebacco Woods.