Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Does tubeless make a difference

In regards to rim width or just off road riding?

For off road, tubeless is fantastic, as I've never again had to locate various tiny thorns embedded in dogshit that were causing a flat tyre

For rim width... err, maybe wider rims allow for lower tyre pressure, but you'd have to be really looking for it to notice

Have we had this yet?

1 Attachment

Is that andy’s?

S’nice

very chunky, nice

I’m worried that 2.1/2.2 tyres on my Kinlin XR31rts (aero-ish) tyres won’t seal because of the tyre/rim angle.

I have 47mm/1 85” on kinlin xr21. They seal perfectly fine :-)

^ What he said

I saw this on the gram, absolutely love it!!

Bought a lovely set of tyres a while back... didn't bother measuring the clearance, I thought there would be loads of room. Finally got round to fitting them. And... bollocks. They look good though, so there's that.
They're now for sale if anyone's keen.

2 Attachments

Got my bike out of storage and looks like there is a leak in the shifter. I'm someone who pushes out the pistons without removing the bleed port, so maybe I broke it? Is there a way to diagnose the issue/damage? I haven't ridden with it but the brake looks like it is still working. It's an Ultegra Di2 R8050 shifter.

Update, probably less dramatic. Looks like the seal under the bleed screw was gone/eroded? Replaced it and will keep an eye on it.

Clean it, bleed it and see what happens. Shimano use an “open” hydraulic system which means if you’ve popped the diaphragm they could actually hold decent pressure, you’ll know pretty quickly if they don’t.
Keep an eye on them and if you see some leaking coming back, they’re toast

This, and don’t overtighten the bleed port, just a tiny nip will do.

just a tiny nip will do.

Ha.

I know this is several days old, but I have 2019 model.

I’d like a gravel bike thing to follow cjr around Epping Forest, I’d also like to replace my Ribble 525 commuter / winter bike.

Can a gravel bike have full mudguards and still function on paths and light trails? Do decent, easily removable full mudguards exist?

What’s the bike that’ll do Epping paths, commute and 4 hour road rides on a weekend in winter? Ideally not generic and boring, steel is cool for locking up etc but carbon is nice too… I’ve never bought a full bike new, but not adverse to the idea. Happy to build up from second hand or new frame too.

Failing on the Steel is real, and definitely Generic/boring, but either of these is pretty decent, and if nothing else gives you a benchmark to compare against;

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/road-bike-rc-520-disc-brake-prowheel-blue/_/R-p-348230
Edit: was thinking of this one as mostly a road bike with a bit of gravel capabilities but no longer recommended due to chat further down

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/gravel-bike-triban-grvl-520-subcompact-red/_/R-p-313015

The second one has bigger clearances, depending on how much rubber you feel you need for Epping. I have it with full guards, 35/40c semi-slick tyres and it feels competent for the minor gravel use I've done

Oh that second one is actually pretty nice. Good to know minor gravel and mudguards are not mutually exclusive.

I should say that every bike I own is fairly esoteric and custom. Can’t really be arsed building from scratch but I’ll probably end up doing that anyway, unless something sick comes up in the classifieds, S, XS, 53cm or 54cm TT

The secret to guards and gravel is to forget about aesthetics and fit the widest guard you can and the smallest tyre you can get away with, and sod the hellish gap issue.
As we all know there’s no gravel, just SFAB.

I have to say, having not bought an OTP bike for almost 20 years, it was nice to buy something that justworks™ and not have to go through all the hassle of building from scratch. Even though I've since swapped the bars, stem saddle and seatpost, and bought new wheels, so it's not so OTP anymore

What’s the bike that’ll do Epping paths, commute and 4 hour road rides on a weekend in winter? Ideally not generic and boring, steel is cool for locking up etc but carbon is nice too… I’ve never bought a full bike new, but not adverse to the idea. Happy to build up from second hand or new frame too.

Ribble CGR al, carbon or steel, Arkose or Fairlight Faran, worth looking in the fairlight outlet https://fairlightcycles.com/product-category/outlet/

That Ribble 725 is nice. Basically the evolution of my 525. Good paint too. eBay search saved 👍🏻

Will you have a second set of wheels for the 4 hour road vs epping paths? I run my gravel bike with 35mm cinturato slicks on the road for winter road, but by then the trails have turned to mush and require a tyre with some tread. You could get away with the same tyres if you were riding gravel in the summer and then road in the winter, but long road rides on knobbly tyres are a bore, and SFAB trails in winter aren't much fun on slicks.

Also worth noting that I've found full guards and muddy trails to be non-compatible. Tend to foul behind the BB where the mud builds up.

My compromise - two sets of of wheels with suitable tyres, and clip-on guards to keep the spray off. TBH I don't ride off road as much in the winter as I CBA with the full clean down. So once I've decided I've had enough of the slop I'll then stick to road slicks and full guards

This is a bit (too) nice

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134656372309

1 Attachment

SKS speedrockers are pretty great tbh, have served me gravel commuting v well