Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

-Start with the widest tire that fits your bike.
-Use the most supple casing you can get away with, given the terrain and your riding style.
-Don’t worry much about tread pattern.
-When in doubt, choose a dual-purpose knobby.
-Adjust tire pressure to fine-tune how your bike feels. When in doubt, run lower pressures.
-Think in terms of bike handling and feel, not speed, when choosing your wheel size.
-Choose tires that give you confidence.
-During the race, you don’t want to think about your tires, but focus on your ride.

This could have been the whole article and it would have been fine. This is decent advice, but nothing revolutionary.

Which bits should I ignore?

This could have been the whole LFGSS Gravel thread and it would have been fine.

FTFY

Ta. Glad I didn't give them the click through then.

Point 2 negates the rest of the points.

If you've picked a supple casing and you're worried about cutting your sidewalls you've fucked yourself on the rest of the points. Who knows what you can "get away with"?

Here's some more tyre chat that should be in the tyre thread...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHsvqRl7fQ0

Has anybody got any experience with Easton EC90 SL cranks? I need something new and they seem to be lightweight and on sale at R2. Seen a few bad reviews however.

https://r2-bike.com/EASTON-Crankarms-EC90-SL-Carbon-ORANGE-DAYS#

I've had terrible experience with them. Couldn't tighten them properly, then I messed the lock ring (it's plastic). Ordered another one from then, ruined it too. Then i've bought an aluminium one and managed to securely tighten it but by then I've developed problems with CK bottom bracket - it would eventually start creaking - one mechanic said it's because the crankset was too tight, another one guessed it's because it was too loose.

Anyway, eventually the pedal inserts delaminated from crank arms and started moving around.

They look nice and the weight is superb. And the price is so good it almost makes me want to try them again and hope 2nd time's a charm.

I thought so at first, too. Hopefully this is where common sense kicks in. If I'm doing a known loop, close to home, on smoothish ground, I'll definitely be more OK with a light tire. Because I can "get away with it"

If I'm further afield I can't get away with too light a tire, because I want to be able to get home. So I'll pick a more robust tire.

Generally, I choose to stick with more sturdy tires anyway. So not a big issue.

Me. Well I don't have on on mine tbh buy am considering buying one or swapping from another bike.

Main reasons? I (used to) ride mine on road training/chain gang rides too especially on poor weather days or winter. Even then I would be happy with just cadence and HR and can bun power, except my current Grevil with Force AXS cranks don't have enough clearance to put the cadence sensor on. The O-ring snapped the first time I tried.

I've actually stopped caring about data so much, and never did care off-road, but it automatically uploads to some apps I have which help me plan my next ride, gym sess or even sparring/grappling sess.

It's also a wonderful way of backing up my claims to needing to recover/sleep without the Mrs speaking to me till 3am.

Thanks for the feedback.

Doesn't really sound worth it when I can get a NOS SRAM Red 22 eTap cranks off eBay for a similar price. Just as lightweight and I know they will work (although mixing SRAM/Shimano is a bit gross I suppose).

Thought that was Orla from Derry Girls talking tyres for a second.

I've not watched that. Think I was told I should but haven't got around to it yet. Just started the last season of Brassic though. #csb

the bleed port is opened via an allen key not by unthreading the nut on the nipple, so it is much easier to open/close it without dislodging the syringe. especially if you are doing it alone.

if you are doing it alone.

Everyone in the Gravel thread most certainly is ;)

I've been on the EC90SL chainset for about 30k km, at the time it was one of a few with a 30/46 ring option. I even accidentally got the pm spindle with it via ebay, flipped that to offset the cost and it just has the standard spindle now. Been fine. I did replace that silly plastic preload ring with an alloy one.

.

1 Attachment

I’m so bored of retro bullshit bikes.

Testing 650b fatties: fun

1 Attachment

This is a banger.

Is there a way to report a comment or negative rep etc 😅

these are called “internet bikes” they are not supposed to be ridden

It’s just missing a power meter, right?

I feel seen

I don't mind that some old bikes are getting new lives but builders making dumb shit just for IG likes can do one. Fucking rim brakes ffs...

Also, layback post and slammed forward saddle looks like something I'd do so that's just fuggers.