Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Next year's unbound winning bike

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500g more carbon for your money

That sounds like one of those back-handed compliments we used to give our boss.

"You're hair looks nice today..."
"For a change"

I’ve been considering a mehteh.

https://www.brothercycles.com/shop/frames/mehteh/

Ah yes! Might have gone for this over a Faran if that orange was around 🔥

in the UK
seriously racing gravel

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But I'm pretty sure at least some of this field are serious racers, they just happened to enter a UK gravel event at one point in their lives https://www.britishgravelchampionships.com/

The Mehteh was on my list for a while... it's a no nonsence bike... a tad too long reach wise though in the large and too many spacers needed for a medium for the stack. Top of my list is a Ritchey Outback, followed by a Mason Bokeh and a Stanton Switchpath if they are reduced again... because titanium!

The hallowed Arkose cleared 47c about a decade ago.

The first Tripster ATR could run 650x47 in 2012 and my AT has run 700x50 and 650x50 and could probably do bigger in the back (said the Bishop to the Nurse).

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/17489263/
But only has mid mounts on the forks, touring more than bikepacking maybe?

Stayer? Mason? Kinesis? Surly? Stanton?

"I like the feeling of being underbiked"

I’ve been saving up for a new bike for a few months now, and the Mehteh was high up the list.

Ironically, it was your photos from Kyrgyzstan that made me think what i actually want is an MTB. Haha

Probably not the right thread for that…

I preferred to say "I know you said your hair needed cutting badly but I didn't think you meant it".

No wonder I never got anywhere.

Probably not the right thread for that…

This is the "just get a hardtail" thread is it not?

Just get a drop bar MTB

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Ironically, it was your photos from Kyrgyzstan that made me think what i actually want is an MTB. Haha

Probably not the right thread for that…

Call it an ATB and you're fine, although considering the MTB thread mostly consists of ski resort uplifts and ebikes, this seems to have become the regular offroad thread now

I didn't get anywhere either but I was invited to her 50th last year so I think at least we're good.

Hmmpf, I'll have you know some of us on the MTB thread have never used a chairlift or an e-bike.

(and as fat as they are have probably never used any of their suspension through its full travel but that's another matter)

Ironically, it was your photos from Kyrgyzstan that made me think what i actually want is an MTB. Haha

haha, also think this is the answer for my partner but they are happy living with 1 bike and this is exactly the thread for just get a XC bike..

"Drop-bar MTB" used to be pejorative in this thread, but as soon as the pros put 29er tyres on their drop bikes everyone's onboard

How many people in the UK want grip, comfort and speed?

Roadies who don't know how to corner off road?

I'm riding 38c currently and have never felt like I need more tyre volume riding in the southern UK. If I was off roading in the Alps I'd definitely go for more volume, but that's for comfort more than anything else.

Roadies who don't know how to corner off road?

waves

never felt like I need more tyre volume

This is the problem. It’s people following their feelings that has limited tyre volume to slower, narrower tyres across disciplines.

It’s actually MTB riders that have demonstrated that wider ~50mm tyres are faster in gravel, not roadies.

Despite what you feel you need, and regardless of the location or surface, you would have more grip, comfort and speed on ~50mm tyres for gravel. But some people like the feedback of a narrower tyre at higher pressure, which is fine. It’s just slower and more fatiguing.

I'm riding 38c currently

I'm stunned that lfgss cyclocross dad has exceeded the UCI limit

Don't think it's that simple.

Agree more volume with low rolling resistance is faster at speed and more comfortable/less fatiguing. Disagree this applies to any surface/ride/trail condition as a larger tyre will always be less snappy and slower to accelerate, not to mention casing stiffness.

Agree that ex-pro with access to whatever selection of gear they can will inevitably converge towards the fastest solution for the "gravel" race they have entered. Disagree this applies universally.

Just putting bigger tyres on isn't the answer you still need to think about what you're actually doing on the bike.

Like, I normally fit the biggest tyres I can to whatever frame I ride. Have been doing so for years. But there's no point me sticking massive knobbies on when they're designed to be leaned the fuck over at high speed and have massive side knobs. They'll end up being less grippy and less comfortable because my softcock riding style won't "use" the tyre as it's designed.