Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

10mph on a ride it’s not like not pedalling for a second to change gear is going to be a problem

That's fast compared to my MTBing. It's more on tech sections that come up at you on new trails that you're always in the wrong gear for. If I'm going to run gears (and not SS) then I want to be able to dump a bunch to clear something steep. I guess you'd get used to it. For more gravel / fireroad stuff I'm sure it'd be fine.

@mind_maze Great, Food for thought. I was aware the 48t would be big so will adjust downwards. Hmmm will have to ponder the rear mech issue. It sort of irrational but I'm trying to avoid Sram which limits me...hence the Middleburn

If this is going to be a race bike, maybe go:

• Ultegra shifters
  
• GRX 1x rear mech
  
• Deore 11-42 cassette
  
• 44t chainring
  
  

Should work a treat!

Super helpful though I confess race is not a word in my current vocabulary, more's the pity

48x40 lowest is lower than 36x28 so just about fine for unloaded stuff away from mountains but I would have thought a smaller chainring would be more enjoyable most of the time!

The "big ring" on my Mason and Tripster = 46T.
34T inner on the Mason, 30T on the Tripster.
My knees like me.

46/30 with 11–32 for unloaded riding. Switch to an 11–36 for loaded. Been fine for me. Tempted to up to 48/32 but don’t really need to.

Very helpful. So a 46 or 48t ring...but what about Middleburn cranks - the Ro2?

Thanks!

I really want to paint it....

Hub gears are great, if for no other reason than they negate most of the gear ratio chat

Nah, then it all changes to gear spread and what cog combo to run...

What about chuckability though?

Excellent. Thanks!

Ah cool. Its nice little bimble isnt it! Pint in the Dewdrop is worth the stop as well.

I'm running a Shimano SLX chainset and front mech with 38 and 28 teeth combined with an 11-34t rear cassette. That works really well for me on 700x 40c. Being able to dump a bunch of gears in one go by switching chainrings works really well.

I guess with a bar end shifter you can shift the whole cassette in one big shift, but I completely agree that the whole not pedalling while changing gear is something you’d have to get used to. And also agree that on new trails where you may not be able to see what’s coming up it may not be the best (although the friend I was riding with knows the area so well that he only checked his Garmin a handful of times over 350ish miles!).

Sorry to disappoint but my jockey wheels were scrubbed down every morning with a cut-off toothbrush and so remained spotlessly clean during the whole trip.

he only checked his Garmin a handful of times over 350ish miles!

Freak. I can't even wheel my bike out of the house without having to look at a map or a Garmin.

Did you also brush your teeth with that? Ultralight bikepacking - every tool should have more than one job...

3 - removing shitfromabutt

Toothbrushes are unnecessary weight. Just clean your jockey wheels with your teeth

The looks I got the last time I licked my bike clean...

I'm hoping to go riding there this summer - hopefully it's still dusty... What route did you do?

Is that seatpost bag a one off? I didn't know Straight Cut made them.

Great pictures. Been following stu's insta longingly. Definitely need a gravelfoyle jaunt. @hollow__legs

Great pictures indeed! Have you got your routes saved anywhere @hollow__legs ?