Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

What tyres are people using?

Looking for some 47c or larger but for a 29/700c

outershell's is better imo

nicely designed but missing a load of useful things - no strap lacing on the top for example?

huh? you mean to lash things onto the top of the bag? that wouldn't work as its is just a flap

yeah, on a revelate you have a drawcord system to fasten bulky stuff to the outside. this one just has one flimsy strap. doesn't seem very useful.

Sounds like you want 2" XC tyres really. Plenty of Schwalbe, Conti etc options around that kind of size. Don't think there's many dedicated gravel tyres that size.

I run these on my commuter, https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYSCGS1RGF/schwalbe-g-one-speed-raceguard-folding-tyre
could work well, but pretty big!

I am running a pair of Conti Ride Tour which are 1.75 / 47c currently and started with the Maxxis Ardent with gum walls.

Been looking at the WTB and Compass which do go to around a 47c which is the minimum I will would go, ideally want a large c gravel tyre due to the terrain around here is perfect for it, then I wouldn't need to go 650b

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Speed King II are supposed to be super fast for MTB tyres. They're for hard pack stuff which depending on your definition of gravel is close enough. Not particularly cheap though. 2.2"/55mm

Hadn't seen the 55mm compass...https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/components/tires/700c/compass-700c-x-55-antelope-hill-tc/

In that case, could happily recommend the Schwalbe G ones I've got, decent value too from PX.

New gravè bike form specialised looks a bit flash for communising. Claims up to 32mm tyres so maybe just use it for cx 😀
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/specialized-s-works-venge-lighter-faster-and-all-in-on-shimano-discs/

They look just the ticket, will see what sizes they come in.

Anyone recommend a waterproof jacket, mine is no longer beading on long showers. No matter what I do and it's a gore Tex, looking for something to replace it, pit zips would be handy

Check in the jacket thread.

Concours des machines winner: the lovely La Fraise. I really like the seatstay bags by Tim Tas & Rek

Full article - in French - & more pics here.

Has anyone had experience fitting 2" tyres into a gravel frame which said 47mm (on 650b) was the max? I know it probably just depends on the bike, but just wondering if maybe there was well known wiggle room or something. Hoping to fit some 2" Land Cruisers so I could do a large chunk of the SDW on a new 650b wheelset

I think you might be ok....on the sequoia, I fitted some 2.0 maxxis beaver s to the original 700c wheels....the clearance was V.tight, but the wheels rolled......so on 650b, it might work?

Thanks! I might chance it then. Land Cruisers have such good reviews for puncture protection so super keen to try them out. Nice one

Depends on rims as well, you basically just have to try it I think. Borrow a tyre or collect a dead one off someone.

I'm pondering reducing my bike collection to just one - a Surly Straggler. The riding I do is a pretty even split between tarmac, gravel and the odd trail. Add to this the daily commute and I think a Straggler makes a lot of sense.

It costs a fair bit though, £2k for a complete bike with Sram Apex. Yesterday I found out the Wiggle has their own line of bikes where they have a gravel bike for £1k and Planet X has heaps of bikes between £1-2k, all with decent groupsets.

Is the Straggler worth the extra monies? I'm currently riding a Steamroller, a Cross Check and a Pacer so I know what makes a Surly a Surly. I also want to stick a front rack on it for future family outings, and a child seat, etc - so the versatility of a Straggler is tempting.

With Reduction Comes Compromise®

Do you want to take a child seat off for a road ride? Do you want to have front rack for off road shenanigans? Would you want either on a mixed surface ride? Just adapt the bikes you have (which are already great and versatile bikes) with your needs as you come and go and you'll be grand. Commute on any surface via the steamroller (fits 32c), Pacer for parent duties, and the Cross Check can be done up to do virtually anything a modern gravé bike can do.

If there is anything this thread teaches us it's that although you can get bike that does virtually everything, it does not Rule Them All.

Valid points!

I forgot to mention that the Cross Check is a 60cm frame and I normally ride a 56, I got it for the long top tube to fit a kid upfront without having my knees sticking out too much. It didn't work out though so it got used for a while as a cruisy do-it-all but it's far too big for anything fun.

I could just get a 56 crosscheck frame and use parts I have to build up a non disc Straggler, but after using discs on my Bullitt I'm sold.

I could get a Straggler frame and a Wiggle Verenti and move everything over, it'd end at around £1.6k instead of £2k...

Straggler are awesome, but there are bicycle out there that are equally good for a lots less like the Wiggle one.

I have the Wiggle one. It is v good. SRAM is expensive to maintain tho, especially 1x11 / Apex hydro shit. If I could do it again I'd go Shimano

I have a straggler. I also have a custom 'gravel bike' as well as having had an arkose/CDF etc etc

Do I like it? yes

Is it worth the 5-600 quid a frameset costs? probs not, it's a lot of money for a 4130 frame that's never going to be light.. Shop around and you could probs do better.

I bought a Straggler frameset when they came out as there was nothing remotely like it at the time to accomodate a 650b wheelset and mudguards. While it was a very decent bike, it also was very heavy, and the forks flex a lot under braking (and I'm pretty light). The dropouts were a pretty bad idea too IMHO. Geo was spot on though.
Surly has done a lot of interesting things but as an owner I failed to see what the fuss around the brand was about. @cake is right, you can probably do better for the money, although that is probably a moot point if you already like them.