Paris Roubaix: Old v New v CX

😬 I meant black Gravelking?

Not tubeless anyhowz. There is the Specialized roubaix pro 2bliss which is a 31c but I’ve heard bad things

Schwalbe S-Ones (G-One Speed) Hutchinson secteur, Hutchinson black mamba, Marathon supreme

Despite atrocious weather, I took the trek out for HOTN. On most off-road sections I was sliding all over the shop, but it was a hoot! However if I do any more I took will need to invest in a CX as larger nobly tires simply won’t fit. Toward the end of the route, the gears were all over the place. But the CX 1x never missed a beat. So insurprisingy the CX wins round two

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You don't need gears for Paris Roubaix. 53/13t only. I am not sure CX tyres would help. They are not designed for slippy rocks.

A rigid 29er with drop bars could clean up. Tempted to do it next year on such a steed.

You can increase the spring tension in Shimano rear mechs - they come with two settings and leave the factory in the lower tension one. It's pretty straightforward to change.

Amazing! I’d love a link if you have one

Ofcourse the cross bike was quicker ;)

*I know you mean the London Rapha thing I just like pointing to this every time cross bikes are called slow.

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Wow canti brakes! What year was that 2016?

I do, but it’s on my laptop at home so will endeavour to post it this evening.

Sorry, a day later than I hoped, but the details on how to change the tension in a Shimano rear mech are on this Park Tool page;

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/rear-derailleur-overhaul

Any ideas why you’d ever want it in the lower tension setting? Trying to figure it out...

That’s the factory setting. No idea why.

So to celebrate the epic clusterfuck that is Brexit, @modan and myself have decided to get our testicles pummelled in northern France. Ever being the purist. Dan will be riding the Rossin, but after my totally unsuccessful LCCA racing season (4 flat tires and one dislocated shoulder) I’ve decided to make a roubaix carpet rider 1x and big tires. Yes it’s cheating

Step one. Cannondale caadx with Sram apex 1x

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Now everyone I’ve spoken to seems to think that you have to glide over the cobbles at 40kph so my 40t chainring has got to go ASAP I’ve bought a 44t spidering. Had anyone got experience fitting them to si cranks?

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I guess the next question really is how big is too big for tires? 32? 35? 38? I will run tubeless at about 35-40psi. Interestingly a 44t chainring and 11t cassette with 38c tires is almost exactly the same effective ratio as 50t-12t with 25c tires

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I never thought that the size of tyre would impact the ratio that much!

I installed the 44t ring on my sisl2 cranks, removing the lock ring and reinstalling is a bastard, especially without a vice.

Yeah it’ll be a bike shop job as I don’t have the tools for it.

Tires are limited to
Panaracer Gravelking slick TLC 38
Challenge Strada Bianca TLR 36
Compass Barlow Pass TC tyre 38

I put a direct mount chainring on my s-works cranks. It was really easy, with a vice and the right lockring tool. If you have access to a vice I’d guess the tool is about the same price as paying a bike shop to do the job.

You need a bench vice and loctite 242 and the lock ring tool.

I have the tool if you need it in Paddington

Do it to spec or it will give you trouble.

Thanks @Howard I’m thinking I might leave this one for Brixton to fuck up 🤔

I didn't use either of those (but I do have a lock ring tool) so its probably not seated correctly on mine, hasn't exploded on me yet though.

How did you get it off without a bench vice? I note that Dammit did it once in a Workmate.

Without loctite it will creak like a bastard once it starts to back off...

My arms have as many watts as my legs.