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Better than Shimano ones IMO

Good quality, legit brake pads are cheap enough that it seems a bit mad to buy potential fakes.

It's why 2x will remain a viable option for many and Shimano certainly don't look keen to drop the front mech anytime soon. They've really nailed it anyway, their front mechs work so well and can be installed so easily.

We'll probably see someone have another go at drop bar Boost spacing again sometime soon to get more room 🙄

It's ugly but IMO the new Campag and SRAM wireless ones still look worse

What's the largest tyres it will take?

Certainly makes sense given SRAM's inability to make a good front mech but it also feels like if it was going to happen it would have done by now.

One downside is that you're a lot more limited in the wheels you can use.

Also once the shifting can be integrated as part of a electric groupset instead of having it's own separate satellite shifter that will make things a lot neater.

Considering a front mech is the cheapest part of a groupset, it's a very expensive alternative.

Funnily enough I have one on the gravel bike. It's great and good at cutting out road/gravel buzz although isn't much help for anything more rowdy such as tree roots.

That and a Redshift stem have both been great additions for comfort on the gravel bike without adding a huge amount of weight or complexity.

You can feel it bob a bit when putting in an effort like a sprint but TBH the Redshift stem is much worse for that than the seatpost.

There's plenty of gravel bikes out there that could meet many of my needs but have much more relaxed geometries.

I'm looking for something that can be CX raced with relatively racy geometry but still has big tyre clearance. The Crux ticks these boxes but I'd like the additional mounts for more versatility if required.

CX bikes are a dying breed nowadays hence me looking at something custom made.

That's really helpful, thanks

Gravelkings slicks and semi-slicks? They're available in 650x38

https://www.panaracer.co.uk/collections/gravel/filtered?srsltid=AfmBOorZp1wfhcY-G2yCcBQGLOnmf59cSyfU1kiC6qD4xG39mgvIeozu&filter_pf_t_tyre_width=width%3A35c&page=1&filter_pf_t_wheel_size=wheel-size%3A27.5%22%2F650b

Even the best pizza in Catford is Turkish and not Italian!

Didn't know whether to post this in this thread or the Orient Express one but does anyone have experience of procuring a frame from Waltly?

I'm quite keen on the idea of a Ti bike which basically copies the geometry of a Crux DSW but with mudguard/rack mounts, external routing and a T47 BB. Looks like it'd end up cheaper than the Crux DSW frameset as well which would be another positive.

I've been googling and there does seem to be a lot of positive posts out there, they do stress though you have to be quite specific about the geometry details.

As long as it doesn't get too muddy then 44mm Vittoria Mezcals would be my shout. They roll well on the road and seem to be pretty durable as well.

I'm pleased @Dick isn't the same size as me as otherwise I'd have given him so much money over the years

Amazing bike and great price. Very jealous of whoever gets it.

Nice of this seller to let you know exactly how much they're ripping you off for:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186443277353?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ghptsgiirkq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=WBZsvPhLTW6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Yeah, currently the wheelset is limited to people running 1 x 12 speed GRX, very niche.

I think I worked it out at closer to 400g difference as I'm on a bike and not a unicycle 😉

Also as the only contact point between this 86kg mass and the road, I do find it makes a difference.

They're fast in my experience but also heavy. Not noticeable until you hit a hill IMO.

Main issue with the wire bead for me was they're not supple.

I went from 40mm Contact Urbans to 35mm GP Urbans and find the GP Urbans a bit faster and also more comfortable.

Geometry is such a huge factor. I've had a Pinnacle Arkose for several years and it's been such a useful commuter/dad/off road bike. However, the geometry makes every single ride boring.

Contrast it to my Fairlight Secan where every single off road leaves me beaming. It's not even a weight thing as I'm sure the steel Secan is heavier than the aluminium Arkose.

So true. Spending tons of money on a bike is an extravagance so make sure the head doesn't suddenly take charge and you end up trying to justify the purchase by buying the one with the best spec sheet.

Got a Shimano, Absolute Black, 40t oval chainring that I got on eBay for £25.
Brand new and comes with the bolts.
Not going to be using it now so you can have it for the £25 that I paid:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256602452260

Contact Urbans are great at many things but they aren't the most supple. I guess due to being wire bead.

Shall send you a PM now

I'm using both Juin Tech GT-F's and Growtac Equal brakes on two bikes, both are excellent. A world away from Spyres and both are nearly as good as hydraulic, maybe a little less modulation with them both than a full hydro set up.

However, high quality housing is essential IMO. Also I'm using both of these on bikes with full external routing, as soon as the cables go into the frame/cockpit and introduces bends into the routing, it hugely affects their performance. Not to mention that it's also an absolute ballache to try and route really stiff compressionless housing through any kind of bends. If your bike has any internal routing and you can afford to, definitely go with hydraulics.