Show us your gravel/cross bike...
02-25-14, 02:15 PM
#2801
Senior Member
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Location: Beaverton, OR
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I can only dream of being as awesome as Brian. He's even using a high gear. 
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My Bikes
My Bikes
03-05-14, 08:12 PM
#2802
Avatar Bandit
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
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Got my new CX bike built up a few weeks ago. I've got it setup mostly for gravel rides right now. Plans are to use it for the Dirty Kanza 200 in May. I've got no complaints so far. The bike feels great, handles well on gravel roads, and the gearing seems just about perfect. The only changes I've made so far have been changing out the seatpost and stem to Thomson and changing out the tires to Clement X'Plor MSO 40c tires.
03-09-14, 03:51 PM
#2804
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
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Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Carbon Synapse (Ultegra 6800 11-spd), 2009 Blue CXC, 1979 Univega Gran Turismo
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Look at all those bikes hanging around. Your garage/work space is a thing of beauty.
03-09-14, 04:10 PM
#2805
i'll probably break it
Join Date: Jun 2008
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[HR][/HR]
if you are talking to me, I agree the space is a thing of beauty. it is also the back of the bike shop my friend is employed at -- cycle solutions road shop in toronto.
I bought the bike from him so he gave me a fit and we put some new bits on.
I bought the bike from him so he gave me a fit and we put some new bits on.
03-09-14, 10:27 PM
#2806
Senior Member
Here is my gravel grinder and primary commuter bike. This picture was taken a month or so ago when we had quite a bit of snow so I was running the 2" Knobbies. I'm looking forward to doing some longer distance gravel rides this summer. It's taken me awhile to figure out how to improve braking performance after putting the drop bars on. Initially the braking was pretty poor with the drop levers and the canti brakes, they worked OK for commuting but not satisfactory for trails or wet weather. I finally took the time to figure out how to improve the braking performance (tossed the z-line deal and put on a straddle and yoke set-up(after this pic was taken)) and now I am really into this budget gravel grinder, I mean, where can't this thing go!? It's fast enough on the pavement when it's sporting semi slicks, tough enough to ride off curbs and tear up the trails/gravel roads alike.
Last edited by turky lurkey; 03-09-14 at 10:31 PM.
03-11-14, 08:46 AM
#2807
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Here is my new 2013 CAADx Ultegra Disc. Got the road tires, pedals, cages and garmin mounted and ready to go. I will be using this bike 75% on the road, the other 25% on rail trails. Loving it so far.
The white zip ties on the front of the frame will be replaced with black zip ties once I can remember to pick some up at the store. The zip ties are holding my Bike Eye mirror in place.
The white zip ties on the front of the frame will be replaced with black zip ties once I can remember to pick some up at the store. The zip ties are holding my Bike Eye mirror in place.
03-12-14, 08:40 AM
#2810
Junior Member
Nice job with your Soma. I'm eager awaiting to hear or find a ride report/review for this bike. Your (were) waiting for our horrible winter in MN to be over, right? I'll bet you are riding it now. Maybe I'll see you and your bike at Dirt Bag or Almanzo or something else??
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...4&d=1392941167
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...4&d=1392941167
03-12-14, 08:45 AM
#2811
Junior Member
This a Cotic X from the UK. With 650B wheels. Currently still in winter survival mode.
Built in the fall and rode every time this winter it got above 30, which was about 3 or 4. Can't wait to do my first event in less than 3 weeks.
Edit: Latest Photo
Edit: Latest Photo
Last edited by oleritter; 03-14-14 at 07:41 AM. Reason: new photo
03-12-14, 08:52 AM
#2812
Junior Member
I just joined, finally found a place where my addiction is understood. And I can blather on incessantly about all the details and nuances of my bikes. Sweet!
This was a bike used last year, and worked great. But I moved on...
This was a bike used last year, and worked great. But I moved on...
03-12-14, 06:50 PM
#2813
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: St Cloud, MN
Posts: 19
Bikes: Soma TripleX, Salsa Fargo Ti, Salsa Colossal Ti, Giant Advance
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I'm in for Almanzo and the West Dirty Ben. May get to L-M-L in a couple of weeks as well.
Had a chance to sneak in a 30 mile road ride yesterday. Felt good to be outdoors again.
See you out there.
60
Had a chance to sneak in a 30 mile road ride yesterday. Felt good to be outdoors again.
See you out there.
60
Nice job with your Soma. I'm eager awaiting to hear or find a ride report/review for this bike. Your (were) waiting for our horrible winter in MN to be over, right? I'll bet you are riding it now. Maybe I'll see you and your bike at Dirt Bag or Almanzo or something else??
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...4&d=1392941167
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...4&d=1392941167
03-12-14, 07:04 PM
#2814
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
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Welcome to Bikeforums. Nice Soma, I rode a Double Cross for several years. Great bikes.
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
03-12-14, 10:00 PM
#2815
Junior Member
I'd like to hear about what you think of the Triple Cross. I'm thinking of maybe a custom frame of the stainless, but haven't heard much feedback of what people think of them.
03-13-14, 06:36 AM
#2816
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Dayton, Oh
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Bikes: Salsa Vaya, Specialized Roubaix Team Saxo, Fisher HiFi29er
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Here is my Salsa Vaya on the Great Allegheny Passage.
Here it is with WTB 700X32 "Slicks". They are great on the road, but not the greatest for gravel, singletrack, etc.
Here it is with WTB 700X32 "Slicks". They are great on the road, but not the greatest for gravel, singletrack, etc.
03-14-14, 08:06 AM
#2817
Junior Member
[QUOTE=h2oxtc;16108268]^ Love the look of the Ritchey bike.
Just finished building my cross / gravel grinder bike tonight. I say both because I'm not sure yet which it will be better suited to. We don't have a lot of gravel roads / paths around these parts ... unless poor asphalt with no shoulders qualifies.
Love your Campy Centaur ***** Tonk.
Just finished building my cross / gravel grinder bike tonight. I say both because I'm not sure yet which it will be better suited to. We don't have a lot of gravel roads / paths around these parts ... unless poor asphalt with no shoulders qualifies.
Love your Campy Centaur ***** Tonk.
03-14-14, 08:21 AM
#2818
Junior Member
Switch to 8 speed cassette and lose the Shiftmate. Sorry if that was covered already. I am new here.
A 32t on a campy long cage would be iffy. I've heard a few accounts of people claiming to have made it work, but Campagnolo cassettes max out at 30t sizes and 3rd party versions that are bigger are few and far between not to mention expensive from what I recall. I wanted as close to a 1:1 low gear as I could manage for some of the steep rollers we have around (yes they can be found in N. Texas, and the guy who coordinates our gravel rides often goes looking for them. Not steep enough to need a 1:1 if I was on a road bike, but with the gravel you really can't stand and mash a gear so sitting and spinning a really low cog is the best bet. The shift-mate isn't perfect, but it's about as good of a solution as I was able to find when I did this build.
03-18-14, 07:30 PM
#2820
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
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__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
03-20-14, 10:57 PM
#2821
Well-worn roadie
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Colorado Front Range
Posts: 22
Bikes: Seven Elium SL, Specialized Tricross Elite Disc
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Tricross gets a make-over
I originally bought this Specialized Tricross Elite Disc as a winter / utility bike. For gravel use, I've recently added a lighter set of wheels (Stan's Iron Cross team), and replaced the original FSA compact crank (50/34) with a Sugino OX801D (44/30). The weather has been rather variable the for the last couple of months, so I kept studded tires mounted on the original factory wheels and swapped wheelsets depending on the conditions of the day.
Last edited by LateSleeper; 04-28-14 at 06:31 PM. Reason: added better picture
03-22-14, 03:25 PM
#2822
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This is my Jamis Nova. Right now it's setup for the road but I'm going to throw on my Kenda Quickers and hit a few trails Wed and Thursday. I did my first 50 on it the other day and it rides exceptionally well.
And did a very light off road trail this morning.half paved and half hard packed dirt and grassy fields.
And did a very light off road trail this morning.half paved and half hard packed dirt and grassy fields.
Last edited by bbarnett51; 03-22-14 at 03:29 PM.
03-23-14, 06:53 PM
#2823
Señor Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boston Burbs
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Not sure if I have posted this one here before...
It will be hauling my ass through the mud/snow/slush of Rasputista up in Northern VT in a few weeks....
It will be hauling my ass through the mud/snow/slush of Rasputista up in Northern VT in a few weeks....
03-26-14, 05:34 AM
#2824
Banned.
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It is only in recent times that I have been actively trying to increase my knowledge about bicycles, so I feel as though I know literally nothing about bikes.
So could you please tell me why a low bottom bracket(amongst other things no doubt) makes for a good gravel grinder.
Cheers
03-26-14, 08:27 AM
#2825
Senior Member
My latest incarnation of "old reliable"
It was my first "real bike" 11 years ago. 2003 GAry Fisher Wahoo. Midge bars; cane creek levers; microshift thumbie; sugino crank; shimano LSX "low normal' R.D. Thudbuster seat post, and custom modified Brooks B17, sliced/diced, and tied to emulate an Imperial model.
I plan on using this for an upcoming 2 day gravel grinder.
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It was my first "real bike" 11 years ago. 2003 GAry Fisher Wahoo. Midge bars; cane creek levers; microshift thumbie; sugino crank; shimano LSX "low normal' R.D. Thudbuster seat post, and custom modified Brooks B17, sliced/diced, and tied to emulate an Imperial model.
I plan on using this for an upcoming 2 day gravel grinder.
[IMG]
[/IMG] [IMG]
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