Originally Posted by
dwmckee
There are a lot of things you can do to mitigate that, but before everyone chimes in. can you answer a few questions:
- What was your riding background before this?
- What bike are you riding?
- What tire type, width and pressure are you riding?
- Was the road something you could drive a family sedan on or was it more of a MTB trail?
- How fast were your riding on the gravel portion?
There are al lot of things you can do with equipment and riding technique than make all-day rides on gravel quite pleasant but it helps us zero in if we have a bit more background on your starting point.
OK, I knew more details were needed, I just wanted to get this out there. thanks
dwmckee for asking.
1) I am a roadie. been riding on various road bikes for over 45 years. I have done Eroica CA 2 years ago, and planning on another go at it this year, so I haven't been shying away from poorly paved or unpaved roads lately.
2) New, literally first ride, Ridley Kanzo A.
3) Tires: WTB Riddler comp...700C X 45 mm. I put them at 35 PSI before the ride, but they seemed like maybe lower would have been better? I cannot explain it, but they seemed bouncy, kind of like a department store vinyl ball (road to the gravel). I kind of expected more plush. Since no one asked, I am over 200 lbs currently, so not a lightweight by any stretch!
4) Road was a 2 lane wide gravel road. You could drive a sedan on it, but slow would be the operating word. dead level along a irrigation canal here in central CA. you can see it after the bridge in the above photo.
5) Speed: I am never FAST, but I slowed down a lot for the worst wash boards. if i hit them at 10 or 11, I would just slow down... it got so that i was feeling like a turtle!