Show us your gravel/cross bike...
#4401
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
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The niner looks sharp. Bet the STIs will be really comfortable if the bars are pivoted closer to level with the ground...
#4402
Full Member
#4403
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One of the guys in my club has the same Niner, colorway and all. Really nice bike.
#4404
Sunshine
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Back to the bike- strong deal for a sharp looking bike = setting you up for a fantastic fall of riding!
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#4407
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Manhattan & Woodstock NY
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Bikes: 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, early '70s Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Raleigh International, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mk1
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Nice, Tom! I think the "beausage" of the frame suits it now!
__________________
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
#4408
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Manhattan & Woodstock NY
Posts: 2,749
Bikes: 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, early '70s Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Raleigh International, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mk1
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As @noglider says, many old 531 Raleighs are gravel grinders in their bones. My 1971 International looks period but runs a modern 2x10, rolls on wide supple tires and eats dirt and gravel.
This was late June near Sleepy Hollow on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, 30 miles of dirt goodness that starts just north of NYC.
This was late June near Sleepy Hollow on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, 30 miles of dirt goodness that starts just north of NYC.
__________________
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
Likes For ascherer:
#4409
Senior Member
Cannondale Slate (2017) w/Lefty Oliver fork. Absolutely the best bike I've ever owned.
#4410
Member
Canyon Grail CF SL 8.0 (Mech Ultegra Groupset)
#4411
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
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^^ That photo makes me want to ignore doctor's orders and go out on my bike right now.
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#4412
Sunshine
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#4413
Member
This is in Vernon Hills, a suburb of Chicago. The trail is called Des Plaines River Trail.
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#4415
Member
Yea. The prairie trail is flat, and boring in most parts. There is a section close to the town of Crystal Lake where you will find crazy climbs and descents, passing through a small forest. This is the best part of the trail.
If you like climbs, Western Illinois has some of the steepest long climb in the state. Rapha cycling club coordinated a 100 mile gravel grinding event back in June this year. I didn't participate but some of my friends went and told me about the crazy hills they encountered.
If you like climbs, Western Illinois has some of the steepest long climb in the state. Rapha cycling club coordinated a 100 mile gravel grinding event back in June this year. I didn't participate but some of my friends went and told me about the crazy hills they encountered.
#4416
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Heading into the burbs in a month for in-law visit time, bit they are near Hinsdale so I'll have to make the drive north and ride the trail further north. I've seen pics of all thenparrs I've never ridden...apparently every part I didnt ride is cooler looking than what I remember!
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#4417
HarborBandS
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
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That's the Illinois Prairie Path, which does link up with the Prairie Trail further north and west. Yeah, subtle difference in name! To make it trickier, parts of the Illinois Prairie Path are mislabeled on Google Maps as "Prairie Trail".
Illinois is very flat. I did a 50 mile loop connecting the main stem of the Prairie Path, a couple of branches of the Prairie Path, and the Fox River Trail, and it was 1,073 feet of total climbing. But parts of it are quite scenic as you get WEST of Wheaton. Lakes, rivers, marshes, etc.
The North Shore Century in September has about 1,600 ft. of climbing for the entire 100 mile route.
Illinois is very flat. I did a 50 mile loop connecting the main stem of the Prairie Path, a couple of branches of the Prairie Path, and the Fox River Trail, and it was 1,073 feet of total climbing. But parts of it are quite scenic as you get WEST of Wheaton. Lakes, rivers, marshes, etc.
The North Shore Century in September has about 1,600 ft. of climbing for the entire 100 mile route.
#4418
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
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That's the Illinois Prairie Path, which does link up with the Prairie Trail further north and west. Yeah, subtle difference in name! To make it trickier, parts of the Illinois Prairie Path are mislabeled on Google Maps as "Prairie Trail".
Illinois is very flat. I did a 50 mile loop connecting the main stem of the Prairie Path, a couple of branches of the Prairie Path, and the Fox River Trail, and it was 1,073 feet of total climbing. But parts of it are quite scenic as you get WEST of Wheaton. Lakes, rivers, marshes, etc.
The North Shore Century in September has about 1,600 ft. of climbing for the entire 100 mile route.
Illinois is very flat. I did a 50 mile loop connecting the main stem of the Prairie Path, a couple of branches of the Prairie Path, and the Fox River Trail, and it was 1,073 feet of total climbing. But parts of it are quite scenic as you get WEST of Wheaton. Lakes, rivers, marshes, etc.
The North Shore Century in September has about 1,600 ft. of climbing for the entire 100 mile route.
The run was memorable because I was in Chicago for a training class while simultaneously training for a marathon. Every evening I would get out of class, drive to a different part of the city and go for a long run. One night was the Prairie Path/Trail.
Speaking of marshes, I went into the Lincoln Marsh Natural Area and managed to get lost, which is pretty sad given the relatively small size of the place. I spent a while running in circles until I figured out how to get out of the place.
Class got out early on Friday and I did a 20 mile run all over downtown Chicago - the pier, along the lake front. to the Sears tower, through some garden near the chrome bean, stopping to talk to firemen practicing using the hose by spraying water into one of those canals. I stopped some businessmen and asked, "Hey, where should I run to go see something cool" and they were like, "Yeah, check out the Tribune building, that way!"
Chicago has a great vibe. Atlanta is dead at night.
And kosher dogs with sport peppers on the poppy seed buns at Portillos.
#4419
HarborBandS
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Interesting. I didn't know about the name change. It was really nice though with phlox growing along the trail.
The run was memorable because I was in Chicago for a training class while simultaneously training for a marathon. Every evening I would get out of class, drive to a different part of the city and go for a long run. One night was the Prairie Path/Trail.
Speaking of marshes, I went into the Lincoln Marsh Natural Area and managed to get lost, which is pretty sad given the relatively small size of the place. I spent a while running in circles until I figured out how to get out of the place.
Class got out early on Friday and I did a 20 mile run all over downtown Chicago - the pier, along the lake front. to the Sears tower, through some garden near the chrome bean, stopping to talk to firemen practicing using the hose by spraying water into one of those canals. I stopped some businessmen and asked, "Hey, where should I run to go see something cool" and they were like, "Yeah, check out the Tribune building, that way!"
Chicago has a great vibe. Atlanta is dead at night.
And kosher dogs with sport peppers on the poppy seed buns at Portillos.
The run was memorable because I was in Chicago for a training class while simultaneously training for a marathon. Every evening I would get out of class, drive to a different part of the city and go for a long run. One night was the Prairie Path/Trail.
Speaking of marshes, I went into the Lincoln Marsh Natural Area and managed to get lost, which is pretty sad given the relatively small size of the place. I spent a while running in circles until I figured out how to get out of the place.
Class got out early on Friday and I did a 20 mile run all over downtown Chicago - the pier, along the lake front. to the Sears tower, through some garden near the chrome bean, stopping to talk to firemen practicing using the hose by spraying water into one of those canals. I stopped some businessmen and asked, "Hey, where should I run to go see something cool" and they were like, "Yeah, check out the Tribune building, that way!"
Chicago has a great vibe. Atlanta is dead at night.
And kosher dogs with sport peppers on the poppy seed buns at Portillos.
I ride through Lincoln Marsh regularly, since the prairie path provides easy week day rides before or after work. But my favorite riding around here is in southern Wisconsin--either in the Kettle Moraine area northwest of Milwaukee (around the basilica known as "Holy Hill"), or the super hilly "Driftless Area" west of Madison.
#4420
Member
Sounds like you got around quite a bit! Chicago has had a lot of bad press lately due to lingering crime issues in certain corners of the city, but vast areas of the city and suburbs are really great places to live and recreate. I'm out in the "commuter rail" burbs now, and have really enjoyed the interlinked trail systems out here. They not only provide a place to ride or jog, but also give an easy "escape route" out of the congestion of the metro area without tangling with a lot of cars.
I ride through Lincoln Marsh regularly, since the prairie path provides easy week day rides before or after work. But my favorite riding around here is in southern Wisconsin--either in the Kettle Moraine area northwest of Milwaukee (around the basilica known as "Holy Hill"), or the super hilly "Driftless Area" west of Madison.
I ride through Lincoln Marsh regularly, since the prairie path provides easy week day rides before or after work. But my favorite riding around here is in southern Wisconsin--either in the Kettle Moraine area northwest of Milwaukee (around the basilica known as "Holy Hill"), or the super hilly "Driftless Area" west of Madison.
#4421
HarborBandS
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Most of my routes are private, since they start at my in-laws' house, or a friend's private residence (I'm from WI). But many are just modified from existing rides in Ride With GPS. Do a search for "Erin, WI" or "Merton, WI" for the Holy Hill area, or "Blue Mounds" for the Driftless Area. There are a LOT of road riders in both of these areas.
The more the merrier... It all adds to our safety to get people used to cyclists in the area. There is a well-regarded organized ride in the Driftless Area called the "Horribly Hilly Hundreds" (10,000 ft. of climbing!). And the Driftless Randonneurs are active in the area doing brevets. It's very popular for road cyclists.
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#4422
Senior Member
Just finished building this gravel bike last night. Quite happy with the way it came together, with the exception of the natural color bar tape (which I screwed up a bit) which I'll replace with black when it needs replacing.
Getting it out for a short spin today then a 62 mile dirt/gravel/backroads ride tomorrow.
ETA: 22 lbs.
Getting it out for a short spin today then a 62 mile dirt/gravel/backroads ride tomorrow.
ETA: 22 lbs.
Last edited by billyymc; 08-17-19 at 11:40 AM.
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#4423
nothing to see here
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Got it all cleaned up today so I snapped a couple pics. Also finally got my Hope RX4 purple bore caps installed.
Specialized Diverge, Sram Force 1
Specialized Diverge, Sram Force 1
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#4425
Senior Member
Oil slick cages are made by Supacaz. They also make bar ends and top caps in the same finish. I have their top cap and really love it!