briscoelab

So, there are some gravel races around here in the fall, and then through the winter, that I want to give a try. I know ideally I'd get a cross bike for this. But, has anyone done a gravel ride/race on a normal road bike? Maybe with 25mm or 27mm wide tires? I would be using my older Allez Elite frame to do these rides. I don't want to risk dumping my Tarmac in the gravel Maybe some 25mm wide tubulars would be alright? I also want to run the Rouge Roubaix next year... and I know most of it is on gravel roads. Arrrr.... if I could only afford a new MTB and a cross bike!!! My plan is to use the Stumpjumper that I've been eyeing up at the LBS to do some MTB racing this summer/fall and then run some Conti 1.5" wide tires on it for some cross races.... then hopefully be able to make my old Allez work for the gravel road races. Is this a foolish undertaking? Should I just suck it up and build a proper cross bike?

Why did I have to like biking so much!!!

John Wilke

Take a look at www.skinnyski.com, They had a huge spread of photos from a spring road race that was largely on gravel roads. That will give you an idea of what is being done in Minnesota.

jw

Grasschopper

Ohh ohh ohh. I know EXACTLY what you need. Get a 29er stupid.

Check out the Salsa El Mariachi or Dos Niner. 29" MTB wheel is 700 cyclocross wheel. Dos Niner is has a slight rear suspension but not much, the El Mariachi comes full rigid but you can put a suspension fork on it. Steel frame, Eccentric BB just in case you want to go SS...HOTT bikes. You can run MTB tires for MTB races or cross/road tires for the other races...only problem might be the disc brakes in a cyclocross race (check your local rules)...in that case there are other companies with 29er frames.

briscoelab

Chopper,
You always give the best advice Too bad I'd get killed in my sleep if I bought a frame that cost over $1000 at this point

I'm pretty set on getting a Stumpjumper... it's just too nice of a bike not to have one! especially for the $$. Around here you can run MTBs in cross races, so disc brakes woudn't be a problem at all. I guess I could also just use the MTB in a few of the gravel races as well, until I could get a cross bike up and running. But, I think I can make somethign work with my old road bike. It's not like these races would be through mudpits.... just on crushed limestone and gravel roads.

briscoelab

I looked all over the page and couldn't find the race that you were talking about. Do you remember the name of the event?

Grasschopper

Oh come on man...get the El Mariachi then...the frame is $930 MSRP...that's less than a grand. I really think you could kick butt slapping some cross tires on there.

But back to the Stumpy...yea I am trying to avoid buying one myself...if I could build an El Mariachi for what I could buy the Stumpy for I would be all over one...but the price on the Stumpy disc is pretty good...and since I know the GM if I get a deal like I did on the Roubaix, there is just no way I can beat that deal.

It's a good time for me to get a new bike...we just got my wife an 07 Camry...I might have to ride that wave. LOL

briscoelab

Jump on that for sure

I'm having to buy my fiance a MTB as well in order for me to swing this one. Oh well... Like you, I know the owner of our LBS well and always get fantastic deals from them. They make it very hard to even think about going somewhere else. After the deal I got for my Tarmac... I feel guilt buying shoe covers from somewhere else!

That black Stumpy disc is HOT.... it would match my Taramc Expert very nicely Even though I don't need to disc brakes.... Ugnh... who knows what I'll end up doing for the gravel rides. But I'm nearly positive a Stumpy is in my future. I'm going today to ride some again and settle on a size.

Have you seen the Jamis Nova CX bike before? It's a sweet green color.... steel..... yummy.

John Wilke

Found it: https://www.skinnyski.com/racing/arti...sp?season=2005

Scroll down ...

<<Oxbow Spring Classic Coverage
April 15, 2006
Rochester kicked off the Minnesota racing season with their tribute to the great European spring races as the Oxbow Spring Classic rolled over the tough terrain of SE Minnesota. While there were no cobblestone, there was no shortage of dirt roads with tricky descents and one hellish climb to the finish. We've posted over 250 photos from the three races.>>

jw

Grasschopper

Dude I so wish my LBS was a Jamis dealer...I would be all over the Coda Elite as my next commuter...the steel frame and the disc brakes are calling me as I need the discs to help stop the bike when I am pulling my son in the trailer...well I don't need them but they are nice (wife's Sirrus is the disc model).

briscoelab

Thanks! Found them... Looks like the bikes there run the whole range. Regular old road bikes... lots of cross bikes... and a few MTB thrown in for good measure I could see where the typical gearing on a MTB would SUCK around a bunch of roadies though. 44x11 is not a very big gear... especially on 26" wheels.

Grasschopper

I'm telling you man...29er. stick a 48/34 on the front with a 11-32 on the back...flyin I'm tellin ya.

Hmm I think I may have to put this bike together myself if your not going to do it.

Cromulent

Why not put a compact on the Elite, get a beefier front fork, and slap on some cross tires. That should do ya. Not as much fun as getting new bikes, true, but that would work, yeah?

briscoelab

I have a compact on the Elite right now I've thought about just getting a cross fork for the front... but then I still have the little issue of tire clearance in the back. Not sure at this point how big I can go back there.