Please help me understand gravel riding?
#126
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 18,086
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10488 Post(s)
Liked 12,014 Times
in
6,151 Posts
When I stopped paying attention, my 25mm tires and 12-27 cassette would have been considered a sign of weakness, acknowledging my weight and lack of fitness. Imagine my surprise when I tune in again and everyone's running 28mm tires and 11-34 cassettes.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
Likes For genejockey:
#127
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,318
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4284 Post(s)
Liked 1,377 Times
in
958 Posts
The tire in front here doesn't look like a 28.
https://us.ritcheylogic.com/media/ma...erd1988800.jpg
Not that long ago, the standard size for road tires was 23. Before that, it was 21. Before that, some had 20 and even 19 tires. Many of these bikes didn't really have room for wider tires. Sure, touring bikes had wider tires but not "racing" bikes.
Now, being able to fit 28s is fairly common but that wasn't the case until rather recently.
It's possible that this thin tire trend started in the '70 or '80 and before that wider tires were common for high-end racing bikes.
https://us.ritcheylogic.com/media/ma...erd1988800.jpg
Now, being able to fit 28s is fairly common but that wasn't the case until rather recently.
It's possible that this thin tire trend started in the '70 or '80 and before that wider tires were common for high-end racing bikes.
#128
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,673
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11030 Post(s)
Liked 7,576 Times
in
4,226 Posts
Most cyclists dont compete, in real life or in their minds, with other cyclists so they all couldn't care less if that gearing combo was seen as weakness by a few meaningless people.
#129
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,673
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11030 Post(s)
Liked 7,576 Times
in
4,226 Posts
Or... peddling 'gravy' bikes. Lots .. and lots.. of industry wags around. High profit those flavors. MOST.. all of the bike industry today is
mostly male cow dung.. selling far east junk whereas what is called bike companies--->now marketing concerns make the coin. That is
our 21st century.
Some dudes and dud-ettes like to bling.. bikes.. why not. If it be a new graveler.. what the hey. $$ moving locally.. that works.
mostly male cow dung.. selling far east junk whereas what is called bike companies--->now marketing concerns make the coin. That is
our 21st century.
Some dudes and dud-ettes like to bling.. bikes.. why not. If it be a new graveler.. what the hey. $$ moving locally.. that works.
#130
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,390
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18476 Post(s)
Liked 15,757 Times
in
7,404 Posts
Because this, to name a few reasons. I’d school the OP more if I had access to my home computer, but I’m on tour.
BTW...Splendid job by the OP getting some of you to argue with each other. That was the goal of this thread.
BTW...Splendid job by the OP getting some of you to argue with each other. That was the goal of this thread.
Last edited by indyfabz; 09-14-20 at 06:24 PM.
Likes For indyfabz:
#131
With a mighty wind
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,624
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1111 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
509 Posts
When gravel biking started looking interesting to me, I got Schwalbe Pro One's in 28. On Stan's Alpha 340s, they measure 30. If anyone is paying attention, nothing about that setup is gravel. It's fairly svelte road stuff in a wider tire. My Campy brakes managed to clear it.
On a gorgeous steel Tallerico.
Anyway that setup managed "The Crippler" and "Fountain Roubaix" along with several other self invented Southern Colorado gravel ideas. Also the exact same setup I did the Triple Bypass on, the same year.
I'm a little more relaxed now (in geometry) and sporting 38's that measure 40. It's better but let's not pretend that a good road bike will burst into flames off road.
My '86 Spectrum might actually. Kick me in the nads if I ever bomb that thing down the washboards.
On a gorgeous steel Tallerico.
Anyway that setup managed "The Crippler" and "Fountain Roubaix" along with several other self invented Southern Colorado gravel ideas. Also the exact same setup I did the Triple Bypass on, the same year.
I'm a little more relaxed now (in geometry) and sporting 38's that measure 40. It's better but let's not pretend that a good road bike will burst into flames off road.
My '86 Spectrum might actually. Kick me in the nads if I ever bomb that thing down the washboards.
#132
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Posts: 14,318
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4284 Post(s)
Liked 1,377 Times
in
958 Posts
https://yarchive.net/bike/tire_recommendation.html
And that doesn't contradict that 20+ years ago, very few people were using 28 or 25 mm tires on "racing" bikes and that "modern" (current) "racing" bikes allow for much wider tires than even 10 years ago.
Last edited by njkayaker; 09-14-20 at 06:24 PM.
#133
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 18,086
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10488 Post(s)
Liked 12,014 Times
in
6,151 Posts
#134
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,673
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11030 Post(s)
Liked 7,576 Times
in
4,226 Posts
If you're meaning signing up to actually participate in those events---you're wrong. It is a zero-sum. There's a set number of bibs available and when they're gone that is it. If 50 or 500 UCI racers want to ride--that is 50 or 500 fewer bibs for anyone else. Between that and inflated registration costs it drives the grassroots people out from participating who made it popular in the first place.
The big rides already require a lottery to sign up for because they crash BikeReg or any other service with people wanting to ride it.
The big rides already require a lottery to sign up for because they crash BikeReg or any other service with people wanting to ride it.
Whether it's a big or small event(are they really coming to all the random small grassroots events? Eh...), if thry sign up to ride then whats the harm? They are a cyclist wanting to compete just like everyone else that is signing up.
As for the cost of events, I dont really get up in arms over that.
If you dont want to pay $100 for the experience of gravel worlds, then dont experience gravel worlds. Some find value where others dont.
#135
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 701
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
This to me is a really important point. A lot of the great things we are seeing with road bikes such as relaxed geometries, wider tires, more compliant ride have been wonderful improvements to traditional road biking.
#136
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,001
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3980 Post(s)
Liked 7,429 Times
in
2,988 Posts
If you're meaning signing up to actually participate in those events---you're wrong. It is a zero-sum. There's a set number of bibs available and when they're gone that is it. If 50 or 500 UCI racers want to ride--that is 50 or 500 fewer bibs for anyone else. Between that and inflated registration costs it drives the grassroots people out from participating who made it popular in the first place.
#137
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,215
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2764 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Interesting thought. I wonder how much also has to do with the aging of the folks who can afford to buy nice bikes? I do remember Bianchi coming out with what they called the C2C geometry, which was supposed to be more upright than the Reparto Corsa geometry, and that was in 2007, I think. It seemed like an accomodation to an increase in well-heeled recreational cyclists (as opposed to racers)
When I stopped paying attention, my 25mm tires and 12-27 cassette would have been considered a sign of weakness, acknowledging my weight and lack of fitness. Imagine my surprise when I tune in again and everyone's running 28mm tires and 11-34 cassettes.
When I stopped paying attention, my 25mm tires and 12-27 cassette would have been considered a sign of weakness, acknowledging my weight and lack of fitness. Imagine my surprise when I tune in again and everyone's running 28mm tires and 11-34 cassettes.
I think there is a parallel to this in MTB: The best thing to happen to mountain bikes was the declining influence of XC racing in the late 90s and into the early 2000's. Up until then, you had either XC bikes and DH/FR bikes, because those were what the professional disciplines used for either XC racing, DH racing, or FR videos. All of these options largely sucked for what most people were actually riding and doing on their bikes. The "All Mountain" or "Trail" Bike was born when companies realized that most people did not care what pros were winning races on.. And THAT is when mountain bikes started getting awesome (early-mid 2000s). And you know what else happened? XC racing bikes eventually started looking more like Trail/AM bikes.
I think the same thing is starting to happen with road bikes. Companies are finally starting to focus on bikes that work for uses other than being in the middle of a paved road race. IMO the best thing that can happen for road riding is people paying less attention to pro road racing. Gravel bikes are becoming popular because they simply work better for a lot of road riders. And, in a parallel to the MTB world, road racing bikes are taking some cues from them.
That is my take on it, anyway.
Likes For Kapusta:
#138
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
^ This whole post nails it. Unless they race (or train with people who do), everyone I know who has spent any time at all on a quality gravel or all-road bike is seriously questioning why they still have a road bike. More comfort + more versatility = more fun. And that's why people ride bikes.
Last edited by Rolla; 09-14-20 at 11:41 PM.
Likes For Rolla:
#139
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 663
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 164 Times
in
108 Posts
Why a gravel bike?
Exploration.
(then again, I seem to take my rando bike with 38's Pacentis out more into gravel than my 1986 High Sierra drop bar conversion)
Exploration.
(then again, I seem to take my rando bike with 38's Pacentis out more into gravel than my 1986 High Sierra drop bar conversion)
#140
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Considering finding a couple old 10 speed bikes...
How hard would do a rebuild an old 10 speed into a gravel bike? Ideally I would like find two bikes that could 24 inch wheels with wide clearance of 1.5 - 2 inch tires with frame size of 46cm or about 18in to 48cm or about 19in frames. I would probably repaint the frame and if could find new 2x5 gear sets but short of that 2x7 gears sets with the Specialized narrow drop bars. I would do fade paint jobs light lavender to light pink with light blue handlebar tape and also sky blue to nearly white with dark pink handel bar tape. If I was going more bikes then just my sister and me I would probably do them in solid colors and what ever gear sets and sizes they wanted.
#141
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 701
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
How hard would do a rebuild an old 10 speed into a gravel bike? Ideally I would like find two bikes that could 24 inch wheels with wide clearance of 1.5 - 2 inch tires with frame size of 46cm or about 18in to 48cm or about 19in frames. I would probably repaint the frame and if could find new 2x5 gear sets but short of that 2x7 gears sets with the Specialized narrow drop bars. I would do fade paint jobs light lavender to light pink with light blue handlebar tape and also sky blue to nearly white with dark pink handel bar tape. If I was going more bikes then just my sister and me I would probably do them in solid colors and what ever gear sets and sizes they wanted.
Likes For vespasianus:
#143
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Utardia
Posts: 6
Bikes: 2021 Trek Domane SL 6 Stealth Black
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Not so much interested in the bickering, but on why and where you like to ride your gravel bike, have you sold your other bikes or ride the gravel bike the majority of the time, etc.
#144
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,419
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,720 Times
in
2,537 Posts
Gravel riding opens up a lot more area around here. I have to ride an hour to get to a mountain road that isn't slightly terrifying to ride up because of traffic if I want pavement. On gravel, there is a mountain right behind my house.
I don't know if the revival of big tire road bikes came before gravel or not, I think it did. But it doesn't really matter, we're here now and it's good.
I agree with the people that say a lot of us have stopped worrying about what the pro road racers do, it's not relevant to me and hasn't been for over 20 years. I don't really want to ride with the riders that find it relevant.
I don't know if the revival of big tire road bikes came before gravel or not, I think it did. But it doesn't really matter, we're here now and it's good.
I agree with the people that say a lot of us have stopped worrying about what the pro road racers do, it's not relevant to me and hasn't been for over 20 years. I don't really want to ride with the riders that find it relevant.
#145
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Trust me, the color scheme will be the least of your worries.
Likes For Rolla:
#146
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,390
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18476 Post(s)
Liked 15,757 Times
in
7,404 Posts
#147
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,390
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18476 Post(s)
Liked 15,757 Times
in
7,404 Posts
The original question is inane if only because one of the answers is glaringly obvious: There are a hell of a lot of enjoyable roads to ride that are not paved, and one would think someone with the OP’s user name would get that.
#148
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,390
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18476 Post(s)
Liked 15,757 Times
in
7,404 Posts
Fun fact of the day: The US Forest Service manages the largest network of roads in the country. Last I checked, the mileage dwarfed the mileage of the Interstate Highway System by a factor of three. Let that sink in.
Likes For indyfabz:
#150
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,390
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18476 Post(s)
Liked 15,757 Times
in
7,404 Posts
Likes For indyfabz: