Gravel bikes

What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:09:31 UTC-4, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I have old rigid frame & fork MTBs (converted to dropbars) that I ride on gravel roads or trails. I enjoy them a lot and the conversion wasn't expensive. Cost wise it sure beats buying a new dedicated gravel bike.

Cheers

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4:48:34 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:09:31 UTC-4, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I have old rigid frame & fork MTBs (converted to dropbars) that I ride on gravel roads or trails. I enjoy them a lot and the conversion wasn't expensive. Cost wise it sure beats buying a new dedicated gravel bike.

Cheers

You are right, the gravel bikes are expensive.

About how much was the conversion?

Andy

On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 23:00:48 UTC-4, AK wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4:48:34 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:09:31 UTC-4, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I have old rigid frame & fork MTBs (converted to dropbars) that I ride on gravel roads or trails. I enjoy them a lot and the conversion wasn't expensive. Cost wise it sure beats buying a new dedicated gravel bike.

Cheers

You are right, the gravel bikes are expensive.

About how much was the conversion?

Andy

Not much. I had most of the parts here or on another bike I was converting to something else.

Bar-end shifters, Shimano Brifters, or Campagnolo Ergos work really well. I liked the Ergos at first because the brake lever was solid and the cables went under the bar tape. I see that Shimano changed to that routing too.

Cheers

On 29/07/2020 19.32, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 23:00:48 UTC-4, AK wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4:48:34 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot
wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:09:31 UTC-4, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I have old rigid frame & fork MTBs (converted to dropbars) that I
ride on gravel roads or trails. I enjoy them a lot and the
conversion wasn't expensive. Cost wise it sure beats buying a new
dedicated gravel bike.

Cheers

You are right, the gravel bikes are expensive.

About how much was the conversion?

Andy

Not much. I had most of the parts here or on another bike I was
converting to something else.

Bar-end shifters, Shimano Brifters, or Campagnolo Ergos work really
well. I liked the Ergos at first because the brake lever was solid
and the cables went under the bar tape. I see that Shimano changed to
that routing too.

What is the routing these days?

On Wednesday, 29 July 2020 14:40:22 UTC-4, Tosspot wrote:
On 29/07/2020 19.32, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 23:00:48 UTC-4, AK wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4:48:34 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot
wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:09:31 UTC-4, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I have old rigid frame & fork MTBs (converted to dropbars) that I
ride on gravel roads or trails. I enjoy them a lot and the
conversion wasn't expensive. Cost wise it sure beats buying a new
dedicated gravel bike.

Cheers

You are right, the gravel bikes are expensive.

About how much was the conversion?

Andy

Not much. I had most of the parts here or on another bike I was
converting to something else.

Bar-end shifters, Shimano Brifters, or Campagnolo Ergos work really
well. I liked the Ergos at first because the brake lever was solid
and the cables went under the bar tape. I see that Shimano changed to
that routing too.

What is the routing these days?

Under the handlebar tape.

Cheers

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:09:31 PM UTC-7, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I've had several good one's. Two Redline Conquests and a Ridley. They are sort of like comfortable road bikes. Not quite as fast but more sure-footed. I got rid of them for a good sport bike - the best of the lot they were replaced with was the last model of the Lemond Zurich made from Reynolds 853 steel tubing. VERY nice bike with all of the advantages of a gravel bike. Just put a set of wide tires on it and you could ride it nearly anywhere.

The "modern gravel bike" has a single advantage from them and that is the disk brakes with the "flat mounting". And the one advantage of that is that brake shoes are easy and cheap to replace vs. rim brakes wearing out the brake track on good wheels. The flat mounting makes the disk actuator difficult to break or even get damaged.

To tell you the truth, I've used most bikes as "gravel bikes" and I feel that it is a fad.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 6:22:22 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:09:31 PM UTC-7, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I've had several good one's. Two Redline Conquests and a Ridley. They are sort of like comfortable road bikes. Not quite as fast but more sure-footed. I got rid of them for a good sport bike - the best of the lot they were replaced with was the last model of the Lemond Zurich made from Reynolds 853 steel tubing. VERY nice bike with all of the advantages of a gravel bike. Just put a set of wide tires on it and you could ride it nearly anywhere.

The "modern gravel bike" has a single advantage from them and that is the disk brakes with the "flat mounting". And the one advantage of that is that brake shoes are easy and cheap to replace vs. rim brakes wearing out the brake track on good wheels. The flat mounting makes the disk actuator difficult to break or even get damaged.

To tell you the truth, I've used most bikes as "gravel bikes" and I feel that it is a fad.

I looked up the Redline Conquest.

I have read where carbon frames can crack?

Andy

On 7/28/2020 10:06 PM, AK wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 6:22:22 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:09:31 PM UTC-7, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I've had several good one's. Two Redline Conquests and a Ridley. They are sort of like comfortable road bikes. Not quite as fast but more sure-footed. I got rid of them for a good sport bike - the best of the lot they were replaced with was the last model of the Lemond Zurich made from Reynolds 853 steel tubing. VERY nice bike with all of the advantages of a gravel bike. Just put a set of wide tires on it and you could ride it nearly anywhere.

The "modern gravel bike" has a single advantage from them and that is the disk brakes with the "flat mounting". And the one advantage of that is that brake shoes are easy and cheap to replace vs. rim brakes wearing out the brake track on good wheels. The flat mounting makes the disk actuator difficult to break or even get damaged.

To tell you the truth, I've used most bikes as "gravel bikes" and I feel that it is a fad.

I looked up the Redline Conquest.

I have read where carbon frames can crack?

Andy

Yes they can and do.

Same with steel of various types, aluminum, scandium,
titanium and wood. Name your poison and go ride.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 8:06:41 PM UTC-7, AK wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 6:22:22 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:09:31 PM UTC-7, AK wrote:
What do you think of a gravel bike?

Does anyone have one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_xFpg_UmA

Andy

I've had several good one's. Two Redline Conquests and a Ridley. They are sort of like comfortable road bikes. Not quite as fast but more sure-footed. I got rid of them for a good sport bike - the best of the lot they were replaced with was the last model of the Lemond Zurich made from Reynolds 853 steel tubing. VERY nice bike with all of the advantages of a gravel bike. Just put a set of wide tires on it and you could ride it nearly anywhere..

The "modern gravel bike" has a single advantage from them and that is the disk brakes with the "flat mounting". And the one advantage of that is that brake shoes are easy and cheap to replace vs. rim brakes wearing out the brake track on good wheels. The flat mounting makes the disk actuator difficult to break or even get damaged.

To tell you the truth, I've used most bikes as "gravel bikes" and I feel that it is a fad.

I looked up the Redline Conquest.

I have read where carbon frames can crack?

Andy

Yes, poorly made carbon can break. That is why you only buy them new and from a reputable manufacturer such as Specialized or Trek. Trek has lifetime warranties on their top line products and carbon gravel bikes fall into that category.