'Kaze Pete

Trek Checkpoint. It looks great, specs seem good. Unfortunately it is a 1x, I'm not a complete grinder/stomper,my average cadence is not super high, in the low 80s. Still think I'm going to need the occasional 'overdrive' not to wind myself Scott Addict. Looks good (also: 2x Shimano) Giant Revolt. Seems interesting. Sadly it looks like a dual suspension MTB without the shocks. The 1x 40t chainring is not quite fast, and not quite slow enough for Rooiberg Titan Racing. Really want to try one, but looks just do not appeal to me, Real life view did not add to the experience. Bianchi. I'm going to feel like a poser / imposter on one. Need to give it a 'in real life look' though Orbea Terra. Need to have a deeper look Cube. Need to have a deeper look Merida Silex. unsure Silverback Siablo. unsure Winspace. Feels like I'm taking a chance

Yeah, I allows 99spokes suggestions to get the better of my list. It is mostly for comparison, not a list of serious contenders. Doubt I'll go non-carbon. If I want to "steel-is-real", I'll just mess around on the semi-converted Cotic Soul

I pleaded lazy, and took some questions to ChatGPT, after doing comparisons on https://www.99spokes.com Have not verified the responses yet, and yes it is not related to the local market/prices/specs/currencies.. gravel_bikes_updated.xlsx

Aliexpress shipping costs just seem ludicrous to me. For cycling related items I had a look at, shipping basically cost the same or more than the actual item. Is this the norm?

I need something to be (ok, look!) fast, and as I've got a 26" Cotic Soul frame with drop bars. I'm busy exploring 29er shock options for that. It should fit a 700c 40mm rear tyre, hopefully a 45mm. This'll become my "full retard" bike build

Anybody with any half real info on what is going on with Beers and the King of Gravel? They seem consistent. Consistently slipping back..?

Somebody I know posted a ride (no map, just distance and time) that correlates with WP3. See they received a finish time of more than an hour more than what was posted

Was planning a late entry on Friday. Oh well

Not sure where 74kgs will put me (I haven't been this "light" in 20 year) I have a Tarmac Sport road bike (2015 model with rim brakes, not many km though), and like the ride... On road I prefer a frame on the stiff side. Damn... I ride a hardtail on the gravel roads around Parys, everybody else on dual suss bikes Only reason I'm skipping past the Crux is the claimed 47mm tyre clearance. Maybe I should add "Not a limo ride" to my list! This IS a sexy... bike!

There are non-tarmac races where you cannot compete with a mountain bike

I might be a bit unkind to the colour (have not seen it in the flesh) and it could be that the general photos out there do not do it any favours

A spinnekop has 8 legs!

My local can’t even set gears, or cable tension 🫣 I’ll go out of town to a LBS with some volume 👍

Talking esthetics: This looks good (Scott) This okay (shiny black in the dust?) And these colours remind me of those MTB Quebeka bicycles: @Titan Racing Bikes: I do not see the Titan Switch Carbon Pro listed at some of the big online bicycle shops? Are the bicyles colours as on your website the only option per model, or can different colours be ordered, eg the orange on the pro model?

The Scott has a very neat cockpit (apologies to any workshop that need to work on it!), but has 'only' 45mm tyre clearance https://www.scott-sports.com/za/en/product/scott-addict-gravel-30-bike?article=293251049

I'm willing to let go of my Shimano / 2x fetish after playing on https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html Something like this Titan Racing: https://titanracingbikes.com/bikes/switch-carbon-pro-my24/ Or, this Trek (which seems to have some funky pivot point / weird tech stuff going on): https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/bikes/road-bikes/gravel-bikes/checkpoint/checkpoint-sl/checkpoint-sl-5-axs-gen-3/p/47071/?colorCode=black_grey Any other ideas?

Must admit, I'm thinking more about top end speed. I know... pedaling down a mine shaft! No road compact crankset 50/34 then?

Love the "need" 👍 On Giant's website they refer to some 'unwanted complexity': ADAPTABLE TO THE TERRAIN A flip chip on the rear dropout adjusts the wheelbase short for quicker handling, or long for improved stability at speed. The long setting allows for larger diameter tyres up to 53mm.

@Titan Racing Bikes, are your frames 2x friendly?

I "need" a gravel bike... Not like in need it to survive a cold winter night, but I have some personal ambitions (strawberry blondes excluded) for which I require a gravel 'racing' bike. Some requirements: Must be able to fit 50mm tyres. I'm firm on this one, so no 47mm clearance. Yeah I share views with a certain Dylan Johnson. I do not want to go to 650B to fit 50m. Very firm on this Prefer Shimano to SRAM Not really considering Cromoly/ Alumimium / Titanium frames, so carbon it'll be. No need for fenders No need to add a Venter trailer masquerading as bags/panniers/etc FutureShocks, Pivot points, front shocks, suspension stems & seatposts... All sounds like something that can break, and add weight. I have looked at Trek, @Titan Racing Bikes, Scott so far. I was tempted to look at a Felt, but seems like the distributors went belly up (again!) So any suggestions?

Thank you. Fixed it! 8 June 2025 is the date

Event Name: Crater Cruise GravelWhen: 08/06/2025Where: Koedoeslaagte Trail Park & Venue, Venterskroon, North WestCategory: GravelThe Crater Cruise... In 2004 the Crater Cruise was established as a "the original" Gravel Road Race in South Africa. The organisers were indeed ahead of their time and systematically converted the event into a hybrid mountainbike event. On Sunday 8 June 2025 we will relaunch the Crater Cruise as the Gravel Road Race it was always intended to be. The 145km and 92km routes are truly spectacular. Since 2004 the organisers have complimented and promoted competitive cycling with a substantial prize purse - in 2025 the price purse will mount to R75 000! Event Status: Gauteng Gravel Series event #3 (OPEN to all provinces and nationalities)In U/23 Elite category - only drop-handle Gravel Bikes will come in contention for the Gauteng Series logAll other categories are welcome to ride on mountain bikes!An official Free State calendar Gravel RaceAn official Northwest calendar Gravel Race Route details, categories maps etc: 145 km Full Cruise  Official race category for Elite & U/23 Men and Women, Vets Men and Women 30-39, Vets Men 40-49, Vets Men 50-59Also an OPEN category for non-racers92 km Crater Cruise Official race category for Junior Men and Women, Vets Women 40-49, Vets Women 50-59, Master Men and Women 60+Also an OPEN category for non-racers50 km Half Cruise Official race category for Youth Boys and Girls, Sub-Junior Girls and BoysAlso an OPEN category for non-racers15 km Dirt Flirt A fun timed event with an OPEN categoryGo to Event Page.

8 June. 145, 92, 50 or 15km https://cratercycling.com/cratercruise

Monstercross from another time. Cotic Soul 26er: Road bars, Ultegra shifters, Deore 42/22 crankset, SLX FD, Shimano 105 RD, road cluster (11-28, maybe 25?), Suntour Epicon X2 shock, seat from a forgotten TT bicycle, 26”Alexrims wheels, decade old Maxxis Crossmarks 2.25 (front) / 2.10 (rear), mechanical brake calipers First need to test ride it on gravel roads this week, and then decide the way forward. A 29x1.4 / 700 x38 wheel and tyre fit easily in the rear… just need a 29er shock / carbon fork for the front to transition it to bigger wheels