MongooseMan

Yeah, rain forecast is improving, wind forecast not so much

Let the forecasting commence 🙈

Wow. Something poetic about Rog winning in a TT, despite issues. At least GT lost by more than a helmet change.

Hours of "should Thomas have changed his helmet?" and "should Primoz have run 1x?" youtube analysis incoming 🙈

Nice!

@The Gallows with the weather forecast looking “interesting” for next Saturday, is there any chance of a drop bag type situation, where we give you a small bag of stuff at registration to be taken up to the finish? just thinking it might be nice/essential to change into something warm and dry as soon after the race as possible, especially if folks are going to be hanging around at the finish. Would this be possible?

Last 3k gradients: 10.5% 14.6% 13.6%

It was not (yet). If you do some Strava stalking you can find the rides done to make the video of the new route. Unlikely to be 100% accurate, but gives you an idea…

The SRAM wireless blips are nice, so you could stick the on the aero bars, etc

Yes. But, in previous years, both the Gallows and the Ceder races have explicitly stated "gravel bikes only" on their entry pages. Both have subsequently changed to the more sensible "you do you" approach (Ceder last year, Gallows this year).

They’ve updated the entry page, it used to say “gravel bikes only” (your valid comments about what are even a gravel bike anyways notwithstanding 😂)

I think I may go with the grippier (Pirelli) tyres, given the above forecast for next week

It’s a gravel bikes only race, so you’re “somewhat” limited on the upper end by most frame clearances. I’ll be on 38c pathfinders, unless it rains all week, in which case it’ll be 40c Pirelli cinturato gravel M

Ummmmmm, 100km in the legs. Right? Right?

I feel this pic illustrates the awesome of gravel bike flexibility. In amongst the "traditional" gravel bikes (dropbar + fixed fork) we have a flat bar with fixed fork (blue) and dropbar with suspension fork (orange). Anything goes, do what works for you

The difference in opinion between @Kom and myself on gravel bikes might give you a clue as to who I purchased my Diverge from 🤣

I will say, my 2019 Diverge with 38mm Pathfinder Pros, in anything other than muddy slop, is an absolute dream to ride. The Futureshock stem eats most corrugations for breakfast. I've been really impressed by it.

No, the one I got had the same Ultegra groupset as this carbon one.

Ah, didn’t pick that up, wasn’t clear in the pic. Yes, mine was aluminium (though ironically was also advertised as carbon due to the carbon fork).

I bought the same specced bike for R3k last year.

Into the pot: Adding more wax: Doing @Jbr's super scientific spoon test: All melted: Hanging up to dry:

Maybe 2, but it'd be tight

Thanks, appreciate the responses. Will report back after my attempt this evening. More pics: Post US: Into the meths: Post meths, drying before waxing:

Thanks. I see you also have the "Pro Wax Heater" from Takealot, what setting do you use?

Some interim pics: Before: After one wash in a bucket with hot water and bike wash: Buzzing away in the US: Video of the US in action (quite a buzzing sound, but I suppose that's the deal): 7FCCF1E3-CDAC-43A0-BA17-566861120DEA-33161-00003822FFD7397C.mov Plan from here: Rinse, US in meths, into the wax pot. Will post more pics as I go.