Cardio Goth

I know David from way back in the day, but had completely forgotten about Intervals until I started at my current job in Austria where all of the seriously geeky, data-focused cyclists all swear by it as the best platform out there.

Good guide that, I can confirm that, for at least some of the cities that I've spent time in, the suggestions are spot on.

They're not cheap, but Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge are basically MTB-size gravel tyres - they roll pretty fast but still have enough grip for rough gravel.

A pretty mixed year - mostly pretty decent, but had a fair bit off the bike thanks to knee issues and illness which derailed training somewhat. Started running with the intention of doing a 50km trail race in June 2024, despite never having run more than 20kms before, but pretty much everything fell apart in November and December thanks to my knee and euro flu. Here's hoping that 2024 is a bit of a fresh start.

I swear by USWE for riding and running. A friend uses the Apidura pack and reckons it's great.

I have the Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar. I cycle and run and it has more features than I could possibly use, but they're mostly fitness-related. The battery life is incredible. I'd recommend it fully, but it's not the only watch I wear.

I'd agree with you .. until I realised that 42mm is a sweet spot in tyre size. For me. On the gravel I ride here. But I've also realised that on a lot of that gravel, a hard tail with fast rolling tyres is more comfortable and, in some cases, faster. So now I split my time between them (well, not now exactly, because there's still 10cm of snow on most of my gravel routes, but you know what I'm saying). That said, I do agree that the majority of people would be happier with an endurance frame that would let them run 35mm semi-slicks.

I'd second this - I think the benefit of aerobars is more about comfort and an additional riding position than much in the way of aero benefit

Yeah, I love mine. Not cheap, but so comfy.

Beautiful autumn afternoon to log some elevation

From personal experience of long gravel rides, the comfort and aero options of drop bars motivate for a monstercross build

Coughing up the remnants of a sinus infection and battling headwinds before the rain arrived. Great morning to be out for some gravel though.

Autumn is definitely here in the northern hemisphere..

I'll be the voice of unreason here. I've been using a 1040 solar and, between the solar and the large battery, I wouldn't pick anything else for bikepacking and longer races. On a recent big day out, after 13 hours of riding (16+ hours elapsed), using navigation and an HRM, the battery was at 79%. I think I've charged it 4 times in the 6 months I've owned it. If the UX was better, it would be the perfect GPS.

Did the Jeroboam 150 gravel 'race' in Carinthia this weekend - absolutely magical day out, with some proper climbing.

Yeah, I have knee issues and find that flats make a huge difference.

Live. Lauf. Logs.

My Fairlight went in for a service and I used to opportunity to throw on a pair of Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge 42mms and, based on @Benky's recommendation, an 11-40 cassette (not because I have any aspirations of emulating his achievements, but because I'm fat and I need the extra range for hills).

I wasn't on the bike, but my gravel crew have a Friday morning "coffee outside" tradition, so I took the dog along and talked bikes and BS.

Finally took a photo on a morning ride! (Also happy with finally averaging over 30km/h for 2+ hours on a steel gravel bike with big, knobby tyres)

I ride quite a lot of gravel and have for a few years. I've done some relatively tough bikepacking, done a 200km gravel race, and various other 'gravel' things, all of which I've trained for on pavement, cobbles, gravel and MTB trails near my house. I've ridden the same training routes and segments on everything from a light gravel setup (38mm Spez Pathfinder Pros on a Fairlight Secan) to a more rugged setup (42mm Spez Rhombus's on a Lauf True Grit) to a frankenstein setup (Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 55mms on a 100mm travel hardtail) to a more traditional hardtail setup (Good Year Peak 2.4"s on the same hardtail). Some of the routes and segments are infinitely faster and/or more fun on a gravel bike, and some of which are faster and/or more fun on a hardtail. For gravel roads, I'd pick a gravel bike anyday - it will be faster. When things get chunkier, gravel bikes get slower (certainly for me, a not-particularly-skilled rider) and MTBs are more fun. Tomorrow I'm doing an almost-completely gravel route with a friend who is fitter and faster than me. I'll be on my hardtail with the Rene Herse tyres which are pretty efficient on smooth gravel, and he'll be on a gravel bike. Even if I was as fit as him, I would *** off trying to keep up on everything except the few strategically-planned chunky descents and really steep climbs. It's just reality, but it doesn't make it any less fun. On topic.. It's nice to see Shimano finally not quite doing what SRAM did .. 5 years (?) ago. In 5 years time when this is electronic, it might be really awesome (spoken as someone who loves GRX Di2 2x)

Silca says hi: https://silcavelo.eu/collections/inflation/products/superpista-ultimate-plus-hiro

Early MTB / Gravel ride on a perfect, quiet morning.

I'll add my vote for Evoc - have used mine to take a gravel bike to Iceland and a 29er mountain bike to Sweden, and it's been perfect.

Spent the morning melting and watching my much fitter partner from Rad Race 96 Hrs riding off into the distance on some primo gravel. At least my knee held up.