Maniax

welcome to a flawless year of cycling joy and the frustration of the wife!

just for gcn. netflix doesnt like vpn's on the media box. but i have the same setup on my phone and tablet as well for loadshedding times. I know you can set it up on you router ... but i prefer the simpler route. I dont want the vpn running at all times. it affects internet speed, browsing, shopping etc.

its a bargain... no jokes! worth every penny along with vpn costs. i run the gcn+ app and express vpn on my android tv. works perfectly

is there a reason that its not gravelbike friendly?

yes

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Ok..... I guess its time for feedback on my purchase. The Pirelli Centurato M 40mm. Ive ridden on tarmac, sand, gravel, stoney roads, jeeptracks, farmlands (no jokes) and very muddy roads (we are getting massive amounts of rain). None of these gnarly bits would have been rideable with the Pathfinders. They completely gave up traction with the slightest amount of sand or mud. But, man, what a joy with the Pirelli's! Many times I thought, its hike-a-bike time, but they just kept plowing through even the really gnarly stuff. Where I did had to push, was where the mtb guys' also pushed. Its due to momentum loss and not traction. The one "puddle" we had to traverse was literally knee deep water and soft mud - and that's on a road. crazy stuff. I really pushed the Momsen to its limits. The one trip was 96km and took us 5 hours. the other was about 65km and took about 3hours. Comfort-wise no different from the 42mm pathfinders. I rode them at 2.5bar at the back and 2 bar at front. No punctures and nice and comfortable. Where they did fall a bit short, was on rolling resistance on tar. The Pathfinders are much faster. We have a tarmac loop that we ride early mornings before work. My time dropped a bit, just from the tires being a bit slower. Even my training partner were quite surprised (not as surprised as seeing my bike plowing through mtb terrain though). But it just gives me a bit more training assistance I guess. Have to work a bit harder and get a bit fitter to hit those PR's again. Would I have gone for the 45's I don't think it would have significantly changed the handling in the muck. The 40's just would give up grip. Maybe a bit more comfort, but after 5 hours on the bike I was not sore (definitely paste from depleted resources, but not bumped to shreds). I would have lost even more speed on the hard stuff though, and I don't think I would have liked that. But the loss of a bit of speed, is an easy trade for the grip gained. Speed you can get back through training. So a big thumbs up for these bad boys. Absolutely amazing.

its the 40's. they didnt have the tan walls available in 45's. so will test these. might get the black wall 45's as well. they are crazy cheap currently

yeah pathfinders run great on tarmac and hardpacked gravel (although I have pushed their limits with gnarly stuff).... and thats about it. are you running 700x50? that would be amazing. Ive got the 40's on currently. but if I can run 50's for Barberton that be awesome

She is looking flippen fantastic! Will test on tarmac with tomorrow morning's fast training before work. and a proper mixed road 90km on Saturday.

heard of them, but never attempted. hows the rolling and grip? what type/size you riding?

From the reviews' measurements yes. 40mm (almost on the dot). It seems with a gravel bike (if its your only bike) , I'm gonna need three wheel sets.... 1. For road with 700x28-30mm slicks 2. For "normal" gravel riding with 700x40-42mm 3. and for the tough stuff - 650bx50's...

its the same with my Pathfinders. seriously fast in roads and hardstuff. even rocky roads are no problem. but the slightest bit of sand or wet, they become as useless as an eskom worker in strike season. so I guess its about what compromise is more important, fast rolling or grip.... getting that balance is tough just because the terrain varies constantly here. And Im one of the idiots that think my gravel can do what a mtb hardtail can do, so I dont stick to just dirtroads.

can your frame handle 50's or are you running 650b rims? yeah, I also do the bomb trick.... seated my pathfinders once with a floor pump. not my most clever of ideas.

I did briefly consider getting a set op 650b rims with 50mm pirelli's to help. But the organizers of the race said a gravel bike should make it through unscathed...

the 77km. the full is a bit hectic.

I did look at them. The reviews showed the Pirelli the better option though .. might just be down to subjective choice as well.

I just bought the 40's - R695 each. will test and revert. I confess, a deciding factor was quite a vain one.... I wanted the tan walls.... haha. Thanks for the input guys

from the reviews Ive watched from capable gravelriders the pirelli's made a big impact for the good. especially the M's

thanks

evobikes has a massive special

I thought I'd create a new topic so not to hi-jack a fellow hubber's topic I need some advice from Gravel riders please? I'm looking at the pirelli Centurato M but cant decide between the 700x 40 or 45mm I currently run the Spez Pathfinder pro 42's. The ride on compact gravel is amazing. but it cannot handle sand or mud at all.... no jokes. Problem is here in mpumulanga we have a lot of both. so I dont want to sacrifice too much of the pathfinder's rolling resistance (which is great). but I need more grip. I had a walk-a-bike section at the Alzu race this year because of sand. My buddy on his mtb just floated over it. I have to carry my bike. Im riding the Baberton xcm in Jan. 77km with 2.3k vertical climbing. I need grip. any advice on Pirelli's 40mm or 45? my frame can handle both.

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I prefer my ciovita bib even over my castelli bib. amazing ride and feel. the bib straps (over the shoulders) are also excellent.

its now 20k