Gravel bikes - what do you have and where did you buy it?

[MongooseMan]

16 hours ago, Chadvdw67 said:

99% sure you could fit a decent size 29"/700c set of wheels on the rook....

Challenge accepted!

 

And yes, you can

Here we have my Rook with my 29" 25C road (rim brake) rear wheel (front wheel left on for comparison).

 

Actually a decent amount of clearance, could probably go up to about 35C I reckon.

So maybe you do have options with a Rook after all...

Edited March 19, 2022 by MongooseMan

[Chadvdw67]

On 3/17/2022 at 11:48 PM, TyronLab said:

I think NSBB summed it up perfectly. Riding a gravel bike is a mindset thing. Every bike is built to fill some limited portion of the riding spectrum between a TT bike and a DH mtb. .

As someone who went from a 29+ heavy hitter trail bike, to a Rook Scout 11 Speed, to an XC race weapon, to a racey carbon gravel bike, and now to a steel rigid MTB (all within the space of a year) I can confidently say that every bike has some specific area it shines in and the more you stray from that sweet spot the "worse" it gets.

Even in the gravel bike category two bikes can feel like polar opposites.

The Rook is a great mountainbiker's gravel bike, if that makes sense. The geometry is pretty upright and comfy. The steel frame is very compliant. Has a 1x drivetrain. And with a (relatively cheap) handlebar upgrade (I can highly recommend the Rapide 460mm gravel bar) it has a real sense of plantedness and control off road. I felt pretty comfortable sending it on trails it wasn't designed for.

The Titan Switch I had on the other hand felt like a roadie gravel bike. It was responsive, agile, stiff and felt like a racehorse. It goaded you into wanting to smash out some rapid miles on the road or smooth gravel, but never felt as sure footed when the going got a little rougher.

If you find the idea of being out of your comfort zone appealing, whether that is physically, mentally, or even geographically, get a gravel bike. 

 

...

 

 

Man now I miss my Rook all over again..

Quick question, I am quite keen on the ROOK as well, but how is the 8 speed drivetrain? Is the 11-28 cassette with the 42 chainring sufficient for most climbing? I actually already know the answer for myself I guess, because I hate climbing, but there is a 8 speed ROOK in the classifieds and I need an excuse to say it will be fine.....

Edited March 19, 2022 by Chadvdw67

[TyronLab]

I had the 11 speed, so can't really comment as that had a 42/42 climbing gear. Keep in mind though that the 650B wheels effectively have lower gearing than a 29er wheel. So 42/28 will feel a little easier on the 650B wheels that it would on a 29er.

As a test put your MTB in a32/22 and see how it goes. Rigids climb way more efficiently than any form of suspension though, so it'll feel even easier than that.

DO IT! If you don't like it you could always just sell it to me for R2k less as a school fee...

[TyronLab]

14 hours ago, MongooseMan said:

Challenge accepted!

 

And yes, you can

Here we have my Rook with my 29" 25C road (rim brake) rear wheel (front wheel left on for comparison).

Actually a decent amount of clearance, could probably go up to about 35C I reckon.

So maybe you do have options with a Rook after all...

Your images aren't loading. Any way you could reupload them? I'm quite keen to see it.

[MongooseMan]

33 minutes ago, TyronLab said:

Your images aren't loading. Any way you could reupload them? I'm quite keen to see it.

Weird, try now? 

[BikeGenie]

Allow myself to introduce myself…

I am Don Kijote, from the Aventon clan, of the Steel pony regiment. 

[splat]

On 3/17/2022 at 8:21 AM, NeverNotRolling said:

Keep the build process photos coming!

The build pics weren't that awesome, but the (almost) final product came out quite well.
If I do say so myself...

It needs a few test rides to sort things out, like bar stem and saddle. They are all a bit wonky to start with.
I really enjoyed the build. It was a good way to get to know all the bits.
Brakes probably need to be bled after I fiddled with hose length and the bar tape is an abomination.
I was nervous of stripping the BB thread and I know that I definitely cross threaded the rear axle.
The rest seemed OK with the help of the Shimano tech docs and YouTube.
Not bad for the first time at building a bike from scratch.

[Jewbacca]

@splat I was looking at your frame while in the Bijou the other day. I'm desperately trying to figure out how I can justify the slightly less tricked out one that was hanging next to yours. 

I love visiting Dave and Rolfe but I always leave scheming..

[Nico van Loggerenberg]

Looks great! What fork is that? 

[Jewbacca]

1 hour ago, Nico van Loggerenberg said:

Looks great! What fork is that? 

I hazard a semi educated guess that it's one of the Colombus gravel forks. 

Dave builds a lot of his bikes with Colombus tubing and they offer prepped but unpainted 'raw' forks in the supply line, so you just need to paint to match your new frame.

I believe they come both 'raw' (which means you MUST paint/finish it) and 'Finished' which is obviously easier but means your fork will be carbon black and not as easy to spray to match.

 

[capediver]

Upgraded bars wrapped in camel hide and now tubeless, 

[splat]

6 hours ago, Nico van Loggerenberg said:

Looks great! What fork is that? 

Curve GRX

5 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

I hazard a semi educated guess that it's one of the Colombus gravel forks. 

Dave builds a lot of his bikes with Colombus tubing and they offer prepped but unpainted 'raw' forks in the supply line, so you just need to paint to match your new frame.

I believe they come both 'raw' (which means you MUST paint/finish it) and 'Finished' which is obviously easier but means your fork will be carbon black and not as easy to spray to match.

 

Dave builds his frames around the Columbus fork, but there were none available. Luckily, he had Benky on speed dial and one was sent down only to discover that its 18mm taller. Dave, being Dave, shortened the headtube and jiggled things around a bit to make it work.

As far as forks go, its a stunning piece of kit.

[Eldron]

I finally got to test my Canyon Grizl on the weekend and was really impressed (it was my second choice in gravel bike so I wasn't super excited but really pleasantly surperised). The balance between plush ride and tight handling is perfect. The carbon lever seat post is a great addition. The bike feels like a fine bledn of nimble/efficient and plush/vibration absorbing.

I would certainly recommend the Grizl and the bang for buck is phenomenal.

Oddly enough my first choice gravel bike (3T Exploro Race) arrived a few days ago so I'll be riding that soon. I'm hoping to be even more impressed with that...

[MORNE]

On 3/18/2022 at 3:21 PM, Wayne pudding Mol said:

If you find them I want a brown one - looks cool my bum must adapt 

 

On 3/18/2022 at 3:09 PM, Stretched@Birth said:

My butt likes them, my current bike has a Giant saddle on it, not nearly as comfy as the Spoon, hence me looking for a black on black one!  

Pretty sure these that Rook sells are “clones” of charge spoons. 

and they do a leather one for you wayne…

 

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by MORNE

[Nico van Loggerenberg]

On 3/21/2022 at 10:16 AM, Jewbacca said:

I hazard a semi educated guess that it's one of the Colombus gravel forks. 

Dave builds a lot of his bikes with Colombus tubing and they offer prepped but unpainted 'raw' forks in the supply line, so you just need to paint to match your new frame.

I believe they come both 'raw' (which means you MUST paint/finish it) and 'Finished' which is obviously easier but means your fork will be carbon black and not as easy to spray to match.

 

ah I see - it looked like a straight steerer on the photos which is what I'm after, but I guess it's actually tapered. 

[MORNE]

10 minutes ago, Nico van Loggerenberg said:

ah I see - it looked like a straight steerer on the photos which is what I'm after, but I guess it's actually tapered. 

dunno what you budget is. I have the IRD one in tapered. it comes in straight too. 

https://everydaycyclesupplyco.com/collections/steel-frames/products/carbon-fork-mcx-1-1-8-thru-axle

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/product/ird-carbon-fork-mcx-1-1-8-thru-axle-4590?category=975