Where has your bike taken you today?

[Pikey]

I'd actually like some input from you regarding the differences between the dual susser, the Stache and the gravel bike. I'm loving the Stache for trail riding, but I'm finding it to be a lot of work on gravel. Upping the tyre pressure sacrifices the comfort and lowering it makes it even slower, although as comfortable as my sofa.

 

Don't know if its just me being a ninny, or whether there's any truth to the 29x3.0 tyres being boat anchors on gravel.

 

Generally not phased, but I've got the Transbaviaans coming up and I'm concerned that I'm making it extra difficult on myself by riding the Stache.

 

Any comments welcome.

Here’s my take on it .

 

I have recently been asking myself the same question. Hence me riding them back to back and over the same terrain and mostly the same distance except a longer rode on the dual suss to see if it can handle the distance . We both know the stache & gravel can. Bearing in mind the ds is a 130/140 66* deg trail bike than isn’t very light , 13,7kg I think .

 

Here’s my thoughts . If you can only have one bike the stache has to be it as the gravel grinder and the mnt bike . But,and a big but,if you dong mostly outrides and not bothered about bike park type rides then the gravel bike with wider bars can ride 80% of what the stache rides with no bother and a a damn site faster with a lot less effort. Yep the 3.0 tyres are boat anchors in comparison to a gravel bike and over distance. The fatigue is definitely tangible and to some degree.

 

The stache vs the ds= The stache is more efficient and faster over flat dirt roads,not gravel fast but definitely faster than a ds. Going down the stache is quite capable as I am sure you are aware ,but compared to a 130 ds it’s obviously needs more attention to keep up the speed. Climbing up semi smooth ascents it’s close . But, add some rocks and corrugation or roots and undulations and the ds even at 130 seems more efficient to me . Less getting bucked out of the saddle,less paying attention to to line choice and generally easier. Time wise not much in it , but it’s the fatigue factor here that counts. You have to think less on a ds. If you had a 100/120 ds it could be the one bike to rule them all. Not the best at everything but very capable .

 

I recently on a ride with a mate jumped on his yeti asr c and he had spin on the stache . It was immediately apparent how much less effort the yeti took to propel it forward . I was genuinely surprised at the difference. Over a 100 plus kilometres it would be huge for me personally.

 

My ds vs the gravel bike is almost the same difference again if you can take the harsher ride. Over the yeti it’s still quicker and with less effort.

 

For me personally I love my gravel bike more and more . Even though I know can do marathon type distances on my ds I am more and more leaning away from this bike and the type of riding it yearns for .

 

Maybe it’s an age thing but enjoy my gravel bike more than any other bike. I think it’s the freedom thing combined with the speed you can hit on the dirt .

 

Apologies for the waffle

[Wayne pudding Mol]

Work has not been going well for a while - 2020 and it's madness hasn't helped so today I thought why even bother

 

Probably the best business decision of the year

[capediver]

Work has not been going well for a while - 2020 and it's madness hasn't helped so today I thought why even bother

 

Probably the best business decision of the year

Lekka...somewhere above GrootBrak?

[Eddy Gordo]

Working/playing on some of my weak points.

Some of the laaities hit those big drops like it's nothing. Me I had to work up to this one and looking at the photo non of them look that scary but when you are there it's a little different.

 

I like messing about there. Also a good workout!

['Dale]

'One cannot be unhappy while riding a bicycle.'

 

 

 

 

[Bonus]

Yesterday - From Boltaña, up to Guaso via the footpath behind the Monastary, stopped at our Project for this pic, then up to the view point by the church. Picked up two lost riders on the way up and set them straight - all part of the service - then down to Ainsa, up to Ainsa Castle, down past the pump-track and back along the river.

 

Perfect 

 

 

[Wayne pudding Mol]

Lekka...somewhere above GrootBrak?

 

That’s Widerness below and the road up to Hoekwil and the 7 passes

[Frosty]

Back on the indoor trainer for the first time in weeks - feels wrong to be inside when it’s piping hot outside. Last minutes Teams (work) meeting forced me to change my plans.

 

1h02

30.2 Km

53TSS

IF - [emoji2958]

 

Lekker rustig!

['Dale]

[TyronLab]

snip

 

 

snip

 

Thanks for the input guys, very insightful and exactly what I was after! Both of you confirmed what I suspected. 

 

I'm in a bit of a pickle with my bike choice at the moment, and my finances dictate I'm a one-bike-quiver guy at the moment. I think a XC/Trail 120mm dual susser would be perfect, but finding them in a price range I can afford is pretty rare, and fitting some more appropriate wheels / tyres on my bike is a spendy exercise. 

 

For the moment I'll just have to suck it up it seems and take advantage of its trail proficiency.

[MORNE]

I'd actually like some input from you regarding the differences between the dual susser, the Stache and the gravel bike. I'm loving the Stache for trail riding, but I'm finding it to be a lot of work on gravel. Upping the tyre pressure sacrifices the comfort and lowering it makes it even slower, although as comfortable as my sofa.

 

Don't know if its just me being a ninny, or whether there's any truth to the 29x3.0 tyres being boat anchors on gravel.

 

Generally not phased, but I've got the Transbaviaans coming up and I'm concerned that I'm making it extra difficult on myself by riding the Stache.

 

 

 

 

Any comments welcome.

My Soma bike, yes that one Lol...was used for marathon style gravel grinding most of the time and I never felt it was agonizingly slow on long dirt roads, even riding it wit 1x10, 32/36. on the contrary...I could hang with the odd gravel bike just fine cruising at 35-40 kph. I have relatively strong legs though. But especially if said gravel road had some corrugation in it, no gravel bike is allowed to outpace me on those...I just wont allow it haha. 29x2.6 front and a fast rolling 2.4 in te rear...both at about 17-20psi Depending on where i’m riding, makes for a perfect feel on that type of road on my bike....bearing in mind my frame is steel. But it also has a rigid carbon fork on it. So yes.

There’s this perfect little footpath next to the road along Adderley Rd coming into Dbville past Diemersdal. I can easily go faster on that than the mtb’s cruising on the road surface. You just need to find that sweetspot with tire pressure/ rolling resistance for any kind of surface imo.

 

A thinner tyre will obviously help too. But for a rigid bike..i like the volume of the 2.6 up front at a soft pressure...it gives you that small bump feel that a thin tyre cant imo. And since I use this bike for all sorts of stuff...it’s a goid compromise.

 

I wouldnt worry too much. Your mtb will always ve slower than something on thin wheels. I found that out again after acquiring an vintage steel road bike while my Soma was stolen....and I absolutely demolished all my times on the road routes i also do with the mtb, without much effort...with That oldschool 6 spd 52T 14-24 Haha. I could avarage my 60km loop on my Soma at ~25kph if I decided to haul ass. I did it at ~32kph on the roady and it didnt even feel that hard afterwards. I’m sure the next time I go riding angry I can do it at ~35kph haha.

 

Horses for courses. Just enjoy your bike. I did the k2C on the soma last year and the guys on the DS trail bikes made me look silly on the downs...but i got them all back on the flat bits and made them look silly on the ups lol.

Edited October 20, 2020 by morneS555

[MORNE]

^also for a 250km+ ride i’ll take the comfort of a sofa over speed any day of the week

[gummibear]

 

 

[Jewbacca]

To Hospital!!

 

 

[DJR]

To Hospital!!

 

Not nice at all. What happened? You OK? That pinkie looks properly skew. Bike OK?

[Frosty]

To Hospital!!

Ouch. Heal up well.