Gravel bikes

[capediver]

So my graveller is a Chinese brand (Pardus Uragno 2 x 11) but nicely specced out and has a few add-ons eg Redshift Shock Stop seat post for long hauls, dropper for short stuff, Redshift Suspension Stem....GRX 105 full hydraulic Groupset and lots of attachment points for bags and wotnot....paid about 32K 2 years ago. Done loads of gravelling with it as well as a big 5-day self-supported trip late last year...Zero issues with any hardware on the bike...

 

They just brought out their latest version which now comes with e-tech...top of the range with SRAM Rival AXS 1 x 12:

 

Price equivalent to ZAR 47.5K....almost half of that is for the e-groupset alone......

[mikkelz]

What brand and size tyres are you all running?

40? 42? 🫣 Wider, narrower...

[splat]

47 minutes ago, mikkelz said:

What brand and size tyres are you all running?

40? 42? 🫣 Wider, narrower...

I am running 45's
Hoping that my next GG can take 50mm tyres.

'more cushion for the pushin'

[guidodg]

1 hour ago, mikkelz said:

What brand and size tyres are you all running?

40? 42? 🫣 Wider, narrower...

Pirelli Cinturato M in 45mm  , fitting 50mm when these are done😉

Edited Sunday at 02:26 PM by guidodg

[capediver]

8 hours ago, mikkelz said:

What brand and size tyres are you all running?

40? 42? 🫣 Wider, narrower...

Panaracer GK SK+ 50mm tan....good all round for mix of firm gravel and tar, slips a bit when presented with the steeps with marbles! 3.5bar on most terrain for me is good with no s/wall roll in the corners

Edited Sunday at 09:17 PM by capediver

[Mike-MTB]

In my experience, our SA gravel roads are generally too rough for standard setup 700c tires and rigid forks (especially around JHB / Magalies.

I found although a gravel setup is generally quicker, regular corrugations and road-wash becomes too tiring  - for anything over 4 hours out....

I think the answer is possibly a lightweight hardtail, aero bars, narrower tires around 2.5' and a light fork = less rider fatigue?

My 2c

[ChrisF]

4 hours ago, Mike-MTB said:

In my experience, our SA gravel roads are generally too rough for standard setup 700c tires and rigid forks (especially around JHB / Magalies.

I found although a gravel setup is generally quicker, regular corrugations and road-wash becomes too tiring  - for anything over 4 hours out....

I think the answer is possibly a lightweight hardtail, aero bars, narrower tires around 2.5' and a light fork = less rider fatigue?

My 2c

 

Dont let @NotSoBigBen see this .... 😛

 

Few years back he made it CLEAR to me that my HT with gravel tyres does not a gravel bike make.

 

I still have the HT with 50mm gravel tyres, love it !

 

But with a real drop bar gravel bike added to the growing family, I now understand why @NotSoBigBen feels strongly on this.  A "real gravelbike" is vastly different to a HT with gravel tyres.

 

All that said, I enjoy my gravel bike on our bad tar roads ....

For corrugations, give me some suspension up front ....

[NotSoBigBen]

47 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Dont let @NotSoBigBen see this .... 😛

 

Few years back he made it CLEAR to me that my HT with gravel tyres does not a gravel bike make.

 

I still have the HT with 50mm gravel tyres, love it !

 

But with a real drop bar gravel bike added to the growing family, I now understand why @NotSoBigBen feels strongly on this.  A "real gravelbike" is vastly different to a HT with gravel tyres.

 

All that said, I enjoy my gravel bike on our bad tar roads ....

For corrugations, give me some suspension up front ....

Amen brother!

I have as you've probably seen now built a gravel bike, drop bars but suspension  fork

Dis nou 'n lekker fiets!

[Mike-MTB]

Ask him how his tennis elbow is doing......🤏