Gravel bikes - I'm a convert!

[Venod]

Most of my riding is a mixture of road and off road, I haven't got a Gravel bike but I have 2 CX bikes and a fully rigid MTB.
I sold the road bikes as they were not getting used, for road use I have some wheels with 32mm tyres, but the 38mm Schwalbe are good on road or off, I have mud guards on one CX which is OK with 36mm tyres, I can't see me returning to close clearance road frames anytime soon.

 

[Kajjal]

One thing I prefer is the flexibility in riding and setup gravel bikes provide.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Most of my riding is a mixture of road and off road, I haven't got a Gravel bike but I have 2 CX bikes and a fully rigid MTB.
I sold the road bikes as they were not getting used, for road use I have some wheels wit 32mm tyres, but the 38mm Schwalbe are good on road or off, I have mud guards on one CX which is OK with 36mm tyres, I can't see me returning to close clearance road frames anytime soon.

Prior to buying my CGR, I was '365-ing' on a 'blue 7005' (aka Preston), that's running on a reasonably nice pair of Vision Team 30 wheels & Schwalbe Lugano '23' tyres
He went/rolled well enough to stay with groups of the local Triathlon Club, on their good bikes, especially on the local hilly rides




Then I went to the CGR, on '28' Durano PP
For the first few weeks, it seemed like a mistake, & was akin to riding a Chopper
All 'drag' & an upright position

Okay I know that the geometry is quite different to Preston, I bought on top-tube 'length', but even with 2 spacers removed, it's still over an inch higher than Preston, & that still has all three in place!

He's got quite a short head-tube though (& longer forks to allow for larger tyres/mudguard clearance)

 

[Venod]

He went/rolled well enough to stay with groups of the local Triathlon Club, on their good bikes

For the first few weeks, it seemed like a mistake

I dropped on the Wednesday cafe ride last week I was on the 32mm tyres (they measure 34mm on the rim) I kept up OK for the short distance I was with them, but I did notice it was a bit harder than it used to be on my dedicated road bike running 25mm, I have come to terms with losing about 1to 2 mph off my average speed, but the comfort afforded by wider lower presure tubeless tyres is a big plus and most of my riding is done solo nowadays, If I returned to regular group riding I would have to go back to narrower tyres and less comfort.

Ken Cowdell was on the front and although he is now over 70 he can still make it hurt.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Haven't seen Ken for quite a few years