Gravel Ride Pics
#1626
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 17,036
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
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#1628
bill nyecycles
Did some single track yesterday evening on the gravel bike (wanted to be in the woods protected a bit since it was so windy)
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#1629
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SANTA CRUZ
Posts: 160
Bikes: 82 Univega Specialissima, Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, Kona Wheelhouse, Rocky Mtn Thunderbolt, Viner Strada Bianca, ~73 Bob Jackson, ~75 Volkscycle Mark100.
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Viner Strada Bianca on coastal cliffs
Most curious what you think of your Vaast A1 bike? Was thinking of trading out my Viner for that bike. Similar frame weight despite mine being Carbon fiber. I am currently running 38mm tires and quite happy at that width...maybe 42mm in the future.. Looks like you are running even wider? Any how, any ride review comments most appreciated.
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#1630
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
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#1631
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,153
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy Viscount Aerospace Pro Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
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Got out for a ride this past Sunday.
__________________
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#1632
bill nyecycles
Most curious what you think of your Vaast A1 bike? Was thinking of trading out my Viner for that bike. Similar frame weight despite mine being Carbon fiber. I am currently running 38mm tires and quite happy at that width...maybe 42mm in the future.. Looks like you are running even wider? Any how, any ride review comments most appreciated.
It's light and nimble, and rides great. Carbon fork & seatpost with the supermag frame = pretty nice ride quality. My tires are also 38, but I'm contemplating jumping to 40/42 when these wear out. I swapped the stock bars and stem for something that fit me better, but the rest is as it came.
Do recommend!
#1633
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SANTA CRUZ
Posts: 160
Bikes: 82 Univega Specialissima, Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, Kona Wheelhouse, Rocky Mtn Thunderbolt, Viner Strada Bianca, ~73 Bob Jackson, ~75 Volkscycle Mark100.
Liked 186 Times
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74 Posts
Personally, I love it. I've been riding it for almost 2 years - I got mine as part of a tester group in 2020 shortly after they launched, to provide them with feedback on their first model run. They've already made some updates on their newer models, like a 2x drivetrain, etc (though 1x is still available).
It's light and nimble, and rides great. Carbon fork & seatpost with the supermag frame = pretty nice ride quality. My tires are also 38, but I'm contemplating jumping to 40/42 when these wear out. I swapped the stock bars and stem for something that fit me better, but the rest is as it came.
Do recommend!
It's light and nimble, and rides great. Carbon fork & seatpost with the supermag frame = pretty nice ride quality. My tires are also 38, but I'm contemplating jumping to 40/42 when these wear out. I swapped the stock bars and stem for something that fit me better, but the rest is as it came.
Do recommend!
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#1634
Senior Member
Meandering
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#1635
bill nyecycles
hit some gravel, single track, and paved trails today since the afternoon was so gorgeous
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#1636
Senior Member
First ride this year without winter gear
Nice cloud cover, but 17mph winds. Lots oh hawks out.
bonus shot of my new pocket frame bag
bonus shot of my new pocket frame bag
Last edited by franswa; 03-05-22 at 07:15 PM.
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#1638
Senior Member
Went “glamping” last week
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#1639
Senior Member
Beautiful day this past Sunday at Chino Hills State Park, CA!
#1640
Senior Member
I'm both impressed and jealous by your recent ride pics. I live northwest of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) and we still have snow on many of our gravel roads and trails, and/or frozen/thawing ice. Paved roads are perfect so I've mainly been on road rides. After a walk through some woods by my house I noticed the multi-use path (gravel, dirt) that runs along a river only had snow in a few sections. I did a loop of it twice in about 40 minutes on my new Surly Cross Check. First time using the 700x40 WTB Ventures (tubeless) other than on road. I have to say, they may be perfect for this unpaved path through the woods. It was just nice riding in woods, I was smiling from ear to ear. Of course I left the camera at home and hence no photos with the bike, but a shot of the path during a walk (maybe tomorrow, before the weather turns).
Last edited by Noonievut; 03-21-22 at 05:58 PM.
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#1641
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
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#1642
Senior Member
I'm both impressed and jealous by your recent ride pics. I live northwest of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) and we still have snow on many of our gravel roads and trails, and/or frozen/thawing ice. Paved roads are perfect so I've mainly been on road rides. After a walk through some woods by my house I noticed the multi-use path (gravel, dirt) that runs along a river only had snow in a few sections. I did a loop of it twice in about 40 minutes on my new Surly Cross Check. First time using the 700x40 WTB Ventures (tubeless) other than on road. I have to say, they may be perfect for this unpaved path through the woods. It was just nice riding in woods, I was smiling from ear to ear. Of course I left the camera at home and hence no photos with the bike, but a shot of the path during a walk (maybe tomorrow, before the weather turns).
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#1643
OM boy
Wind is finally backing off a bit- been 25+ steady for last 3 days !
BUT - even when windy, gravel riding is good fun, unlike putting your nose into the wind on a road ride
Did an easy twisted ride in my local Green space - Ellwood Mesa - quite large open expanse on coast just a block away from my house.
It's a wonderful place of Eucalyptus woods, vernal grass pools weird, steep ditches and ocean bluffs facing the channel islands (south exposure).
Right at the western edge of Goleta, it's part of the contiguous open shore and space from Goleta until Point Conception, where the coast again turns North.
Grass Lands and Eucalyptus woods on the Ellwood Mesa
Upper Entry from the Ellwood Mesa to the Monarch Butterfly Grove
The Mesa and Groves harbor a large variety of small wildlife and birds. And amoung them is a strong population of raptors - Redtail,Sharpshin, Coopers, Red Shoulder, Merlins, White Tailed Kites, and Great Horned Owls.
Redtail Hawk perched next to a nest which has been used for many, many years, possibly decades. Sadly the phone didn;t focus properly... But hawk is the white patch in center and nest is just below and right, in the crook of the branches. A month or so away from the next clutch of redtail babies - usually 2... special...
Besides windy trails, there is a plethora of fun, challenging whoop-de-dos, quick drops, hobbit holes and funky surfaces to test your bike handling skills, and bring back those skills learned doing CX.
Fun on a gravel bike or mtb, whichever you choose... but few bailout options... LOL!
Take the High Groove or the Low, and we'll both get there about the same... learning to duck is an important skill... LOL !
There's hardly anything better than some time on the Ellwood Mesa, how one chooses to be there, walking or riding, it's all a slice of heaven.
Ride On
Yuri
Equipment Note : Some may know I put a Redshift Shockstop stem on my Poseidon X about 10 days back. Did about 80 miles to 'break in''-seat the stem elastomer bumpers.
Decided I wanted a bit more shock absorption than the setup as received stock (which is the '70' & '60' elastomers). I also wanted a bit of '2 stage' shock absorption - ability to absorb both the high frequency small bumps of rock and small holes, as well as good absorption of larger hits.
So I decided to experiment... Ordered another set of elastomers. Took the new/additional 60 I received and filed off about .5 mm from one of the sides. Idea being to have the short hits be absorbed mainly from 1 elastomer and having the 2nd elastomer become more greatly engaged when the hits became larger. Put in the Original 60 and the 2nd '60' 'filed/reduced/ elastomers.
First ride on new elastomer setup today. Worked Great ! The small more frequent hits of irregular surface and large gravel were well subdued. The Larger hits of deep holes, square edge mounds, large branches and drops also well absorbed. There was no perceived reduction of control while normal riding - felt just like a normal stem on hard, quick turns and speed on fast sections. No mushy feelings at all ! Stoked to have the improved absorption and great handling of the Shock Stop stem ! Stem gets Both thumbs Up !
BUT - even when windy, gravel riding is good fun, unlike putting your nose into the wind on a road ride
Did an easy twisted ride in my local Green space - Ellwood Mesa - quite large open expanse on coast just a block away from my house.
It's a wonderful place of Eucalyptus woods, vernal grass pools weird, steep ditches and ocean bluffs facing the channel islands (south exposure).
Right at the western edge of Goleta, it's part of the contiguous open shore and space from Goleta until Point Conception, where the coast again turns North.
Grass Lands and Eucalyptus woods on the Ellwood Mesa
Upper Entry from the Ellwood Mesa to the Monarch Butterfly Grove
The Mesa and Groves harbor a large variety of small wildlife and birds. And amoung them is a strong population of raptors - Redtail,Sharpshin, Coopers, Red Shoulder, Merlins, White Tailed Kites, and Great Horned Owls.
Redtail Hawk perched next to a nest which has been used for many, many years, possibly decades. Sadly the phone didn;t focus properly... But hawk is the white patch in center and nest is just below and right, in the crook of the branches. A month or so away from the next clutch of redtail babies - usually 2... special...
Besides windy trails, there is a plethora of fun, challenging whoop-de-dos, quick drops, hobbit holes and funky surfaces to test your bike handling skills, and bring back those skills learned doing CX.
Fun on a gravel bike or mtb, whichever you choose... but few bailout options... LOL!
Take the High Groove or the Low, and we'll both get there about the same... learning to duck is an important skill... LOL !
There's hardly anything better than some time on the Ellwood Mesa, how one chooses to be there, walking or riding, it's all a slice of heaven.
Ride On
Yuri
Equipment Note : Some may know I put a Redshift Shockstop stem on my Poseidon X about 10 days back. Did about 80 miles to 'break in''-seat the stem elastomer bumpers.
Decided I wanted a bit more shock absorption than the setup as received stock (which is the '70' & '60' elastomers). I also wanted a bit of '2 stage' shock absorption - ability to absorb both the high frequency small bumps of rock and small holes, as well as good absorption of larger hits.
So I decided to experiment... Ordered another set of elastomers. Took the new/additional 60 I received and filed off about .5 mm from one of the sides. Idea being to have the short hits be absorbed mainly from 1 elastomer and having the 2nd elastomer become more greatly engaged when the hits became larger. Put in the Original 60 and the 2nd '60' 'filed/reduced/ elastomers.
First ride on new elastomer setup today. Worked Great ! The small more frequent hits of irregular surface and large gravel were well subdued. The Larger hits of deep holes, square edge mounds, large branches and drops also well absorbed. There was no perceived reduction of control while normal riding - felt just like a normal stem on hard, quick turns and speed on fast sections. No mushy feelings at all ! Stoked to have the improved absorption and great handling of the Shock Stop stem ! Stem gets Both thumbs Up !
Last edited by cyclezen; 03-22-22 at 12:32 AM.
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#1644
Senior Member
First proper trail ride on the Cross Check. Freezing rain and ice accumulation tomorrow so I was happy to get this ride in!
I ride these trails/paths by my house all the time, and have for many years. Previously, I used ‘gravel’ bikes (3-4 over last 6-8 years). Cross Check blows them away! The handling was so much better (climbing, sharp turns, track stands, leaning the bike through objects on the trails...ease of shifting weight to flow with the bike; didn’t fight it, was natural).
I ride these trails/paths by my house all the time, and have for many years. Previously, I used ‘gravel’ bikes (3-4 over last 6-8 years). Cross Check blows them away! The handling was so much better (climbing, sharp turns, track stands, leaning the bike through objects on the trails...ease of shifting weight to flow with the bike; didn’t fight it, was natural).
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#1646
Senior Member
Last weekend was gravel specific, this weekend was single track - a bit muddy from the recent storms/tornadoes. It’s starting to really warm up here, started out at 55f and finished the ride at 85f.
#1647
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
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#1649
Senior Member
Was pleasantly surprised how well the Barlow Pass rolled on the trails by my house. Even 15-20% climbs on loose gravel, no problem (40psi with tubes).