2023 Road'n'Gravel Biking

[cantunamunch]

Ride Into the Valley of Underpass

Yes that is part of the new MUP.

 

[cantunamunch]

 

[cantunamunch]

^I didn't have my wide lens with me to catch all the lights down in the gorge. The funniest thing - every one of those lights is down there fishing illegally - because access to those rocks is forbidden and Md rockfish season hasn't started.

#Igotlostofficerandjusthappentohavealinetocastforperchandthisbassjumpedouthonest

 

[Rudi Riet]

Did a little ride out in the Fort Valley and Shenandoah Valley in Virginia on Sunday. Took in the lovely gravel of Fort Valley, Crisman Hollow, Moreland Gap, and Woodstock Tower Road.

First off is Boyer Road in Fort Valley:

Posing the whip at the USFS sign at the base of Crisman Hollow:

Crisman Hollow in its full glory:

After that, Moreland Gap (where the most sinister part of the climb is the paved road before the USFS boundary - not pictured here):

And then the top of Woodstock Tower Road (that's me as snapped by my friend PB):

The route was only about 25% gravel roads so many of us were on road bikes with wider rubber - and that was just fine, and better for those long paved sections, especially the descents.

 

[cantunamunch]

Well at least you made @scott43 a little happier

Every bike I saw this weekend was black or red and the rider was wearing black gray or brown. It's like car culture has migrated to bikes...

 

[firebanex]

Maiden ride of a bike that I'm not really sure if it's a gravel bike or a rigid mtb. It's a Poseidon Redwood that I call Chonks and it has a Microshift AdventX 1x10, 2.6 mtb tires, and knockoff carbon Surly Corner bars. I think I need a longer stem for it as it was feeling a bit short with only a 70mm on it.

The ride was a pretty simple 13 mile wander around town after work looking to see how the melting process was getting on. A decent amount of the route was conditions akin to skiing breakable crust.. but with water beneath it. It needs another week or so before a skinnier bike can be out and be enjoyable.

 

[cantunamunch]

^440 RC 620 FC 60mm BB drop 74HA I call those Beach Racer geo. I confess I really lusted after the namesake of their specific type, the Koga Beachracer, when it came out back in '13-'14. I blame too many Ramses Bekkenk and Tom Dumoulin videos

KOGA bike awards | Our winning bikes

8-3-2013 - BeachRacer - EuroBike Award

www.koga.com

BTW he's running these things... at ~8psi

Schwalbe Big One Evolution Line Tire

The Big One Evolution is a real son of a beach. The inspiration for this cannonball belongs to Schwalbe's Dutch neighbors. In winter, their passion for MTB competitions moves on to the beach. They...

www.skiandbikeshop.net

 

[firebanex]

If we had beaches here, that would be perfect for this bike! I built it up with the intent of it being a not serious lower cost bike to ride whatever on. Im planning some adventures along the Denali Highway for later in July, specifically trying to ride out to 7 mile lake with a friend. And also going to be spending a few days inside Denali NP and using this bike as the main exploring tool from our parking spot.

 

[ilovepugs]

Maiden voyage of the Celeste (see gear purchase thread… I named it for its color), mostly to better assess fit. Overcast but no rain yet.

Haven’t been on a bike since 2020 I think. Did ~7ish chill miles on a local rail trail, barely perceptible uphill grade (“oh, so that’s why I’ve had to peddle this whole time!”) on the way out. Cruised on the way back.

I think I need to drop the seat post just a notch more. I’m pretty much at full extension at the bottom of the crank. But my torso fits pretty good and I like the relaxed mostly upright position. My torso is long-ish relative to my legs, so it makes sense. My problem IT band was twinging at the end, so I’m hoping that the adjustment will address it!

 

[luliski]

Pleasants Valley CA. Mt Diablo in the distance. Most of this will be colored gold soon.

 

[firebanex]

Got my first commute in earlier this week.. and well strava must have gotten used to my 8mph average fat bike rides for the last 6 months. Otherwise, it was a great week to start my commutes! Looking forward to this season.

 

[cantunamunch]

What a difference a week makes. Last weekend there was 2-4" of silt on the underpass of paved paths. Today

 

[wooglin]

Railtrail, dirt, pavement and double track. I'll take it.

 

[wooglin]

SSDD.

 

[firebanex]

Morning commute! It's still barely 40* in the morning but I'm really enjoying being able to coast again.

 

[cantunamunch]

Uh-oh. Is someone building up to a Pernicious Coasting Habit*


*TM Sheldon Brown

 

[firebanex]

When you go

Uh-oh. Is someone building up to a Pernicious Coasting Habit*


*TM Sheldon Brown

LOL yes. However, when you go for six solid months of fat biking on snow when there is no coasting unless the downhill grade exceeds about 7%. Anything less steep and you've gotta pedal to keep forward momentum going. You don't know that you miss the ability to stop pedaling until it's taken from you for six months. All of us start to complain about the lack of coasting when February and March roll around, we're just all done with it.

It's all down to rolling resistance. The best lab conditions with a tubeless fat tire is still something like a 30watt per tire penalty at 8psi. I don't use that particular tire and I run much less psi than that on a soft snow which means my rolling resistance is much higher. Most of my "average power" numbers from riding in the winter is around 100 watts, summer time rides are more like 200 watts. My perceived exertion for each style of ride is similar so I think the fat bike power penalty is around 100 watts of rolling resistance.

 

[cantunamunch]

Railtrail, dirt, pavement and double track. I'll take it.

View attachment 202847

That top cap is literally begging for elbows-down aero bars.

 

[ilovepugs]

Realized I couldn’t go to Killington today because my back is injured. Took an early lunch break and rode one of the roads around here.

It turns out I’m really slow… but eh, I’m just here to ramble, gently condition my heart, and take in the sights.

 

[Tom K.]

It turns out I’m really slow… but eh, I’m just here to ramble, gently condition my heart, and take in the sights.

Awesome. There is no "wrong" way to ride a bicycle!