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Window Shopping for Gravel Bikes

chris_the_wrench

Spinning wrenches and throwing spokes.
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Chinook Pass
That there is some serious saddle-to-bar drop, Fausto! :ogbiggrin:
I suffer abit of PTSD from coming of age as a crit racer during the ‘slam that f****ing stem’ era. No more -17 degree stems for me these days, but I can still hear angry coaches/elders yelling at me to drop those bars lower….
 

scott43

So much better than a pro
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Nov 12, 2015
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Great White North
I suffer abit of PTSD from coming of age as a crit racer during the ‘slam that f****ing stem’ era. No more -17 degree stems for me these days, but I can still hear angry coaches/elders yelling at me to drop those bars lower….
I showed Tuna a pic of my roadie and he said, you have about 2-3cm of bar drop from the saddle..and I was like "YEAH EFFIN RIGHT I DO!!!" :ogbiggrin: Not quite that loud but without the gut intrusion I'm sure I would have about 4-5cm of drop. I may be old but I still got SOME flexibility left in the old spine!!
 

chris_the_wrench

Spinning wrenches and throwing spokes.
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Chinook Pass
What size of tires?
On my wife's road bike, 25's. She has a tendency to ride over debris, so that bike runs the specialized armadillo elites. 28's would be VERY tight on the fork crown. On my road bike I run the 26c s-works turbos, I find those are a good compromise for size/comfort/speed.
 

crosscountry

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all over the place
On my wife's road bike, 25's. She has a tendency to ride over debris, so that bike runs the specialized armadillo elites. 28's would be VERY tight on the fork crown. On my road bike I run the 26c s-works turbos, I find those are a good compromise for size/comfort/speed.
I guess I was trying to get a sense whether a suspension stem adds anything on a typical gravel bike that runs minimum of 30mm tires on lower pressure.
 

chris_the_wrench

Spinning wrenches and throwing spokes.
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Chinook Pass
I guess I was trying to get a sense whether a suspension stem adds anything on a typical gravel bike that runs minimum of 30mm tires on lower pressure.

I can't report anything about that tyre size, but I think @Tom K. may have some first hand experience.
 

chris_the_wrench

Spinning wrenches and throwing spokes.
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Chinook Pass
What are the bells for?
Bears, although Ive recently been hearing the bells may not be that effective against them???, plus hikers. I try to be very respectful to my fellow trail users, slow WAAAAYYY down and announce myself, but occasionally there's a blind turn and the bells give'em a bit of a heads up.
 

Tom K.

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I guess I was trying to get a sense whether a suspension stem adds anything on a typical gravel bike that runs minimum of 30mm tires on lower pressure.

Yes. Unequivocally.

I'm running 35c tires. If you go too far down the rabbit hole of lower pressure, squirmy cornering and/or pinch flats follow.
 
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snwbrdr

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CA
Yes. Unequivocally.

I'm running 35c tires. If you go too far down the rabbit hole of lower pressure, squirmy cornering and/or pinch flats follow.
Tubeless ready tires, valve stem and sealant.
 

AngryAnalyst

Out on the slopes
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May 31, 2018
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713
I like the isospeed rear suspension on my checkpoint. I also really like the frame bags that are made to fit.

I wish I had the isospeed bars and I don’t love the electronic shifting on mine, but those are the major paint points (+ I learned if you want to do group road rides you may get frustrated without road wheels and tires). Very happy and would give the checkpoint a pretty unreserved recommendation overall.
 

cantunamunch

Meh
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Nov 17, 2015
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Behavioral sink
I like the isospeed rear suspension on my checkpoint. I also really like the frame bags that are made to fit.

Have you ridden with them loaded? Any shimmy, like on fast downhills?

I wish I had the isospeed bars

Vibration, shock, something else?

and I don’t love the electronic shifting on mine,

Interesting - here I have been racking my brain to restomod old steel to electronic shift.


(+ I learned if you want to do group road rides you may get frustrated without road wheels and tires).

Just straight line some potholes on a downhill - that'll teach your wheelsuckers :D

(You're not wrong, though there is also a period of adaptation when one joins any given group ride/wolfpack)

 

Tom K.

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and sidewall burps, don't forget thems. :thumb:

Never had one with tubeless on hooked bontrager wheels. Knock on wood.

For pressures, a guy could type for hours, or simply say that this is a GREAT starting point:


Tire Pressure Chart.jpg
 

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