26
votes
How can I prevent bicycle theft while bikepacking?
With multiple bikes, locking them together prevents them being picked up or ridden off. The latter is often the biggest risk when camping - simple opportunism.
A reasonably long cable lock would lock ...
- 51k
25
votes
Which Type of Bike Would You Select If You Needed To Commute, Ride Fire Roads, and Regular Roads With 1 Bike?
"a decent chunk of money on one bike" this is a very slippery slope.
If this is your first bike, look for a used hardtail MTB for relatively low cost, and simply store any leftover money. ...
- 111k
23
votes
What is the theory behind a gravel bike?
GCN had a funny take on this recently: Gravel bikes exist because mountain biking is now boring. Or to give slightly more nuance, mountain bikes make it so easy to ride over difficult terrain that ...
- 27k
23
votes
What is the theory behind a gravel bike?
For me, a gravel bike is the perfect commuter bike.
Before, I had a road bike and a hybrid (normal) bike. On nice days I could maybe use the road bike to work, but mostly I would use the hybrid one ...
- 595
19
votes
How to be certain a Boardman ADV 8.8 would fit without prior road bike experience?
This is why people recommend not going to Halfords. (For the benefit of people outside the UK, Halfords is primarily a car accessory shop, which also sells bikes).
If you go to a proper bike shop, ...
- 16.8k
17
votes
Get a tougher gear on Shimano GRX, 11-34T, 2x11
You cannot get a higher gear ratio by replacing the cassette. The 11 tooth sprocket is the smallest you can get on a compatible cassette. (Systems with 10 tooth sprockets exist but use a different ...
15
votes
Accepted
How to repeat the success of Salsa Marakesh when mixing MTB and road components?
I sell that bike at work. The road/mountain FD mismatch functions very badly. We've had to replace the front derailleurs with road models. The total throw of a road shifter isn't enough for it to ...
- 75.5k
13
votes
How much energy is lost with a gravel tire compared with a road tire?
I understand that around 20% of the energy while cycling is lost by the deformation of the [tires]
No not really. Rolling resistance will increase linearly with velocity while drag increases with the ...
12
votes
Which Type of Bike Would You Select If You Needed To Commute, Ride Fire Roads, and Regular Roads With 1 Bike?
A few considerations:
You have two competing characteristics here:
You want a bike that excels at the niche you enjoy the most.
You also want the bike to be capable of handing the other niches to an ...
- 13.6k
12
votes
Can I mount disc brakes and 650b wheels on this bike?
Nope. This frame does not have disc-brake mounts. IS mounts would be up the seatstay from the dropout, on a little flange. Those look like fender/rack mounts.
You will not be able to put disc brakes ...
- 27k
11
votes
Shimano GRX 2x11 brake rotor compatibility
In all honesty, you can use any disc you like, and from practically any manufacturer as long as the dia. (and fitment type) is the same.
- 371
11
votes
What is the theory behind a gravel bike?
My theory and it is just a theory. In the U.S. at least there has been a proliferation of unpaved bike trails due to the conversion of abandoned railroad rights of way to bike paths. They are for the ...
- 18.2k
11
votes
What is the theory behind a gravel bike?
I think you are asking two separate questions:
What's a gravel bike and why are they popular?
Why are off-road tires designed they way they are? (Which applies equally to mountain bikes and hybrids)
...
11
votes
Are the benefits of light, high end equipment (such as carbon fiber frame) defeated by wearing a backpack?
Per your comment you are currently riding a very cheap bike. Upgrading to a more decent bike will bring a lot of benefits, not just lower weight.
Weight is most important when going uphill or when ...
- 24.5k
11
votes
Are the benefits of light, high end equipment (such as carbon fiber frame) defeated by wearing a backpack?
I also commute, and my standard carry does not require anything more than jersey pockets. That's ideal.
However there are days where I need to move a laptop. On days with a road bike, that means a ...
- 111k
11
votes
Modifying road bike for safer use on poor roads
28 mm should be OK even for bumpy road. I sometimes take my cheap 25 mm road bike even on stony unpaved trails when avoiding major roads. So far no damage and not even a puncture.
BTW, 2x vs 1x has no ...
10
votes
How can I prevent bicycle theft while bikepacking?
I would suggest a Pacsafe Security Web or similar product to cover your gear. It is basically a net made of small gauge steel cables. It is designed to cover a backpack along with a long cable to ...
- 18.2k
10
votes
Accepted
How much energy is lost with a gravel tire compared with a road tire?
Now based on that, I was wondering if there is any estimate on much gravel bike tires (with some light tread pattern) might contribute to the loss of energy compared with road bike tires (plain) for ...
- 15.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Are road mechanical disc brakes safe to pair with a steel gravel bike
Cable pull is probably incorrect with Brifter and MTB brakes - covered In this question.
The brifters (you don't state the make/model) are normally road cable pull (short pull), but you can get long ...
- 44.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Does there exist a gravel bike that can accommodate 29″×2.25″ ribbed (and studded) tyres?
Another category to search can be "bikepacking bike with drop bars".
Examples I can think about: the Decathlon Riverside Touring 920 (not sure it will be available in North America though), ...
- 12.3k
9
votes
Is it possible to put a suspension fork instead of a rigid one on a gravel bike?
Swapping a fork (rigid/suspended, suspended/rigid or even rigid to another rigid) is subject to the following considerations. I would assume that the wheel diameter is not changing.
Geometry changes. ...
9
votes
When descending on paved roads - fork locked or open?
It depends on the quality of the road. I have descended with my fork open a few times just because there were so many bumps and holes.
However 99% of the time its definitely better locked on a paved ...
- 17.8k
9
votes
Modifying road bike for safer use on poor roads
In addition to what is already posted, a few other things to consider.
Air Pressure - With rougher roads, running lower air pressure will give some relief from the jarring of rough roads and provide ...
- 5,002
9
votes
Accepted
Slick Hybrid Bike Tires on Steep Gravel Descent?
Going very slowly, modulating the brakes, using not only front brake but as much rear brake as you can is the best idea.
I'm assuming it's not -25 degrees (-47%) but rather -25%. That's because -47% ...
- 15.7k
9
votes
Slick Hybrid Bike Tires on Steep Gravel Descent?
If you have concerns, there is absolutely no shame in getting off and walking down this descent.
There is no reason to ride anything that makes you feel unsafe, so just don't. Always an option.
- 111k
8
votes
Accepted
Are carbon road bikes robust enough to use off-road?
The strength of a carbon fiber composite frame is not the problem. There are many CFC gravel, cyclocross and mountain bikes, so obviously CFC as a material can take the impacts. If you ride a road ...
8
votes
Options to reduce reach on a gravel bike
When riding on the hoods reducing the reach of bars is equivalent to using a shorter stem. Only when riding on the tops a shorter stem will lead to different steering compared to shorter reach bars.
A ...
- 9,454
8
votes
What is the theory behind a gravel bike?
What is called a "gravel bike" is really a new word for a cyclocross bike, but with maybe a tad less aggressive geometry. And cyclocross goes back pretty much to the beginning of bicycling, ...
- 1,460
8
votes
Accepted
Swapping wheels and cassettes with Shimano GRX 600/800
My experience with swapping wheels is disappointing.
I had to adjust the derailleur (limit screws, cable tension) and rim brakes (due to slight difference in rim width and dish) every time I swapped ...
- 24.5k
8
votes
Shimano Deore as Gravel Bike
There are no Shimano brifters that are 2x11 compatible, but Microshift manufactures some. I use a Microshift SB-110 (1x11) and a bar-end shifter for a drop-bar 3x11 setup with an XT rear derailleur (...
- 387
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