General Bike Thread (Desiderata, Questions, Pics)

[ridethecliche]

Re: gravel bikes.

Really support that tbh. I think wider tires are the WTG.

I'm not super big on mtb stuff but if i had good dirt roads and singletrack I would 100% be looking more for a gravel bike. Depending on gearing, gravel bike with a 2nd wheel/tire setup for road would be super clutch.

 

[NakedYoga]

I spent a few hundred dollars a few weeks ago to buy a used Trek hardtail from a LBS as I, like many other people, tries to find new outlets for physical activity and getting out of the house during the Rona Times. I'd been thinking about doing this for a while, and no real end in sight for COVID-19 led me to go ahead and do it. I haven't ever really ridden "seriously", and I've been spending a lot of time lurking on cycling forums and subreddits, and, damn, this is a serious rabbit hole and money sink if you want it to be. Not surprising, though, as my other main hobby is firearms which is not inexpensive either.

I bought a helmet, hydropack, new tires (someone had put semi-slick road tires on it, so I changed them out for some knobby Continentals), a couple of spare tubes, and some other basic stuff. Went out and rode 4 or 5 miles of trails in a nearby park last Saturday and had some fun. Of course, I live in Charleston, so "mountain" biking is a bit of a misnomer. We do (or did, before COVID-19) take a few trips to Asheville and surrounding areas each year as quick getaways, and I hear they have some good stuff in the Pisgah National Forest area.

Glad I stumbled on this thread. I'm going to give it probably until the end of the year on this old bike to make sure I'm invested in the sport before I decide to drop more cash on something new or a much nicer used bike. I do wonder, though, whether the diminishing returns start with respect to spending more than, say, $1,000 or $1,500 on a bike for someone like me who is not a professional or going on 50 mile rides anytime soon.

 

[vdubiv]

Re: gravel bikes.

Really support that tbh. I think wider tires are the WTG.

I'm not super big on mtb stuff but if i had good dirt roads and singletrack I would 100% be looking more for a gravel bike. Depending on gearing, gravel bike with a 2nd wheel/tire setup for road would be super clutch.

I'm leaning towards a gravel bike because my understanding is it is a good balance between road and dirt, and not needing to switch out tires for road riding.
Someone with more knowledge please step in and school us all.

 

[Thrift Vader]

yes.

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm leaning towards a gravel bike because my understanding is it is a good balance between road and dirt, and not needing to switch out tires for road riding.
Someone with more knowledge please step in and school us all.

You're not going to get the same performance on the road using gravel tires. At the same time, you're going to go through gravel tires much faster if you ride them on the road. Up to you if the trade off is worth it.

I prefer running two sets of wheels because it makes everything easier.

 

[Piobaire]

I've been looking at gravel bikes lately. I want something that is a good balance where I can ride it on the streets and not worry to much about road quality, and also hit some dirt roads / mild trails.
Found a place that carries Specialized bikes near where we are about to move.

Have a friend who's been cycling for years and just got this; he loves it.

Santa Cruz Stigmata | Gravel, Adventure, and Bikepacking Bike | Santa Cruz Bicycles | Buy Online Pick Up In Store

Explore new horizons with the Santa Cruz Stigmata - the perfect companion for all your off-road escapades. Discover more about the Santa Cruz Stigmata and prepare to redefine your cycling experience today!

www.santacruzbicycles.com

 

[Thrift Vader]

it look simple. . .

 

[sugarbutch]

Gravel bikes are the OneShoe™ of bicycles. But in a good way. Given our easy access to the trails in Marin and San Mateo, if I were buying today, I would probably get a Diverge instead of the Tarmac. That said, I have ridden the headlands trails on my Tarmac with 26mm tires. Ironically, I now have 30mm tubeless on that bike, but since I have acquired a gravel bike, it rarely goes off the pavement anymore.

 

[HRoi]

I spent a few hundred dollars a few weeks ago to buy a used Trek hardtail from a LBS as I, like many other people, tries to find new outlets for physical activity and getting out of the house during the Rona Times. I'd been thinking about doing this for a while, and no real end in sight for COVID-19 led me to go ahead and do it. I haven't ever really ridden "seriously", and I've been spending a lot of time lurking on cycling forums and subreddits, and, damn, this is a serious rabbit hole and money sink if you want it to be. Not surprising, though, as my other main hobby is firearms which is not inexpensive either.

Aha so with your hobbies, maybe you’ve worked out an answer to this question of mine - how to CCW while riding?

 

[Piobaire]

They claim the Domane is fit for gravel and I've watched youtubes of folks doing gravel and easy single track. I can't see doing that as I have nearly 200 miles of nice, wide, paved multi-use that start 3 miles from the casa and there's a wide bike lane on a fairly quiet road to get me down those three miles. If I get this, which I actually hope to be ready to ride for Labour Day weekend, I'll think about a trail bike (looking at Santa Cruz Hightower) in a year.

 

[NakedYoga]

Aha so with your hobbies, maybe you’ve worked out an answer to this question of mine - how to CCW while riding?

I think Dara (and I'm sure many others) makes an actual holster that clamps on to the bike frame. Seems like a terrible idea to me. Which really isn't a "concealed" carry anyway. You might as well mount a turret between the handlebars.

I carried a small single stack .380 (my typical carry if I do during the summer) when I went last weekend because I'd never been there before and it's in a relatively rural area. I had it in my backpack, which I didn't like too much either. I don't like not having control of it on my body. But, you also have to consider something that is drop safe for if and when you fall. I haven't started looking into it in depth yet, but I know that some companies (like 5.11, probably) make "tacticool" belly band type holsters that I think are often used for jogging. I suppose you could always use a standard shoulder holster or a high-retention hip holster, but I expect that would be very uncomfortable.

 

[ridethecliche]

They claim the Domane is fit for gravel and I've watched youtubes of folks doing gravel and easy single track. I can't see doing that as I have nearly 200 miles of nice, wide, paved multi-use that start 3 miles from the casa and there's a wide bike lane on a fairly quiet road to get me down those three miles. If I get this, which I actually hope to be ready to ride for Labour Day weekend, I'll think about a trail bike (looking at Santa Cruz Hightower) in a year.

If it can fit 30-32's with even a tiny amount of tread on them you'll be fine on most gravel roads.
This is the huge advantage of disc brakes on bikes...allows the frames to be built with a ton more clearance.

 

[Piobaire]

If it can fit 30-32's with even a tiny amount of tread on them you'll be fine on most gravel roads.
This is the huge advantage of disc brakes on bikes...allows the frames to be built with a ton more clearance.

Comes running 32s and can take up to 38s.

 

[mhip]

Lol....I accidentally put everything in the spoiler.
Uhhhhhh....it's pictures of my bike.

Spoiler

[/SP

OILER]

Some pics of my special lady, that I don't ride anymore. Bought the frame and hand picked all the components in my late teens.
She is a hair under 20 pounds, which was a big deal back then.
Thousands and thousands of miles under her belt. Countless Rosarito to Ensenada rides, and a Solvang Century.

 

[Piobaire]

SL 5 as a gravel bike.