Gravel porn

Talk about anything.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

mfezela

Re: Gravel porn

Post by mfezela »

PaulB2 wrote: Sun May 10, 2020 8:21 pm Image
Well, well, well!

Just for others who like me were confused by PaulB2's post.

Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe a moment when something that was once popular but has grown less so makes an attempt at publicity which only serves to highlight its irrelevance.
User avatar
PaulB2
Posts: 1952
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 8:32 pm
Location: Stafford

Re: Gravel porn

Post by PaulB2 »

That usage isn’t a perfect fit for my meaning but the bike did make me roll my eyes
User avatar
In Reverse
Posts: 1819
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: Gravel porn

Post by In Reverse »

sean_iow wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2020 3:30 pm Taken me all week to get round to getting it out of the shed

Image

Photo location just for In Reverse :grin: Path needs weeding, shed needs painting, bike needs washing, still has the winter commutting mudguards on 3/10 :lol:
Wheelbarrow's absolutely sparkling though so give yourself an extra point for that mate. :grin:
jameso
Posts: 5036
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:48 pm

Re: Gravel porn

Post by jameso »

This thread needs more pretty bikes : )

Image

Via Isambards Cycles
https://www.isambards.co.uk/blog/1953-No.-2-Ephgrave
User avatar
sean_iow
Posts: 4269
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:08 pm
Location: Isle of Wight

Re: Gravel porn

Post by sean_iow »

jameso wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 8:18 am This thread needs more pretty bikes : )
I hope that's not aimed at my bike :wink:

Nice bike though ^. Post lock-down I might dig out my 1980s BSA Tour De France (Raleigh) and give it some attention. It was just a cheap bike at the time, made by Raleigh and badged as a BSA so nothing special, but because of that I don't suppose many survived.
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger
jameso
Posts: 5036
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:48 pm

Re: Gravel porn

Post by jameso »

sean_iow wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 8:37 am I hope that's not aimed at my bike :wink:

Nice bike though ^. Post lock-down I might dig out my 1980s BSA Tour De France (Raleigh) and give it some attention. It was just a cheap bike at the time, made by Raleigh and badged as a BSA so nothing special, but because of that I don't suppose many survived.
No, though I'd not class it as a pin-up sorry, have to be honest :wink: Neither is my own gravel bike though. It works, it's sorted but it's not made with looks as a priority. Then again I own a Jones so aesthetics aren't vital in my bikes. My Colnago balances out that side of things.
That BSA sounds like a worthwhile project. Centre-pull brakes? Gravel(lite) potential if so..
User avatar
Boab
Posts: 2177
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:36 am
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Boab »

Well... Er... It isn't exactly pretty...

Image


I may have just been sick in my mouth... 🤢

Image
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.
User avatar
PaulB2
Posts: 1952
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 8:32 pm
Location: Stafford

Re: Gravel porn

Post by PaulB2 »

The latter in particular looks like the unwanted lovechild of a bike and a lawn strimmer.
User avatar
Cheeky Monkey
Posts: 3915
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:48 pm
Location: Leeds ish
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Cheeky Monkey »

PaulB2 wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 3:53 pm The latter in particular looks like the unwanted lovechild of a bike and a lawn strimmer.
Puts me in mind of old Klein Mantras (IIRC).

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that :cool:
jameso
Posts: 5036
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:48 pm

Re: Gravel porn

Post by jameso »

Well... Er... It isn't exactly pretty...
No, but the non-powered 650B version is top of my "gimme a go" list with our bike buyer and his access to demo bikes. The Slate was a lot of fun, this could be even better.
jameso
Posts: 5036
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:48 pm

Re: Gravel porn

Post by jameso »

PaulB2 wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 3:53 pm The latter in particular looks like the unwanted lovechild of a bike and a lawn strimmer.
:grin: now I see it... :lol:
User avatar
faustus
Posts: 926
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:30 pm
Location: Newbury

Re: Gravel porn

Post by faustus »

PaulB2 wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 3:53 pm The latter in particular looks like the unwanted lovechild of a bike and a lawn strimmer.
Yup, or this...

Image

EDIT - don't think the pic works, but more like a flymo garden vac, same awful plastic shape. I quite like the new lefty fork though...
User avatar
Escape Goat
Posts: 2600
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:41 pm
Location: Not nearly close enough to Scotland...

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Escape Goat »

K1100T wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 3:21 pm Well... Er... It isn't exactly pretty...

Image


I may have just been sick in my mouth... 🤢

Image

:sad:
User avatar
stevenshand
Posts: 265
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:45 pm
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by stevenshand »

I like it (the non motorized one).
User avatar
Dave Barter
Posts: 3594
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:21 pm

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Dave Barter »

stevenshand wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 8:19 pm I like it (the non motorized one).
I do as well. Any idea why there is a thinning of the top tube as it heads towards the seat stay?
Elite keyboard warrior, DNF'er, Swearer
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by RIP »

quite like the new lefty fork though...
I can stand just about anything in bike design - even the wrong sized wheels - but half a fork... NNOOOOO-O-O-O-O......... never liked 'em.

Ooh I love a bit of polarisation of an evening :smile: .
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
User avatar
FLV
Posts: 4245
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:12 am
Location: Northern Edge of the Peak - Mostly

Re: Gravel porn

Post by FLV »

Dave Barter wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 8:48 pm
stevenshand wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 8:19 pm I like it (the non motorized one).
I do as well. Any idea why there is a thinning of the top tube as it heads towards the seat stay?
Sophisticated bit of leaf spring mate
cannondale wrote: A thru-axle pivot in the seat tube allows the entire back of the frame – the rear stays, seat tube, even the rear of the top tube – to flex like a series of connected leaf-springs, absorbing bumps and road vibration without the weight and complexity of a shock and linkages.
https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/ ... descending
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by fatbikephil »

FLV wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 9:08 pm the rear stays, seat tube, even the rear of the top tube – to flex like a series of connected leaf-springs, absorbing bumps and road vibration without the weight and complexity of a shock and linkages.
https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/ ... descending
[/quote]

Hee hee. Reflex anybody? Or the various other frames that 'flexed' in order to provide some pivot free bounce. Or just buy a steel frame with big tyres.
User avatar
FLV
Posts: 4245
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:12 am
Location: Northern Edge of the Peak - Mostly

Re: Gravel porn

Post by FLV »

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/this-1 ... n-the-90s/

Or a scott endorphin :grin:
I think mine snapped, or cracked at least
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by fatbikephil »

Interesting that article as the journos raved about them at the time. Also typical XC race stupidity - everyone was on disks by '99 but the racers still used appalling v brakes because it save a bit of weight.....
User avatar
Boab
Posts: 2177
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:36 am
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Boab »

Maor boingy stuff for use #gravelwankers...

Image
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Are we simply not heading in the direction of turning a gravel bike into an early 90's mountainbike? It's almost like 'gravel' is becoming the cycling genre for all the roadies in self-denial. The ones who deep down know they're off-road excursions would be best served with a mountainbike but just can't admit it?
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
Boab
Posts: 2177
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:36 am
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Contact:

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Boab »

I think it's well passed becoming... 🤣 To be fair though, the old MTB I had was no fun on the road, slow, cumbersome and you were in far too much of an upright position (it's windy round here). For the riding I like to do, a gravel bike is the right tool, I don't want to throw it down mountains, nor take it to trail centres. Would I like slightly less battering of the wrists, over potholed tarmac, or hose hoof cut up bridleway? Absolutely. Do I want one of those forks? No.

I think the range of gravel bikes is just widening. Some will overlap more with road bikes, and will be horrific on anything remotely gnar. While others will overlap with mountain bikes and be slow and ponderous on the road. You pays your money and takes your choice. Like that famous druggie said, it's not about the bike...

Road / CX / Gravel bikes with MTB forks just look wrong though.
There are theories at the bottom of my jargon.
Lazarus
Posts: 3598
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:49 am

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Lazarus »

Are we simply not heading in the direction of turning a gravel bike into an early 90's mountainbike?
Are you suggesting the industry has nothing new to offer and just [ clear throat] recycles ideas

See also 100 mm travel bikes which were big travel or XC machines which are popular in the 29 er variety for mile mumching . Blur XC for example

That said i did a descent on my cx bike yesterday that took me 30 minutes and i had to stop twice as i was getting beat up[strava KOM is sub 10 mins]. I am not a fan of rigid off road so may well just be soft. I can sort of see the appeal of the above "FS " gravel bike - nearly. Probably just makes more sense to put my 44 mm tyres on my Spearfish - I now need to talk myself out this idea as I am geniunely curious how it would perform up hill and downhill
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Gravel porn

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I think the range of gravel bikes is just widening. Some will overlap more with road bikes, and will be horrific on anything remotely gnar. While others will overlap with mountain bikes and be slow and ponderous on the road. You pays your money and takes your choice. Like that famous druggie said, it's not about the bike...
Aye, I suppose that's true and gravel will quickly sub-divide just like mountainbikes did - albeit at a seemingly faster pace.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Post Reply