So a mountain bike?restlessnative wrote:I think actual specific gravel bikes have a lazier geo, longer stays, taller headtube, maybe lower bb, more bottle bosses sometimes and room for bigger tyres*
If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
At the moment the americans are coming to some consensus as restless native has mentioned.What are the characteristics that make a gravel bike different to a cross bike?
The point I was was trying to make is that we might end up with a UK gravel bike having lower gears added to that too.
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Having said that most 'cross' bikes now are not all out race bikes and are dumbed down to reflect what most people use them for, bit of trail riding and light touring. Hence the appearance of bottle bosses and pannier mounts on most of them.
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
especially if Ian keeps planning the racesthomthumb wrote:The point I was was trying to make is that we might end up with a UK gravel bike having lower gears added to that too.
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Might have a ponder over maps later, not sure we have enough gravel in the Scottish Borders to get a big enough loop though. I am thinking it would need to be atleast 50% off road and 50% minor back roads?
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
kielder 100 ?Scottish Borders
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
I would have thought Kielder / Newcastleton area including a loop of the Kielder Pond would give a decent distance.
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?
:Drestlessnative wrote:especially if Ian keeps planning the racesthomthumb wrote:The point I was was trying to make is that we might end up with a UK gravel bike having lower gears added to that too.
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?
My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.
http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
thomthumb wrote:kielder 100 ?Scottish Borders
I do try not to go to Englandshire but it's worth a look
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Zippy wrote:There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?
My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.
http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765
Was that all doable on a cross bike?
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Almost, odd few bits and pieces a mtb would be preferable - and overall I think I would choose a fast MTB over a cross bike for it (some singletracky bits and there are definitely bits where a MTB would be quicker, quite a few trail centrey type bits). It was a year ago now though, so it's all a bit hazy.restlessnative wrote:Zippy wrote:There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?
My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.
http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765
Was that all doable on a cross bike?
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
I get it to be ~29% tarmacIs the 200 about the same ratio?
Mainly a couple of miles here and there that add up but 'breathers' will be around
Descent off the Mountain Road
Around Nant y Moch
Run through Ponterwyd
After Devils staircase
Strata Florida to Ystradmeurig
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
I thought a lot of it was your side?!I do try not to go to Englandshire but it's worth a look
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
I did every single year of the Kielder 100 and would definitely not consider it on a cross bike. No fun whatsoever on the really fun trail centre parts, no grip on lots of steep, grass, rutted, off camber sections, even though still double track. And plenty of crashes at speed on mountainbikes on the loose gravel would be real fun trying to slow and turn a 32mm tyre down.restlessnative wrote:Zippy wrote:There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?
My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.
http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765
Was that all doable on a cross bike?
I think you could make a great specific "gravel" course up there though, but I suspect the forestry would like some way of making money out of it.
The old git in the yellow socks
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Only if they knew about itnumplumz wrote:I suspect the forestry would like some way of making money out of it
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
What like this one is a secret ;-)Chew wrote:Only if they knew about itnumplumz wrote:I suspect the forestry would like some way of making money out of it
The old git in the yellow socks
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Those of you considering 40/29 chain rings do you have them or are you buying new chain rings or just buying a whole new chainset? A quick look around and can't see much on chain ring front. I need to confirm my bolts are 110bcd, would not want to get that wrong if buying rings.
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
you wont get 29 on 110bcd. it's 33t minimum. :)
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Thanks tt - thats why I couldn't find one. Don't really want to buy another chainset and will probably just use an mtb for the gearing.
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
So, we're almost a month down since entries opened....
Done any training? Gonna bother?
Regret entering? Starting to panic?
Or are you stealth training, eating like you have some sort of disorder and dusting off the skin suit?
With the weather so rubbish (and a bent rear hanger after an off on some ice) I've put away the road bike and am solely riding my 29er. No structured training or anything like that, just trying to get out for a little ride as often as possible.
I think I'll save the worry and regret until March.
Done any training? Gonna bother?
Regret entering? Starting to panic?
Or are you stealth training, eating like you have some sort of disorder and dusting off the skin suit?
With the weather so rubbish (and a bent rear hanger after an off on some ice) I've put away the road bike and am solely riding my 29er. No structured training or anything like that, just trying to get out for a little ride as often as possible.
I think I'll save the worry and regret until March.
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Not touched my bike since T&B due to bad back.
Mind you, the swamps in Somerset are rather deep at the moment so every cloud has a silver lining.
Mind you, the swamps in Somerset are rather deep at the moment so every cloud has a silver lining.
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
I'm spending my time riding on the road instead. London roads are akin to welsh gravel tracks anyway so I figure it works.flatfishy wrote: Mind you, the swamps in Somerset are rather deep at the moment so every cloud has a silver lining.
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Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
Just hoping I can get project 'Proper Shopper' finished in time
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: If there were a UK 'gravel race' ...
I've got some carbon clip on TT bars you can borrow if you need...s8tannorm wrote:Just hoping I can get project 'Proper Shopper' finished in time
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