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Enough with the Gravel Grinder , How about a Pavement Pounder ?

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Enough with the Gravel Grinder , How about a Pavement Pounder ?

Old 06-24-19, 09:17 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Yes, the term is widely used in marketing to the uninitiated and by those who don’t actually ride gravel.


-Tim-
So these events are for people who don't actually ride gravel?

MMM Gravel Grinder | The ultimate Gravel Road Race

Gravel Grinder | Cedar City, Veyo, Utah ? Utah?s Premier Dirt & Asphalt Races
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Old 06-24-19, 09:37 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Caliper

"For" people who don't actually ride gravel are not my worlds.

"Used by" people who don't actually ride gravel are my words.

The people who wrote the copy at those two websites don't actually ride gravel. If they did they wouldn't use the term "Gravel grinder."

I've never experienced anyone who rides gravel actually using the term.


-Tim-
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Old 06-24-19, 09:59 AM
  #28  
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I’ve reached the point where I hate the word “gravel” when utilized in connection with cycling. Hate, hate, hate. Just so sick of it.

The other day I violated all the laws of cycling physics by riding my road cycling bicycle on a stretch of gravel. I’m surprised it didn’t asplode.
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Old 06-24-19, 10:24 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
"For" people who don't actually ride gravel are not my worlds.

"Used by" people who don't actually ride gravel are my words.

The people who wrote the copy at those two websites don't actually ride gravel. If they did they wouldn't use the term "Gravel grinder."

I've never experienced anyone who rides gravel actually using the term.


-Tim-
Sorry for the slip in semantics, purely unintentional. I've honestly never noticed if I use gravel ride or gravel grinder or if anyone else does. Gravel grinder is a common phrase throughout the industry though. I suppose those guys are just stuck up road riders though who just talk about gravel and I should probably start watching my language so the cool kids will accept me.


Originally Posted by Banzai
I’ve reached the point where I hate the word “gravel” when utilized in connection with cycling. Hate, hate, hate. Just so sick of it.

The other day I violated all the laws of cycling physics by riding my road cycling bicycle on a stretch of gravel. I’m surprised it didn’t asplode.
I can see that in some places. They may like pavement pounders there. Where I am, there are few good paved roads to ride (mostly 55mph and a gravel shoulder) and great expanses of dirt roads. I love my gravel grinders and probably wouldn't be biking so much today if it weren't for them. While I can ride a road bike down some of our dirt roads, my Warbird is faster and can I never have to worry about the larger gravel, sand, etc.
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Old 06-24-19, 10:27 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by pakeboi
Enough with the Gravel Grinder , How about a Pavement Pounder ?
Do you have some sort of idea what makes a bike a "Pavement Pounder"? What are the defining characteristics in your mind?

To me, the bikes above that you have referenced look like hybrid bikes (the flat bars) and a gravel bike. Honestly, pavement pounder makes me think of a traditional cruiser style bike because they are big and heavy and take a lot of work to pedal fast, haha.
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Old 06-24-19, 10:28 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
"For" people who don't actually ride gravel are not my worlds.

"Used by" people who don't actually ride gravel are my words.

The people who wrote the copy at those two websites don't actually ride gravel. If they did they wouldn't use the term "Gravel grinder."

I've never experienced anyone who rides gravel actually using the term.


-Tim-
If you include my previous post, that's at least 5 websites, with one of them being a bicycle manufacturer.

As far as website designer/editors, they usually copy and paste whatever text is given to them. Unless it's a WordPress type website where people that work for the organization can add text, which is either terms they actually use or they simply copy and paste, too.
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Old 06-24-19, 11:12 AM
  #32  
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Pavement pounder = something in between a gravel bike and endurance road bike? Specialization, n+1, noooooo!!!

I'm going to have a pavement pounder in a little over a month. I'm moving to a place without gravel roads but with a longer commute; the gravel bike is probably going to turn into a commuter for tired days when I don't feel like riding the single speed.
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Old 06-24-19, 12:05 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by wipekitty
Pavement pounder = something in between a gravel bike and endurance road bike? Specialization, n+1, noooooo!!!

I'm going to have a pavement pounder in a little over a month. I'm moving to a place without gravel roads but with a longer commute; the gravel bike is probably going to turn into a commuter for tired days when I don't feel like riding the single speed.
You are moving away from one of the nicest gravel road locations around?! Quiet farm roads, subtle valleys and ridges, curving roads down to the river, etc etc etc.
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Old 06-24-19, 12:09 PM
  #34  
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Ummm, something like this?
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Old 06-24-19, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
You are moving away from one of the nicest gravel road locations around?! Quiet farm roads, subtle valleys and ridges, curving roads down to the river, etc etc etc.
I know It's for an amazing job opportunity, though, and I might be back in a year!
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Old 06-24-19, 06:03 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by bikecrate
Ummm, something like this?
Pavement Pounder
Looks like a smooo-oo-ooth ride.
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Old 06-24-19, 09:12 PM
  #37  
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I dislike the name Gravel Grinder but like the term Adventure Bike. Yet, I didn't want either. I had a bike built for just urban riding. This bike will never touch gravel or for that matter ever leave the city, yet it comes with 42mm tires. Flat bar for urban riding. Dura Ace derailleurs, XTR disc brakes, White Industry hubs and crank and Stan's Crest carbon rims. In essence a Pavement Pounder.

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Old 06-25-19, 08:59 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by blakcloud
I dislike the name Gravel Grinder but like the term Adventure Bike. Yet, I didn't want either. I had a bike built for just urban riding. This bike will never touch gravel or for that matter ever leave the city, yet it comes with 42mm tires. Flat bar for urban riding. Dura Ace derailleurs, XTR disc brakes, White Industry hubs and crank and Stan's Crest carbon rims. In essence a Pavement Pounder.
I actually would see those as two different types of bikes. An adventure bike would have bigger tires and be more like a drop bar MTB such as the Salsa Cutthroat or Fargo while a gravel grinder would be more like a fat tire road bike such as a Salsa Warbird or Warroad.


I'll bet those 42mm tires roll great on city streets. Coincidentally, the original 700C tire size translates to something like a 700x39 in todays nomenclature. Interesting how things have basically come full circle. Maybe those guys knew a thing or two back in the day? Personally, after running 700x52 tires on dirt roads for years on one of my rides, I'd love to see a frame with clearance for 29er tires and more road like geometry. I guess it could be a pavement pounder with something like Schwalbe Big Apples, but I'd be running it on gravel and dirt.
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Old 06-25-19, 11:42 AM
  #39  
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According to some, flat bars make the gorgeous burgundy Winter posted above an "Urban gravel" bike.

FWIW, "Gravel Grinder" refers to a type of ride, not a type of bike.


-Tim-
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Old 06-25-19, 12:20 PM
  #40  
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"Pavement pounder" takes me back to the early, very stiff aluminum frames. No thanks.

Ben
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Old 06-25-19, 12:26 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
"For" people who don't actually ride gravel are not my worlds.

"Used by" people who don't actually ride gravel are my words.

The people who wrote the copy at those two websites don't actually ride gravel. If they did they wouldn't use the term "Gravel grinder."

I've never experienced anyone who rides gravel actually using the term.


-Tim-
Roughly 240 people showed up for the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder last week. I heard the term a lot.
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Old 06-25-19, 12:42 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by event horizon
Uninitiated? Those who don't actually ride gravel? You mean like Kristen Legun who has podiumed at the Dirty Kanza? She doesn't actually ride gravel?

Kristen Legum:

"Also, gravel creates more rolling resistance than pavement and packed dirt roads. Smaller gears will reduce the actual amount of actual ‘grinding’ you’ll have to do at these gravel grinders, and will keep your knees happier throughout the long day. "

bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/get-started-with-gravel-grinding/
Legan, not Legum.

She is writing a beginner article for a commercial magazine where one would expect to read jargon such as "Gravel grinder." There is nothing wrong with writing for neophytes but we have to recognize it as such...

Bigger volume tires, 38 to 42mm in width, absorb more of the bumps

Small bags that strap to your bike frame make for a convenient place to carry food.
This is a beginner article and I doubt Ms Legan would use the phrase "Gravel Grinder" in conversation with peers in real life. I've never heard gravel riders use the phrase in conversation.

At least she used it to describe the ride and not the bike.


-Tim-

Last edited by TimothyH; 06-25-19 at 12:59 PM.
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Old 06-25-19, 01:25 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH

FWIW, "Gravel Grinder" refers to a type of ride, not a type of bike.


-Tim-
Now that makes some sense to me.
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Old 06-25-19, 02:50 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by blakcloud
I dislike the name Gravel Grinder but like the term Adventure Bike. Yet, I didn't want either. I had a bike built for just urban riding. This bike will never touch gravel or for that matter ever leave the city, yet it comes with 42mm tires. Flat bar for urban riding. Dura Ace derailleurs, XTR disc brakes, White Industry hubs and crank and Stan's Crest carbon rims. In essence a Pavement Pounder.

Nice pavement pounder !
Tires look like Snoqualmie Pass ? They're size 700x44 on Rene Herse Cycles .
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...oqualmie-pass/

What's the bike geometry ; HT & ST angle , CS length , BB drop ?

Last edited by pakeboi; 06-25-19 at 03:00 PM. Reason: edit
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Old 06-25-19, 02:57 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH

FWIW, "Gravel Grinder" refers to a type of ride, not a type of bike.

-Tim-
So “Mountain Bike” is a type of ride not a type of bike?
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Old 06-25-19, 02:59 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Legan, not Legum.

She is writing a beginner article for a commercial magazine where one would expect to read jargon such as "Gravel grinder." There is nothing wrong with writing for neophytes but we have to recognize it as such...



This is a beginner article and I doubt Ms Legan would use the phrase "Gravel Grinder" in conversation with peers in real life. I've never heard gravel riders use the phrase in conversation.

At least she used it to describe the ride and not the bike.


-Tim-
One really hopes that you are just taking the p**s and having a little fun in and with this thread.

Sadly, I suspect you are serious.
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Old 06-25-19, 03:14 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by pakeboi
Nice pavement pounder !
Now this was funny.

-Tim-
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Old 06-25-19, 03:18 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by badger1
One really hopes that you are just taking the p**s and having a little fun in and with this thread.

Sadly, I suspect you are serious.
It started as a fairly simple observation from one who rides gravel. Sort of "Hey, just FYI, no one at gravel rides really uses that phrase."

Seemed to tweak enough people that I went with it.


-Tim-
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Old 06-25-19, 03:28 PM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by pakeboi
Oh nice bike

If I had more space I would absolutely enjoy owning this. As it is I have a hard tail XC 29er that is my all rounder Urban bomber, winter machine, single track machine, and I've had alot of fun with it in the Rockies. Would love to have a dedicated Urban 29er, it's really great on rainy days.

Just remember to be courteous to pedestrians and the surroundings.
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Old 06-26-19, 01:37 PM
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I used to say "No one that actually lives in Chicago calls it 'Chi-Town'!", except that now many people do. I suspect the same is true with "Gravel Grinder", which is now clearly a type of ride AND a type of bike. Can't fight it--the battle is over.

I do find it strange that the people who are most likely to call gravel "trend" or "just marketing" live in places without a lot of nice gravel to ride. For instance, you'll see British or European cycling press bemoaning the rise of gravel riding, but then they also have to admit that they just don't have that kind of riding in abundance around them.

In the U.S. we've surrendered much of our pavement to cars and smart-phone-addicted drivers, so it was inevitable that cyclists would abandon pavement for the quiet of rural dirt paths, gravel roads, fire roads, etc.

But at the end of the day, I just want a road bike that takes wider tires.
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