tsmorr

Hopefully nothing this week!

In the last week and a bit I ordered all the parts to finally build-up a F/F I've been sitting on for a few years. Selle Anatomica, Hunt 4 Seasons, (mostly) Force, Whisky bits.

After all that purchasing I hope I enjoy the bike (I am a lazy inexact person so I put it mostly together and then dropped it off at the local shop for them to do the cabling and adjusting).

LeFreakyBone

What did I just buy for my gravel bike?
A new gravel bike!

I ordered it in April and just took delivery today!
I got a Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 4.1. Working with Soren at the company made this an extremely easy process, and I give him a lot of credit for answering all of my questions and putting all my concerns at ease.

I have it built up with a Shimano 105 hydro groupset, Praxis Alba cranks, Easton EA50 cockpit, Easton EA70AX wheels, WTB Volt seat, WTB Nano 700x40 tires setup tubeless, and iSSi Flash III clipless pedals.

After a few years of researching bikes, coming close to buying, then backing out, I am super happy that i finally pulled the trigger!

It’s going to take me some time to get used to it, as every bike I’ve owned has been a single speed. This is also my first time using clipless pedals. I only got about 10ish miles on it so far, but I can say with absolute certainty that I love this bike and it will treat me well for many, many years!

TimothyH

^^ That is a super nice bike.

You are going to have so much fun on that thing.


-Tim-

LeFreakyBone

Thank you!
I am already making plans to do a 5 day / 250 mile gravel trip in Vermont, stopping at a number of breweries. I found the route here.

tsmorr

Hard to go wrong with a route that brings you by Hill Farmstead - gorgeous area and amazing beer. Fan of Drop-In as well, although their taproom wasn't anything to write home about. I don't recall seeing Lawson's Finest Liquids on their route (they didn't use to have a taproom, but I just bought some of their beer the other day and the cans said something about there being a taproom now), and someone once told me that... Lost Nation I think it was, had a great taproom with attractive prices? Guy at Tour de Heifer, so I imagine it's a cycle friendly place.

TimothyH

Perfect. That's such a great website.

I'm planning the Dirty 130 soon. Maybe as a three day/two night trip.

I've also just done this... https://atlantabikerides.exposure.co...-bikes-dont-go


-Tim-

Cyclist0108

@LeFreakyBone How to you like the Spork fork?

TimothyH

I'll bet he doesn't say he hates it.


-Tim-

Cyclist0108

So far, he doesn't say.

Maybe it killed him already.

I think that is version 1.2 of the fork. They have 2.0 now, which I am coveting.

Hondo Gravel

The last thing I bought? A Kool Stop tire wrench to get these tight fitting modern tires on my rims no more sore thumbs and busted knuckles. The tool fits easily into my frame bag.

TimothyH

Thou shall not...

LeFreakyBone

Hahaha nope hasn’t killed me yet!
Correct, it is the 1.2 version of the fork. The 2.0 has even larger clearances than this one, and I believe it is what comes with their Trail Donkey frame.

I will say that I was initially a little bit nervous to ride with carbon (this is the first carbon part I’ve ever owned), but after getting in a good gravel ride today I can say it feels super sturdy and I am confident riding with it.

Hill Farmstead is very appealing to me since it appears you cannot get it outside of that town. I’m a big fan of Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine! I really hope I can make this trip happen sooner than later.

Nice! That Dirty 130 looks like it is in a super nice area of TN. I was out there a year ago on a motorcycle trip.

RideMyLeMond

A new wheelset that's going to make riding my 2018 Diverge on pavement oh so sweet. The wheels consist of DT-240 CLD hubs laced to HED Belgium + rims with DT Aerolight spokes in a 28 3x configuration. The stock wheelset (Axis Sport) were well more than a pound heavier. We'll see how these wheels hold up over time. I'm running Specialized Roubaix 30/32 tires to allow better coverage for a wider range of surface types. I'm looking at riding 80/20 pavement vs. simple trails and single track. Haven't yet ventured into tubeless as yet, maybe soon...

ChinookTx

To match the original wheelset. This way I have a slick wheelset for commuting, and an aggressive knobby one for gravel/trails.

ToppDogg

I really like that one.

tsmorr

If you want bottles/cans, yes, I believe you can only buy HF at their bottleroom. Also, not sure if they distribute all of their beers to the handful of restaurants I know carry them? Like, their IPAs? Not sure about those. They have a pretty wide selection on tap in their taproom.

As for restaurants that serve Hill Farmstead, Farmhouse Tap and Grille and Burlington, Prohibition Pig in Waterbury (on your map already), and I think Royalburger in South Royalston maybe, all serve at least some of their beers on the regular?

ETA: I haven't seen a total yet, but I did fail in my effort to stop buying parts for the bike I'm having built up: forgot about brakehangers and a few other sundry items. Hopefully not too expensive.

Mitkraft

Recently bought, finally installed, rode for the first time today a set of Crankbrothers Mallet DL pedals and a set of Salsa Woodchipper 2 bars. Love the pedals for the improved platform over the regular Mallets they replaced but they come with a slight weight penalty. The bars are so different that it will be a while before I can say for sure how I like them. This bike does double duty as a commuter so spends a fair amount of time on the road but I bought the bars with gravel use in mind. I wanted to try a set of slanted bars. Did 34 miles on the road today and thought the hoods were surprisingly comfortable. Still getting the feel for the hooks and drops.

jan nikolajsen 

Redshift ShockStop 'suspension' stem. First ride coming up.

ChinookTx

Got one of those. I love it. Really takes the buzz off the handlebars. Don't expect them to feel like a RockShox fork but they do help!

jan nikolajsen 

Did you leave the stock dampers in place? Also interesting how the hoods have more spring than the end of the drops due to the lever arm.

ChinookTx

I think I changed them initially, I was a lot heavier. I went back to the stock setup. The spring effect is a bit tricky at first but you quickly forget about it.

rosefarts

A brand new high polished obsolete thing that nobody gets to see ever again!

Jakedatc

Giro Cylinder shoes from gravel and CX.. my mtn bike shoes don't have any ventilation and get too hot in the summer

DarKris

Got a good price on a Shimano Metrea crankset. Which is good because afaik it’s the only one with a chain guard and it actually clears my chainstay

TimothyH

My carbon frame is seeing some abrasion from bikepacking bags so I just ordered a roll of Shelter tape.