Can't get comfortable with new gravel bike
07-29-20, 01:00 PM
#1
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Can't get comfortable with new gravel bike
I have a new bike that I'm having a lot of trouble descending and turning on looser gravel with. It just feels like the front end constantly wants to slip out if I'm not going straight.
Technique definitely plays a lot into this, but could this also be a result of things like higher trail, shorter front-center, or slick tires? I just cant seem to get comfortable with it compared to my other bikes.
Technique definitely plays a lot into this, but could this also be a result of things like higher trail, shorter front-center, or slick tires? I just cant seem to get comfortable with it compared to my other bikes.
07-29-20, 02:28 PM
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Are your other bikes also drop bar bikes that you ride on the same terrain with or are you comparing to something totally different like an MTB or some type of flatbar bike and what size (width) tires are on those bikes?
Last edited by u235; 07-29-20 at 02:43 PM.
07-29-20, 02:32 PM
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Seems like it could be any of those things. What tires? And what type of loose gravel?
07-29-20, 03:21 PM
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Turning on loose gravel at speed is tricky - the same is true for motorbikes, too.
I'd aim for gradual and do most of my braking with the rear wheel - drift if ya gotta.
I'd aim for gradual and do most of my braking with the rear wheel - drift if ya gotta.
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07-29-20, 04:56 PM
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07-29-20, 06:49 PM
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Slick tires on a gravel bike?
Sounds like somebody tried turning it into a road bike. I'd start with putting on some proper gravel tires at least 38 mm wide. Use one of those on line tire pressure calculators to get a ball park figure to start.
Sounds like somebody tried turning it into a road bike. I'd start with putting on some proper gravel tires at least 38 mm wide. Use one of those on line tire pressure calculators to get a ball park figure to start.
07-29-20, 07:33 PM
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lower your tire pressure, assuming they are big enough. What tires? And what pressure are you running them at?
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07-29-20, 08:35 PM
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What bike are you riding? What tires and pressure? What was your previous bike? What is the road surface like (deep and loose, hardpack, sand, mud, broken chipseal, loose rolly stuff on hard pack, Big chunly stiff, big cobbles, etc. Does it handle well on the road? What is your weight and experience level on gravel?
07-30-20, 07:34 AM
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My bike is like that for the reasons you listed - although I'd say the short wheelbase is the biggest factor in my case. Climbs like a goat, but it will not drift. I can do all kinds of hooligan moves on my old school mountain bike, and go sideways all I want, but not on my gravel bike. The front end just washes out long long before the rear gets loose (even if I throw on a 54mm aggressive mountain bike tire on the front at 20psi).
08-01-20, 09:25 PM
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I have two gravel bikes, a 650B and a 700C. I just swapped tires on the 700c bike from Knards 41's to Nano 40's and man, it is a totally different bike now. Noticeably faster, but waaaaay more challenging in loose corners. The change is quite dramatic, actually, even though the tires aren't really THAT different. I'd say, start with trying some different rubber.
