BQ article Rethinking the Gravel Bike
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Show me an example of a production bike from 1995 with disc brakes or even disc tabs on the frame and fork. I am guessing that if it was out there, it was some very specific proprietary system. It was not something that you could just buy off the shelf and stick on your bike.
Last edited by Kapusta; 04-15-21 at 02:54 PM.
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trek 8.3ds was a fun hybrid with a drop bar, 28 rear tire 32 front, 11-34T cassette.
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#30
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chaadster, the first time I made the switch from commuter to ATB was an effort, however after the umteenth time I did it my proficiency was outstanding and it went very quickly. Fortunately I only ran friction shifting so der setup was super simple. Had drop bars with barends and levers mounted and had ATB bars with levers and thumbies mounted. The worst of the setup was balancing the canti brakes.
Eventually the world will come to my space as I have been in "gravel biking" far longer than the industry has, well, sorta. After all cyclo-cross has been around a very long time and are the original "gravel" bikes.
Eventually the world will come to my space as I have been in "gravel biking" far longer than the industry has, well, sorta. After all cyclo-cross has been around a very long time and are the original "gravel" bikes.
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My prediction is that the industry will continue to create more and more niches, and will eventually market “off-road performance commuters,” “all-gravel” bikes, “mountain road” bikes, and “enduro tourers.” Then the enthusiasts of each can further separate into micro-tribes and ridicule those who buy the unfashionable ones. I can hardly wait for the sub-forums.
Last edited by Rolla; 04-15-21 at 06:24 PM.
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hybrid fixie MTB Fat Road Bar HDMI DeeZ2. It'll be nuts in 5 years.
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chaadster, the first time I made the switch from commuter to ATB was an effort, however after the umteenth time I did it my proficiency was outstanding and it went very quickly. Fortunately I only ran friction shifting so der setup was super simple. Had drop bars with barends and levers mounted and had ATB bars with levers and thumbies mounted. The worst of the setup was balancing the canti brakes.
Eventually the world will come to my space as I have been in "gravel biking" far longer than the industry has, well, sorta. After all cyclo-cross has been around a very long time and are the original "gravel" bikes.
Eventually the world will come to my space as I have been in "gravel biking" far longer than the industry has, well, sorta. After all cyclo-cross has been around a very long time and are the original "gravel" bikes.
Last edited by chaadster; 04-15-21 at 07:43 PM.
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If thats what it takes to have the industry follow, then aren't they following someone else right now? Someone is always better/earlier in life.
All seriousness, just because you have been riding unpaved roads for years doesn't mean your way is best or most popular.
As it stands, bikes are already around with the trail you want as well as bikes with more trail too.
#35
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chaadster, when running friction the derailleurs do not neet readjustment. Connect cable and go. No thru frame routing and every cable stop was slotted making routing cables and housing a snap. Set up of the cantis was the time consumer, but choosing the correct cantis solved a lot of issues. Old school DiaCompe cantis with the springs exposed did the trick after fussing with the XC Pros one too many times. Had a lot of miles on that machine, and always appreciated being able to take shortcuts on the way to work.
"Someone is always better/earlier in life." Exactly what I taught my kids. There will always be someone first and always someone faster, stronger, etc. Eventually "gravel" bikes will have clearance for 2.1 knobbies. Just a matter of time they come full circle and back to being mountain bikes.
"Someone is always better/earlier in life." Exactly what I taught my kids. There will always be someone first and always someone faster, stronger, etc. Eventually "gravel" bikes will have clearance for 2.1 knobbies. Just a matter of time they come full circle and back to being mountain bikes.
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My prediction is that the industry will continue to create more and more niches, and will eventually market “off-road performance commuters,” “all-gravel” bikes, “mountain road” bikes, and “enduro tourers.” Then the enthusiasts of each can further separate into micro-tribes and ridicule those who buy the unfashionable ones. I can hardly wait for the sub-forums.
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The OPs description of the future of gravel bikes taking 2.1” tires is a little off, because the reality is that such a thing has been around in the market for at least a decade. They are just not called gravel bikes.
Look at the Salsa Fargo (a drop bar MTB) Or all the experimenting people were doing a while back with “monster-cross”.
The market segment is there, it is just not very big, and there is a reason for that. Once you are riding stuff that makes 2.1”+ knobbies make sense, most people in most situations are not going to want drop bars. Sure, some like it, and they have kept a few bikes like the Fargo going. But if they were going to take off the way Gravel bikes have, I think they already would have.
Look at the Salsa Fargo (a drop bar MTB) Or all the experimenting people were doing a while back with “monster-cross”.
The market segment is there, it is just not very big, and there is a reason for that. Once you are riding stuff that makes 2.1”+ knobbies make sense, most people in most situations are not going to want drop bars. Sure, some like it, and they have kept a few bikes like the Fargo going. But if they were going to take off the way Gravel bikes have, I think they already would have.
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What the market needs is a drop bar hybrid that doesn't carry the "hybrid" stigma. Slapping a new label on it every 3 years is in fact a perfectly legitimate solution.
The auto industry did this with jumbo wagons that don't look like minivans.
The auto industry did this with jumbo wagons that don't look like minivans.
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The sooner things get labeled more usefully, the better.
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I thought someone had suspension on a road bike at Paris Roubaix way way back?
Lots of folks here do "drop bar 29ers" in a hardtail. Then have a wheelset where they run really big road tires for easier gravel stuff. Most Strava posts with those go "whoa that's fun". Maybe someday I'll get one.
Lots of folks here do "drop bar 29ers" in a hardtail. Then have a wheelset where they run really big road tires for easier gravel stuff. Most Strava posts with those go "whoa that's fun". Maybe someday I'll get one.
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Evil Chamois Hagar - 66degree head tube, 93mm trail, clearance for 1.95" tire
Black Mountain Monstercross/MCD - 71 or 72 degree head tube, 63mm trail, clearance for 1.95" tire
Black Mountain La Cabra - 70.5degreee head tube, 74mm trail, clearance for 2.4" tire
Kona Sutra LTD
Otso Warakin
Trek 920
Bombtrack Beyond
Breezer Radar(a couple models)
Salsa Fargo
And many many more. No point in listing geometry for all the others- they fit over 2" tires and are drop bar.
What you predict will come true already exists. Its just one part of the very wide net that covers gravel bikes.
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I pondered the intent of using "Dual Sport". it was very long of a ponder, somebody else needed to use the toilet. Disturbed my turd time.
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If gravel bikes are going to evolve into mountain bikes they need the mountain bikes to wait up and get caught
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Sidepulls? So you had to change the brakes back and forth from Vs or cantis, too?! Phew! that was a crapload of parts and work, man, so no wonder I don’t remember anyone doing that. Most of us made do with a second wheelset fitted with Ritchey Tom Slicks and a corncob cassette!
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#48
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mstateglfr, I stand corrected. Drop bar mountain bikes already exist, but are not labeled as "gravel" bikes. Thank you and the other posters for help in understanding the "gravel" category. I think I get it now. Narrow, semi knobby tired mountain bikes.
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The OPEN U.P. inspired a generation of gravel bikes that could fit up to 2.1” tires. The WI.DE. (Winding Detours) can run even bigger tires while still fitting road cranks!
The monster tires help you conquer the most extreme terrain, the performance geometry & narrow Q-factor keep you efficient while the steering geometry keeps you nimble.
· “First impressions are… well, the WI.DE. is really amazing. I never thought that I’d want tires wider than 54 mm, but now I am riding with 24% more air.”
.
The monster tires help you conquer the most extreme terrain, the performance geometry & narrow Q-factor keep you efficient while the steering geometry keeps you nimble.
- With 650b gravel or mountain bike tires up to 2.4”, rutted singletrack, slippery roots and loose rocks are no match
- With 700c gravel tires up to 46mm, even the toughest gravel roads are tackled at lightning speed
- With 700c road tires (we recommend 35-40mm wide), you have the most comfortable road bike ever invented
· “First impressions are… well, the WI.DE. is really amazing. I never thought that I’d want tires wider than 54 mm, but now I am riding with 24% more air.”