Mud Hating Gravel Riders Discussion & Support Group
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Mud Hating Gravel Riders Discussion & Support Group
I love gravel riding. Love it. But I hate it when it gets muddy. If I know that the ride will be muddy - I don't go. If an otherwise dry ride has a muddy patch or section, I grit my teeth really hard and squint as I traverse it. Can't stand the sticky slimy stuff. Hate washing it all off at the end of the ride; loathe getting it all over my shoes, socks, legs, etc.
There, I said it. I feel better now.
Thank you.
There, I said it. I feel better now.
Thank you.
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#2
Senior Member
Yea, I kinda feel the same way. I ride to enjoy myself and get some good cardio and fresh air. One thing I don’t enjoy is white knuckling it to keep upright as I navigate through miles of slippery mess. If it’s just a few muddy patches here and there, it’s not so bad, especially after the first one and you come to terms that there will be a post-ride cleaning.
On that note, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a budget SS gravel rig that has good clearances and minimal risk of component damage...something to take to race day when it’s nasty and tool around town with.
On that note, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a budget SS gravel rig that has good clearances and minimal risk of component damage...something to take to race day when it’s nasty and tool around town with.
#3
Guest
Guess we won't be seeing you in any cyclocross races...
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#4
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
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This isn't the cyclocross racing forum any more though.
We have some roads that have really deep puddles for a week after a rain. It's never particularly pleasant to ride those. I have thought about putting mtb fenders on my gravel bike. The ice really hasn't melted on our gravel roads quite yet and they are pretty muddy if you can ride them at all.
We have some roads that have really deep puddles for a week after a rain. It's never particularly pleasant to ride those. I have thought about putting mtb fenders on my gravel bike. The ice really hasn't melted on our gravel roads quite yet and they are pretty muddy if you can ride them at all.
#5
Senior Member
I race CX and have done some ultra-sloppy mud fest races, and while that can be a ton of fun, I still generally agree with the sentiment here.
Outside of CX racing and training, I generally avoid riding on wet trails/gravel roads. This is true even for paved road rides. For the most part if it's wet outside, I'll just ride indoors on Zwift.
Outside of CX racing and training, I generally avoid riding on wet trails/gravel roads. This is true even for paved road rides. For the most part if it's wet outside, I'll just ride indoors on Zwift.
#6
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Where's mstateglfr with that awful muddy gravel pic? I made the mistake once of getting buried on my mtb, never again will I do this to my bike or trails.
#7
Senior Member
Another mud hater here for sure. Our roads don't make peanut butter mud, instead it's a fine slurry that coats everything and gets grit into every moving part. Riding on wet roads here is just too expensive in parts.
#8
I don’t live in Tampa
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I don’t mind mud as long as I can ride through it without a big struggle. If it’s long sections of mud that it’s sapping my energy riding through then I won’t be happy. I few mud bogs that may require some hiking don’t bother me. I just wipe the chain and frame or if very muddy might rinse it off.
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#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#10
Sunshine
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Where's mstateglfr with that awful muddy gravel pic? I made the mistake once of getting buried on my mtb, never again will I do this to my bike or trails.
The construction was building Grand Prairie Pkwy and I was on an E-W gravel road west of Maffitt Lake. Went down a hill towards the intersection with the newly paved road and it got sloppy. I decided to trudge through which was a mistake since the following uphill was just as sloppy.
Paint rubbed off the inside of both fork legs and washing the bike after the ride was quite the experience.
#11
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That looks more like potato salad mud than the peanut butter variety.
#12
Senior Member
Dislike mud with the gravel bike, that's why if its muddy I grab the cross bike, purpose built with lots of clearance. Really I try not to ride dirt if I know its muddy to try and avoid long term damage to the trail, other then that I don't really care.
#13
Senior Member
I guess you'll never do the Hillybilly Roubaix.
(Photo pulled from the 'net - not mine)
(Photo pulled from the 'net - not mine)
#16
Senior Member
Those are some classic pics, I shouldn't complain with the little bit of mud I've dealt with over the years. When it's muddy I ride my road bike on paved roads. Or if I didn't know it was going to be muddy, I simply turn around and find better roads. I can usually tell what I would be getting that day. Once I'm in bad though, no point complaining...make the most of it (so long as you don't expect any damage).
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