What did you just buy for your gravel bike?
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04-07-22, 07:26 AM
#977
Senior Member
so... as much as I really like my week old Poseidon X (lg), there were some needed changes from the outset, and after about 8 ride hours, definite things to adjust to my liking/preferences.
Here the new Stuff...
New Stuff for the Poseidon X
Charge Saddle : the stock saddle (looks ok) is 130 width; a non-starter for me. I need at least 140-143 width. Put on an older Alias, which is nice and good for me; but I do like the Color Combo of the Forest/British Racing Green augmented by Leather Brown accents. Even though I have a bunch of nice saddles, I didn;t have Brown... The Charge looks like "Da Kine" for me... has the saddle shape with works quite well for me - we shall see...
Deda Bar Tape - Leather look, perforated - seems like it'll be nice enough
Zipp Speed Weaponry Service Course 70 XPLR, 44 cm, bar top, flat ovalized, 5 deg flare and flare starts BELOW the levers/shifter position - stock bar was 46 which is way too wide for me... wide for me is 44, had way too much flare (20-24 deg) which also tilted the hoods/levers/shifter. I gave the stock bar a try, but after 8 hrs, I'm certain it needed replacing, for me. The new bar doesn;t flare until the bend below the lever/shifters
Conti Speed Ride tires 700c x 42 (38 measured on the stock rim) for the front. To gain a little more compliance by lower psi. Already ridden and quite nice for the predominant conditions in my area of Ca.
The key ! Redshift Shockstop Stem 110 cm (longest currently in stock) to add some needed shock absorption for the majority of riding here. A lot of high frequency, short, block edge bumps and rocks.
This stuff should make a big difference in the riding comfort and control for the stuff on this bike.
Tomorrow will be fun, getting it all on the bike!
Ride On
Yuri
Here the new Stuff...
New Stuff for the Poseidon X
Charge Saddle : the stock saddle (looks ok) is 130 width; a non-starter for me. I need at least 140-143 width. Put on an older Alias, which is nice and good for me; but I do like the Color Combo of the Forest/British Racing Green augmented by Leather Brown accents. Even though I have a bunch of nice saddles, I didn;t have Brown... The Charge looks like "Da Kine" for me... has the saddle shape with works quite well for me - we shall see...
Deda Bar Tape - Leather look, perforated - seems like it'll be nice enough
Zipp Speed Weaponry Service Course 70 XPLR, 44 cm, bar top, flat ovalized, 5 deg flare and flare starts BELOW the levers/shifter position - stock bar was 46 which is way too wide for me... wide for me is 44, had way too much flare (20-24 deg) which also tilted the hoods/levers/shifter. I gave the stock bar a try, but after 8 hrs, I'm certain it needed replacing, for me. The new bar doesn;t flare until the bend below the lever/shifters
Conti Speed Ride tires 700c x 42 (38 measured on the stock rim) for the front. To gain a little more compliance by lower psi. Already ridden and quite nice for the predominant conditions in my area of Ca.
The key ! Redshift Shockstop Stem 110 cm (longest currently in stock) to add some needed shock absorption for the majority of riding here. A lot of high frequency, short, block edge bumps and rocks.
This stuff should make a big difference in the riding comfort and control for the stuff on this bike.
Tomorrow will be fun, getting it all on the bike!
Ride On
Yuri
Dave
04-07-22, 07:33 PM
#979
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I finally relented and scooped up a Varia radar. I’d been thinking that I’m so well habituated to keeping right and head-checking before moving out into the lane, that the radar was really of no benefit to me. However, the chorus of praise for the thing became too much to ignore, and I wondered was I missing something, so now we’ll see.
Riding down to the LBS to buy it, and on the ride home, I kept noticing situations where the radar system might be handy. Spring is the time I do the most solo riding, so this is a pefect time for me to evaluate whether Varia is as good for me in practice as it seems to be in principle.
Riding down to the LBS to buy it, and on the ride home, I kept noticing situations where the radar system might be handy. Spring is the time I do the most solo riding, so this is a pefect time for me to evaluate whether Varia is as good for me in practice as it seems to be in principle.
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04-07-22, 08:30 PM
#980
Sunshine
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I finally relented and scooped up a Varia radar. I’d been thinking that I’m so well habituated to keeping right and head-checking before moving out into the lane, that the radar was really of no benefit to me. However, the chorus of praise for the thing became too much to ignore, and I wondered was I missing something, so now we’ll see.
Riding down to the LBS to buy it, and on the ride home, I kept noticing situations where the radar system might be handy. Spring is the time I do the most solo riding, so this is a pefect time for me to evaluate whether Varia is as good for me in practice as it seems to be in principle.
Riding down to the LBS to buy it, and on the ride home, I kept noticing situations where the radar system might be handy. Spring is the time I do the most solo riding, so this is a pefect time for me to evaluate whether Varia is as good for me in practice as it seems to be in principle.
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04-07-22, 08:51 PM
#981
ignominious poltroon
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I have had (Varia radar) one since 2015 or whenever they came out with v. 1. I leave it on when I am on gravel, even though there are no cars. It alerts me if someone is coming up really fast behind me (often an e-bike). But on-road, I find it absolutely indispensable. I find it really removes the element of surprise, which is the root of many bike/car conflicts. My left index finger is nearly atrophying now.
04-08-22, 12:11 AM
#982
Senior Member
new cassette
Finally put my new 12-40 cassette on. Other than adding a Wolftooth B screw it went on without a hitch. The GRX RD needed no adjustments other than 5 turns on the B screw.
12-40 cassette
Q
12-40 cassette
Q
__________________
On a trip you've got worry as a companion, for you're always concerned about what happens next and sticking to an itinerary. . . . on a journey you never have to worry. Something always happens next.
- Gordon Hempton: One Square inch of Silence
On a trip you've got worry as a companion, for you're always concerned about what happens next and sticking to an itinerary. . . . on a journey you never have to worry. Something always happens next.
- Gordon Hempton: One Square inch of Silence
04-08-22, 06:24 AM
#983
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Please let me know your impressions after riding a bit, I just got a Pathfinder Pro on my rear wheel and it has been really nice for my local gravel so far. From what I hear these tires can last thousands of miles, so it might be a while before I get an s-works version, but the weight savings is a nice feature. I wonder how the durability compares?
Dave
Dave
04-08-22, 03:59 PM
#984
Senior Member
Will do, I'll be hitting up some real gravel next week, so I'll have a better idea of how they hold up on rougher terrain. My 38mm Pros are lasting forever, they still have plenty of life in them, but I took them off to try out the S-Works lol If the S-Works last even half as long, they'll be great.
Last edited by bonsai171; 04-08-22 at 07:26 PM.
04-08-22, 05:38 PM
#985
Full Member
.... just got a Pathfinder Pro on my rear wheel and it has been really nice for my local gravel so far. From what I hear these tires can last thousands of miles, so it might be a while before I get an s-works version, but the weight savings is a nice feature. I wonder how the durability compares?
Dave
Dave
04-14-22, 09:28 PM
#986
Thread Killer
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Wanting some, uh, “enhanced girth” on the flats, I just swapped out my Easton EA70 AX for a Zipp Service Course 70 XPLOR handlebar. I also wanted to reduce the reach to the hoods, and the Zipp seems to fit the bill perfectly
The round Easton tapers from the clamp and has felt too skinny across the top from the get-go, particularly at the bends into the ramps. The Zipp bar has flattened, aero profile tops, and they feel much more substantial in hand.
I also felt the Easton was oddly wide, but it measured to spec at 44cm c-to-c. I almost went to 42cm on the Zipp, but stuck with the 44cm and somehow it feels more compact. Maybe it’s an optical illusion caused by the width of the tops. Dunno.
Equally odd, despite Easton claiming 290g for the 42cm version and Zipp 260g for their 42mm bar, both of my 44cm samples weighed in exactly the same at 294g! Oh well!
I’ve only made a brief shakedown ride in the ‘hood, but the Zipp XPLOR seems to have fixed my gripes!
The round Easton tapers from the clamp and has felt too skinny across the top from the get-go, particularly at the bends into the ramps. The Zipp bar has flattened, aero profile tops, and they feel much more substantial in hand.
I also felt the Easton was oddly wide, but it measured to spec at 44cm c-to-c. I almost went to 42cm on the Zipp, but stuck with the 44cm and somehow it feels more compact. Maybe it’s an optical illusion caused by the width of the tops. Dunno.
Equally odd, despite Easton claiming 290g for the 42cm version and Zipp 260g for their 42mm bar, both of my 44cm samples weighed in exactly the same at 294g! Oh well!
I’ve only made a brief shakedown ride in the ‘hood, but the Zipp XPLOR seems to have fixed my gripes!
04-15-22, 09:13 AM
#988
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You talkin’ to me? 
The purple stem is a Paul Boxcar:
https://www.paulcomp.com/shop/compon...t/boxcar-stem/
The purple stem is a Paul Boxcar:
https://www.paulcomp.com/shop/compon...t/boxcar-stem/
04-15-22, 09:41 AM
#989
Sunshine
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A 100mm stem is 181g? Do they inject it with lead?
Looks cool though.
Looks cool though.
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04-17-22, 01:11 PM
#990
I’m a little Surly
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I know it’s cheapish, Chinese, and mostly aluminum but look at that machine work
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04-17-22, 02:08 PM
#991
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I use the same lightweight Chinese cassettes on my carbon road bike. The weight savings is quite good and I picked up a spare once the first one wears out. For about $40 USD they're quite a bargain!
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04-17-22, 02:17 PM
#992
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I've decided to revisit big cassettes while running GRX400 2x 46:30t 10spd. I originally was running a heavy Deore 11-42t with GoatLink, but I felt the weight and shifting performance wasn't worth the low gearing and went back to an in-spec 11-36t cassette. Fast forward this week and I finally came across a now rare Sunrace 11-40t 10 speed cassette CSMX3 in black (the color I wanted). I ordered it and just installed it. I had to use a Goatlink to make it work, but so far shifts seem crisp and the gaps between gears are well spaced. Also it clears big/big just in case I accidentally shift there which I hopefully don't! Weight-wise it actually felt either the same or slightly lighter than my all steel Shimano 11-36t HG-50 cassette I was using. Looking at listed weight specs, they are only within a few grams of each other.
Doing the math, my low gear ratio of .75 is about the same as a 1x with a 38t + 11-51t or a 42t + 11:56t, while still having the high gear of 46:11t in the big ring!
Doing the math, my low gear ratio of .75 is about the same as a 1x with a 38t + 11-51t or a 42t + 11:56t, while still having the high gear of 46:11t in the big ring!
Last edited by jonathanf2; 04-17-22 at 02:20 PM.
04-17-22, 02:23 PM
#993
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That one was $80ish. I really don't know how much is weighs but by hand it feels Ultegra but I don't have a scale to know for sure. I saw the back side of cassette and well it's 36t so I impulse bought it, now that it's in my hand I really can't get enough of the machining.
04-17-22, 02:41 PM
#994
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That one was $80ish. I really don't know how much is weighs but by hand it feels Ultegra but I don't have a scale to know for sure. I saw the back side of cassette and well it's 36t so I impulse bought it, now that it's in my hand I really can't get enough of the machining.
04-18-22, 11:27 AM
#995
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I've decided to revisit big cassettes while running GRX400 2x 46:30t 10spd. I originally was running a heavy Deore 11-42t with GoatLink, but I felt the weight and shifting performance wasn't worth the low gearing and went back to an in-spec 11-36t cassette. Fast forward this week and I finally came across a now rare Sunrace 11-40t 10 speed cassette CSMX3 in black (the color I wanted). I ordered it and just installed it. I had to use a Goatlink to make it work, but so far shifts seem crisp and the gaps between gears are well spaced. Also it clears big/big just in case I accidentally shift there which I hopefully don't! Weight-wise it actually felt either the same or slightly lighter than my all steel Shimano 11-36t HG-50 cassette I was using. Looking at listed weight specs, they are only within a few grams of each other.
Doing the math, my low gear ratio of .75 is about the same as a 1x with a 38t + 11-51t or a 42t + 11:56t, while still having the high gear of 46:11t in the big ring!
Doing the math, my low gear ratio of .75 is about the same as a 1x with a 38t + 11-51t or a 42t + 11:56t, while still having the high gear of 46:11t in the big ring!
04-18-22, 11:38 AM
#996
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Got it on with a new chain, it shifts ok.
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04-26-22, 09:01 AM
#1000
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I like those...
I need a URL for the company/where to see or buy some ! They may have some gear ranges I'm having a hard time getting these days...
Ride On
Yuri