Eroica CA gravel ride - 650b or 700c?
04-05-22, 11:54 AM
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Eroica CA gravel ride - 650b or 700c?
Hey gang,
I'm riding the Nova Eroica California short route in a few weeks... https://eroica.cc/en/nova-california...ca-short-route
It's mix of pavement and gravel for 72 miles (56 miles are gravel). All things being equal, would you ride your 650b x 2.1" wheels/tires or your 700c x 40 wheels/tires? I'm thinking I'll take the 700c wheelset since there doesn't seem to be anything too gnarly. But those 2.1 inch tires would sure feel nice and plush for 72 miles... What does the collective wisdom of BF think? Thanks in advance...
I'm riding the Nova Eroica California short route in a few weeks... https://eroica.cc/en/nova-california...ca-short-route
It's mix of pavement and gravel for 72 miles (56 miles are gravel). All things being equal, would you ride your 650b x 2.1" wheels/tires or your 700c x 40 wheels/tires? I'm thinking I'll take the 700c wheelset since there doesn't seem to be anything too gnarly. But those 2.1 inch tires would sure feel nice and plush for 72 miles... What does the collective wisdom of BF think? Thanks in advance...
Last edited by Caliwild; 04-05-22 at 01:55 PM.
04-05-22, 01:16 PM
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650b really wasnt a common/popular thing back in the day. Nor were 700x40 tires. I would be surprised to see either be Eroica gear. Have you read the rules/suggestions/guidelines of Eroica?
04-05-22, 01:16 PM
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Are you sure it’s 56 miles of gravel?
04-05-22, 01:50 PM
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This is NOVA EROICA, not Eroica... I've ridden Eroica events for years so, yes, I have read the rules. This is for modern bikes, not vintage. I don't have the reading issue.
04-05-22, 02:00 PM
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04-05-22, 02:43 PM
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Anyway, I was thinking that in a situation where you might get up in a fast gruppetto, 700c might feel more natural, but I guess since the route isn’t gnarly whatever the surface mix, choosing to go the comfort route with wider 650b isn’t a bad way to call it.
04-05-22, 03:55 PM
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Yeah, 56 miles of gravel caught my eye... According to the website:
"The Santa Lucia route combines 56 miles of pavement and approximately 16 miles of gravel for a total of 72-miles in the saddle."
"The Santa Lucia route combines 56 miles of pavement and approximately 16 miles of gravel for a total of 72-miles in the saddle."
04-09-22, 10:19 PM
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Really depends on the type of gravel. I'm gonna venture a guess here that it'll be more like unpaved roads and less like proper trails, in which case the 700x40 would be my weapon of choice, with the expectation that there will be a good chance I'd be underbiked.
04-12-22, 02:48 PM
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650b x2.1 is fun, a lot of fun….on single track and muddy gravel in February. It is a hell of a lot of work, and heavy, and slow if you’re course doesn't have much of those things in it, however. 700x40 is a a nice split between x38 and x42…if you’re going to for time, ride the 700s. IMO, the only way 700x40 is underbiked is if the route is laden with big chunky rocks (that wish they were boulders) and rooty single track. Enjoy!
04-13-22, 09:44 AM
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650b x2.1 is fun, a lot of fun….on single track and muddy gravel in February. It is a hell of a lot of work, and heavy, and slow if you’re course doesn't have much of those things in it, however. 700x40 is a a nice split between x38 and x42…if you’re going to for time, ride the 700s. IMO, the only way 700x40 is underbiked is if the route is laden with big chunky rocks (that wish they were boulders) and rooty single track. Enjoy!
04-14-22, 04:04 PM
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NOVA Eroica is mostly paved.
I'm a local and ride the roads around the Eroica course quite a bit. I can confirm that the full course (factoring in the coastal run from Cambria to Cayucos, is mostly paved. The only "gravel" are the dirt roads (no single track or chunky gravel) of Santa Rita and Cypress Mountain. Otherwise, it's all paved. The run in to Cypress can be very potholed, but that portion is paved as well.
04-15-22, 12:22 PM
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I'm a local and ride the roads around the Eroica course quite a bit. I can confirm that the full course (factoring in the coastal run from Cambria to Cayucos, is mostly paved. The only "gravel" are the dirt roads (no single track or chunky gravel) of Santa Rita and Cypress Mountain. Otherwise, it's all paved. The run in to Cypress can be very potholed, but that portion is paved as well.
04-15-22, 12:31 PM
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05-02-22, 11:27 AM
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Update
The 700x40 wheelset was the right choice for this ride... Nothing too chunky... These Zipp G40 tires are amazing too...
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