Cycling Crew - It's 2023! Let's play bikes...

[MarcinMaximus]

I've been eying Canyon gravel bikes for the last month, how are you liking it?

The roads near me are trash and most bike paths are pretty bad as well, and many of them suddenly become gravel paths, so I think I would get more mileage out of a gravel bike rather than the aluminum CX bike I've been riding forever (it's quite harsh).

I am very happy with it so far, but

1. I just have it since Christmas
2. This is my first gravel bike, so I do not have any comparison

 

[DieselUV]

Distance goals are super fun because you can map routes to make them fun and acheivable. For me, I eventually bored of them because of the time commits (3+ hour rides are a lot to ask of the wife to watch our spawn) and started trying for one hour rides but a good strong effort, mix in a hill climb or two, etc.

I do miss the long rides as they were super helpful for mind health. I tend to silently unpack a lot on those since I tend to ride solo, its just me alone with my thoughts. My more aggressive rides, I still have the aloneness, but I can't hear the stupid brain over my screaming legs and pounding heart.

i usually only get one long ride per week. can't wait until it gets warmer bc i can't do more than 1:30 on the trainer.

 

[strik9]

skip to 7:40 @chrislehr

 

[chrislehr]

skip to 7:40 @chrislehr

Hah! MOST excellent. I was pretty proud of that hack. Also, I've tried balancing a phone there.... its fine until you need to push hard then your phone falls off - he's totally right. Also, light in my office is awful, those are brooks leather brown not red.

 

[gui3]

what’s the current hotness in cameras?

After a bullshit crash last year (dog off leash, ran into the road, owner now claiming I was cycling “recklessly” at 60mph) I’m thinking I should have an onboard camera just as a dashcam.

I was hoping for something small and not a big square GoPro.

 

[6SpeedTA95]

what’s the current hotness in cameras?

After a bullshit crash last year (dog off leash, ran into the road, owner now claiming I was cycling “recklessly” at 60mph) I’m thinking I should have an onboard camera just as a dashcam.

I was hoping for something small and not a big square GoPro.

Good question. In for answer.

Also 60mph is impressive. Can you teach me your tricks?

 

[gui3]

Good question. In for answer.

Also 60mph is impressive. Can you teach me your tricks?

Best part- I was going 16mph. Sixteen. How this guy thinks I was going 60 shows a real disconnect with reality

 

[CopenKagan]

Good question. In for answer.

Also 60mph is impressive. Can you teach me your tricks?

Pretty sure that the likes of Vingegaard, Froome, etc. would like to know my guy's tricks.

 

[CopenKagan]

Also, was it like those incidents with coyotes and motorcycles where they get sliced in half?

 

[DieselUV]

what’s the current hotness in cameras?

After a bullshit crash last year (dog off leash, ran into the road, owner now claiming I was cycling “recklessly” at 60mph) I’m thinking I should have an onboard camera just as a dashcam.

I was hoping for something small and not a big square GoPro.

insta360 maybe? i think one of the guys in the gravel group i ride with uses it. i've seen a lot of skiers/boarders use it.

 

[gui3]

insta360 maybe? i think one of the guys in the gravel group i ride with uses it. i've seen a lot of skiers/boarders use it.

I wish it had kind of a tube shape rather than being so tall. I want tuck this thing under my stem and just have it disappear.

 

[DieselUV]

I wish it had kind of a tube shape rather than being so tall. I want tuck this thing under my stem and just have it disappear.

this looks silly but it's kinda wild

Insta360's New Bike Mount Enables Incredible Third-Person Cycling Shots - Insta360 Blog

Grab the ONE X2 Cycling Kit for epic third-person views, follow shots & more! Incl. the new Third-Person Bike Handlebar Mount. Ultimate bike camera setup.

blog.insta360.com

 

[{hydro}]

what’s the current hotness in cameras?

After a bullshit crash last year (dog off leash, ran into the road, owner now claiming I was cycling “recklessly” at 60mph) I’m thinking I should have an onboard camera just as a dashcam.

I was hoping for something small and not a big square GoPro.

go pro 11 mini is pretty small

I love the mix of stabilization/clarity in decent light of gopro vs others... there are a lot of issues with each action cam so you're picking the one with the quirks you can deal with

insta360 and dgi action 3 are also awesome and they'd all be easy to mount on your bar/stem

Edit: and the insta360 is going to be best for your use case. Wear that shit like a unicorn

 

[{hydro}]

Those bars are freaking me out- what is going on there?

 

[beetle]

@chrislehr @FryingPan @Catdrew

just wanted to thank you for the feedback and advice to the question(s) I posted on the old thread. Don't want to bump that old thread again with my response.

The tires that come with the bike are 700X32. There are not a lot of options to go tan/brown sidewall with that size (most max out 700X28). So I told the shop to just go with the Conti GP 5000 S TR. Shop said they are on backorder for a few weeks. Anyways bike is ready for pickup (without my choice of tire), so I'll just ride it for a bit on the OEM tire until the new ones come.

On the pedals it seems like there is a major issue with Speedplays right now -- like 100% failure rate ever since Wahoo re-released them. I'll probably just go with SPD for the time being and decide if I want to try something else later.

Tomorrow is NBD!

 

[FryingPan]

@chrislehr @FryingPan @Catdrew

just wanted to thank you for the feedback and advice to the question(s) I posted on the old thread. Don't want to bump that old thread again with my response.

The tires that come with the bike are 700X32. There are not a lot of options to go tan/brown sidewall with that size (most max out 700X28). So I told the shop to just go with the Conti GP 5000 S TR. Shop said they are on backorder for a few weeks. Anyways bike is ready for pickup (without my choice of tire), so I'll just ride it for a bit on the OEM tire until the new ones come.

On the pedals it seems like there is a major issue with Speedplays right now -- like 100% failure rate ever since Wahoo re-released them. I'll probably just go with SPD for the time being and decide if I want to try something else later.

Tomorrow is NBD!

You'll be delighted to know that I crashed for the first time tonight and my SPD cleats kept me quite firmly attached to the bike so that my body absorbed all of the impact and not the bike. SPD is fine for road. 😂

 

[FryingPan]

And while I was looking the bike over for damage I realized I mounted my rear tire backwards. 😐

 

[chrislehr]

@chrislehr @FryingPan @Catdrew

just wanted to thank you for the feedback and advice to the question(s) I posted on the old thread. Don't want to bump that old thread again with my response.

The tires that come with the bike are 700X32. There are not a lot of options to go tan/brown sidewall with that size (most max out 700X28). So I told the shop to just go with the Conti GP 5000 S TR. Shop said they are on backorder for a few weeks. Anyways bike is ready for pickup (without my choice of tire), so I'll just ride it for a bit on the OEM tire until the new ones come.

On the pedals it seems like there is a major issue with Speedplays right now -- like 100% failure rate ever since Wahoo re-released them. I'll probably just go with SPD for the time being and decide if I want to try something else later.

Tomorrow is NBD!

Awesome - make sure you take pics. TRY NOT TO SCRATCH IT DAY ONE.

 

[DieselUV]

@chrislehr @FryingPan @Catdrew

just wanted to thank you for the feedback and advice to the question(s) I posted on the old thread. Don't want to bump that old thread again with my response.

The tires that come with the bike are 700X32. There are not a lot of options to go tan/brown sidewall with that size (most max out 700X28). So I told the shop to just go with the Conti GP 5000 S TR. Shop said they are on backorder for a few weeks. Anyways bike is ready for pickup (without my choice of tire), so I'll just ride it for a bit on the OEM tire until the new ones come.

On the pedals it seems like there is a major issue with Speedplays right now -- like 100% failure rate ever since Wahoo re-released them. I'll probably just go with SPD for the time being and decide if I want to try something else later.

Tomorrow is NBD!

I have an extra 700x28 in black if you want em.

But the tan wall is avail here in 32: https://www.biketiresdirect.com/pro...-prix-5000-s-tr-road-tire?sesgl=1&ssn=2871200

 

[chrislehr]

I have an extra 700x28 in black if you want em.

But the tan wall is avail here in 32: https://www.biketiresdirect.com/pro...-prix-5000-s-tr-road-tire?sesgl=1&ssn=2871200

I believe he needs to fit the constraints of his bike builder/maker though.

I also had this preconceived notion of buying a bike to spec and being thrilled... I already broke the seal on pedals and seat, and about to already change bars and stem for a better fitment. Beetle, just know that you can waffle on every single decision for eternity, you don't have to have it all just right on the first day.

 

[NULL_bits]

I'm really wanting to check out one of those Canyon gravel bikes, but the build I want is about $5500K

I've got three bikes currently - a hard tail mtb (Salsa Timberjack), a goofy (but awesome) single speed CX bike (Bianchi Roger), and my default commuter normal every day rider a, Fuji Cross 3.0 that I've had forever and have put tens of thousands of miles on.

The problem is that my Fuji is the only practical bike for everyday riding but it's all aluminum and it's harsh as fuck (especially on surfaces I find myself on). It was my first "real" bike and I love it and all, but I'm just kinda over it at this point.

I really want something that can handle rough pavement / gravel with ease and sits a bit more upright, but still has drops, and something a little different than my other CX bikes.

My wallet is telling me no, but my body, my body is telling me yes.

 

[FryingPan]

I believe he needs to fit the constraints of his bike builder/maker though.

I also had this preconceived notion of buying a bike to spec and being thrilled... I already broke the seal on pedals and seat, and about to already change bars and stem for a better fitment. Beetle, just know that you can waffle on every single decision for eternity, you don't have to have it all just right on the first day.

I rode my Bianchi for the first time in a few months and instantly realized how much I didn't like the bars compared to what I put on my Litespeed. So now I'm bar shopping. Which will lead to stem shopping.

 

[black jesus]

Looks like The Feed and SiS are now conjoined and more expensive than before, ugh. What high-carb gels are you bros into?

 

[DieselUV]

I believe he needs to fit the constraints of his bike builder/maker though.

I also had this preconceived notion of buying a bike to spec and being thrilled... I already broke the seal on pedals and seat, and about to already change bars and stem for a better fitment. Beetle, just know that you can waffle on every single decision for eternity, you don't have to have it all just right on the first day.

my Epic Evo Comp is pretty much all stock. i don't ride it enough to justify diff shocks. i am looking at carbon wheels but def not necessary.

i upgraded my Allez Sprint Disc with Ultegra Di2, carbon Roval handlebar, Roval CLX50 wheels.

now after selling my Diverge, i'm building up a gravel and was set on a Crux but i saw a few posts about cracked seatstays so i'm scurred. i do have a GRX Di2 groupset, carbon Roval bars, and saddle already.

i'm brand loyal and illogically OCD to a fault so i want all my bikes to have Shimano even though i've never had SRAM.

 

[chrislehr]

hah we take all kinds of bikes.

Similar to null, my "first real" bike is my 1998 Gary Fisher - which is still awesome, works well, and the shocks despite NEVER having service work flawlessly.



Then, in like 2016 or so, I got a Kona Splice Hybrid - which was like mid range (900 or so) and it was used like here and there like 3x a year cause in Texas nobody bikes so it was for going out drinking only.



Both bikes came with me to Portland, OR - best adventure on the Kona was a train ride to Seattle to bike to Bellvue for a work conference (I was 100% the only person there who biked)

FFWD to last year, I quit drinking and started riding. A Lot. ALL on the Kona. I paid for a service, wore through two tires, a chain, and a cassette in that year. about 2800 miles. Then I started wanting a more fun bike. I was waffling between Ribble Endurance SL R Disc and the Fezzari Empire Elite.



I ordered the Ribble in July 2022 and while waiting for it to arrive a 2019 Fezzari Elite hit the outlet in my wife's size with Shimano Ultegra drivetrain for a really decent price (in 2022) So I ordered her a bike and about 2 months apart we both had sweet new endurance bikes.