Is a gravel bike slowly reverting back to a mountain bike?
- Thread starter Dave Taylor
- Start date
Bikeworks
Well-Known Member
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
That frame is wild! Any reason it’s like that or “just because”?
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
It has a sorta suspension to it. I was expecting to see this frame as the STR instead of the hokey future shock version I had but they kinda missed a great opportunity.
Riggedfmx
Active Member
teabagger11
Well-Known Member
Both of my "gravel" bikes are repurposed mtbs
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
The proof is in the pudding. 2.2” mtb tires more aero than 35/45/50mm gravel tires 😍
Cassinonorth
Well-Known Member
Good thing Eureka, KS is a wind tunnel.
Can't wait to see him finish 18th again. 😍
Can't wait to see him finish 18th again. 😍
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
Specialized posted the STR is the fastest and most efficient gravel bike in the line up. It will be interesting to see if they back that statement up by sending the team out on them for Unbound. Because they didn’t ride it last year, or at any event anywhere ever.
Johnny Utah
Well-Known Member
Fatter the better!
Before I built this I had a Cutthroat that I routinely rode Allaire with when I lived up that way. I even rode it up to Hartshorne a few times and rode there with it. It did well (29x2” tires). The drop bars definitely made it more comfy riding distance or long/flat/straight sections (like a canal path)
If I could have one bike, it would be a “Gravel Bike”
Even in DC a few weeks ago, the fatter tires let me ride the city as well as the bike paths.
Do I miss skinny tires? Sure. But the fatter tires are more comfy for my aging rear and also let me ride sandy trails. I can also be lazy if I am not paying attention.
Definitely not for everyone, but I sold my Surly ECR years ago and always regretted it. The 29x3 tires are fun everywhere for me. Fun keeps me riding it.
Yay Gravel Bikes!
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Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Maybe, but not bad considering he never raced anything more than the NUE series before that.
Riggedfmx
Active Member
But that is still a gravel bike with gravel bike geometry and road gearing. It just had wider tires used for Mtb’s. Other than the wheels and gearing it didn’t appear to be regressing to a hardtail Mtb. I don’t see a flat bar or 100 mm suspension forks which is probably your next thread 😂
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
I’ll just watch what you put on your bike next because it will probably be “the next big thing”. Pretty sure DJ’s bike is slacker than a down country bike, has mtb tires and a suspension fork with drop bars. Wait, that would be John Tomac’s bike like I said.
Riggedfmx
Active Member
Again, bikes will continue to evolve based on the needs and efficiency to go faster. I think slacker geometry has been a trend almost all off-road to support the rougher terrain at higher speeds. With the evolution and constant changes of “ next big thing” I think can further support my claim i previously stated.
I don’t have the exact specs on John tomac drop bar Mtb he raced. Are there some similarities? Sure. Based on today’s technology you gonna argue that tomac suspension fork was better also?
It really doesn’t matter. The point is there are some common attributes among tomacs bike and some gravel bikes today.
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Dude so many common things, how can you say they are not the same? Both have wheels, tires, cranks, pedals, need me to go on? I think you get the point
Riggedfmx
Active Member
I don’t get the point because gravel bikes are devolving to John tomac drop bar Mtb. 😆