u/GreaterAlias

I am specifying this specific age bracket because it’s the transition period of a lot of us where we no longer have as much free time compared to college to ride, and also have to juggle new responsibilities in a job and career and potential starting of a family, and managing familial responsibilities. But also not old enough to be considered Masters category and don’t have the wisdom and also free time that a lot of older people have as they are more set in their careers and retire.

I raced in college up until grad school and a little bit after I got a real job. a Total of 11-13 years of on and off racing. The past years I took some time off from burnout and wanting to focus on other life stuff but eventually found myself doing local crits. But I’m finding myself in this weird spot where I can’t commit the hours to train and stay competitive with the super young potentially cat 1-2 20 year olds, or the seasoned older cat1/2/3s or masters racers.

I don’t think I’m necessarily burnt out. Its just that I can’t commit to the training hours to stay competitive in the local fields and I’m also much more risk averse due to families/job/finances.

Also none of my same age teammates from college are cycling now.

Im curious for those in this age bracket. How has riding been for you? Are you still racing? What are all your old teammates of your same age doing now?

What are your thoughts on getting a new Crux 5 but using it mainly for road riding? Not a big gravel guy but id love to be able to run 40mm road slicks. I know there’s a couple road bikes that have that capacity but always figured if I wanted to try gravel down the line I’d already have one in the Crux.

Or would I be better suited to ride a road bike with wide tire clearances instead? Will they feel the same?

Can anyone tell me what a 2.2 Dubnital blows up to on a 25mm internal width rim (I’m using Light Bicycle WR50s specifically) and if it fits the new Crux 5 with adequate clearance for all conditions?

Got a Crux 5. My intention was to build it up around Dubnitals. 50mm is still way wider than any other gravel tire I’ve run. I have a mix of a lot of road riding and steep loose tech.

This is my only bike. I have a road wheelset as well.

Should I go 50mm or 2.2? Is there any difference in speed on road and grip off road between the two?

Can anyone attest to the Garbaruk threaded chainring for SRAM 1x? I’m looking for a threaded chainring to attach a threaded spider power meter because I plan to change rings based on course profile so fixed power meter chainrings are a no go and I also want to stick to my non power meter wolf tooth pedals so no Faveros.

I am using the SRAM aero chainrings. I want to keep the chainline the same and just set it and forget it. Is Garbaruk a good choice. Is it loud? Will the chainline be the same?

Also considering Pass Quest

I’m deciding on a Wolftooth alt pedal + SRAM power meter spider or the Favero Assioma MX.

I’m basically looking for whichever has the wider platform. I used a pair of MXs before and they felt so much more stable and wider than XT pedals. I’m wondering if the Wolftooth will feel the same.

im not really looking at this from a power meter perspective as I know they’re both solid options. also I only have one bike so I’m not worried about ease of switching it on and off to another bike.

I’m used to 38cm road bars. any wider and it feels like I’m steering a boat. I’m wondering if anyone has kept their same bar width for gravel and have you found if you’ve noticed any sacrifices in handling on the more technical stuff?

It’s been a rough and expensive 4 years finding out what I really want. I’d want to know your experiences.

4 years ago. 31 years old. Washed up cat3. Decided I’d try gravel because I was burnt out riding on road and told myself it was safer. I was also time crunched from work and told myself riding trails would be more fun than doing an interval to keep up with training. Sold my road bikes, got a gravel bike.

Enter Honeymoon period of 1 year. Was a lot of fun. Still a lot of fun. But found out there’s not a ton of close by gravel routes, gravel races are equally as far to get to and logistically more planning. 

The next two years I totally just found myself riding on the road with my road wheelset on my gravel bike 80% of the time.

Work is still equally as busy, and even though I’m not doing hard road workouts it’s just more fun and ACCESSIBLE to just get out the door and ride on the road. 

Still don’t know how I feel about racing road again, but I definitely see myself missing the road racing scene. And just road rides in general. I love going fast on smooth tarmac. I love the speed. I love predictable grip lol. 

And now I find myself looking at road bikes again.

I can’t tell if road is my true passion, or if I am just delaying the inevitable switch to gravel that a lot of people do. I can’t imagine my time freeing up more as I get older. Has anyone gone through this struggle?

Been riding my gravel bike for a bit and it would actually be beneficial to learn how to get my font wheel over a curb without stepping off the bike.

I tell myself every time I’m gonna do it but chicken out right when I get to the curb. I should note I’ve done it like a total of 10 times and I’ve never fallen and I think because I’m riding such massive tires, even if I fall short they just roll over it anyway. But in the moment I feel I’ll land too early, hit the outer edge of the curb and go over my bars.

Does it get easier? Any tips?

Deciding if I should get the Dubnital 2.2 or 50mm for just my front tire. I’m mostly looking at it from a grip perspective first and foremost and then comfort a close second. Are the differences between the two sizes marginal?

I have no problem settling for the 50mm unless the grip differences are massive. Either way a 50mm Dubnital will be by far the chunkiest tire I’ve ever ran. But I’m concerned going with a 2.2 will just be super slow on the road.

got an ENVE MOG. their compression plug they supply is only 28mm long. I’m using an aftermarket stem to try out the bike before I commit to an Enve cockpit. problem is my stem is 40mm tall. So the stem clamping bolts are not fully supported by the short compression plug.

Am I ok to use a non Enve provided compression plug? will any work as long as it’s 1 1/8th?

I am curious on your thoughts on a MOG vs a Crux 5 as a do it all gravel race rig? I know it won’t be as good as a road bike and that’s fine. The geo of both suits me well. I plan to mount 50mmm Dubnitals max. And 35mm GP5k STRs for the road setup.

i don’t really care for aero or weight. No plans to bikepack. I would love a bike that is agile both on road and off. I also tend to do a lot of techy singletrack and underbike so a bike that can do that well.

Im leaning towards the MOG. it has a 27.2 seatpost so I can run a dropper, and slightly higher stack so I can run a slammed stem.

From what I’ve read the crux is the more agile frame but I feel like my heart wants a MOG still lol. If the handling differences are negligible I would go towards the MOG

trying to build up a new bike with sram XPLR 13 speed rival. when getting up to the biggest cogs the upper pulley will get into contact with the sprockets and jams.

afaik there’s no b tension screw to lengthen the cage.

cant find any info on how to solve this. is the chain too short? this is all stock and just building up the bike.

Got a gravel bike. I live in inner SE and looking for super local gravel or off road trails that I can do after work. 1-2 hours at most. So no OMTM routes.

I know there’s the obvious Forest Park, Powell Butte, Tabor and Gateway Green. Is there anything else worth looking into that aren’t random alley side cuts and an actual established gravel route?

I’m deciding on a new gravel rig to build up. I have 2.2s Dubnitals on a Light Bicycle WR35 with a 25mm internal width that blow up to just about 54-55mm wide. Unfortunately the rim is cracked so I’ll need a new one.

Im considering a WG44 with a 30mm internal. is anyone running this combo? I’m curious what 2.2 Dubs blow up to and since I was already at the 55mm tire clearance on the 25mm internals I’m wondering if they will blow up much larger and exceed the recommended tire clearance for the crux 5.

unfortunately I have neither bike or or wheels to test this out. wondering if I should just buy another WR wheelset with the 25 internal to play it safe.

wanting to buy a Light bicycle WG44 for gravel racing. I’m running 50mm Dubnitals. I can’t run the wider 2.2 to fit in my frame.

The WG series is 30mm internal width. From what I’m reading 30mm is optimized for 2.2+ tires.

Im wondering if 30mm is too wide for this tire size? I don’t want grip characteristics to be changed but also wondering if anyone actually runs this setup and its fine?

For some reason I’ve been getting a lot of Filipino based discussion on twitter and threads.

Almost everything I’m being fed involves some sort of complaint of a Filipino living in the Philippines critiquing everything a Filipino American does from our Filipino accents, accidentally mispronouncing Tagalog phrases, wearing a flag, not mentioning Filipino foods by their traditional name etc. And each post has tons of interactions from other Filipinos saying the same thing.

If Fil-ams don’t speak Tagalog we are ashamed of our culture. if we try were laughed at because of our accent. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.

But if I white person does any of those other things they praise it like the greatest thing in the world.

Are other Asian countries like this?

From Portland, OR. my favorite roaster there is Push x Pull. I love light roasts and lighter clearer cups and love an occasional fruit bomb.

In Seattle for work. I’m staying at the Hyatt in downtown and have work stuff throughout the day so I have to stay sort of in the immediate area. I’m looking for shops with a good vibe so I can do some work and/or could do a solid pour over but also open to whatever espressos they have in rotation.

So far I have Anchorhead, Monorail, Olympia. any of those i should prioritize one over the other?

Getting a Crux 5. Itll be my first real gravel race bike coming from mainly road riding/racing.

Was deciding on which tire to get specifically for gravel races. I was set on the 50mm as it’s significantly wider than any gravel tire I have ever ran previously but also realize continental makes a 2.2inch as well.

Im not really well versed in terms of grip characteristics. Wider volume and comfort isn’t really a concern for me. I would say I want to prioritize confidence with grip over everything else as I would say I’m not the most experienced with the skill of technical gravel descending. But I also realize there is a trade off with a wider/heavier tire and rolling resistance. If the grip change is minimal, I’d rather go with the lighter tire.

How much more grip does a 2.2 inch offer over a 50mm of the same tire?

I am also considering a 2.1 Thunderburt (Super Ground) cause it sits right between the Contis.

edit: Ill be using the tire on a rim with 25mm internal width.