tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post3069089336033292723..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Niche-Niche Marketing: Gravel BikesBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-11438947942405104022016-10-21T10:41:43.981-04:002016-10-21T10:41:43.981-04:00My Surly cross check is a gravel bike, road bike, ...My Surly cross check is a gravel bike, road bike, light touring bike, commuter bike, and it was pretty reasonably priced. I run 38c tires and full fenders on it with 36h rims. It gets me to pretty much wherever I need to go. If I had known that gravel back roads required titanium frames and specialized geometry, I never would have embarked on that 200 mile trip down the Washington coast this past summer. With the mixture of paved roads, gravel roads and mild single track, I should have brought 3 bikes with me. Boy, it sounds like I'm lucky to have survived the ordeal on that non-specialized frame. Time to get life insurance.The Raving Lunatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08944946201862194162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-30092685354649523302016-04-02T21:19:29.142-04:002016-04-02T21:19:29.142-04:00Gravel bike indeed...I must have invented it when ...Gravel bike indeed...I must have invented it when I found a slightly too large(for mtb) breezer jetstream about 10 yrs. ago but loved the ride and fitted it out with specialized hemisphere armadillo tires, a 1x9 speed do-all drivetrain and midge bars. Faster than my mtb's on road and gravel and a great bike for do-anything on the greenways. On dry days I even take it on the singletrack. More fun than my roadie (sold) and a great compliment to my mtb herd. Don't know where everyone rides (on road) but here in cackalacky it is VERY nice to hop onto sidewalks and through parks to evade driver-texters (yes, a texting driver actually followed a bike through a grass covered park here in NC....I gave up my road ride when 2 friends were seriously hurt by cars) Anyhoo....let's all realize that 90% of us can make do/approximate whatever current trend with what is already out there with a few mods. Heck, I know there is some backlash coming when I say I am selling my Ti 29er and going back to my steel old faithful 26er....horses.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05757759612937797131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-68667153027182042972014-03-22T16:46:25.767-04:002014-03-22T16:46:25.767-04:00The bicycle industry has to sell stuff to keep goi...The bicycle industry has to sell stuff to keep going. A small percentage of the the population loves cycling and just can't seem to own enough bikes! Most the America never rides the Huffy they already own. So we (I am part of the Industrial Bike Complex, BTW), keep dreaming up ways to get the cycling faithful to buy.... just one more bike! Not the greatest business model for the long term, but it's what we got now. <br />I'm hoping that this new crop of *gravel bikes* can be part of the process of breaking the cycle. We're looking at bikes great for all kinds of riding, perfect for your weekend warrior-weekday commuter types. Ride to work, ride Saturdays with your buddies, do a couple of big Charity Rides and try CX in the Fall, all on a $1500 disc brake drop bar bike. These are the days!tacomeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02805104086214269269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-60207463544254155982014-01-30T07:30:08.547-05:002014-01-30T07:30:08.547-05:00Wow -- all that, AND a Sheldon Brown reference!Wow -- all that, AND a Sheldon Brown reference!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-18492299439329692902014-01-29T18:47:59.807-05:002014-01-29T18:47:59.807-05:00I should also say that since it has semi-horizonta...I should also say that since it has semi-horizontal dropouts and canti posts, it would be PERFECT for a fixed gear cyclocross/gravel bike conversion. That was what got me typing in the first place. I'll even throw in a rattle can of florescent green Krylon (TM) for the rims! Only $18999 payable to me or to Carapace Completed Umber only by Dubai Postal Money Order.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05124810325800715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-2513428391340153422014-01-29T18:20:25.886-05:002014-01-29T18:20:25.886-05:00Hi Al -- I know exactly what you mean. One of my f...Hi Al -- I know exactly what you mean. One of my first nice bikes was a Panasonic -- nothing fancy, but well made. Tange 1000 is fine stuff. Seamed tubing, but still butted chrome-moly -- and no difference in ride quality -- just a good bargain since some people turn up their noses (too bad for them -- good for us). Switching from 27" to 700c is a good idea -- more tire choices, and just a smidge more clearance. And I love mustache bars. Your bargain commuter sounds great. Thanks for writing!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-71326607571916502422014-01-29T16:58:29.049-05:002014-01-29T16:58:29.049-05:00Hi, I'm Al. Just found your blog and have been...Hi, I'm Al. Just found your blog and have been enjoying the hell out if. About a year ago I was in the market for a replacement for my MTB-based commuter. It would have to carry at least 80 lbs and make my 30 mile round-trip ride in relative comfort. I was looking at the LHT and drooling over an Atlantis but wound up with 1988 Panasonic PT 3500 touring bike. I got a complete bike, bone stock, for 250 smackers from ebay with what seemed to be under 1000 original miles on the thing (original tires!). Over the course of the last year I've incrementally updated/upgraded it to the point that it's a great all around bike and a very reliable commuter. After switching out the 27" wheels for 700c and upgrading (retrograding? that should be a slang term) to some early 90s XT cantis I can easily fit 35s on the thing WITH fenders, racks, and a place to hold my beer, um water. My point is this, 80s Japaneese touring bikes are pretty common, pretty cheap, and make darn nice commuter bikes. Yeah it's Tange 1000 but it's still double butted cromo. Yeah the lugs and the fork crown aren't as pretty as the ones on my go-fast, but it's still lugged and it has a proper fork crown. All-in-all a great workhorse of a bike...with friction barends, non-matching non-aero levers, a two legged kickstand, and a moustache bar (which I happen to be very fond of BTW) that is wrapped in cloth tape. And a B17. And Biopace Chainwheels HA! Keep up the good work, great blog, and nice to find a kindred spirit with grease and shellac all over his hands.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05124810325800715371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-49759403468609801882014-01-27T13:29:31.782-05:002014-01-27T13:29:31.782-05:00In that point, I agree with you 100%. If you WANT ...In that point, I agree with you 100%. If you WANT a new bike, go for it, but don't think that you necessarily NEED a new bike just because marketing says so.<br />Also, I have long admired Surly if for now other reason that their bikes can be modded to do almost anything. Their Cross Check is definitely on my "someday maybe" list.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18289009784609315495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-81952753698732444982014-01-27T11:30:09.533-05:002014-01-27T11:30:09.533-05:00Oh-- also forgot to mention that part of my point ...Oh-- also forgot to mention that part of my point here isn't that we don't need bikes that can be ridden like this -- because we do -- such bikes are a real pleasure. Rather, my point is that many people DO already have versatile bikes, but the marketing in the industry today is almost like "NO -- that won't do -- you need to buy THIS now." If someone does not have a versatile road bike that takes comfortable tires, then "gravel bikes" may give them another nice option. But if people do have a bike that fits the description, they shouldn't fall for the idea that their current bike must be replaced, or that they need to add another bike to their stable.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-922155794096461082014-01-27T11:23:09.141-05:002014-01-27T11:23:09.141-05:00Hi Nathan,
Pushback is welcome -- thanks for the ...Hi Nathan,<br /><br />Pushback is welcome -- thanks for the comments! Your point is valid. Certainly, if one only has a bike that takes 25mm tires (another example of increasing "specialization" of today's bicycles), a bike such as this would be a real treat. And your point that many C'cross bikes no longer have things like rack/fender mounts, bottle cages, etc. is yet another example of that increasing specialization. But I do think there are bikes out there that fit the bill for versatility without being specially marketed as "gravel bikes." Some, like Surly's Cross Check (still has rack and fender mounts, if I'm not mistaken -- and choice of canti brakes or discs) and their LHT, are very versatile, and also relatively inexpensive. Thanks for reading, and for commenting. You called it push-back - but I imagine that we're really not that far apart on this.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-21630434525380426812014-01-27T10:05:59.148-05:002014-01-27T10:05:59.148-05:00I'm gonna push back on you a bit.
I agree with...I'm gonna push back on you a bit.<br />I agree with your point about the over specialization of bikes, but I see the gravel bikes as a solution to some of those problems.<br />My single biggest gripe with modern road bikes is their inability to take (on average) a tire larger than 25mm. Fine for the racers, but most of us don't race. As a heavier rider, running tires that narrow is an invitation for pinch flats on gravel, not to mention uncomfortable. Finding an older road bike (I run a 1980s Sekai 10 sp w/ 32mm) is certainly an option, but in rural areas it can be tough to find a bike that checks all the boxes.<br />I've also noticed an annoying trend among new cyclocross bikes to come sans mounts for fenders, racks, even bottle cages, making them useless for any ride longer than an hour. And for gravel, I would love to get tires wider than 32.<br />(Full disclosure, I wrench p/t for a Giant dealer)<br />That's why I'm really excited about gravel bikes. I can actually sell a reasonably priced, easily available bike to people. They're bikes that take fenders, racks for some touring, wide comfy (fast) tires to cover ground without your behind reduced to tears, and just be fun to ride. I see them as a throwback to the style of bikes that Mr. Heine rides. I want to sell a bike that can do a ton of different stuff without a lot of work. I think that's a bike that the average rider wants. Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18289009784609315495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-25970976164643475932014-01-26T14:49:50.857-05:002014-01-26T14:49:50.857-05:00Exactly -- classic bikes usually have room for lar...Exactly -- classic bikes usually have room for larger tires, and those vintage steel frames have such a nice ride quality anyhow.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-82231998236307238692014-01-26T14:26:54.717-05:002014-01-26T14:26:54.717-05:00Brooks-
So "they" tell us we need longe...Brooks-<br /><br />So "they" tell us we need longer wheelbases, slacker angles, steel frames and wider tires to ride gravel. Look at the 1960s TdF photos of riders on the cols or on the Giro. Those guys rode gravel on their steel racing bikes, on tubulars. Seems like we already own the perfect bike when we take our Peugeot PX 10 or Gitane Tour de France out for a ride.bicyclebits01https://www.blogger.com/profile/17405093830772419925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-87833482544569959922014-01-25T21:00:15.886-05:002014-01-25T21:00:15.886-05:00In the 80s, I rode through the Canadian winter on ...In the 80s, I rode through the Canadian winter on a Velosport road machine with 20 mm Michelin Hi-Lite comp tires. I had had only a few crashes and most of them was because I list traction in one-foot deep snow. I use the same machine to ride through the pot holes strewn college town in Ontario where I went to university. Why would anyone need a gravel bike? Three machines should suffice - road bike, MTB and an old shopping bike.Tsuibakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270215934937814784noreply@blogger.com