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    Iron Heart Update 2026

    Gravel Bikes

    General Chat
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    • scarfmaceS
      scarfmace
      Haraki san Expert
      Joined:

      IMG_20250820_203719_469.jpg
      days are getting shorter, evening rides more quiet...

      "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
      • D
        dugafola
        The Unwoven
        Joined:

        here's my chumba terlingua. needs to be ridden more. i've been opting more for my SS mtb mostly.

        valyrian steel.jpeg

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
        • scarfmaceS
          scarfmace
          Haraki san Expert
          Joined:

          IMG_20251121_095021_410.jpg

          I sold my catering company, decided to treat myself and bought some carbon rims. It's getting nasty outside 🙂

          "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

          last edited by D 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
          • D
            dugafola
            The Unwoven
            @scarfmace
            Joined:

            @scarfmace are those ASPLRs? how you liking them?

            last edited by scarfmaceS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • scarfmaceS
              scarfmace
              Haraki san Expert
              @dugafola
              Joined:

              @dugafola They are the Zipp 303 XPLR SW's

              I really like the way they look on my bike and the are a big upgrade coming from ALU DT-Swiss in terms of acceleration speed responsiveness.

              Here are my remarks:

              1 I ride a Shimano GRX 1-12 groupset so my XT cassette uses Microspleen, I had to buy a separate freehub body and cap (an additional 80€). Most other brands have Microspleen as a standard option. It's clear to me that Zipp wants you to use SRAM instead. Also the PN's for this kit where not easy to find and not in stock at the EU importer.

              2 the rims are 32mm wide and stretch my 45mm tire out to a 50mm, this is great for stability going straight but the tire profile suffers a but in the corners, I'm running Pannaracer Gravelking X1's right now but will switch to the 50mm gravel specific tires goodyear has developed for these rims when the current set wears out. I'm betting this will improve my grip in the corners.

              3 de fact they are 54mm deep also makes them more unstable in crosswinds, but on the upside they help a lot in headwinds or tailwinds

              4 the ZR1 DB Hub has 66 points of engagement and you can hear that, it's almost like a buzz instead of the typical klick sound, I quite like it, also it's not very loud so I don't feel like a dick when I coast behind somebody.

              5 the correct tire pressure is very important with these, not only because of the hookless design but also to prevent sidewall punctures.

              They are not the cheapest or lightest rims on the market today but overall I'm happy with the upgrade. Also the lifetime warranty Zipp offers gives me the confidence to do whatever I want with these.

              IMG_20251207_120253_016.jpg

              "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

              last edited by scarfmace D indigo_nicoI 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
              • D
                dugafola
                The Unwoven
                @scarfmace
                Joined:

                @scarfmace nice! i picked up the 303s a year before the new rims were released. they are only 23mm internal but let me run 50mm+ tires with a nice profile.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • indigo_nicoI
                  indigo_nico
                  @scarfmace
                  Joined:

                  @scarfmace as the Zipp Brand Manager, seeing this post makes me really stoked! glad you are enjoying the wheels. I had the pleasure of racing on Zipp when I was a pro and now working there, I've had the pleasure of riding pretty much every Zipp wheel made since 2015. I can wholeheartedly say that of everything we've ever made since I started riding Zipp the XPLR are my favorite wheels.

                  ih-555-xhs
                  ih-634s-uhr
                  ih-666s-sbg
                  ihj-114-blk
                  ihg-081-ora

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • indigo_nicoI
                    indigo_nico
                    Joined:

                    here's mine set up with 40mm road slicks!
                    IMG_1549.jpeg

                    ih-555-xhs
                    ih-634s-uhr
                    ih-666s-sbg
                    ihj-114-blk
                    ihg-081-ora

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • scarfmaceS
                      scarfmace
                      Haraki san Expert
                      Joined:

                      @indigo_nico cool bike! I like the more pronouced stickers on your rims how did you manage that? Also do you know Josh Porter or work with him? Silca is my favorite cycling brand

                      "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

                      last edited by indigo_nicoI 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • indigo_nicoI
                        indigo_nico
                        @scarfmace
                        Joined:

                        @scarfmace josh left Zipp right around the time I was signed as an athlete so we've never actually connected, but silca is great.

                        regarding my wheels, we typically do white decals for our pro riders and these came from a batch we made with out valve logos for our pros who were racing the wheels before they launched.

                        there is a company called Slik Graphics who have all our templates and can make custom decals for your Zipps!

                        ih-555-xhs
                        ih-634s-uhr
                        ih-666s-sbg
                        ihj-114-blk
                        ihg-081-ora

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • NikN
                          Nik
                          Raw and Unwashed
                          Joined:

                          IMG_6300.jpeg
                          joined the club

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                          • BrockB
                            Brock
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            Sick!
                            I love that you’re wearing the IH fleece on the bike

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • SubprimeS
                              Subprime
                              Haraki san Prodigy
                              Joined:

                              My Crux Comp. First gravel bike, love this thing.
                              Pittock Mansion. Portland, OR
                              IMG_3487.jpeg

                              We can all aim higher and start somewhere.

                              last edited by Subprime 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                              • scarfmaceS
                                scarfmace
                                Haraki san Expert
                                Joined:

                                Managed to 'accidentally' ride the Muur van Geraardsbergen last week. To those who follow pro cycling: I apologize for disrespecting such a hallowed climb with my lack of preparation. To everyone else: it’s famous, it’s cobblestones, and it’s brutal.

                                IMG_20260118_103309_948.jpg

                                "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

                                last edited by D 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                • anodyneA
                                  anodyne
                                  Joined:

                                  I got a thing. Happy day. EvergreenSL.jpg

                                  Power is not to be dropped from a plane - Corso

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                                  • scarfmaceS
                                    scarfmace
                                    Haraki san Expert
                                    Joined:

                                    IMG_20260201_112742_571.jpg
                                    Did a 60K gravel ride yesterday, cold and dry. Spring feels like it's just around the corner.

                                    "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                    • setandsettingS
                                      setandsetting
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      Joined:

                                      A couple recent shots of my Trail Donkey 4.0

                                      IMG_1696.JPG

                                      IMG_1751.JPG

                                      last edited by BrockB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • D
                                        dugafola
                                        The Unwoven
                                        @scarfmace
                                        Joined:

                                        @scarfmace said in Gravel Bikes:

                                        Muur van Geraardsbergen

                                        amazing. would love to ride all over flanders someday. classics season coming up soon!

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • BrockB
                                          Brock
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          @setandsetting
                                          Joined:

                                          @setandsetting
                                          Burrr! Nice whip

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • setandsettingS
                                            setandsetting
                                            Raw and Unwashed
                                            Joined:

                                            @Brock It's officially too cold now to ride here in the Hudson Valley, as I don't ride below 20F. Hopefully back to it in a couple weeks. Gotta get ready for the Natchuag Epic, 84 miles, 3/29: https://www.bikereg.com/73191

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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