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    Iron Heart - In Conversation with Converge

    Gravel Bikes

    General Chat
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    • RobeOfTheMagiR
      RobeOfTheMagi
      Iron Heart Deity
      Joined:

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      Not really a gravel bike, it defies categories.

      "Every day, once a day, give yourself a little present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen."
      FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper

      last edited by RobeOfTheMagi 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
      • RobeOfTheMagiR
        RobeOfTheMagi
        Iron Heart Deity
        @Brock
        Joined:

        @Brock You guys are really doing this bicycle thing right ♥️.

        "Every day, once a day, give yourself a little present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen."
        FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper

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

          @RobeOfTheMagi trying to at least! I wish I had more time to ride… your Riv looks sick! I bet it rips on gravel 🤘🏻

          last edited by RobeOfTheMagiR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • RobeOfTheMagiR
            RobeOfTheMagi
            Iron Heart Deity
            @Brock
            Joined:

            @Brock with it’s velocity quill rims and RH Herse Oracle Ridge tyres it is really swift on many surfaces 💜.

            "Every day, once a day, give yourself a little present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen."
            FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • RobeOfTheMagiR
              RobeOfTheMagi
              Iron Heart Deity
              Joined:

              Happy trails:

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              "Every day, once a day, give yourself a little present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen."
              FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper

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

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                short evening ride to clear my head

                "I hate a man that talks when he's got nothing to say." – Woodrow Call

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

                  Getting ready to head out on a 5 day adventure

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                  Replacing jockey wheels and setting up racks and packs..

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                  • Bobcat SigB
                    Bobcat Sig
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined:

                    It’s timely that this thread popped up again. After jumping back into bicycles earlier this year with an acquisition of a GasGas ECC 5 eMTB, my attention had turned towards a gravel bike - something I can pedal from the house, functions as a city bike or sorts, and gets me out on all the gravel that abound here in the west when I’m not a motorcycle.

                    I’ve been leaning towards a Specialized Diverge of some flavor, likely with a SRAM components set. I’m doing a bit of work with them this year, which is why they have me attention, but it begs the question - what should one look for in a gravel bike? I know, a wide-ranging question…

                    Safety third

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

                      Heading out!

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                      last edited by InorganicI 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                      • BrockB
                        Brock
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        @Bobcat Sig
                        Joined:

                        @Bobcat-Sig

                        Comfort and functionality over anything else.
                        12 speed 1X drivetrain.
                        Clearance for 48+ tires.
                        I like 650b wheels because it keeps the CG lower.
                        Dropper post is nice.
                        It really depends on what you plan to do with the bike. I have different preferences for bikepacking vs. gravel riding vs. road

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • InorganicI
                          Inorganic
                          Haraki san Student
                          @Brock
                          Joined:

                          @Brock SHITTTT!! Damn, this looks SO rad. Would you mind sharing which route you're taking? I've never done bike camping - but shit I need to. What is a mild first timer trip you would recommend in OR (as you know I live in PDX - I'm still rocking that WESCO shit I picked up from you that day). Also is there a place folks post what their carrying on their rigs? I'd be curious to learn what goes in to a trip like this...

                          last edited by BrockB D 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • BrockB
                            Brock
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            @Inorganic
                            Joined:

                            @Inorganic still out here. I’ll hit you up when we get back.

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

                              Some more pics from the trip

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                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • BrockB
                                Brock
                                Raw and Unwashed
                                Joined:

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                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                • BrockB
                                  Brock
                                  Raw and Unwashed
                                  Joined:

                                  @Inorganic
                                  There’s an app called Ride With GPS. It’s the absolute best way to not only find/browse routes in your area by looking at a map but it’s also great for creating routes.
                                  I created the route that we used for this trip. We also had quite a bit of on course rerouting because of that… there’s a lot of great tools on the app that help with routing like heat maps etc but it’s not perfect. And that adds to the adventure.
                                  Another great local resource is OMTM
                                  (Our Mother The Mountain) they have created some amazing local routes for all skill levels in the pnw.
                                  As far as what gear to take, I’m sure there’s plenty of Reddit posts on that.

                                  This is the route we took:

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                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                  • InorganicI
                                    Inorganic
                                    Haraki san Student
                                    Joined:

                                    damn boy.
                                    this looks rad. I gleaned a few ideas from your photo re:set up, shit to bring etc. I dig that you brought camp chairs!! when we're backpacking I seldom bring one and opt for the lighter hammock, but I am often bummed that I decided not to ha!

                                    thanks for the tips on the apps. i'm stoked to get into some new adventures. i once did a ride from tokyo-->osaka on a fixie with no planning, and very little 'stuff' but i had youth on my side, so sleeping on cardboard sans tent/sleeping bag etc. was a no brainer - there's no way i'd survive that today.

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

                                      @Inorganic www.bikepacking.com is a great resource for all that type of stuff.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                      • BrockB
                                        Brock
                                        Raw and Unwashed
                                        Joined:

                                        This is a decent post too. @Inorganic
                                        https://www.instagram.com/p/DdQEw0zjYez/?stkn=MWdvNHNid3V0bzQ2Zw==

                                        The camp chairs are awesome, having a good sit while you have lunch or take a fishing break is pretty amazing

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

                                          Damm @Brock those are some rides your taking!

                                          Nothing even remotely as nice, but I still ride every couple of days.
                                          I rode 108K 'gravelhalla' route in Belgium last saturday

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                                          "I hate a man that talks when he's got nothing to say." – Woodrow Call

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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