Felt F55X

On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 11:35:17 -0700 (PDT), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

Deep loose gravel that was a real pain to ride since the bikes didn't want to track a straight line. they were slip sliding all over the road. Perhaps that's where a fat tire bike would have excelled.


That's where I get off and walk.


--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at centurylink dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/

Op dinsdag 16 maart 2021 om 03:07:19 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:
On 3/15/2021 6:50 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op maandag 15 maart 2021 om 01:16:38 UTC+1 schreef Roger Merriman:
Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/14/2021 3:52 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Tom Kunich wrote:
On Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 12:43:09 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Op zaterdag 13 maart 2021 om 16:33:17 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:

In Tom's defense, gravel races may be getting more common, but any
sample of "gravel bike" owners will only rarely find one who races.
Most gravel bike owners want to ride in places away from the crowded
roads on a bike they think is most suitable. I'm one of them. I only
race against myself.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aLmyAeaudT2zXKqu7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sCD6v8qUXQAtP6xk6

Photo's taken two weeks apart (Febr.12 and febr 26).
Lou, That is rather beautiful landscape and the reason that gravel bikes
are becoming so popular.


Very much this, it Gravel bike allows me to link together old
airports/forgotten roads framers tacks etc.

I can still tacked roads if I want to, but it’s a choice.

As usual, I'm bemused by the ever changing fashions.

Just a few years ago, people posting here arguing with my contention
that close clearance frames had no practical benefit. And I was derided
for helping a friend shop for a bike and rejecting bikes that wouldn't
take a 28mm tire.

I have no problem with people wanting to ride gravel, although I don't
have much respect for driving 20 miles to ride five miles on a gravel
road. But I'm amazed at how quickly people are convinced to change their
tastes.
My assumption, and knowledge is that most gravel rides tend to start from
home, that’s one of the good things about such bikes, they are fine in most
places, from mild MTB trails to big days in the hills.

With the MTB yes you might well take it somewhere but not the Gravel on the
whole.

Fashion and marketing: Weird and powerful!

Gravel bikes that I can see have grown out of CX bikes, a number of them
few years back where aimed at hacking around the woods and so on, rather
than racing around a muddy park.

Plus the rim to disks so larger tires plus decent brakes this feels rider
lead than manufacturers.

Roger Merriman

The way I see it is that there was always the need/desire to ride off road. In the old days we did that on a road bike with its limitations. Then we got the ATB that developed into something complicated (front and rear shocks with lock out, dropper post, adaptive damping and whatever) and for many people way over 'qualified' for the off road riding they desire. You could use a cross bike, but cross bikes at that time were race orientated with the UCI limitations (tire width and ****ty brakes). It got interesting when hydraulic disk brakes became available on cross bikes. That was the time they became popular again here and many people switch from a ATB back to a cross bike, fed up with the heavy and complicated ATB that was meanwhile meant to ride on 'epic' tracks and gnarly trails but never were used on that terrain. When I got my cross bike 8 years ago I hardly used my ATB's again and eventually sold them both (hardtail and FS). The cross bike evolved into the current gravel bike and the cross bike back became race oriented again.

On Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 3:59:05 a.m. UTC-4, wrote:
Op dinsdag 16 maart 2021 om 03:07:19 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:
On 3/15/2021 6:50 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op maandag 15 maart 2021 om 01:16:38 UTC+1 schreef Roger Merriman:
Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/14/2021 3:52 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Tom Kunich wrote:
On Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 12:43:09 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Op zaterdag 13 maart 2021 om 16:33:17 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:

In Tom's defense, gravel races may be getting more common, but any
sample of "gravel bike" owners will only rarely find one who races.
Most gravel bike owners want to ride in places away from the crowded
roads on a bike they think is most suitable. I'm one of them. I only
race against myself.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aLmyAeaudT2zXKqu7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sCD6v8qUXQAtP6xk6

Photo's taken two weeks apart (Febr.12 and febr 26).
Lou, That is rather beautiful landscape and the reason that gravel bikes
are becoming so popular.


Very much this, it Gravel bike allows me to link together old
airports/forgotten roads framers tacks etc.

I can still tacked roads if I want to, but it’s a choice.

As usual, I'm bemused by the ever changing fashions.

Just a few years ago, people posting here arguing with my contention
that close clearance frames had no practical benefit. And I was derided
for helping a friend shop for a bike and rejecting bikes that wouldn't
take a 28mm tire.

I have no problem with people wanting to ride gravel, although I don't
have much respect for driving 20 miles to ride five miles on a gravel
road. But I'm amazed at how quickly people are convinced to change their
tastes.
My assumption, and knowledge is that most gravel rides tend to start from
home, that’s one of the good things about such bikes, they are fine in most
places, from mild MTB trails to big days in the hills.

With the MTB yes you might well take it somewhere but not the Gravel on the
whole.

Fashion and marketing: Weird and powerful!

Gravel bikes that I can see have grown out of CX bikes, a number of them
few years back where aimed at hacking around the woods and so on, rather
than racing around a muddy park.

Plus the rim to disks so larger tires plus decent brakes this feels rider
lead than manufacturers.

Roger Merriman

The way I see it is that there was always the need/desire to ride off road. In the old days we did that on a road bike with its limitations. Then we got the ATB that developed into something complicated (front and rear shocks with lock out, dropper post, adaptive damping and whatever) and for many people way over 'qualified' for the off road riding they desire. You could use a cross bike, but cross bikes at that time were race orientated with the UCI limitations (tire width and ****ty brakes). It got interesting when hydraulic disk brakes became available on cross bikes. That was the time they became popular again here and many people switch from a ATB back to a cross bike, fed up with the heavy and complicated ATB that was meanwhile meant to ride on 'epic' tracks and gnarly trails but never were used on that terrain. When I got my cross bike 8 years ago I hardly used my ATB's again and eventually sold them both (hardtail and FS). The cross bike evolved into the current gravel bike and the cross bike back became race oriented again.
As I understand it, Sir Ridesalot uses older rigid frame mountain bikes,
somewhat modified to adapt them for off-road touring. I think a version
of those bikes could still be a very good choice for lots of people
doing non-gonzo riding off-road, even though they're not fashionable.

--
- Frank Krygowski
As long as you can get rid of the front suspension they will be great on gravel/mild off road.

Lou

My MTBs converted to dropbar bikes are all rigid frames and fork as they were designed. No front shocks were ever on any of them.

Here are some of the rigid frame MTBs I've converted to dropbar gravel/touring bicycles.

Cannondale
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/27884278825/

Diamondback
flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/22127966680/

Giant Butte
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/26313135390/

Giant. Can't remember the model name.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/20961200128/

Miele #1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/22409146694/

Miele #2
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/26641728934/

Cheers

Op dinsdag 16 maart 2021 om 10:12:28 UTC+1 schreef Sir Ridesalot:
On Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 3:59:05 a.m. UTC-4, wrote:
Op dinsdag 16 maart 2021 om 03:07:19 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:
On 3/15/2021 6:50 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op maandag 15 maart 2021 om 01:16:38 UTC+1 schreef Roger Merriman:
Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/14/2021 3:52 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Tom Kunich wrote:
On Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 12:43:09 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Op zaterdag 13 maart 2021 om 16:33:17 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:

In Tom's defense, gravel races may be getting more common, but any
sample of "gravel bike" owners will only rarely find one who races.
Most gravel bike owners want to ride in places away from the crowded
roads on a bike they think is most suitable. I'm one of them. I only
race against myself.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aLmyAeaudT2zXKqu7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sCD6v8qUXQAtP6xk6

Photo's taken two weeks apart (Febr.12 and febr 26).
Lou, That is rather beautiful landscape and the reason that gravel bikes
are becoming so popular.


Very much this, it Gravel bike allows me to link together old
airports/forgotten roads framers tacks etc.

I can still tacked roads if I want to, but it’s a choice..

As usual, I'm bemused by the ever changing fashions.

Just a few years ago, people posting here arguing with my contention
that close clearance frames had no practical benefit. And I was derided
for helping a friend shop for a bike and rejecting bikes that wouldn't
take a 28mm tire.

I have no problem with people wanting to ride gravel, although I don't
have much respect for driving 20 miles to ride five miles on a gravel
road. But I'm amazed at how quickly people are convinced to change their
tastes.
My assumption, and knowledge is that most gravel rides tend to start from
home, that’s one of the good things about such bikes, they are fine in most
places, from mild MTB trails to big days in the hills.

With the MTB yes you might well take it somewhere but not the Gravel on the
whole.

Fashion and marketing: Weird and powerful!

Gravel bikes that I can see have grown out of CX bikes, a number of them
few years back where aimed at hacking around the woods and so on, rather
than racing around a muddy park.

Plus the rim to disks so larger tires plus decent brakes this feels rider
lead than manufacturers.

Roger Merriman

The way I see it is that there was always the need/desire to ride off road. In the old days we did that on a road bike with its limitations. Then we got the ATB that developed into something complicated (front and rear shocks with lock out, dropper post, adaptive damping and whatever) and for many people way over 'qualified' for the off road riding they desire. You could use a cross bike, but cross bikes at that time were race orientated with the UCI limitations (tire width and ****ty brakes). It got interesting when hydraulic disk brakes became available on cross bikes. That was the time they became popular again here and many people switch from a ATB back to a cross bike, fed up with the heavy and complicated ATB that was meanwhile meant to ride on 'epic' tracks and gnarly trails but never were used on that terrain. When I got my cross bike 8 years ago I hardly used my ATB's again and eventually sold them both (hardtail and FS). The cross bike evolved into the current gravel bike and the cross bike back became race oriented again.
As I understand it, Sir Ridesalot uses older rigid frame mountain bikes,
somewhat modified to adapt them for off-road touring. I think a version
of those bikes could still be a very good choice for lots of people
doing non-gonzo riding off-road, even though they're not fashionable.

--
- Frank Krygowski
As long as you can get rid of the front suspension they will be great on gravel/mild off road.

Lou
My MTBs converted to dropbar bikes are all rigid frames and fork as they were designed. No front shocks were ever on any of them.

Here are some of the rigid frame MTBs I've converted to dropbar gravel/touring bicycles.

Cannondale
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/27884278825/

Diamondback
flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/22127966680/

Giant Butte
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/26313135390/

Giant. Can't remember the model name.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/20961200128/

Miele #1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/22409146694/

Miele #2
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/26641728934/

Cheers

Yep all those bikes are very capable of handling gravel roads. I won't discuss esthetics ;-)

Lou

On Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 10:01:08 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Op dinsdag 16 maart 2021 om 10:12:28 UTC+1 schreef Sir Ridesalot:
On Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 3:59:05 a.m. UTC-4, wrote:
Op dinsdag 16 maart 2021 om 03:07:19 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:
On 3/15/2021 6:50 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op maandag 15 maart 2021 om 01:16:38 UTC+1 schreef Roger Merriman:
Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/14/2021 3:52 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Tom Kunich wrote:
On Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 12:43:09 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Op zaterdag 13 maart 2021 om 16:33:17 UTC+1 schreef Frank Krygowski:

In Tom's defense, gravel races may be getting more common, but any
sample of "gravel bike" owners will only rarely find one who races.
Most gravel bike owners want to ride in places away from the crowded
roads on a bike they think is most suitable. I'm one of them.. I only
race against myself.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aLmyAeaudT2zXKqu7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sCD6v8qUXQAtP6xk6

Photo's taken two weeks apart (Febr.12 and febr 26).
Lou, That is rather beautiful landscape and the reason that gravel bikes
are becoming so popular.


Very much this, it Gravel bike allows me to link together old
airports/forgotten roads framers tacks etc.

I can still tacked roads if I want to, but it’s a choice.

As usual, I'm bemused by the ever changing fashions.

Just a few years ago, people posting here arguing with my contention
that close clearance frames had no practical benefit. And I was derided
for helping a friend shop for a bike and rejecting bikes that wouldn't
take a 28mm tire.

I have no problem with people wanting to ride gravel, although I don't
have much respect for driving 20 miles to ride five miles on a gravel
road. But I'm amazed at how quickly people are convinced to change their
tastes.
My assumption, and knowledge is that most gravel rides tend to start from
home, that’s one of the good things about such bikes, they are fine in most
places, from mild MTB trails to big days in the hills.

With the MTB yes you might well take it somewhere but not the Gravel on the
whole.

Fashion and marketing: Weird and powerful!

Gravel bikes that I can see have grown out of CX bikes, a number of them
few years back where aimed at hacking around the woods and so on, rather
than racing around a muddy park.

Plus the rim to disks so larger tires plus decent brakes this feels rider
lead than manufacturers.

Roger Merriman

The way I see it is that there was always the need/desire to ride off road. In the old days we did that on a road bike with its limitations. Then we got the ATB that developed into something complicated (front and rear shocks with lock out, dropper post, adaptive damping and whatever) and for many people way over 'qualified' for the off road riding they desire. You could use a cross bike, but cross bikes at that time were race orientated with the UCI limitations (tire width and ****ty brakes). It got interesting when hydraulic disk brakes became available on cross bikes. That was the time they became popular again here and many people switch from a ATB back to a cross bike, fed up with the heavy and complicated ATB that was meanwhile meant to ride on 'epic' tracks and gnarly trails but never were used on that terrain. When I got my cross bike 8 years ago I hardly used my ATB's again and eventually sold them both (hardtail and FS). The cross bike evolved into the current gravel bike and the cross bike back became race oriented again.
As I understand it, Sir Ridesalot uses older rigid frame mountain bikes,
somewhat modified to adapt them for off-road touring. I think a version
of those bikes could still be a very good choice for lots of people
doing non-gonzo riding off-road, even though they're not fashionable.

--
- Frank Krygowski
As long as you can get rid of the front suspension they will be great on gravel/mild off road.

Lou
My MTBs converted to dropbar bikes are all rigid frames and fork as they were designed. No front shocks were ever on any of them.

Here are some of the rigid frame MTBs I've converted to dropbar gravel/touring bicycles.

Cannondale
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/27884278825/

Diamondback
flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/22127966680/

Giant Butte
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/26313135390/

Giant. Can't remember the model name.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/20961200128/

Miele #1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/22409146694/

Miele #2
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73832500@N00/26641728934/

Cheers
Yep all those bikes are very capable of handling gravel roads. I won't discuss esthetics ;-)

I went out to work on the Felt and immediately had problems After I threaded the new hydraulic hoses through the frame which is a pain unless you've done it before I discovered that the hoses are 0.3 mm too large for the connectors. The connectors can only accept 0.2 tolerance maximum. Oh, well, it isn't like I'm in a hurry to ride in 2 o 3 C.
The new hose and the Avid bleeding kit are on order and the proper hose is a week away.

The FSA cranks for the Eddy Merckx arrived and this time is the right size, The correct size bearings are on the way. I hate Italian threads. Which reminds me, If anyone would like a new FSA Gossamer BBright crankset it would cost you shipping.