restlessnative wrote:I think actual specific gravel bikes have a lazier geo, longer stays, taller headtube, maybe lower bb, more bottle bosses sometimes and room for bigger tyres*

So a mountain bike?

What are the characteristics that make a gravel bike different to a cross bike?

At the moment the americans are coming to some consensus as restless native has mentioned.

The point I was was trying to make is that we might end up with a UK gravel bike having lower gears added to that too.

Having said that most 'cross' bikes now are not all out race bikes and are dumbed down to reflect what most people use them for, bit of trail riding and light touring. Hence the appearance of bottle bosses and pannier mounts on most of them.

thomthumb wrote:The point I was was trying to make is that we might end up with a UK gravel bike having lower gears added to that too.

especially if Ian keeps planning the races

Might have a ponder over maps later, not sure we have enough gravel in the Scottish Borders to get a big enough loop though. I am thinking it would need to be atleast 50% off road and 50% minor back roads?

Scottish Borders

kielder 100 ?

I would have thought Kielder / Newcastleton area including a loop of the Kielder Pond would give a decent distance.

Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?

restlessnative wrote:

thomthumb wrote:The point I was was trying to make is that we might end up with a UK gravel bike having lower gears added to that too.

especially if Ian keeps planning the races

:D

Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?

There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.

My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.

http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765

thomthumb wrote:

Scottish Borders

kielder 100 ?

I do try not to go to Englandshire but it's worth a look

Zippy wrote:

Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?

There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.

My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.

http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765

Was that all doable on a cross bike?

restlessnative wrote:

Zippy wrote:

Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?

There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.

My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.

http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765

Was that all doable on a cross bike?

Almost, odd few bits and pieces a mtb would be preferable - and overall I think I would choose a fast MTB over a cross bike for it (some singletracky bits and there are definitely bits where a MTB would be quicker, quite a few trail centrey type bits). It was a year ago now though, so it's all a bit hazy.

Is the 200 about the same ratio?

I get it to be ~29% tarmac

Mainly a couple of miles here and there that add up but 'breathers' will be around
Descent off the Mountain Road
Around Nant y Moch
Run through Ponterwyd
After Devils staircase
Strata Florida to Ystradmeurig

I do try not to go to Englandshire but it's worth a look

I thought a lot of it was your side?!

restlessnative wrote:

Zippy wrote:

Ian wrote:Does anyone know how much % road and total climbing the Kielder 100 had?

There was actually very very little road on the Kielder 100.

My Garmin says 3554m of climbing.

http://www.strava.com/activities/78144765

Was that all doable on a cross bike?

I did every single year of the Kielder 100 and would definitely not consider it on a cross bike. No fun whatsoever on the really fun trail centre parts, no grip on lots of steep, grass, rutted, off camber sections, even though still double track. And plenty of crashes at speed on mountainbikes on the loose gravel would be real fun trying to slow and turn a 32mm tyre down.

I think you could make a great specific "gravel" course up there though, but I suspect the forestry would like some way of making money out of it.

numplumz wrote:I suspect the forestry would like some way of making money out of it

Only if they knew about it

Chew wrote:

numplumz wrote:I suspect the forestry would like some way of making money out of it

Only if they knew about it

What like this one is a secret ;-)

Those of you considering 40/29 chain rings do you have them or are you buying new chain rings or just buying a whole new chainset? A quick look around and can't see much on chain ring front. I need to confirm my bolts are 110bcd, would not want to get that wrong if buying rings.

you wont get 29 on 110bcd. it's 33t minimum. :)

Thanks tt - thats why I couldn't find one. Don't really want to buy another chainset and will probably just use an mtb for the gearing.

So, we're almost a month down since entries opened....

Done any training? Gonna bother?
Regret entering? Starting to panic?

Or are you stealth training, eating like you have some sort of disorder and dusting off the skin suit?

With the weather so rubbish (and a bent rear hanger after an off on some ice) I've put away the road bike and am solely riding my 29er. No structured training or anything like that, just trying to get out for a little ride as often as possible.
I think I'll save the worry and regret until March.

Not touched my bike since T&B due to bad back.
Mind you, the swamps in Somerset are rather deep at the moment so every cloud has a silver lining.

flatfishy wrote: Mind you, the swamps in Somerset are rather deep at the moment so every cloud has a silver lining.

I'm spending my time riding on the road instead. London roads are akin to welsh gravel tracks anyway so I figure it works.

Just hoping I can get project 'Proper Shopper' finished in time

s8tannorm wrote:Just hoping I can get project 'Proper Shopper' finished in time

I've got some carbon clip on TT bars you can borrow if you need...