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I’ve been riding gravel for 2 years now on my aluminum 27.5 XC hardtail. I am using Maxxis Icon 2.3” tires. Although it works fine, I am now shopping for a rigid, drop bar gravel bike as my distances are getting longer, and I need more low gears for speed. I don’t think suspension is necessary, but I would go with wider tires (45-50mm) on 700C wheels as my roads can get quite chunky and loose.
I have always made the connection and thought it was brilliant! I wonder if the family of John Belushi will now sue RockShox for naming their fat bike shock “Bluto”!
Good job Joe! Well said. Props for Michigan mountain biking!
I wear amber lens safety glasses from Tru Value Hardware. The amber color highlights the trail contrasts. (Same concept as shooters lenses). The other nice things are the arm angles can be adjusted to fit with your helmet just right, and the lenses wrap around the side. I think they cost about $9.50.
http://www.truevalue.com/product/Amber-Lens-Safety-Glasses/12142.uts?keyword=Safety%20glasses
When it gets below 20 degrees in the winter (I live in Michigan) I wear Smith ski goggles, rose color lenses, and they have vents so they don’t fog up.
I have had good luck with Tree Fort Bikes for parts and equipment and they have price match. They are also a full service bike shop and know their stuff if you have questions. Backcountry has good prices on apparel, gloves, pads, shoes, etc., and they ship for free. Its always worthwhile checking Amazon, (with Amazon prime it ships free and very fast), and they get their stuff from the same suppliers as the other sites.
It depends on what changes they made from one year to the next. Compare the frame specs, geometry, build kit and components . . 1×11, 2×10, NX1, GX1, XO1, boost hubs, forks, brakes, etc. If everything’s the same or better, get the older model at a lower price. I bought a marked down 2016 in December for a $1000 less than it was in November, the 2017 is basically the same bike in a different color.
Not to derail the topic, but in case there are new riders (like I was just last summer) reading this thread, I would like to provide the following advice: Assuming your bike and cockpit are set up correctly, before you blame the saddle for soreness, make sure you get your body used to riding. It took me many rides over a period of a couple weeks to build up my body to where the soreness went away. The next thing is the rash, which can be helped significantly by using good well fitting chamois riding shorts. I then found the best thing for comfort was to measure my sit bones and get a saddle that fit. It turned out that the main cause of rash was a saddle that was too narrow. Once I installed the proper width saddle life is great. I don’t think you need to spend a lot of money to be happy, just make sure it fits. I have a WTB Rocket on my starter XC bike, and a WTB Pure V Comp on my Trail bike. No complaints.
