On 7/22/25 23:29, Roger Merriman wrote:
<https://youtu.be/6TU3IGvj0I0?si=SGMu8Xr3P8qFfLkI>
There are some Gravel roads in the Uk but the number that are maintained
are essentially a handful, and limited to the Military areas, and even then >> unlikely to be anything as involved, part from anything they are likely to >> be much less used, particularly by motor vehicles, tanks tend to use other >> tracks!
Salisbury plain <https://maps.app.goo.gl/ivUy1HMH3SzieZfy6> which is lovely >> but not representative of uk Gravel which is more Bridleways and so on, so >> you’d expect to encounter roots rocks and so on, sort of MTB light in many >> ways.
I like this Bridge personally, as one can play Pooh sticks with roadies!
<https://maps.app.goo.gl/n4a2h6t5yb8Jd5uK8>
White downs the track not the road, is fairly representative really
<https://maps.app.goo.gl/opsw6yD86fbam2Fg8>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, aren’t going to be wise >> unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during >> the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to >> recover vehicles.
Gravel roads in Australia are more like those in the US.
sms <[email protected]> wrote:
On 7/22/2025 6:29 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
<snip>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, aren�t going to be wise >>> unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during >>> the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to >>> recover vehicles.
At least in California, There are a lot of packed gravel multi-use
trails, gravel roads, and fire roads, that don't require a mountain bike
but where a thin-tired road bike would not work.
I'd really like some flat bar, non-suspension, alloy frame, CroMo fork,
mechanical disc, 3x8 geared, gravelish bikes that can take up to 43mm
tires. Alas these don't exist in the U.S.. Either they have drop bars,
or are 1x10 or 2 x 9 gearing, have suspension, or have a carbon or
aluminum fork. I can always change drop bars to upright bars, or change
the fork, or change the brakes from hydraulic to mechanical, but I
really want "a product not a project." The closest I've found is
https://www.rei.com/product/197842/co-op-cycles-cty-11-bike .
�If your wife is angry, buy a bike. She will still be angry but you'll
have a new bike.� ? Author unknown
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with budget bikes, they
are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks particularly if it�s a
leisure hybrid etc, aren�t using the full range of gears. My old commute
bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as something broke and >would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without a commute bike
for, plus it�s somewhat better.
I found mechanical disks that living in a moist environment, muck got into >the system and trashed the calliper�s a number of times.
I think you�re Bay Area so rather drier area so much less of issue!
I personally feel mechanical disks are worse of both technologies, as does >the market with even rim brakes having updates later than mechanical disks.
Was it you who was after a Dynamo charging system? Ie battery to charge >lights/devices being topped up by a dynamo.
<https://media-centre.canyon.com/en-INT/251217-introducing-endless-lighting-and-adventure-power-with-canyon-s-eclips-system/>
As ever i suspect number of claims would be best case scenario�s and >certainly unlikely to be all at once, as charging a phone would more or
less empty the bikes battery, so you�d loose the float and need a few hours >to charge it back up.
Be interesting to see how this goes, they do try stuff Canyon they did the >�hover bar� few years back that really didn�t catch on!
Roger Merriman
On 7/22/2025 6:29 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
<snip>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, aren’t going to be wise >> unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during >> the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to >> recover vehicles.
At least in California, There are a lot of packed gravel multi-use
trails, gravel roads, and fire roads, that don't require a mountain bike
but where a thin-tired road bike would not work.
I'd really like some flat bar, non-suspension, alloy frame, CroMo fork, mechanical disc, 3x8 geared, gravelish bikes that can take up to 43mm
tires. Alas these don't exist in the U.S.. Either they have drop bars,
or are 1x10 or 2 x 9 gearing, have suspension, or have a carbon or
aluminum fork. I can always change drop bars to upright bars, or change
the fork, or change the brakes from hydraulic to mechanical, but I
really want "a product not a project." The closest I've found is https://www.rei.com/product/197842/co-op-cycles-cty-11-bike .
“If your wife is angry, buy a bike. She will still be angry but you'll
have a new bike.” ─ Author unknown
On 4 Aug 2025 20:39:32 GMT, Roger Merriman <[email protected]> wrote:
sms <[email protected]> wrote:
On 7/22/2025 6:29 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
<snip>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, arent going to be wise >>>> unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during
the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to >>>> recover vehicles.
At least in California, There are a lot of packed gravel multi-use
trails, gravel roads, and fire roads, that don't require a mountain bike >>> but where a thin-tired road bike would not work.
I'd really like some flat bar, non-suspension, alloy frame, CroMo fork,
mechanical disc, 3x8 geared, gravelish bikes that can take up to 43mm
tires. Alas these don't exist in the U.S.. Either they have drop bars,
or are 1x10 or 2 x 9 gearing, have suspension, or have a carbon or
aluminum fork. I can always change drop bars to upright bars, or change
the fork, or change the brakes from hydraulic to mechanical, but I
really want "a product not a project." The closest I've found is
https://www.rei.com/product/197842/co-op-cycles-cty-11-bike .
If your wife is angry, buy a bike. She will still be angry but you'll
have a new bike. ? Author unknown
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with budget bikes, they
are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks particularly if its a
leisure hybrid etc, arent using the full range of gears. My old commute
bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as something broke and
would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without a commute bike
for, plus its somewhat better.
I found mechanical disks that living in a moist environment, muck got into >> the system and trashed the callipers a number of times.
I think youre Bay Area so rather drier area so much less of issue!
I personally feel mechanical disks are worse of both technologies, as does >> the market with even rim brakes having updates later than mechanical disks. >>
Was it you who was after a Dynamo charging system? Ie battery to charge
lights/devices being topped up by a dynamo.
<https://media-centre.canyon.com/en-INT/251217-introducing-endless-lighting-and-adventure-power-with-canyon-s-eclips-system/>
As ever i suspect number of claims would be best case scenarios and
certainly unlikely to be all at once, as charging a phone would more or
less empty the bikes battery, so youd loose the float and need a few hours >> to charge it back up.
Be interesting to see how this goes, they do try stuff Canyon they did the >> hover bar few years back that really didnt catch on!
Roger Merriman
I can't think of a single reason to change out my 3X9 system even
though I seldom use anything but my 50 tooth big ring.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 4 Aug 2025 20:39:32 GMT, Roger Merriman <[email protected]> wrote:
sms <[email protected]> wrote:
On 7/22/2025 6:29 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
<snip>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, arent going to be wise >>>> unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during
the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to >>>> recover vehicles.
At least in California, There are a lot of packed gravel multi-use
trails, gravel roads, and fire roads, that don't require a mountain bike >>> but where a thin-tired road bike would not work.
I'd really like some flat bar, non-suspension, alloy frame, CroMo fork,
mechanical disc, 3x8 geared, gravelish bikes that can take up to 43mm
tires. Alas these don't exist in the U.S.. Either they have drop bars,
or are 1x10 or 2 x 9 gearing, have suspension, or have a carbon or
aluminum fork. I can always change drop bars to upright bars, or change
the fork, or change the brakes from hydraulic to mechanical, but I
really want "a product not a project." The closest I've found is
https://www.rei.com/product/197842/co-op-cycles-cty-11-bike .
If your wife is angry, buy a bike. She will still be angry but you'll
have a new bike. ? Author unknown
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with budget bikes, they
are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks particularly if its a
leisure hybrid etc, arent using the full range of gears. My old commute
bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as something broke and
would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without a commute bike
for, plus its somewhat better.
I found mechanical disks that living in a moist environment, muck got into >> the system and trashed the callipers a number of times.
I think youre Bay Area so rather drier area so much less of issue!
I personally feel mechanical disks are worse of both technologies, as does >> the market with even rim brakes having updates later than mechanical disks. >>
Was it you who was after a Dynamo charging system? Ie battery to charge
lights/devices being topped up by a dynamo.
<https://media-centre.canyon.com/en-INT/251217-introducing-endless-lighting-and-adventure-power-with-canyon-s-eclips-system/>
As ever i suspect number of claims would be best case scenarios and
certainly unlikely to be all at once, as charging a phone would more or
less empty the bikes battery, so youd loose the float and need a few hours >> to charge it back up.
Be interesting to see how this goes, they do try stuff Canyon they did the >> hover bar few years back that really didnt catch on!
Roger Merriman
I can't think of a single reason to change out my 3X9 system even
though I seldom use anything but my 50 tooth big ring.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
Catrike Ryder <[email protected]> wrote:
On 4 Aug 2025 20:39:32 GMT, Roger Merriman <[email protected]> wrote:
sms <[email protected]> wrote:
On 7/22/2025 6:29 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
<snip>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, aren?t going to be wise >>>>> unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during
the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to
recover vehicles.
At least in California, There are a lot of packed gravel multi-use
trails, gravel roads, and fire roads, that don't require a mountain bike >>>> but where a thin-tired road bike would not work.
I'd really like some flat bar, non-suspension, alloy frame, CroMo fork, >>>> mechanical disc, 3x8 geared, gravelish bikes that can take up to 43mm
tires. Alas these don't exist in the U.S.. Either they have drop bars, >>>> or are 1x10 or 2 x 9 gearing, have suspension, or have a carbon or
aluminum fork. I can always change drop bars to upright bars, or change >>>> the fork, or change the brakes from hydraulic to mechanical, but I
really want "a product not a project." The closest I've found is
https://www.rei.com/product/197842/co-op-cycles-cty-11-bike .
?If your wife is angry, buy a bike. She will still be angry but you'll >>>> have a new bike.? ? Author unknown
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with budget bikes, they >>> are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks particularly if it?s a
leisure hybrid etc, aren?t using the full range of gears. My old commute >>> bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as something broke and >>> would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without a commute bike >>> for, plus it?s somewhat better.
I found mechanical disks that living in a moist environment, muck got into >>> the system and trashed the calliper?s a number of times.
I think you?re Bay Area so rather drier area so much less of issue!
I personally feel mechanical disks are worse of both technologies, as does >>> the market with even rim brakes having updates later than mechanical disks. >>>
Was it you who was after a Dynamo charging system? Ie battery to charge
lights/devices being topped up by a dynamo.
<https://media-centre.canyon.com/en-INT/251217-introducing-endless-lighting-and-adventure-power-with-canyon-s-eclips-system/>
As ever i suspect number of claims would be best case scenario?s and
certainly unlikely to be all at once, as charging a phone would more or
less empty the bikes battery, so you?d loose the float and need a few hours >>> to charge it back up.
Be interesting to see how this goes, they do try stuff Canyon they did the >>> ?hover bar? few years back that really didn?t catch on!
Roger Merriman
I can't think of a single reason to change out my 3X9 system even
though I seldom use anything but my 50 tooth big ring.
Extra faff perhaps, my commute as it�s across West London is probably
similar in elevation but the old MTB derived commute bike is heavy, and do >end up clicking up and down the cassette, and with a triple at some point
you end up having to faff with the front mech, which means shifting again
on the cassette, which gets tedious.
I�ve always upgraded when something wore out or broke! Hence that bike is
now on Cues 1by 10 speed it would be rather limited on anything else but
that or similar routes, as it has much less gearing range, but it�s as
easy low maintenance system.
As ever it�s a trade off, as the cassettes get wider range with less gaps >then 1by becomes less limited, 9/10 speed it definitely has some drawbacks >much less so at 12 or 11 speeds cassettes.
Of the 4 bikes I own 3 are doubles only the old commuter has 1by. As I >generally feel 10speed is presently the sweet spot.
Roger Merriman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 4 Aug 2025 22:51:02 GMT, Roger Merriman <[email protected]> wrote:
Catrike Ryder <[email protected]> wrote:
On 4 Aug 2025 20:39:32 GMT, Roger Merriman <[email protected]> wrote:
sms <[email protected]> wrote:
On 7/22/2025 6:29 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
<snip>
Even rights of ways that motorists can legal use, aren?t going to be wise
unless your 4x4/motorbike and you are prepared. Number of them close during
the winter to prevent damage to the right of way, and to prevent having to
recover vehicles.
At least in California, There are a lot of packed gravel multi-use
trails, gravel roads, and fire roads, that don't require a mountain bike >>>>> but where a thin-tired road bike would not work.
I'd really like some flat bar, non-suspension, alloy frame, CroMo fork, >>>>> mechanical disc, 3x8 geared, gravelish bikes that can take up to 43mm >>>>> tires. Alas these don't exist in the U.S.. Either they have drop bars, >>>>> or are 1x10 or 2 x 9 gearing, have suspension, or have a carbon or
aluminum fork. I can always change drop bars to upright bars, or change >>>>> the fork, or change the brakes from hydraulic to mechanical, but I
really want "a product not a project." The closest I've found is
https://www.rei.com/product/197842/co-op-cycles-cty-11-bike .
?If your wife is angry, buy a bike. She will still be angry but you'll >>>>> have a new bike.? ? Author unknown
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with budget bikes, they >>>> are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks particularly if it?s a
leisure hybrid etc, aren?t using the full range of gears. My old commute >>>> bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as something broke and >>>> would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without a commute bike >>>> for, plus it?s somewhat better.
I found mechanical disks that living in a moist environment, muck got into >>>> the system and trashed the calliper?s a number of times.
I think you?re Bay Area so rather drier area so much less of issue!
I personally feel mechanical disks are worse of both technologies, as does >>>> the market with even rim brakes having updates later than mechanical disks.
Was it you who was after a Dynamo charging system? Ie battery to charge >>>> lights/devices being topped up by a dynamo.
<https://media-centre.canyon.com/en-INT/251217-introducing-endless-lighting-and-adventure-power-with-canyon-s-eclips-system/>
As ever i suspect number of claims would be best case scenario?s and
certainly unlikely to be all at once, as charging a phone would more or >>>> less empty the bikes battery, so you?d loose the float and need a few hours
to charge it back up.
Be interesting to see how this goes, they do try stuff Canyon they did the >>>> ?hover bar? few years back that really didn?t catch on!
Roger Merriman
I can't think of a single reason to change out my 3X9 system even
though I seldom use anything but my 50 tooth big ring.
Extra faff perhaps, my commute as its across West London is probably
similar in elevation but the old MTB derived commute bike is heavy, and do >> end up clicking up and down the cassette, and with a triple at some point
you end up having to faff with the front mech, which means shifting again
on the cassette, which gets tedious.
Ive always upgraded when something wore out or broke! Hence that bike is >> now on Cues 1by 10 speed it would be rather limited on anything else but
that or similar routes, as it has much less gearing range, but its as
easy low maintenance system.
As ever its a trade off, as the cassettes get wider range with less gaps >> then 1by becomes less limited, 9/10 speed it definitely has some drawbacks >> much less so at 12 or 11 speeds cassettes.
Of the 4 bikes I own 3 are doubles only the old commuter has 1by. As I
generally feel 10speed is presently the sweet spot.
Roger Merriman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
Not only is 9 sp chain more durable, they cost less.
I could live with a 2X9 system, perhaps 34-50, but why bother? as for wireless shifting, I'm pretty good at setting up my cable shifters. I
just did it today after changing out my rear derailleur cable. I may
have to click it on the next ride since I've only tested it on the maintenance rack.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 8/4/2025 1:39 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with
budget bikes, they
are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks
particularly if it’s a
leisure hybrid etc, aren’t using the full range of gears.
My old commute
bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as
something broke and
would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without
a commute bike
for, plus it’s somewhat better.
There are some 3x8 with Shimano Tourney, which is a
problematic groupset.
I did find one 3x8 Shimano Claris, but with drop bars.
Conversion to flat bars would cost me about $125 for Claris
flat bar shifters, 4 finger flat bar Tektro brake levers,
and handlebars. Might need to change the stem, not sure, so
it could end up at $160 or so.
I really did not want "a project," but am resigned to it
now. It's okay. I did the drop bar to flat bar conversion on
my wife's road bike and it was easy. Just annoying to throw
away the old brifters and bars.
My current road bike can't really be converted to a gravel-
like bike, the clearance for larger tires is not there.
Mechanical discs are on two mountain bikes in our fleet, and
they've been fine. Everyone I know rails against hydraulic
discs as being great when they work but problematic when
they leak oil.
In my area, so many of the good rides end up with some steep
inclines. Perhaps a 22 year old would be fine with a 1x9,
1x10, 1x11 or 1x12, but it's not good enough for a senior
who needs that "granny gear." One of me exes opted for a
custom titanium with a 3x8 Sora groupset, but she spent
several thousand dollars on it.
Don't really need a dynamo wheel.
The 3 x 8 will be the main gotcha with that, even with budget bikes, they
are going 1by, which makes sense as most folks particularly if it’s a leisure hybrid etc, aren’t using the full range of gears. My old commute bike was on 1 x9 until I upgraded to Shimano Cues as something broke and would have taken longer than I was prepared to be without a commute bike
for, plus it’s somewhat better.
Campagnolo Ekar 1x13 ranges from high 104 inches (plenty big in our age group; no need for the 114 high gear option) to low 23 inches. Your
present bike is unlikely to be geared lower than that!
On 8/11/2025 12:33 PM, AMuzi wrote:
Campagnolo Ekar 1x13 ranges from high 104 inches (plenty big in our age
group; no need for the 114 high gear option) to low 23 inches. Your
present bike is unlikely to be geared lower than that!
That's good, but that groupset is over $600.
What I'm looking at in the 3x8 is 121 to 24, though I could swap the 30
teeth chain ring for a 26 and do 121 to 20.
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