Adventure pushies

[NordieBoy]

If they'd canted the track back so you couldn't see the crushed gravel from a distance, there'd probably be no outcry.

[R650R]

If they'd canted the track back so you couldn't see the crushed gravel from a distance, there'd probably be no outcry.

Apparently the plan was it would have blended in few months down the track with regrowth and planting etc.....

Sign the petition against the petition here https://www.change.org/p/hawkes-bay-...fbog/844739599

[R650R]

Now 6500 for vs 4800 fatties

But now they using OSH and ‘traffic safety’ to shut it down, apparently crossing the road is dangerous... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay...ectid=11966948

[NordieBoy]

After the Coppermine race where the front suspension didn't seem to be working all that well, I've gone back to rigid on the Unit, and it's brilliant
Until the end of almost every ride if there's rocks or braking bumps - ouch

[NordieBoy]

Road bike experiment time.

Damn
The only ratio that works (even with a tensioner) is 42/18 which is only a poofteenth taller that the 38/17 I ran on the CX/gravel bike in the hills.
If 42/17 fitted, it'd be worth a go.

On the CX bike, I could run 34-38-42/17 which covered almost everything from CX to roady stuff.

Oh well, back on with those new-fangled geary things

Tempted to bring the CX frame out of retirement and see which is more fun.

[NordieBoy]

Experiment over, back to gears

[R650R]

The saga continues.... sad thing is this guy has penned some good articles in past on history.... now race relations back another 150 years....

Guess he doesn’t get out much with ‘our people’, cause I’ve seen plenty of ‘our people’ riding mountain bikes. Lots of ‘our oeople’ Seem to own flash Holden’s and fords along with latest suvs....

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-ba...ectid=12051225

[NordieBoy]

New experiment.
MTB version of TuBliss.
80psi in the core and I'll start with 18psi front and 20 rear and may even end up a little softer

[CrazyFrog]

So Fran, I see you bought those 11spd hydro/disc lever set combo on TradeMe.
What are you gonna chuck those onto? Are you upgrading the CX?

I just bought me a Focus Mares CX rig, time to practice me high speed gravel descents on the drops

[HenryDorsetCase]

The saga continues.... sad thing is this guy has penned some good articles in past on history.... now race relations back another 150 years....

Guess he doesn’t get out much with ‘our people’, cause I’ve seen plenty of ‘our people’ riding mountain bikes. Lots of ‘our oeople’ Seem to own flash Holden’s and fords along with latest suvs....

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-ba...ectid=12051225

He seems to have his tits in a tangle about mtb-ers!

[NordieBoy]

So Fran, I see you bought those 11spd hydro/disc lever set combo on TradeMe.
What are you gonna chuck those onto? Are you upgrading the CX?

I just bought me a Focus Mares CX rig, time to practice me high speed gravel descents on the drops

The CX got retired a couple of years ago. It would only JUST take 33mm tyres and I'd like to stick some 40mm ones on it and disc brakes would be nice.
The frame geometry was spot on for me dammit. Ran beautifully as a single speed too.
Did some great long rides in the forestry in Wakefield.

Slowly building this up...

My old 21" frame M5 Stumpy 26er hardtail (the old orange Avanti Blade CX'er frame is hanging up in the background).
Hate it as a single speed
Some carbon forks are on their way from China, a Wolftooth Tanpan to let the 11spd road shifters work with the 10spd clutched rear MTB mech, 23mm internal 29er rims, 34t oval chainring, On One Midge drop bars.
Bottom bracket will be lower than on the Kona Unit which is my gravel race bike at the moment.
Only needed to get the forks, Tanpan and shifters.
The Emporium had the rest

If it works like I hope it will, I'll probably get rid of the road bike.
It'll handle the road OK and off the seal, well, I've done Turners, Firball, 3rd House on the old CX bike and this is MUCH more robust.
Only need 1 geared bike.

What width bars are on the Mares?
I've got some sweet 460mm wide carbon beauties if you need them.
I'm going with alloy just because I'll be strapping on tri-bars regularly and I don't like doing that to carbon, even if these ones are especially reinforced for it.

[NordieBoy]

Tanpan on the end of the cable to change the pull ratio.
I used similar ones to get the road brakes working on the CX bike V-brakes.


11 speed hydro brake shifters.


I'll leave the hoses a little long until I get the stem length dialed.
The front hose is a bit short, but may fit with the new carbon forks.
Last piece of the puzzle is an 11 speed 11-32 or 34 cassette.
May have to buy a new (shudder) one

[NordieBoy]

That was almost a disaster
11 speed cassettes don't quite fit on 10 speed hubs...

Unless it's an 11 speed MTB cassette, in which case it does

I was going to use a big road cassette, but now it's going to be a "small" MTB one.
11-40
The Zee rear mech will have to be changed to an XT one with a OneUp cage extender.
Which I happen to have lying around - as you do when everything else is converted to single speed.

New chain and cassette...

Now need to read up on bleeding Shimano Ultegra RS685 brakes.

[CrazyFrog]

That was almost a disaster
11 speed cassettes don't quite fit on 10 speed hubs...

Unless it's an 11 speed MTB cassette, in which case it does

I was going to use a big road cassette, but now it's going to be a "small" MTB one.
11-40
The Zee rear mech will have to be changed to an XT one with a OneUp cage extender.
Which I happen to have lying around - as you do when everything else is converted to single speed.

New chain and cassette...

Now need to read up on bleeding Shimano Ultegra RS685 brakes.

Are you running 1 x 11 or 2 x 11 gearing? If it's x2, then a mtb 12-36 cassette should suffice. If its got the 1 x set up, then yeah, go big or go home.
Them RS685 brakes are pretty similar to bleed as normal Shimano Hydro systems, just peel back them brake hoods and it's all hidden away under there.
My Mares CX bars are 44cm alloy, me thinks practice will improve my confidence on those fast gravel descents, already feeling more at ease on it with 250km's clocked up in the last week.
My gearing is quite high, I'm already looking into long cage derailleur options so I can run a 12-34 cassette (44/34 front chainrings). The current 28T low gear is fine for Central Rd/ Sharlands etc, but too limited for gruntier climbs. Dont want to blow a fu-fu after all

[NordieBoy]

1x11
Can't get a 12-36 11 speed mtb cassette, seem to be only 10 speed?
Checked last night and the largest oval front ring I can use without causing frame damage is a 36t which is sweet.
I'd prefer 11-36 as I like standing climbing and to me, 36/36 is hellishly low geared when my usual gearing is the equivalent of 36/25
I used to run a 42t extender cog on my 1x10 hardtail.

Got these spare...
http://www.syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=3&pk=1831
46cm with a sweep backward on the tops. Found I liked compact drops better.

Good thing with the brakes is I can change the calipers to SLX ones if I have issues getting road pads or they wear out too quickly.

A long cage rear and you should be good. 10 or 11 speed?

Fufu valves need to be looked after.