HELP! For a 225km (140 miles) gravel event through the woods on paths like these. Which bike would you choose because both of them are not optimal (the gravel bike I want is not available atm). The heavy bikepacking-do-it-all Surly with slow 2.5inch tires or the road underbiking-but-fast aero bike with 30mm Gravelking Semi-slicks?
by vincentius02
14 Comments
If your skill levels are high enough you can make the 30 mm semi slicks work. If you envision yourself riding in packs, this will be significantly harder because those tires will be very easy to pinch flat. I would run the road bike with tire inserts
Surly every day of the week. I would put drop bars on it though.
That’s gonna be grim no matter what on 30mm tires. I’d be going on the surly. Do you have the option to put a pair of schwalbe thunderburts or similar on the surly?
I just finished a big road ride that ended with about 10 miles of gravel that looked like that. I did it on 30 mm slicks and it sucked for the entire 10 miles. I had to go slow the entire time. In a group at race pace, I don’t think your road bike would survive. The first pothole at 20 miles an hour and that tire and maybe the wheel is toasted.
If you want to race your best but a bad option here would be to take this surly and put some fast gravel tires on it. Take the racks off maybe add arrow bars. You won’t keep up with the fast boys, but you’ll finish comfortable.
Option B don’t do this race. Sign up next year when you have a gravel bike.
If the road looks like that most of the time, I would take the road bike without question. Far faster and the drop bars will make it more comfortable for a long distance. I wouldn’t call it underbiked at all.
I would grab the surly and buy some fast tires. Drop bar conversion is a pain, I’d avoid doing that.
2
Oh snap. Depends on who I’m riding with and how fast I want to go. If I’m the fastest rider in the group and slowing down is fine: Surly. Any other scenario I’d take the road bike. Or I’d go buy another bike. n+1=
Surly and I WOULDN’T put drop bars on it
Surly and a few beers
the issue with the road bike is that if it rains even a little, your tires will get caked and the fork/stays will clog and lock the wheels (speaking from experience here). If there are any rocks or chunky gravel, you can tare a tire or worst ruin a rim.
Unless you are looking to win it, just take the surely and have some fun. Maybe take the racks off for some weight saving and go enjoy urself
Something in between the two
what is you goal? Finishing as quickly as possible or having a nice ride?
With the surly you can pack a stove, coffee, good food, a book and have a nice long day, enjoy the countryside, hang out at where you like it, make coffee, read, relax.
Using the fast bike you will be done it way less time but you are only going to take what is required to get it done.
Surly. Strip the racks and get fast 2.1” XC tires and some spirogrips style inner bar ends.
30mm is way to thin too enjoy that much washboard, this isn’t a race for world fame is it?