10 months ago I stumbled walking down a jetway. My knee hurt, but then… I am old. Something hurts daily. Couple days later an awesome deal on an almost unused Cutthroat pops up. I hobble around, test ride, and buy it.
Four weeks later I literally stood up and <pop> my knee popped, I fell to the ground, and that was that. Double tear on my meniscus, ripped it out of the bone. Like 8 weeks non weight bearing, and I have been struggling to get back on the bike since. So yesterday is the first time I have ridden this bike on gravel. Ever. Sixteen miles behind me and I am, well, read on:
All I can say is, wow… I have a pretty standard default gravel route nearby. I have been riding a Niner RLT Aluminum for six years. I thought I loved that bike, but the Cuttie is so much smoother. I feel like I could ride for hours and hours. I don't feel beat up. Small washboard is almost unnoticed (I thought the jarring on my Niner was better than on my Fuji CrossComp from a decade ago). Big washboard is ho-hum. The geometry is better than my Niner (for me) and even with a weak knee I still feel more powerful.
If you are on the fence, don't be. It's a fine bike.
By my count this is bike #16 or 17 for me (lol – lifetime – I only own 6 right now). This might be that one bike I could do everything on if I had to downsize to just one.
Plan for the summer is long gravel rides in the mountains nearby, with some solo overnight bike packing trips too. I am not fast, but I love exploring the outdoors at human-poweree pace.
by john_with_a_camera
3 Comments
Congratulations on your recovery. I have been mountain biking for decades and thought gravel bikes to be a bit of a fad. But then I decided to try it and bought my first gravel bike which is the Salsa Flyway. I tested many bikes but these Salsas are just comfortable.
I just bought a journeyer, I love its that’s a dope lookin bike! I wish it wasn’t a rest day !
Reading this as I am bar tape away from finishing my Niner RLT aluminum build