Or perhaps I should say that I am less skilled on my new gravel bike than I am on my Mtb…
Washed out the front end today on the most mellow of forest paths – one that I have done much more aggressively on my Mtb without ever having an issue.
Fortunately just a few broken spokes (I somehow managed to fall onto my front wheel spokes), a hopefully just strained forearm and a lesson on how not to ride my gravel bike…
by FinniganTheDog
21 Comments
This is why the industry pushes underbiking as a thing
MO MONEY
Unpopular opinion: a gravel bike is just a more comfortable road bike 🚴
Tyres make a big difference if you aren’t already maxing your bike out
C’était sur.
Took my gravel bike out on light single track this weekend full of over-biked FS MTBs.
Felt (correction, I am) better than everyone
But did you die?
I’ve been starting to do a lot of “mixed terrain” rides in Massachusetts, with everything from singletrack to paved rail trail with minimal paved road. Currently using a touring bike with 38 mm tires. I want to put more singletrack into my loops, so I’m considering swapping to a hardtail rather than gravel bike, but i like the dropped bars for different hand positions. Right now the underbiking sections are getting more annoying than the overriding sections.
How many spokes on your wheel? It looks kinda sparse?
I take mine up and down rocky single track all the time. It’s a hoot!
A mountain bike is a bike used on single track… so yes that could be a mountain bike
What is your tire and wheel set up? size and tire pressure? Did you hit an object straight on, or just slide on leaves or sand and washed out??
Any bike can be a mountain bike… once.
Get a high spoke count wheel, for example hope rx24 is available in 32 spokes
People taking gravel bikes down MTB trails are doing too much.
You can cut a sandwich with a spoon, but it is not the right tool for the job.
Washing out is operator error or “just riding along.”
Rode 3 kilometers of black trail on my gravel bike this sunday. Fun as hell!
Seems like more of an issue with the specific wheel, than the bike itself!
I ride mine on most dirt, single track with roots, rock and reggae.
Is it possible your tires were slightly over inflated? I realized that almost every time I’ve crashed was due to too much tire pressure. You can ride much lower pressures than I think most people realize. I’m about 185lbs including bike weight and I comfortably and quickly ride my 50mm tires at around 19-21 psi. Lowering my tire pressure was one of the best things I’ve done for confident bike handling.
Any bike is a MTB if you’re brave enough.
Tried an MTB race on my gravel bike last year. The feeling of pulling into the parking lot seeing everyone on full suspension set ups was almost as humbling as the actual race attempt.
The race was mostly the local bike dads I’ve known since I was little, so they all witnessed my shame first hand. On the bright side they call me the Underbiker now, which honestly is kinda sick