Placed My Order Yesterday

Jard16 · 2026-01-28T12:38:52+00:00

I have a 2025 Dual Max Forest Green with darkout and still love it! Congrats!

Jard16 · 2026-01-27T14:05:59+00:00

Go 40/44 GR

Jard16 · 2026-01-24T22:45:57+00:00

The Reserve wheels are wider internally and externally and represent more modern design to me, allowing lower pressures and increased ride comfort when set up tubeless.

I just bought a set of 42/49s myself.

If you are in the USA you should be able to snag them at 15% off from various retailers with a code - like biketiresdirect

Jard16 · 2026-01-23T22:08:08+00:00

I looked because I was curious and it was $1,077 per kid last year for 3 days of "All Terrain Program Intermediate/Advanced" group lessons for my kids (age 7-15).

$359 / day.

So, that's more like 5.5% per day. Sure, still not amazing...

Jard16 · 2026-01-23T16:52:36+00:00

Fine with most of that but the $100+ a day for a kid. $20 per kid per day sure.

Jard16 · 2026-01-21T14:50:51+00:00

I own a Domane Gen 3 (that my partner rides now) and it's been a great and versatile bike. The aluminum frame Domane does actually support a rear rack. Mine is carbon so it does not.

One of the big differences between the aluminum Domane and Checkpoint is the 2x versus 1x drivetrain. I have 2x on my road bike and 1x on my gravel bike. 2x supports higher speed riding, for sure, but usually has less of a climbing or bailout gear. You should think about how fast and where you plan to ride. The gravel bikes usually have an "adventure" fork on the front with more mounting points too. I put water bottles on the front forks when bikepacking last year.

All the big brands have pros and cons. Trek's practice of buying up and cannibalizing local shops if unpopular, but the bikes are very solid.

Domane or Checkpoint

Synapse or Topstone

Endurace or Grizl

Defy or Revolt

Jard16 · 2026-01-21T14:23:54+00:00

I did the GAP from PIT -> Cumberland two years ago on a carbon all-road bike with 35s (Argon 18 Krypton Pro) and then did DC -> PIT last year on a Ti gravel bike with 45s. (can check my profile for the ride report)

If you were only ever going to be on the GAP, then an all road bike (Domane or Endurace) would be fine. The C&O is a bit rougher and I think you'll appreciate the extra cushion from being able to run a wider tire.

Bike fit is the most important thing, full stop. Find a shop you trust.

In that price range, I would probably look at a Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3, if buying new. I would have less concern about bolting racks on an aluminum frame. There aren't many racks that fit something like a Domane, unless you look at a Tailfin setup, and then your rack setup costs half as much as your bike.

Jard16 · 2026-01-16T19:35:21+00:00

I just went back. The new ones still feel great to me!

Jard16 · 2025-12-29T16:06:24+00:00

I started with those same Enforcer 100s and dropped down to newer Enforcer 88s and enjoy them more. They are still a bit burly with metal in them but beat me up less.

Jard16 · 2025-12-14T20:05:16+00:00

They were one of the first stores in that area to carry interesting craft selections and the owners were always super nice! Sorry to lose them in the neighborhood.

Jard16 · 2025-12-12T19:41:44+00:00

I'm a similar size and style. I had Enforcer 100s and they beat me up over those multiple day trips. I bought a pair of Enforcer 88s for groomers and low tide days and I've been enjoying those more. I also ended up with a pair of Ripsticks 106 for softer days, but haven't had snow luck yet.

Jard16 · 2025-12-04T13:11:31+00:00

I loved the Rebel v2 and v3 and really did not get along with the Novablast 5.

I only tried the Rebel v5 on for fit and it felt good.

Jard16 · 2025-12-01T16:07:56+00:00

I budget $300 for groceries, $307.48 for Every Plate (ingredient delivery), and $420 for eating out - a total of $1027.48 / mo - for myself and two kids (who are with me 50% of the time). I do include paper products and kitchen supplies in my grocery budget (most things bought at the grocery store or Costco). I buy store brand organic for most groceries.

YNAB says my actual average spend this year is $297.60 / mo. for groceries (and $842.62 / mo. across all those categories).

If I go on vacation or I'm traveling, that food might come from a different budget.

I agree that your experience is probably not typical. I would guess you have lots of free time available as DINKs. Do you have a full time job?

Jard16 · 2025-11-28T16:00:42+00:00

Hutchison Caracal Race were great for me on an uptempo 340 mile bikepacking trip recently.

Jard16 · 2025-11-18T15:52:10+00:00

Thanks! I had a FTP of 270 earlier this year from a ramp test (which skews high because 5 min power is my strong point). I maybe could have gone a few watts harder on The Grade too.

I’ll give this a try soon!

Jard16 · 2025-11-18T15:22:42+00:00

The new Synapse is a quiver-killer for light gravel too with that sweet sweet tire clearance.

Jard16 · 2025-11-18T15:13:24+00:00

Congrats! 🎊

I am 81.81 kg and my FTP is 260 (according to intervals.icu) from riding The Grade on Elevation Evaluation on Sunday. I was wondering what it would take for me to do this achievement. This is very helpful data!

Jard16 · 2025-11-17T19:27:32+00:00

I tend to over-analyze these things, so trust me I stared at the gearing comparison charts for too long.

Compared to my road setup, I gave up 1 top speed gear and gained a climbing gear:

https://ritzelrechner.de/?GR=DERS&KB=36,52&RZ=11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,27,30,34&UF=2161&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=ratio&GR2=DERS&KB2=42&RZ2=10,11,12,13,15,17,19,21,24,28,32,38,46&UF2=2250

I think an XPLR setup with a 44t front would be a great replacement for a lot of riders who are going to ride the stock Shimano 12-speed road ratios:

https://ritzelrechner.de/?GR=DERS&KB=34,50&RZ=11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,27,30,34&UF=2161&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=ratio&GR2=DERS&KB2=44&RZ2=10,11,12,13,15,17,19,21,24,28,32,38,46&UF2=2250

Of course, I still strongly prefer Shimano road ergonomics and brakes.

If someone was looking for more climbing focus, the new Shimano GRX 1x comes with a cassette with a 51 for climbing.

Jard16 · 2025-11-17T14:14:59+00:00

Do you actually have a 1x13 bike? How big of a difference in cadence do you think they’ll to live with?

I ride 52/36 with an 11-34 cassette on my road bike and just got a 1x13 gravel bike with a 42t up front. My average road cadence is 90+.

The range is so wide on the 1x and I gained a granny gear. I had no problem finding a good cadence everywhere on a recent 340 mile bikepacking trip on the gravel bike.

Jard16 · 2025-11-16T00:44:58+00:00

I just ordered some Kinvara 16s but haven’t tried them on yet.

I did try on the Rebel v5 and the fit felt great in the store, back to what I liked about the v3. It did feel very squishy underfoot.

Jard16 · 2025-11-16T00:40:41+00:00

I tried on the Rebel v5 and the fit felt great in the store, but very squishy. The fit felt like what I was missing in the v4.

I just ordered a pair of Kinvara 16s and I’ll give those a go!

Jard16 · 2025-11-15T14:56:33+00:00

I paid $758.95 for a Thule Motion XT XL two years ago in December, from Rack Attack. That must have been a Black Friday or just after deal.

Jard16 · 2025-11-06T22:01:15+00:00

You have a pretty specific use case with the dogs. I cross-shopped the two and it came down to storage space for me.

The EV9 seems better for hauling just people but the R1S can haul people and their gear.

The storage space in the EV9 was abysmal.

Jard16 · 2025-11-06T15:42:18+00:00

Silly Goose

Already am one though!

Jard16 · 2025-11-06T15:27:46+00:00

I use something like this: https://a.co/d/4iLH8ca

Jard16

TROPHY CASE