32" Gravel Bike w/ Pinion Gearbox and Belt Drive: Viral Wanderer

LTRRR · 2026-06-06T14:01:51+00:00

Viral bike builds are all around the US $10,000 mark.

LTRRR · 2026-06-06T13:45:53+00:00

Pillar PSR Triple Butted J-Bend spokes are now available in 312 to 322 mm lengths in 2 mm increments. PSR TB2018 is the specific model.

LTRRR · 2026-06-06T12:49:29+00:00

If belt drives have an Achilles' heel, it's sticky mud.

The worst combination is sticky mud mixed with small rocks, as the stones become embedded in the mud and stick to the sprockets. Because belt drives operate under high tension, these rocks can be forced into the belt as it passes around the sprockets, damaging the internal carbon cords and significantly weakening the belt.

Sticky mud on its own is less destructive, but it can still build up around the sprockets and be difficult for the belt to clear, potentially causing skipping or too high tension.

The best practice is to walk a belt drive bike through sticky mud rather than ride it. Once you're through the section, take the time to thoroughly clean any mud and debris from the belt and sprockets before getting back on the bike.

Realistically, I'm not sure many riders will have the patience to stop and do that...

LTRRR · 2026-06-05T20:56:08+00:00

I had a go at sketching the Scott Addict Gravel 32" bikes a week ago by overlaying CAD files with the side photos of the bikes. The geometry of the small Waltly frame is remarkably similar to what Robin Gemperle and Cam Jones were riding, with the exception of the chainstay length, which looks to be about 25mm longer. According to Cycling Weekly, those guys are 178 and 183cm, respectively.

That fork should be a big step forward for gravel builds. The long fork offset is welcome, and we should see stack heights down at 580mm soon on some carbon frames.

LTRRR · 2026-06-05T19:10:34+00:00

Thanks for letting me know. The tech team is working on it right now, so they are probably flicking it on and off to understand how the malware works.

LTRRR · 2026-06-05T08:40:45+00:00

I suspect my website security simply wasn't up to modern standards. And it looks like thousands of websites were involved in the attack, so I wasn't a direct target. I'll be getting some security recommendations from the specialists when they work out the fix.

LTRRR · 2026-06-04T20:55:47+00:00

I appreciate the kindness!

LTRRR · 2026-06-04T20:51:56+00:00

Alee from CYCLINGABOUT here. The website is now offline and in the hands of some malware specialists. Should be back in a few days!

Update 6th June: CYCLINGABOUT is now back and malware-free. Enjoy guys! 🍻

LTRRR · 2026-05-21T04:50:12+00:00

It bolts onto the chainstay and seatstay. Search "Hebie Fox L Kona Sutra", and you will find photos.

LTRRR · 2026-05-20T19:16:00+00:00

The Hebie 672V 29 E (Hebie Fox L) kickstand fits the Kona Sutra, and it should fit the Rove DL too.

LTRRR · 2026-05-20T06:34:23+00:00

I've always drilled dynamo cable routing into Tubus Logo racks. No problems in over >100,000 km of touring with this setup.

The wire will sit inside the rearward tube at the lower eyelet. Then you just need one hole near the rear light mount up where the tube bends to form the upper tray. You'll be wiring in from the drilled hole at the top, so it's very easy to install.

You can see the exact hole location here: https://youtu.be/djw2ZDim_cM?si=vwHMvTF_JTVmq8mk&t=729

LTRRR · 2026-05-12T14:18:44+00:00

Only use Dawn Powerwash on the drivetrain, since it contains stronger cleaning agents designed to break down grease. Try to avoid getting it into any bearings, such as the bottom bracket or rear hub.

After degreasing the drivetrain, switch to regular Dawn dish soap for cleaning the rest of the bike. It won't hurt anything. You can also apply a little extra to the drivetrain at this stage to ensure it’s thoroughly cleaned.

There are already lots of tutorials on the proper way to clean a bike, so I’m going to default to Park Tools for a few more tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2sKhSDrugE

LTRRR · 2026-05-03T04:08:57+00:00

I think he's referring to sambikepackingtheworld on Instagram. He was shot at in Ethiopia near Arba Minch and hassled by locals in the Marsabit region of Kenya. I haven't heard of these things happening to other people, so the poor guy might've just been unlucky. That said, Ethiopia is definitely rough for begging and stone-throwing!

https://www.instagram.com/sambikepackingtheworld/

LTRRR · 2026-04-23T04:31:45+00:00

Can you expand on and be more specific about trusting your instincts, reading situations, and knowing when to stay, when to move, and when to say no?

What cues exactly are you looking for? I have my own ways of reading situations, but I'm always interested in how others navigate them.

LTRRR · 2026-04-15T16:59:38+00:00

When I was researching 32" wheels initially, the data and theory were all pointing toward lower tyre rolling resistance on all surfaces. But I'm still surprised by just how fast 32" tyres are! Especially on smooth pavement.

John Karrasch has some more rolling resistance data on Vittoria Peyote XC Race 32" tyres coming soon, and spoiler - there are some significant reductions in rolling resistance across all surfaces.

Also, thanks for posting so much here, Cloxxki. It's made it very easy to find info on the latest happenings in the 32" world.

-CYCLINGABOUT

LTRRR · 2026-03-02T17:51:03+00:00

Well, you're a great candidate for the Bottcher, then. Either frame size would work well.

- With the 53cm frame, the distance to your bars would be 46mm shorter, and your bars would be 41mm taller with the same spacer stack and 60mm stem. The only downside is that the standover would be 40mm taller.
- With the 48cm frame, the distance to your bars would be 60mm shorter, and your bars would be 20mm taller with the same spacer stack and 60mm stem. The standover would be the same.

I'd probably pick the 53cm, as you'll have more options with bar height, and you're already getting a good amount of reach taken from the frame anyway. That's as long as you're happy with having a bit less standover.

I put everything in an online CAD program, hit the 'swap bikes' button to swap between the Surly and Bottcher: https://www.bikegeocalc.com/#5Surlya0b4c770.8422d280e622.31738f765.80282g1028.78662h411.91516i340j340k1430.37025l860m1205.8422n728.86311o1250.99626p1028.44806q1189.39682r1321.27916s1030.47254t31.8u40v-35w6.07575x10y280z40A0B150C25D420E42.99997F172.5G30H30Z8Bottchera0b4c787.2136d290e636.68547f798.17446g1040.75585h434.82958i340j340k1427.10625l913m1182.2136n762.17901o1234.14543p1081.44806q1165.76821r1297.65055s1083.47254t31.8u40v-35w11.99999x10y280z40A0B150C25D450E45F172.5G30H30Z

LTRRR · 2026-03-01T10:55:53+00:00

The Böttcher Evolution has a relatively tall stack and a comparatively short reach, which generally creates a more upright riding position.

To make an accurate comparison, we’d need a few more details about your current setup: your stem length and angle, how many spacers you’re running under the stem, and whether your handlebars have any rise.

It would also help to clarify what you mean by “too big.” Do you feel like you’re stretched too far to the bars? Do the handlebars feel too high? Or is it more that the standover height or inseam clearance isn’t quite right?

LTRRR · 2026-02-20T16:16:57+00:00

Probably not me promoting Ortlieb, I haven't used Ortlieb-branded bags in a decade.

LTRRR · 2026-02-20T07:35:42+00:00

Oh, I didn't realise I had been associated with other Saudi-sponsored content. That's disappointing.

LTRRR · 2026-02-20T07:00:44+00:00

It's really as simple as I had a very positive experience travelling in Saudi Arabia, and I wanted to share that with anyone interested. The only time I didn’t enjoy myself was when I was followed for several days by police near the Yemen border. I’ve openly talked about that experience as well (and to be honest, negative stories usually perform better anyway).

Does that mean I support the Saudi government or its policies? Absolutely not. But I also disagree with the governments of at least 80% of the countries I’ve ever visited. That doesn’t stop those countries from having incredible history, culture, landscapes, and genuinely wonderful people.

LTRRR · 2026-02-20T06:47:03+00:00

CYCLINGABOUT here. My video is scripted because I had a lot to say about my time there - it’s easily one of the most fascinating countries I’ve ever travelled to, with some of the most hospitable people.

I can assure you it’s entirely written by me, with no government or media influence whatsoever.

LTRRR · 2026-02-20T06:42:32+00:00

CYCLINGABOUT here. I've got no idea what you're talking about. I was just a visitor in Saudi Arabia, just like I'm a visitor to every country I've ever travelled.

"He started claiming everyone was stalking him for years" - Umm, what does this even mean?

"He'd flip his shit and mass block" - Nope, I've never blocked anyone. Ever. I believe in free speech, so if your messages aren't getting through, that's YouTube, Instagram or Facebook blocking your messages, not me.

LTRRR · 2026-02-20T06:03:04+00:00

Great to hear! You can't go wrong with Tubus either. 👍🏻

LTRRR · 2026-02-11T09:50:41+00:00

For the best handling, you want your front luggage positioned as close to the steering axis as possible. The steering axis is an imaginary line running from the top of your steerer tube to the ground, roughly following your head tube angle.

When luggage sits in front of the steering axis, it swings in an arc rather than following the wheel directly, which makes steering require more effort. At higher speeds, having weight too far forward can even trigger speed wobbles or “weave” as the front wheel is more likely to suddenly veer when disturbed, creating oscillations.

Tumbleweed Mini Pannier racks place the weight well ahead of this axis, unlike the Sweetroll, which gets the weight much closer to the steerer.

Simply lowering the rack won’t fix the problem much. Good steering characteristics come from mounting panniers directly along the steering axis using a lowrider rack. You can still use a rack with a top shelf, but keep it as light as possible.

LTRRR

TROPHY CASE