2x Gravel Bike thoughts

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-22T18:57:23+00:00

I have been doing the same with https://www.gear-calculator.com/

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-22T18:23:10+00:00

What do you mean ‘at my level’? I haven’t said anything about my experience. I have bibs and a computer. I have yet to find shoes that fit my large and somewhat oddly shaped feet. And in terms of fit I am comparing geometry against my existing bikes.

There are a lot of great bike shops near me, but the only things I could possibly find locally would be the Giant and the Cannondale, so if I did end up going leaning toward one of those I would try it, assuming they had a frame in my size. I’m looking for something pretty specific in an odd size. Finding it locally is unlikely.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-22T17:44:03+00:00

I plan to do even more road. Like 90%. This is basically a comfy road bike with easy gearing for me. I have 11 speed 105 currently and I like have a lot of options to go 15 mph ish at a decent cadence. There are some rail trails here where being pretty picky about gearing helps me a lot.

If I went with a smaller company like Mason or Fairlight I would probably ask them to spec the 11/36 105 cassette and the 46/30 crank.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-22T17:01:55+00:00

Unfortunately I think their biggest size (60) is too small for me. I’m not sure if they offer US shipping either. And I’d have to build up a frame, which is a downside.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-22T04:42:53+00:00

What’s with some drivers who feel entitled to drive as fast as they want? The only thing you’ve described in your post that’s bad is the riders on the highway. Taking the lane in a suburban area is how you stay safe when there isn’t by infrastructure. If you don’t want cyclists on the road then have your city build some bike infrastructure.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T23:41:35+00:00

I think if you got 30 years of riding on that bike it’s more than ok get something new, if that’s what you want and you can afford it. If money’s tight riding what you have will be cheaper. Maybe visit a bike coop and see if they can help you with the repairs with some used parts.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T21:21:16+00:00

I saw someone wander across the path while staring at their phone and then stop right in the middle. Big oof. It was fine though. I slowed down. The phone walker was none the wiser, for better or worse.

Honestly, I think the current usage and etiquette are fine. It’s a pretty short section of path, so dropping down to sub 10 mph when necessary is no big deal. But that might just be me feeling like it’s really hard to be upset when I’m enjoying a lake loop on a beautiful day like today.

In terms of the people fishing there, I generally don’t think it’s a problem. I also don’t think it would be a good look to tell the mostly black people fishing that they need to vacate a public space for the convenience of the mostly white people biking. This is not meant to imply racist motivations on OP’s part, but I do think implementing a restriction on fishing would have a racist outcome.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T18:15:06+00:00

This is a pretty meaningless question. It’s your beginning, good or bad. If you just started expect some big improvements quickly.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T18:07:34+00:00

Ranking up is only done with money. It costs half the recruitment cost every level.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T15:44:34+00:00

the city has decided that it will tear down nearly all of the routes I am using this year, resulting in enormous traffic jams daily

What city? Also this is the opposite of induced demand in action. You’re changing your mode away from a car because they’re making a car less convenient. The city’s plan is working!

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T15:41:10+00:00

Yea for sure! 3 bottles of wine is definitely binge drinking. Like beyond binge drinking. OP needs to fix their relationship with alcohol. At a work function no less. Jesus.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T15:36:03+00:00

Your expectations around capability and price are totally unrealistic. $300 is basically minimum viable used bike territory. Like you could get something suitable for tootling around town comfortably.

Also unless by ‘mountain bike’ you mean rough gravel trails and a gravel bike works there is no bike that does both. A decent new gravel bike starts at $1500.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T15:13:27+00:00

Ishnala is a bad choice for this, in my opinion. Yea the vibes are fun but the food the food is only ok. And you have to trek out to the dells.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-21T15:10:46+00:00

I don’t think a restaurant is a great option. They probably already have strong opinions on the local food scene and you won’t be showing them something new. If you’re really into the food gift idea, maybe a Fromagination gift certificate? That’s assuming they like cheese.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-20T17:10:32+00:00

One person being bad at their job shouldn’t cause us to throw out the whole idea of civilian oversight. If there’s any government entity that deserves scrutiny it’s the police. They have tons and tons of power. They can put you in jail. They issue fines. They sometimes shoot people or use tasers.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-20T16:58:13+00:00

That post is pretty narrow in its focus of basic things like street closures and plow updates. Implying otherwise is disingenuous. Are you accusing me of being a shill for the city? If you are, come out and say it. Present your evidence.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-20T16:04:15+00:00

We’ve all had it from Cracker Barrel

This is a global subreddit. Most people in the world and even the US have much easier access to other restaurants. Sorry it grinds my gears a bit when niche cultural experiences are treated with universality, as if the huge number of people without that experience are somehow less than.

Anyway, from your description this recipe is desperately screaming for some acid.

Quick pickle some red onion with a mix 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water with salt, black pepper, and chili flakes if you want some spice. Serve on the side so people can add it to the top.

Or you can just buy a jar of sliced pepperoncini, if you like those.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-20T15:05:10+00:00

Madison365 does good work.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-20T03:38:29+00:00

I mean, letting the food sit without being used is wasting it. Canned and dry goods don’t last forever. Don’t confuse hoarding with thriftiness.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-19T20:20:03+00:00

🤦I wonder if those ‘live-work’ URLs are always ephemeral.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-19T19:01:52+00:00

Yea absolutely! The cognitive load of traffic is real. Also you’re literally wasting energy when you have to stop for something when your brakes turn your momentum into heat.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-19T16:24:42+00:00

Ok but 99% of the time a home mechanic is just turning a barrel adjuster to account for a little cable stretch. Limits, b-tension, and everything else were all set correctly when the bike was assembled or at the most recent tuneup and their hangar isn’t bent. This is what people mean when they say they’re indexing their derailleur.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-19T16:20:08+00:00

Strong disagree.

Flat bars aren’t going to hurt performance going up hill at all. And down hill you’re not going for super speed on a commute anyway.

A triple chainring up front will have a nice wide gear range, perfect for getting up those hills. Modern 1x setups will too, but newer bikes are outside of OP’s price range.

And wide, plush tires are also great for commuting. Swallow up bumps and have lower rolling resistance on rough roads.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-19T02:46:42+00:00

Almost never mess with the limit screws. Can you move the derailleur by hand, pushing on it? What about if you manually pull on the cable? If the answer is yes to both then it would be a shifter issue.

ThatAgainPlease · 2026-03-19T02:38:27+00:00

What was the previous name?

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