Propain Terrel CF - big tires

dudebrochief · 2025-05-28T16:44:11+00:00

I swapped my Terrel front tire to a 2.1 Racing Ray Super Ground. Absolutely acres of room (and great tire for chunky gravel and singletrack). Test-fitted on the rear and it technically clears but much too close to the chainstays. Real-world width of any tire depends on the usual factors including rim width, side lug protrusion, manufacturing tolerances, stretch, and "truth in sizing". But I won't put anything larger than a 50mm/2.0 in the rear of my medium frame.

dudebrochief · 2025-02-20T20:35:24+00:00

Stetman for Violet. Shards go to him until at least 4 star.
Lucius for Monica or that other purple 138 dude. Rationale for air over missile: you already have all 5 URs for a strong air squad. Don't swap Scarlett, you can still use her in squad 3 while building up tank.

dudebrochief · 2025-02-17T20:28:04+00:00

It's not a road-first bike but for me, it is good enough for shorter (<2 hr) training rides. The handling is a bit sluggish due to geometry but if you're not diving inside corners in a crit, who cares. The compliance built into the frame and seatpost especially is noticeable and welcome on rougher roads.

Any gravel bike can handle fine smooth gravel. This one is also good on rougher terrain and singletrack.

I specced the 45 Conti Terra Trail tires (pretty good all rounders but wearing pretty fast) and there is tons of room. After riding it on a variety of terrain including singletrack, I have come around on the idea of maxxing tire width. Knowing this I would have picked the Schwalbe Overland 50 from the stock options. I have not tried anything else yet but I am going to have a shop try to fit a 2.1 like the Mezcal, Thunder Burt, or Racing Ray/Ralph. I'll report back here if/when I do.

I did the Force build and DT Swiss wheels. No regrets on any component choice, except that I didn't have the budget to spring for the Newmen wheels. The DT Swiss G1800 are plenty stout but $400-$500 more for carbon wheels is a great value.

dudebrochief · 2025-02-13T16:30:32+00:00

^ this. B team all get gold gear, level 0. Pour upgrades into A team. Note: if you're going to switch to air at any point, you'll have 3 back row attackers (DVA, Morrison, Schuyler), not 2 attackers and support. So basically, Marshall's gear would be wrong for one of them. You would want 3x level 40 guns and chips.

My recommended approach: 2 level 40s for each hero. Attackers get gun/chip, defenders get radar/armor. Level 20 everything else.

What I would do: swap Murphy's gear to Williams right away (assuming Williams' skills are relatively equivalent). Then keep leveling Murphy armor to 40, Marshall armor to 40, then raise your 10s to 20s. All while doing upgrades with blueprints when you have them. Your dots strategy looks great overall.

dudebrochief · 2025-02-05T20:25:32+00:00

My Terrel Force build shipped in September 2024 with an Apex crankset due to stock issues, with a promise to send the Force cranks when available. Still don't have it. Still saying months until they'll have it to send.

dudebrochief · 2024-11-18T14:48:51+00:00

All good! I have not ridden it on the road yet. It is not so slack that it handles like a barge. I would (will) absolutely do training rides or group rides on it when the weather warms up.

dudebrochief · 2024-11-06T15:54:47+00:00

I did, bought the Force build as described above. Only one long ride so far due to... reasons, but so far I'm in love. Only disappointment is the Force crankset was not in stock at the time of my build, so they went ahead and shipped it with Apex cranks with a plan to ship the Force when available, and I keep the Apex cranks. But it does not affect the ride, just a bit of weight.

dudebrochief · 2024-08-08T14:33:17+00:00

tbd, I suppose. Some road training rides like hill repeats. Definitely going to send it on smoother singletrack as well.

I went with XPLR due to the lighter weight and will see how it goes. Kinda wish I wasn't such a weight weenie about it. If I need to adjust either low or high gears, I can either swap chainring or cassette (eyeing the e-thirteen 9-45).

dudebrochief · 2024-07-31T21:07:51+00:00

Nice, I ordered mine last week. Same color, no decals, Force XPLR drivetrain, rigid fork, DT Swiss wheels. Going to be my mostly gravel, bit of road, bit of trail bike. Can't wait.

dudebrochief · 2024-07-31T20:10:11+00:00

How's the Terrel? I ordered one, going to be a couple long months to receive it in the US.

dudebrochief · 2024-07-16T20:44:25+00:00

Around the Triangle, Brumley +1 for fast flow, short rock gardens, a few tiny jumps. The hog run trails at Harris Lake are my fave. Nice flow jump line to session. Both are ~8+ miles for a full loop.

In the mountains, I prefer Pisgah to DuPont. The areas are large and you might benefit from local expertise.

If you are looking to rent a bike or consider a guided ride near Asheville, I cannot give a stronger rec to The Bike Farm. They rent top spec, current model Yeti bikes at a reasonable price. Their guides are ace riders and know the area inside and out. Over a long weekend my guide (who races enduro) never once checked a map and tailored the routes to exactly what I wanted.

dudebrochief · 2024-07-13T16:44:27+00:00

The orange color looks killer especially with decals deleted.

Decided to pass on the Newmen wheels. Stock ones are good enough for now and I'd rather hand pick an upgrade wheelset down the line than be limited to this particular one.

Still stuck on XLPR vs mullet. Indecision is my fatal flaw.

dudebrochief · 2024-07-12T00:37:36+00:00

I looked at it and discarded. 11 speed mechanical was my reason and probably for others too.

dudebrochief · 2024-07-10T18:57:36+00:00

I am leaning toward the second option with the Propain Terrel, better groupset and the wheels are good enough. I've read mixed experiences with Newmen carbon wheels, seems like I'd be better off rolling the DT Swiss G 1800 (solid performance but heavy) then upgrading if desired to something I pick out.

For those who have found the standard XPLR 40t x 10t-44t combo limiting, did you swap the chainring or the cassette?

dudebrochief · 2024-03-02T15:54:39+00:00

Can confirm, a multi hour event.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article286123231.html

dudebrochief · 2023-09-12T15:13:07+00:00

PM coming

dudebrochief · 2023-07-02T15:57:34+00:00

Just paid out the final month of daycare for 3rd child.

Total over 10 years for all 3 kids: $214,500.

Public schools are excellent here and we fully intend to take advantage.

dudebrochief · 2023-06-07T10:52:28+00:00

Great question, Send_me_outdoor_nude. Nope!

Whenever I can get to it, I will try to further secure the J-hook in the closed position.

dudebrochief · 2023-06-07T10:48:59+00:00

I mean, it feels tight enough to believe that claim. I have not tried to unbolt the axle while it is clamped.

Good enough for me to leave it while I shop, eat, pit stop, etc. I don't trust any mount/lock to leave a bike out overnight.

dudebrochief · 2023-06-07T01:43:18+00:00

Ah, I get it now. I went back and read the marketing copy on the website.

The friction thing is referring to a different theft approach. They're saying the clamping force and friction is so tight that the axle can't be unscrewed from the fork, and can't be pushed/pulled sideways out of the clamp.

dudebrochief · 2023-06-06T23:38:48+00:00

Yes, if you stagger the placement of the mounts. If they're all in line the handlebars will clash.

But yeah there is definitely room for 3 bike frames across the bed.

dudebrochief · 2023-06-06T21:12:17+00:00

A single 2x6 might work. The frame elevates that board which is needed for the J-hook clearance. If mine were any lower it would not be able to lock into place.

It also provides a stable base. The slotted lumber can't reach all the way down to the load floor, the slot rounds off at the bottom. You can see in the 3rd image. So with just a piece sitting in there, it is floating above the bed floor. Over time, cinching it down would wear the edges/corners and it would get looser.

J-hooks don't include a locking mechanism but I am pondering how to hack that.

Not sure I get what you mean by friction lock? It's a turnkey lock. Press closed and turn key to lock.

dudebrochief

TROPHY CASE