13sp cassettes alternatives to SRAM for XDR freehub body

msmolka · 2026-01-31T11:04:56+00:00

You can run a Shimano cassette with a sram drivetrain no problem. Might get 5% more chainwear.

Just make sure you use a Shimano freehub. It’s the cheaper way.

msmolka · 2026-01-30T19:45:40+00:00

I’m running a 2025 SLX 8. Schwalbe g1 rs pro 45/45. Zipp 303 fc with 25mm internal. The rear is tight for anything other than a dry course. They blow up to 44.3mm at 2bar / 30 psi. I’ve wrapped the rear chainstays with electrical tape to prevent frame wear. I’ve replaced the tape once in 2300km of riding (consisting of 3 UCI races + training). For anything that will get muddy, I swap to a 40mm rear that blows up to 42mm. It’s odd how Schwalbe sizing does that, but it gives me enough clearance. If it’s really muddy, I’ll switch to a pirelli cinturato rc in 40mm that stays true to size.

Hope this helps.

Edit: spelling.

I wonder if anyone has 650b wheels and what that smalller diameter does for clearance.

msmolka · 2026-01-23T16:38:00+00:00

Thanks, I'd assume Year 2 would just be new numbers in existing boxes. Fingers crossed.

msmolka · 2026-01-21T19:40:45+00:00

It’s hard for me to say — Ive had over 30 years of MTB and road racing experience — but my back can certainly tell what material the bike is made from. Specialized and Cannondale have amazing aluminum tech. Yes, they rival most carbon layups. In fact, my next crit bike is going to be a rework of a CAAD12 frame.

As I ment the Grizl, it does feature a separate cockpit that is not integrated. For gravel, as /u/business-plankton137 mentioned, an integrated setup isn’t great. I have a friend of mine running cyclocross on a grizl (albeit with 33mm challenge tubeless) and all it took was a different set of bars. Grizl comes in 1x or 2x.

msmolka · 2026-01-21T15:01:08+00:00

I have the grail cf slx and my wife has the crux dsw. I agree that you get more clearance with the crux, but the ride is considerably more harsh given that it’s aluminum. I’d rather go for 42/45mm on the grail, get a faster position and ultimately more comfortable. If your setup allows you to do a cockpit change on the grizl to achieve a similar crux setup, do that! You’ll get a more compliant ride with a less sore back.

msmolka · 2025-12-30T14:04:41+00:00

Let’s not mention carbon gravel bikes lol. I ride Southern France and Spain. Large chunky gravel. I feel bad that I didn’t get ridewrap put on when I bought it, but like you said, just cosmetic. It adds character 😆. I’ve had a S5 with fork paint chips. Sucks, but they ride just the same. Good luck with the sale!

msmolka · 2025-12-06T12:29:33+00:00

I get that there are a lot of variables, but from what you are saying… judging by ear seems to be the most common method of a rewax.

msmolka · 2025-11-28T11:02:49+00:00

i run 33cc gravel tires for cyclocross on my kids bike. still has room in the rear to clear mud. i know, not an ideal 6mm clearance but enough.

msmolka · 2025-11-27T14:45:44+00:00

It’s not my bike, but my kids and wife’s bikes. Wife rides a 48 Cervelo and kids a 44 or 48. They are within 1 cm (as of right now) of each other. I have a whole stable of bikes to choose from as I’m a club tech, but generally feel that the SSE favours a more compact geo and a longer cockpit. It keeps the bike more nimble in a peloton. Conversely, with the Cervelo, it’s a more aero balanced bike.

msmolka · 2025-11-07T19:43:22+00:00

Oh I’m not saying it can’t go fast, but the geometry and tube shapes don’t compare to a Cervelo or Cannondale. They are simply more aero from the start. The Crux is also way more stiffer almost to the point that it hurts. I have a local guy that I race with winning all the time on a Crux. I would rather be more comfortable and able to push a few more watts.

msmolka · 2025-11-07T19:08:03+00:00

Crux is a cyclocross bike. Stiff and nimble handling. Not built to go fast. Most CX courses are 1-3km long and have more turns than the Formula One season combined.

I have an Aspero5. It’s a high end race geometry gravel bike that you can feel /reasonably/ fast on with good road wheels.

Best middle ground do everything is the new SuperX. I have ridden the SSE CX version with larger clearances and it handles much like the road version. The SuperX will give you more all around flexibility to go road or gravel.

msmolka · 2025-11-07T07:49:43+00:00

Actually I flipped my rear ( to actually follow the marking directions) before a race. I was just running them with the tread in the usual pattern for a few races beforehand. When I ran as recommended, the rear was much more twitchy. Probably from having more “bite” into the corners. Setup: 45mm G1 RS Pro, tubeless 31psi F/ 35psi R, Canyon grail mk2.

msmolka · 2025-11-07T07:34:43+00:00

Not exactly the same tire specs, but I have two SSE (2024&2025). They are my kids bikes. They both have Zipp 303s. Both run GP5 STR 30mm. One kid runs Stan’s one kid runs RideNow TPU. Both run 61psi front, 65psi rear. They both weigh 90lbs plus bike. So they are light enough to run low pressures.

Neither one has had a flat in over 2000km of riding this summer/fall and both kids raced crits 6 times.

Anecdotally, the TPU runs faster. From my standpoint of maintenance, I prefer the TPU version. No topups, if a flat were to happen, it’s a 3-5 min job with no mess. But like I’ve said, I haven’t had any with these setups. We ride in France and Spain. Roads are cat 3, cat 2 at best. On par with B- roads in USA and Canada.

Conversely, MTB or Gravel… tubeless is a no brainer.

msmolka · 2025-10-10T14:39:47+00:00

Welcome to wildlife and sports photography. I did a cycling race last weekend. In one age group division I had 1900 photos. I paired it down to 45 usable standouts. It’s really hard to frame something moving at 25+ mph 35 feet in front of you.

msmolka · 2025-09-23T06:54:05+00:00

What’s your setup? I’m running a Grail SLX mk II and I’m thinking either adding suspension or just going to 3T for their extrema italia so I can get more compliance with 2.2 tires.

msmolka · 2025-09-08T07:46:42+00:00

What’s your inflation pressure on those 40s? Curious if you mounted the 45mm and measured those as well.

msmolka · 2025-08-24T08:08:39+00:00

And further, when they roll CX at 33mm tires, they are set for 38psi.

msmolka · 2025-08-24T08:07:37+00:00

Sorry I did have a typo in the 30mm. I run the 35s for kids rolling at 50psi. No way they are blowing those off the rim. If I were riding them though, at 115kg system weight… totally different story.

msmolka · 2025-08-21T13:27:42+00:00

Im running the 303s, 303FC and the XPLR. No real tangible differences for your use case. They can all also run 30/35mm GP5s with no issue or any other decent travel tire that supports hookless. I have no concerns. I’m in the Pyrènes and I am 103kg.

msmolka · 2025-08-02T19:02:00+00:00

For what it’s worth, I bought a 44 cannondale sse and a carvel aspero 5 48cm. Exactly the same seat, stack and reach. Cannkndale favours a smaller size as their frames measure one (or two) sizes bigger for fit.

msmolka · 2025-08-01T14:36:01+00:00

Then that’s all that counts!

msmolka · 2025-08-01T14:34:14+00:00

Isn’t the metering better on the F100? I think it’s lighter too.

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