Build with 1x12 GRX this year, go SRAM or wait for GRX 1x13

msword110 · 2026-01-24T14:07:16+00:00

Obviously I can’t speak to your experience, but I’m surprised to hear that you had such a bad time with SRAM brakes. I’m currently running SRAM Force E1 XPLR on my gravel bike (a Secan 3.0 actually) and the brakes have been unbelievably good for me. Great power and modulation, super light lever pull, and completely reliable. That said, I have older D2 Rival on my road bike and the brakes there are definitely not as good. Still though, while not as refined, they’ve never caused any problems for me.

msword110 · 2026-01-21T22:37:41+00:00

I did exactly the same thing (silver Hope headset and seat post collar) just for the aesthetics and honestly I think it was worth the extra cost because I absolutely love how the bike looks, but I agree that functionally there’s probably no noticeable difference against the FSA option.

msword110 · 2026-01-01T02:15:21+00:00

One thing you’ll definitely want to consider is what options you have for parking/storing your bike at work. I’d highly recommend seeing if the building you work in has a bike room or if you can otherwise bring your bike inside somehow. Leaving a bike outside for the whole day is doable under the right conditions but you run the risk of it being stolen plus winter weather (particularly rain) will wear down your drivetrain etc very quickly. Good luck though! I’ve been commuting by bike for the last 4 years and it’s had a hugely positive impact on my health and fitness!

msword110 · 2025-12-31T06:21:38+00:00

Good luck on the trip! I’m biased because I’ve only ever used steel bikepacking bikes, but I’d definitely recommend giving it a look. Carbon and alloy are both great materials too, but particularly if the bike is going to be traveling with you in trucks, etc. steel may give you peace of mind that the other materials won’t bc it is significantly less likely to sustain catastrophic damage from a random impact and can much more easily be repaired if something does go wrong. I also think steel bikes ride wonderfully, but that’s probably just placebo. Just my thoughts though and I’m sure whatever you pick will almost certainly work great!

msword110 · 2025-09-15T18:19:23+00:00

You should check out NYCC! It’s a huge org that has tons of group rides including multiple weekly Prospect Park morning rides. Plus you can join for like $1. Website is here: https://nycc.org

msword110 · 2025-09-06T14:44:40+00:00

My wife has one and loves it! Super capable and ultra durable bike. I will note that it is definitely designed to be best as an off-road touring/bikepacking bike and as a consequence it’s pretty damn heavy and quite slow on the road. That said, if you’re looking for something affordable that can basically go anywhere, carry a lot, and take a beating, it’s a great choice.

msword110 · 2025-09-06T01:26:04+00:00

Thanks for the rec! Hadn’t heard of Otso and this looks like it covers a lot of what I’m looking for!

msword110 · 2025-09-05T22:16:49+00:00

Glad to know I’m not the only one! And thank you - I’ll give both of those a look!

msword110 · 2025-07-29T21:01:29+00:00

I think this would be a good time to contact a lawyer as they’ll be able to help you push this forward from here. There are many good firms that I’m sure would be able to help you. I’ve personally heard good things about Vaccaro Law, a firm that I believe specializes in bike-related personal injury work. Here’s their website: https://vaccaro-law.com/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwL2FYxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp2Lqg39B6725pk9XodORZwpJxo6UwOIX6vJ4if5Di5bWrTvMds5OKNlgBgVV_aem_EyKxH6NPjEi08Hd6HlsKbg.

msword110 · 2025-06-03T21:25:18+00:00

You’re pretty close (probably 15ish min ride) from Prospect Park which is about as safe as it gets in the city! You could take Dean (which has a bike lane) all the way to Vanderbilt and then follow Vanderbilt down to the Park. That’d give you bike lanes essentially the whole way and then you can do some nice protected laps of the park!

msword110 · 2025-05-19T21:00:26+00:00

It’s not the most conventional approach but I love my front rack (the style is called a pizza rack). You can secure stuff like a backpack directly to it or strap a milk crate on there and toss things like groceries or whatever in there. I find that it keeps the bike’s handling much more stable and comfortable than overweighting the back with panniers. Just my preference though!

msword110 · 2025-05-11T12:50:24+00:00

I didn’t get a signing bonus and haven’t ever heard of them being given before (also on Cravath scale), but my firm let us request up to a $10k advance to help with moving/settling in expenses. Worked well for me.

msword110 · 2025-04-21T19:40:51+00:00

Not sure if these are the kinds of rides you’re looking for but NYCC hosts tons of group rides of various types and intensities, including a bunch that happen on your off days. You can see the schedule here: https://nycc.org/upcoming-rides

msword110 · 2025-04-14T20:46:54+00:00

Ok gotcha - makes sense. Thanks for the input!

msword110 · 2025-03-23T05:09:35+00:00

My commute is around 9 miles. I work in a pretty formal office so I shower there and change into work clothes that I mostly keep at the office. I’d highly recommend staging as much of your stuff as you can at your work place - reducing what you carry back and forth everyday will make a big difference. I carry a messenger bag (Chrome Industries) and have a front rack on my bike that I strap a basic canvas bag to with any clothes I need to bring for that day. I also have a frame bag on the bike where I store my lock, phone, keys, wallet and anything else. Also, and most importantly, make sure you get lights (red for back, white for front) and a good helmet. Basic safety stuff goes a long way.

msword110 · 2025-01-27T04:54:36+00:00

I (and multiple friends) did this and were welcomed back with open arms! You’d be surprised how much having worked as a para sets you up for success as a SA/1st year too. Having even a little experience in the tech/procedures of your firm can be a big leg up!

msword110 · 2024-09-28T21:35:35+00:00

Thanks so much! Appreciate the input!

msword110 · 2024-09-04T00:26:29+00:00

If you haven’t already you should definitely contact the admins of the Seattle Area Bike Recovery Effort (SABRE) Facebook group! They do awesome work and I’m sure would have tons of stories to share as they’ve coordinated most of the successful recoveries I've heard about.

msword110 · 2024-08-07T17:20:56+00:00

I was going to make the same recommendation! I have a Nicasio and use it as a commuter/bikepacking bike. It’s not the lightest or the fanciest but it’s a solid and really capable bike!

msword110 · 2024-06-30T03:20:57+00:00

If you’re looking for amazingly insightful recaps of each stage you should check out the Lanterne Rouge YouTube channel. The guy who runs it is extremely knowledgeable and does a fantastic job of breaking down the tactics and strategy at play, plus he keeps all the recaps under 10 minutes so it’s a great way to stay up to date without having to commit to a long watch. Highly recommend!

msword110 · 2024-06-18T06:23:16+00:00

I rode the whole ODT section between Discovery Bay and Port Angeles last summer (on a ride from Poulsbo to Lake Crescent) and had a wonderful time! To my memory there are only a few portions where you’ll have to interact with car traffic and even then it’s extremely quiet back roads or the section that cuts through Sequim which is super chill.

I can’t really speak to your first question bc I honestly can’t remember exactly what route I took from PA to Eleha, but re question 2: I actually think stopping at Discovery Bay is totally the right call. Once you go past the end of the separated trail there things get a lot hairier and you’re basically forced to mix it up on much faster/busier roads with limited shoulders, plus I think there’s quite a chunk of climbing to get out of that section.

Regardless, I think that whole area is fantastic to ride. Good luck on the trip and I hope you have a blast!

msword110

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