Tag: Gravel Bikes

The Stormchaser’s mission is to perform well in the worst of conditions, and I think it has the characteristics to make a name for itself in those situations. But let’s face it- This bike also has to hold up as a gravel bike in normal situations as well. I feel that, besides a couple of quirks in the handling and fit departments, yes, this bike does gravel well.

Gravel Grinder News: Salsa Cycles Debuts Stormchaser Single Speed Bike – by Guitar Ted Today Salsa Cycles introduces a new gravel bike, but it isn’t…

We must be getting close to Sea Otter time, because new product release news is hitting our in-box here at Riding Gravel HQ. Here’s the latest Gravel Grinder News from Otso Cycles, who have a new Titanium Warakin bike, fizik who are introducing a new saddle technology, news from IRC Tire concerning sponsorship, and some grips for you flat bar fans from Planet Bike.

At the cross roads I thought, “Huh. I could go a bit farther and drop down this winding canyon connector road.” OK, why not? And this rambling continued, even when the road choices kept coming along and even when I knew the conditions would be much more than any road bike would be comfortable in.

Editor’s Note: In recent times we have noticed that there are more and more folks looking for a gravel bike. They are seeking advice and looking for tips on how to go about this. In Part 1, Grannygear walks us through the process of how he and Mrs. Grannygear found a gravel bike that would work for Mrs. Grannygear’s needs. In this post we will get a look at what upgrades they made to tailor the bike for her.

The recent Roval Terra press camp wasn’t just a showcase of trick new wheels. Thanks to Mike Yakubowicz and his shop, Blacksmith Cycle, we were treated to a veritable smorgasbord of beautiful custom bikes from all over the world. Here’s a gallery of the bikes we rode during our time in Downieville.

Salsa Cycles announced this morning publicly that the Cutthroat model will be a ground-up redesign for the 2020 model year. The Cutthroat is Salsa Cycles carbon drop bar mountain bike which is aimed at bike-packing and long rides in remote territory, ala Tour Divide. It also is a fairly popular model amongst some gravel riders.

“One more bike, one less car. “I remember seeing this message emblazoned on a huge booth at the end of a trade show,” says Dennis. “And as I was reading it, a Bobcat came along and pushed the whole booth into a dumpster.”

The stock feel of the bike fit wise is very roadie. It feels long, low, and narrow with the 100mm stem and 42cm bar. With lighter wheels and a swap to faster tires it has a very nice road presence to it. Right now I am running some Hutchinson 38mm tires…zoom zoom…I disliked the WTB Nanos on the road. Actually I simply disliked the Nanos…period

So I will be living with a Johnny Cash black Cannondale Topstone for a few months. I will be using it to play with upgrades on a budget to see where we can improve performance, drop weight, and add comfort. But first, I want to begin with my thoughts on how the bike is spec’d and how it is to ride stock at the risk of duplicating some of MG’s findings