My thoughts on using an full-sus XC bike to ride gravel. You've got to cut your flat bars narrow to about 24 inches wide. Wide bars are just not aero enough. You must use fast rolling XC tires. The 2.35 Thunder Burt and and 2.2 Race King tires actually roll faster than most Gravel tires. Or, put fast rolling Gravel tires on your XC bike like the 700x47 Pathfinder Pro. Set up the rear suspension on the firmer side so that you maximize pedaling efficiency. However, don't lock it out. Suspension can be a benefit unless you're on very smooth gravel.
@ValentinKompatscher
2 ай бұрын
Or put drop bars on it, but that is more effort and more expensive
@MsTatakai
2 ай бұрын
if you have a longer or shorter handlebar if you grip in the middle of the handlebar, would that affect aero ?
@williamleslie56
Ай бұрын
Got a maxxis recon on my rear wheel on my Haro 29er Hardtail.smaller 30T chain ring .selle seat.Just as fast as my other Gravel Bikes but my 650B Full carbon hardtail is faster cause of faster acceleration .
@marks8047
2 ай бұрын
Love the videos Bruce, keep ‘em coming. Good luck at Leadville.
@jordanfrishman4581
2 ай бұрын
I did the Foco 100 mile version on a full suspension the same day. Did ok for an old guy (~60). Felt that I was probably more comfortable albeit slower than the pack. That can pay dividends after 6-7 hours though. Video was a nice recap of the day, thanks for your work. FYI, I was about 5 minutes too late buying my Santa Cruz Blur from TPC a couple years ago. Somebody snatched it up before I could press send.
@merickrickman4092
2 ай бұрын
Nice job! I did this at The Best of Both up in Oregon. I had a 2X sull sus Epic. Finished the gravel section with the pros, then it was 50+ miles of road and I couldn't even give a draft to anybody. Finished it on the singletrack and that's where the full sus shined. Passed over two dozen and won my category. Biggest limiting factor is the mtb's just don't have that high end speed on the road. I think with the right bike, you could go big up front on the chainring, and have a Classified rear wheel, and that would be awesome!
@williamleslie56
Ай бұрын
Problem with that is certain terrain like deep sand terrain like the Bird dog you get stuck walking like most Gravel bike riders I saw.rather pedal than walk it.
@tonyboughman8050
2 ай бұрын
Fun video, very entertaining. Thank you Bruce!
@budycelyn
2 ай бұрын
wow trying to do 118 miles in 7 hours on some of that terrain, that's a task that's not easy to achieve in perfectly smooth conditions, unless your pro fit. good job
@Eric-tw4op
2 ай бұрын
Fun ride Bruce! Honeymoon in Switzerland was a blast even with exhausted legs.
@ionious97
2 ай бұрын
Man videos are great! Super good content
@koreystephens
Ай бұрын
11:59 Sucks here. I’m sure this farmer doesn’t want giant signs on his property, but it’s a serious challenge to navigate here.
2 ай бұрын
If I were to take part in this type of race, I definitely wouldn't use a straight handlebar you are like a sail in the wind
@donwasinger6654
2 ай бұрын
Are you going to post a video of the Triple Bypass?
@pgn666
2 ай бұрын
Hi, what is your main on bike camera? low light / against the sun footage looks gr8!
@TheBRad704
2 ай бұрын
9:00 don't feel bad about getting dropped by that group. they left me at the same time and it was tactical on their part. the 2 strong guys let a gap open and then attacked back to their faster small group.
@smithandshortdogs
2 ай бұрын
Not doing anything epic like this, but I have no problems holding pace on my Epic Evo vs my hardtail. Hell I even gapped off Short on her hardtail on our last gravelly ride, despite her generally dropping me when we are on our road bikes.
@ForkNLeans
2 ай бұрын
I just like mountain bikes even for casual riding mostly pavement sometimes rough pavement. is it ok?
@Michael-fi6ve
2 ай бұрын
No
@ForkNLeans
2 ай бұрын
@@Michael-fi6ve bad for the tires or me ?
@rogerwall9167
2 ай бұрын
@@ForkNLeansit’s perfectly fine to ride a mountain bike on pavement. It won’t hurt you or your bike. Just get out and ride that’s the most important part. What I don’t understand is why this guy always has the wrong tool for the job? He knows it’s not the most optimal but does it anyway. Either way good video
@ForkNLeans
2 ай бұрын
@@rogerwall9167 ok good to know 🤠. I'm sure he does it for views . Makes it interesting though ☺️
@SyLens1
2 ай бұрын
I tried this as well over at 3rides aachen. Was the worst decision i ever made. Trying again at Houffa gravel in houffalize. Probably a wrong choice again
@christopheryack580
2 ай бұрын
this is great...
@bpisan
2 ай бұрын
Considering Leadville is a 100-miler 2with quite a bit of flat I’d say this was the right bike.
@texastoastchris
2 ай бұрын
Quite a bit of flat?
@bpisan
2 ай бұрын
@@texastoastchris yea Leadville is arguably 1/2 flat and 1/2 massive climbs.
@texastoastchris
2 ай бұрын
@@bpisan I would argue against.
@texastoastchris
2 ай бұрын
@@bpisan my recollection is lots of steep climbs, lots of mild climbs. Lots of steep downs, lots of mild downs. I don’t remember a single spot that I thought rode flat out and back. But it was 2006 and that was a long time ago.
@bpisan
2 ай бұрын
@@texastoastchris miles 0-6.5, 23-45, 59-80, and 97.5-105 are flat. That’s about half the race.
@DD-xx8wh
2 ай бұрын
mtb!....maybe experiment with tires and aero bars?
@KalebSchumaker
2 ай бұрын
Bruce cool videos. I also did FocoFondo and am doing the 100 MTB for the first time. I live in Leadville if you want to upgrade your camping to a blow-up mattress indoors drop me a message.
@johnnycab8986
2 ай бұрын
With so many gravel races becoming a mash up of dirt roads+tech mtb trails...I smell a ripe new segment for a new type of bike.... Something that is more aero, lighter built, ability to use at least 2.25, sus front fork with some aero design, ability to use a large chain ring, maybe super slack HT angle for stability when using skinny drop bars.
@hein_mcleod
Ай бұрын
Hardtail with drop bars?
@johnnycab8986
Ай бұрын
@@hein_mcleod Not enough marketing angle. Hardtail with aero tube shapes?
@TimMarshBikes
2 ай бұрын
What is your FTP - any target ahead of the big day? What should us “everyman” guys shoot for?
@JasonScottCarter
2 ай бұрын
I think a video like this shows why gravel bikes are efficient for routes like this for yhe people who are always saying just ride mountain bike instead as yhey are anti gravel bike
2 ай бұрын
it depends on the terrain it's a large open area only gravel and asphalt where you have no shelter from the wind MTB is fine but with a different type of handlebar when it comes to driving straight ahead but keep in mind that the wind does not blow in only one direction and here the wheels create resistance and here gravel works better
@virginiascurti5036
2 ай бұрын
Sorry Im not doing even doing 32 miles in the height of summer, no masochism.
@ForkNLeans
2 ай бұрын
How do men handle riding so long with their man parts 😮
@duckmanduckfairy8010
2 ай бұрын
Find the biggest front ring you can fit and some 47 pathfinder pros for gravel races lol also look into an Epic Hardtail and save some weight!
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