Gravel/Bikepack nerds enter...

**beaterdit** · 06-04-2023, 12:35 AM

Does this go here?

Sounds like y'all just need to man up!

**VTskibum** · 06-05-2023, 08:00 PM

Curly bar bikes can be pretty fun too

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**Kevo** · 06-05-2023, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by climberevan

I just did a race, my first in 10 years. Lost and Found gravel 100 near Portola, CA.

Racing is still hard, and I shouldn't have stayed with the first group on the first hill, but I managed to just ride through some cramps that started 2:30 in. Various groups formed and broke up, and I mostly had people to ride with.

2nd in the 41-50 AG was satisfying, and I would have been 23rd in the pro category. I'm pretty tired.

Very impressive! Congrats

**rideit** · 06-06-2023, 07:05 PM

Hey Gravel dudes, what are you using for shoes? I am tired of riding in my heavy, black, overbuilt MTB shoes that don’t breathe (Terraduro).
No one around here has a single thing in stock.
Looking for a summer shoe.

**climberevan** · 06-06-2023, 07:21 PM

I use Lake MX238 XC, which is their "lightweight" version. It's not light at all, but it is durable. Any XC shoes that fit you are prob good.

I missed the memo that all of the cool kids just use road shoes. I was the only one in the front groups of that race with knobby shoes.

**rideit** · 06-06-2023, 07:36 PM

Fuck that, if I have to push up a gravel road for any reason, it’s not gonna be in road shoes.

**buttahflake** · 06-06-2023, 07:50 PM

This is the shoe I have, they are all day comfortable, stiff and relatively light. Seeing roadies in their white S-Works road shoes walking in the mud at Farmers Daughter was killing me, fucking Chads.

https://www.fizik.com/us_en/terra-atlas-splash.html

**joetron** · 06-06-2023, 08:01 PM

I use the Shimano “Gravel” shoe RX801. Prior to that Shimano XC shoe XC9. Stiff, light, some tread and walkable.

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**jamal** · 06-06-2023, 08:51 PM

I have shimano xc9s and rx8s. RX8s run narrower for some reason and I had to get the wides but regular xc901s and 902s fit me great.

I don't really consider either of them all that ideal for walking around a lot- the rx8s have a really narrow tread and a lot of exposed carbon that gets gouged up on rocks and stuff pretty quickly and doesn't give you a very good platform.

And road shoes on gravel/off road is dumb as shit. Those cleats and pedals do not handle rocks and dirt well at all.
The XC9s do have a lot of tread on the bottoms and holes for toe spikes and stuff and are better for walking (aside from being super stiff) but they're also really expensive. The toe lugs do not last very long if you're walking in them regularly. I need to get some cheaper shoes like me5s or something for when I'm coaching and stuff.

**rideit** · 06-06-2023, 09:07 PM

I guess I’m looking for a relatively inexpensive XC shoe, with kind of a mesh construction for ventilation. Terraduro’s fit me perfectly, but newer Giro shoes don’t, I’m always between sizes.

**jamal** · 06-06-2023, 10:11 PM

Yeah i mostly have shimanos because the discount is real good if you work at a shop. The RX6 and XC5 are a little more reasonably priced than the fancy carbon stuff

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ.../SH-RX600.html

**rideit** · 06-06-2023, 10:20 PM

The only issue with shop purchases is that there really are no returns if they don’t fit, you basically take your chances. I don’t want to be a ‘showroom shopper’, (even if I could in JH), but I might have to in SLC this weekend.

**joetron** · 06-06-2023, 10:38 PM

Go try on shoes in Contender. They should have a shit load.

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**rideit** · 06-06-2023, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by joetron

Go try on shoes in Contender. They should have a shit load.

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Maybe I’ll go in with some Whole Foods Croissants.

**rideit** · 06-06-2023, 11:52 PM

This is basically exactly what I am looking for, if it fits.

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**Peruvian** · 06-07-2023, 04:52 AM

^^^Is that the newer Privateer? I rode the older version with one ratchet and two velcro straps and like it until Fall when the venting makes them kinda cold.

**Peruvian** · 06-07-2023, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Peruvian

While we are discussing cassettes, is anyone running the wide range 11/46 Sunrace 11 speed with Sram Rival 1?

I'm going to bump this again as it might have gotten lost in the discussion about underwear that followed.

**buttahflake** · 06-07-2023, 05:55 PM

West Hill Gravel Ride from this evening, once again featuring the current National Road Race Champion!

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**Kevo** · 06-07-2023, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by rideit

This is basically exactly what I am looking for, if it fits.

I have that exact shoe. I like it, but it is more focused on being lightweight and stiff for on bike performance. It doesn't hike that well.

I found a pair of Five 10 Trailcross clipless shoes on super duper sale at REI.com over the winter. I love them. They hike like a trail runner and have some extra padding that make them way more comfortable when walking.

https://www.adidas.com/us/adidas-fiv...es/HP9926.html

If I didn't find these on sale, I probably would have checked out some Pearl Izumi options.

**rideit** · 06-07-2023, 07:40 PM

That sounds just right for a gravel shoe, (the Giro) I wouldn’t imagine I will do much hiking by actual choice.
What size are you Kevo?

**Kevo** · 06-07-2023, 11:51 PM

Street shoes and bike shoes I'm usually a US 11 or 44.5. In the Giro Rincon I'm a 45.

I like walkability in gravel shoes because it is often nice to be off the bike wherever I end up going. It's also nice to have padding for long days on a bike.

Totally a personal preference though.

**rideit** · 06-07-2023, 11:54 PM

Thanks, too big. I’ll try some on in SLC this weekend.

**evdog** · 06-08-2023, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by rideit

Fuck that, if I have to push up a gravel road for any reason, it’s not gonna be in road shoes.

Ditch clipless and ride in trail runners. Nothing better out there for hike a bike. And they have great ventilation.

**NuMexJoe** · 06-08-2023, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by rideit

That sounds just right for a gravel shoe, (the Giro) I wouldn’t imagine I will do much hiking by actual choice.
What size are you Kevo?

Ferrentino just posted a review of 4 shoes from the Giro lineup over at NSMB.com. It might inform your shopping this weekend. Or not.

**MagnificentUnicorn** · 06-08-2023, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by evdog

Ditch clipless and ride in trail runners. Nothing better out there for hike a bike. And they have great ventilation.

The first valuable response. I’ve completely ditched “bike” shoes for all riding. Often on rides I like to get off the bike and explore or make it a combo ride of ride to a th or wilderness boundary and go scramble or hike. There are zero bike shoes that do this well. You won’t really miss the bike shoes on a gravel ride even if you never get off the bike.

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