Litespeed Gravel: First Offroad Impressions

 

Litespeed Gravel GRX 400 photographed in its natural habitat

 

Well, today, as Carl Duellman said over at the Maddogmedia site, was about time to get the Ti-bike dirty. Frankly, its such a pretty bike that getting it dirty seems a bit offputting, but after all, it is a gravel bike and can be washed. So off we went down the Santa Fe Rail Trail and a side jaunt down the Spur Trail just to get some actual gravel time in. First impressions.

The bike is fast and comfortable. A lot lighter than the Salsa LaCruz (no kidding) and it just wanted to be upshifted.I found myself down in Eldorado, starting at the house on the north side, in under an hour, which surprised me. The bike is efficient.

The cockpit fits well. I was a little worried about ordering a bike without a test ride but comparing my existing bikes to the specs on Litespeed's web site, they seemed very close. It worked. I had to do a few minor adjustments on saddle height and fore/aft position, and am still trying to decide on handlebar height, but the bike fits like a glove. I'm glad I took Litespeed Sales Engineer Sam Voigt's advice and added the 30 mm headtube extender. 20 mm would have been fine, too. I have leeway either way, if I want to drop the bars for a more aero ride or raise them to be more upright, perhaps on technical trails, there is room both ways.

Shifting the GRX 400 setup was precise and the hydraulic brakes were smooth and progressive. No surprises. The fine tuning trim on the front derailleur is nice to have going across ten cogs. I was a little concerned with getting the GRX400 setup rather than the higher priced stuff, but it clicks, shifts, and brakes as well as anything else I am used to riding.

The brake/shifter hoods are big, but that turned into an advantage. I found myself on the hoods a lot, especially pulling and climbing and in rough spots they provided plenty of support. Kinda reminded me of old fashioned TT bars, in a way.

 At least on this bike, there is a lot of Torx hardware, so I had to get a new multitool. No big deal, and Rob and Charlie's was well stocked with Park Tools.

The Rail Trail is pretty flat, only losing a couple hundred feet between Santa Fe and Eldorado, but has a lot of sharp ups and downs. I never did get into the low end of the cassette (the 32 and 36 cogs) with the small front chainring but its nice to know that with a low 30x36 combination, you are unlikely to run out of gear ratios on tougher climbs. For really strong riders, swapping out the chainrings for 48-32 might be an option.

Even the saddle, which I grumped about the other day, was OK for a two and a half hour ride. I still think the material grabs my lycra shorts more than I prefer compared to shiny leather saddles, but it was comfortable and the size, amount of support, and shape was fine. A leather Terry Men's Ti saddle just arrived from Arizona friend Pat O'Brien. I'm not sure I would want to do a century ride on the stock WTB Volt Medium as I think the constant rubbing on the higher friction surface would lead to chafing, but everyone's hind end is different and for shorter rides, the Volt is fine. I'm gonna swap out to the Terry Ti though.

As far as handling I think Nick Legan's Adventure Cycling review was spot on. The bike has quick, road like handling and encourages spirited riding. As far as my first impressions, it handled very well on the somewhat loose surfaces of the Rail and Spur Trails, even on deep gravel sections that tended to slew the bike around a little. I found myself taking curves faster than usual (and faster than I thought I would on a first ride on a new bike). Nick had said those wanting a slower handling bike might choose the Cherohala SE. I am glad I chose the Gravel. Also, the Panaracer Gravel King SK 700x38c Tubeless tires, which might not be the most awesome on pavement, were fast and sure footed on the Rail Trail. Those wanting a more road-like tire might want to experiment with other rubber.

Overall first impression? Awesome. All that talk about Ti frames having a magic ride seems to be true.

Added Monday afternoon. A quick change to the Terry Ti saddle and a nice ride. Picture taken down in Eldorado somewhere.

 

Atomic Number 22, Titanium

 Well, it was a good day in the saddle.

First ride on this new rig was only about ten miles, after I wrapped up work, my significant other got home from volunteering at the Food Depot, and I finished putting pedals on the bike and figuring out with help from the helpful Litespeed folks in Tennesee (Sam Voigt and Dave Dickey) how to properly mount the rear derailleur. Rides nice. Almost too nice. Almost plush, but stiff and responsive. I think I have to put narrow tires pumped to 130 psi on the bike so it feels like one of the boneshakers that I am used to.

The downtube is big. Bigger than I thought. Wow.

The tires should be great for off road and the handling geometry is exactly what I was hoping for after reading the Nick Legan review in Adventure Cycling: quick and road bike like but not nervous. The tires were pretty good on flat road where the bike felt really fast but when I was headed up the steep part of Gonzales Road and was grinding away in the 30x28 combo, you could feel the little offroad nubbins on the rear tire groaning and deforming. Maybe I will try to find a better on road/off road tire compromise but if I were to hammer the Rail Trail, I think those would be great tires. As Litespeed told me, the whole point of those tires is gravel, not pavement, and I suspect in that, they will be great.

Handlebar controls are excellent. Thank you longtime pal and Adventure Cycling bike reviewer, Patrick O'Grady, for our discussion of various levels of Shimano whizbangery as I was sorting through this decision. The shifting and front derailleur fine tuning worked well, the brakes predictable and firm with only a couple finger touch and as I found out, quite powerful when some dipshit in a car made an unannounced left turn directly into my path. And somehow, I got a wheel upgrade from the listed Sun Ringle Charger Comps to a pair of FSA AGX'es.

Only minor annoyance is the saddle, but I expected that might not be perfect and in most respects it is pretty good for a short ride. I don't think it is a bike company's job to know everyone's ass as well as one knows one's own ass.  The saddle on the bike was just a little squishy. Not bad, actually, and great saddle shape, but a little soft for an ass that has forty two years of high mileage on stiffer Selle Flites or Selle Turbos in it. Pen Pal Pat O'Brien has a spare Terry he is going to mail me.

Bottom line is this felt pretty darn good on first spin. I do have to get this rig offroad onto some of the nearby gravel roads or the Rail Trail to see what a Gravel Bike can do. 

Now, if we could just solve all the world's problems this way...just by riding a bike.

Last Day of Summer Ride

 Its been a long and difficult year with the Covid bug, and its not over yet. One thing that kept us sane was being able to get out on hiking trails and in my case, escape the city on the rural roads and trails on the north, south, and west sides of town. I know folks, including a cousin, who have weathered this pandemic in massively urbanized places like New York City and its tough.

So here is a hat tip to having a bicycle and Ma Nature at my beck and call. Now, on to "the first day of fall ride"?

One of the ash trees in front of the house providing us a subtle hint that Mr. Sun is headed for the southern hemisphere.

Headed north on Bishop's Lodge Road towards Tesuque

Headed east on one of the many roads named Tano.

The obligatory picture of the bicycle

Santa Fe Mayor's Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee Looking for Subcommittee Members

 Greetings, cyclists.

At the last BTAC meeting, 3 subcommittees were created, namely:
1) Planning and Fundraising;
2) Law and Policy; and
3) Promotion, Education and Programming.

The above subcommittees will lead in implementing BTAC’s duties and responsibilities below. Each subcommittee can have a maximum of 3 members-at-large. Each subcommittee is chaired by a sitting BTAC member. We need your help. Please email me if you are interested in joining any of the subcommittees above so Councilor Michael Garcia (2nd District) can appoint you at next BTAC meeting scheduled on Oct. 8.

Summary of Responsibilities:

1) Planning and Fundraising (Chair: Sky Tallman, NMDOT Transportation Planner)
a) Assist in the prioritization of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in the City of Santa Fe.
b) Review preliminary designs of Public Works’ roadways and trails projects at or by 30% design and before plans are presented to the Public for comments or submitted for review to NMDOT.
c) Review and recommend updates to Bicycle Master Plan, Pedestrian Master Plan, Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Parks Master Plan related to trails, and the City’s Land Use Development Code as it pertains to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
d) Seek funding from city, state, and federal sources to implement bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects prioritized in the Bicycle and Pedestrian master plans.

2) Law and Policy (Chair: Atty. Yolanda Eisenstein)
a) Monitors city and state government changes in ordinances and laws, or shifts in policy that may impact the work of BTAC.
b) Advise on policies, programs, and ordinances as they relate to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
c) Draft the language for any new policies or amendments to City’s policies, resolutions, and ordinances related to bicycling and pedestrian safety, viability, and user comfort as these affect bicycling and walking as modes of transportation.

3. Promotion, Education and Programming (Chair: VACANT)
a) Develop, review, and advise on media and educational campaigns that provide information and promote bicycle and pedestrian related activities and education.
b) Pursue higher rankings in the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community designation for the City of Santa Fe, up to and including Diamond level, as well as pursuing any other local, state, or national awards or designations that the City deems worthy of pursuit.
c) Educate the public on the work of the Committee.

For those who did not watch the Sept. 10th meeting, the Law & Policy subcommittee will work on proposing City policies on e-bikes. The Planning & Fundraising subcommittee and Promotion, Education and Programming subcommittee may work on finding solutions to increase safety of underpasses particularly the St. Francis – Cerrillos Underpass as well as sidewalk safety.

Please contact the BTAC if you might be willing to be a member of a BTAC subcommittee. And as always, please e-mail us (rsglorioso-moss AT santafenm DOT gov) if you have any questions and we wish to thank you for all your support of BTAC.

Romella Glorioso-Moss, PhD, AICP
Projects Administrator
Public Works – Roadway and Trails
500 Market St., Suite 200
Santa Fe, NM 87501 T (505) 955-6623

End of the Line

 Small check-off on the mental bucket list today. I have been meaning to ride the Santa Fe Rail Trail all the way out to US 285 for a long time, but something always interferes. Short ride plan. Lazy. Not enough water. Not enough reasons to avoid making excuses.

Last weekend I rode out to Spur Ranch Road with the bike on the light wheels and turned around. Yesterday, having goaded myself into doing the full ride, I put the heavier duty wheels, a set of hoops built on LX hubs, 32, 3x Wheelsmith spokes and Salsa Delgado Cross rims shod with 700-40 Xplor MSOs on the bike as I recall the last almost two miles being rough, rocky singletrack. I also filled two water bottles with Gatorade along with the Camelbak full of water to avoid dehydration or running out of water/Gatorade. Off I went.

Note that in the AllTrails link above, they recommend a mountain bike for the dirt portion. I've done the trail on both a double boinger mountainbike and on a cyclecross bike (seen below, a Salsa LaCruz) and prefer the 'cross bike as it is more efficient and I don't think a full on mountain bike is really needed, even for the southernmost couple miles. I do recommend wide off road rubber, for both comfort and control on tight dirt curves where a slide can bring you into the loving arms of a tree or fence. But YMMV and regardless of whether you use a mountain bike or a cyclecross or gravel bike, it will work if you do.

Was a beauty of a day. Not too hot, not too windy. Checked the mental box and had a good time. Round trip about 34 miles (I have to check to see what tires were on the bike when I calibrated the Cateye).

Urban parts of the trail have recently been refurbished with new deck planking on bridges and a nicely paved cut-through on the Rail Trail towards the Acequia Trail near Baca St. Oh, sure, you can shorten the ride 5.5 miles from my house by driving to the Rabbit Road trailhead but really. Load a bike on a car when you have a beautiful paved trail system just about from your doorstep out to the rural trails? Eeeeyewww....

And if you love trails, please support the Santa Fe Conservation Trust with your donation. The Rail Trail is one of their many priceless creations.

Bridge just north of Zia Road crossing

Here the bike has the 700-32 Richey Cross Pro rubber on a Speed City wheelset (from last week's ride)

The cut-through near Baca at Santa Rosa Drive at Monterey is now paved the entire width of the easement

View North somewhere in Eldorado

View North between Spur Trail and Rabbit Road trailhead/parking lot

 

Just north of Spur Ranch Road in Eldorado, you now go under this RR overpass to continue on a wide trail until the trail goes down to rough singletrack (with some doubletrack) south of Spur Ranch Road

Some nice scenery along the way

Nice overlook of the Galisteo Basin in the last mile of the singletrack above US 285

Note the 700-40 Xplor MSO's

End of the Line, at US 285

And, speaking of the End of the Line, I couldn't in good conscience use that title for this post without including the original.