This is the first of many articles, in which we detail bike setups for the various races the Gravel Cyclist crew will attend in 2015 and beyond.
Weather during Southern Cross 2015 was a mix of constant rain, overcast skies, low temperatures in the mid 40’s F, and highs in the mid 50’s F.
K-Dogg (took 2nd in 50+)
Bike Setup:
- Chainrings – 46 / 34.
- Cassette – SRAM 1070 12 – 32 10 speed.
- Brakes – Front Avid BB7 mechanical disc brake, organic pads, 160mm Avid rotor. El cheapo cantilever rear brake, no special pads. K-Dogg did need to resort to Fred Flintstone type braking on a couple of occasions.
- Tires (tyres) – Clement X’Plor MSO 40mm, tubeless, inflated at 35 – 40psi.
- 1 x Squeaky Toy Shark (yes, seriously). Provides amusement to other racers and aid station volunteers 🙂
Clothing:
- Standard team kit jersey and bib shorts.
- Leg and arm warmers.
- Baa Baa wool short sleeve undershirt.
- Lightweight vest.
- Lightweight gloves.
- Toe shoe covers.
- Skull cap.
- Clear lens glasses with manual wipers 🙂
K-Dogg’s race report HERE.
Dr. Pain (took 6th in 50+)
Bike Setup:
- Chainrings – 48 / 34.
- Cassette – SRAM 1070 11 – 36 10 speed cassette, with a middle cog removed, in order to use a Wolf Tooth 40 tooth cog on the low end.
- Brakes – Front and rear TRP Spyre mechanical brakes, with Shimano XT IceTech rotors, 180mm front, 160mm rear. Metallic pads for both brakes.
- Tires (tyres) – Specialized Renegade tubeless 1.95″, inflated to 28psi front and rear.
Clothing:
- Castelli Gabba long sleeve jersey.
- Castelli Nanoflex bib knickers.
- Standard short sleeve base layer.
- Lightweight gloves.
- Shoe covers.
- Clear lens glasses.
Dr. Pain’s race report HERE.
JOM (finished nowhere in 40+)… mechanical issues galore.
Bike Setup:
- Chainrings – 42 / 28 (XTR M980 crankset, low profile).
- Cassette – SRAM 1170 11 – 36 11 speed cassette.
- Rear derailleur, Shimano Ultegra Di2 11 speed, B-screw turned to allow 36 cog. Perfect shifting all day.
- Brakes – Front and rear TRP Spyre mechanical brakes, with TRP stock rotors, 160mm front, 160mm rear. Metallic pads for both brakes. Total brake fail 🙁
- Tires (tyres) – Specialized Renegade tubeless 1.8″, inflated to 30psi front and rear.
Clothing:
- Castelli Gabba long sleeve jersey.
- Castelli Nanoflex bib knickers.
- Standard short sleeve base layer.
- Neoprene gloves.
- Cycling cap beneath helmet.
- Velotoze shoe covers.
- Clear lens glasses.
JOM’s race report HERE.
JOM, how did those Velotoze shoe covers hold up?
James, they held up very well, although mud got into them through the cleat recess. In these conditions, nothing was safe. I used them at the Sub 9 Gravel Grovel, they were near perfect there. The process to install them properly is a little tedious, but for cool and damp, they’re nice. I should probably write a review about them eh.
Definitely! I bought 2 sets for my road setup, only used them once briefly, and am curious how they hold up for cross/gravel grinding/MTB use.
Really good info. Looks like most were riding modified mountain bikes, rather than cyclocross or some of the gravel bikes now being offered because it looks like the tire selection was 40 mm and wider. I love riding gravel roads and am giving a lot of thought to what my equipment selection should be as i learn more. I have a Trek Cross Rip and have used Contintenal Cyclo-X Kings (35 mm). It does well in most roads, but I have encounted roads where large gravel has been recently put down. In this case, a mountain bike would have been better.
Mine:
Gunnar Crosshairs 62 (now retired, fork bent on last descent)
Tires Duro EllieMae 35 front, Kenda Slant Six tubless 33 (with tube) in rear
Paul cantis with brand new kool stop thinlines
Salsa 48-36 to an xt 12-36, dura ace shifters to long cage xt
Coolmax jersey, castelli shorts, wife-beater coolmax under. Pearl Izumi lightweight Sleeves and leggings, with a north face cycling shell over. no shoe covers or glasses.
Pearl Izumi vented full finger gloves.
Finished 12th out of 13 clydesdales….
Dave, well done! Everyone who finished this year’s race deserved a medal! Ditto for the volunteers, standing around in the sludge all day.
Sorry to hear about your fork woes…