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I was thinking of swapping my XLA for something more gravel, maybe a Sonder Camino. This isn't going to happen now so I'm wondering how I can make it soak up the terrain a bit more.
Currently I'm running Landcruisers with pretty high pressures and tubes.
Cheers,
Mick
Get some tyres that aren't made of the deadest rubber known to man and run them tubeless and at lower pressures.
Suspension forks, soft seat and flat bars at 760mm wide
I'd look to upgrade the stem, bars and seat post if they are basic models. Ritchey stuff can be had for a reasonable outlay.
I don't think we can go tubeless with my current wheels? They are the original ones. What wheels/tyres could I get?
Stem and seat post may be an option.
What's the widest tyre the frame and fork will take?
What wheels are they?
What terrain are you riding on? Do you want fast rolling slicks for mainly off road but can go off road or do you want great off road tyres and will just slog along on any roads you take just to get to off road?
Tubeless at lower pressures, at 75kg on 40c Nano's I run them at 35/40 psi. Compromise slightly on saddle height a centimetre or two if it's bumpy so you have space to absorb shock with your legs.
Mine only really does roads to get to, or connect up the off-road bits, or one leg of an occasional commute (off-road on the way home when there is no time pressure)
Wider tyres, lower pressures, tubeless.
For actual CX racing I'll run tubeless 33mm tyres at mid 20psi upto 30psi. With tubes I'll run 30psi. I'm 83kg.
Currently rolling around on the cross bike on 47mm gravel king SK with tubes (biggest I can fit) at 20ish psi no probs.
You can probably run lower pressures than you think, keep dropping until you bounce a rim off a rock then put a few more psi in!
Wheels are Gipiemne Roccia Equipe.
Not sure about clearance, can I just measure?
I do use it on the road a lot and occasionally do Saturday morning club rides. Most of my rides are 90% road but occasionally I want to do "gravel rides" (easy bridleways) with mates and events on similar terrain.
I also want to do the 3 Peaks CX on this bike which is why I don't want to swap for a Camino yet.
Maybe I'm asking for too much?
Mick
Suspension seatpost? Got a USE 31.6 in my shed that’s no longer needed.
Re: tyres,
There are usually several different tyres with the same name and tread, but they will have different amounts of thread inside, marked as ‘TPI’ higher is better, more thread gives better puncture protection, is lighter, and more supple for a better ride.
Tyres and tubeless/lighter tubes will probably give the most bang per buck.
After that I’d be thinking carbon bars, carbon post.
Next step would be some suspension forks, (or better ones if you already have them)
However, you may be able to adjust your position on the bike for free.
Biggest tyres you can fit at lowest pressure you can get away with. It's a CX bike so clearance is likely tight, particularly at the rear. Have a look at your current tyre and have a look how much space you've got around it. It's a bit of a guessing game as tyres don't always come up at their stated size and you need to allow for a bit of mud clearance.
You may find you can go quite a lot bigger at the front. My XLS will take 42mm front fairly easily, but 35 on the back is a squeeze.
Thick or double wrapped bar tape may help but you may find that your main contact point is actually the hoods anyway.
Otherwise suspension stem/fork/seatpost. Personally I wouldn't bother swapping to carbon post or bars. The additional flex you get, if any, is tiny.
You know, you could buy the Camino, and keep the CX bike? 🙂
@spooky_b329 yeah, we all know that's what I will end up doing but we still need to go this charade.
😀
Ditto, also have an XLS with 35mm G-Ones and there’s plenty of room on the front but only a gnats whisker in the back.
The frames are designed for racing so comfort isn’t top priority I dare say. Stuff as wide tyres as you can get away with (35mm max realistically in the back), and don’t underestimate nice bar tape too!
Ditto, also have an XLS with 35mm G-Ones for the summer and there’s plenty of room on the front but only a gnats whisker in the back.
The frames are designed for racing so comfort isn’t top priority I dare say. Stuff as wide tyres as you can get away with (35mm max realistically in the back), and don’t underestimate nice bar tape too!