The Bicycle Thread (2 Viewers)

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Do any of you guys do modest gravel rides anywhere in Central or Eastern NC? To me, this is prime riding season and I am itching to try some new routes. I am not a maniac, I like to do 25-35mi rides at a modest pace, stop and smell the roses or meet dogs or whatever. For context, I ride every inch of the Umstead MUT system and average ~13mph, American Tobacco Trail I average 15-16mph, my daily after-work route is 13-15mi generally averaging 13mph (suburban streets + greenways + some dirt, plenty of stop-and-go and pedestrians accounts for the low speed). I go out to enjoy the ride, not race or set PB's.

I just created an account on RideWithGPS and have saved some routes, specifically the Gravel Grinders at URE and Holly-something game lands in Pender County (both have 25-27mi segments). Got a couple others bookmarked, and would love to go with anyone who's out to enjoy the ride, not kill themself. Prefer to stay around ~2hrs from RDU.

Yes I ride an ebike, if that turns you off I get it.
 
If you're an ArcGIS user, there are some maps online for gravel roads in NC but with the Legislation in the 80's-90's to pave all gravel roads, there just aren't a lot around any more... I had fun exploring the Croatan National Forest a couple years ago an will probably try the Croatan buck-fifty (only the 50 for me) in March...
 
little_joe said:
Do any of you guys do modest gravel rides anywhere in Central or Eastern NC? To me, this is prime riding season and I am itching to try some new routes. I am not a maniac, I like to do 25-35mi rides at a modest pace, stop and smell the roses or meet dogs or whatever. For context, I ride every inch of the Umstead MUT system and average ~13mph, American Tobacco Trail I average 15-16mph, my daily after-work route is 13-15mi generally averaging 13mph (suburban streets + greenways + some dirt, plenty of stop-and-go and pedestrians accounts for the low speed). I go out to enjoy the ride, not race or set PB's.

I just created an account on RideWithGPS and have saved some routes, specifically the Gravel Grinders at URE and Holly-something game lands in Pender County (both have 25-27mi segments). Got a couple others bookmarked, and would love to go with anyone who's out to enjoy the ride, not kill themself. Prefer to stay around ~2hrs from RDU.

Yes I ride an ebike, if that turns you off I get it.
Click to expand...
I live right off the tobacco trail. Olive chapel rd. Sometimes I veer off and do some back roads which don’t have much traffic.

Sometimes I ride umstead as well. Doing a figure 8 starting from lake Crabtree.

I usually average 16-17 and slow down for pedestrians and road crossings. 20-35 miles depending on how much time I have.

Let me know when a good time to ride is. Usually I’m down
 
There are lots of gravel roads in and around the Uwharrie Forest area. I ride there often and usually tie in gravel roads that are just north and just east of Hwy 109 from the forest. It's easy to get 35 to 40 miles of riding the gravel roads and OHV trails in the forest and if you need more, exit the north end of UW on Blaine road, cross 109 and hit Center Methodist Church and go East. All kinds of gravel out there.

I ride the UW Gravel Grinder event every year and will be doing the Croatan Buck (not Buck 50) this March.

If you are over this way for the ONSC Xmas party on Saturday (12/3) and want to ride, let me know.
 
I've had quite the journey with bikes since the Pandemic. I still have my Specialized Vado ebike, which I ride occasionally; I also tried a handful of regular bikes, mostly hybrids (Spesh Sirrus & Crosstrail; Kona Dew; Scott Sportster). I've now settled on a single regular bike in addition to the ebike - a 2022 Kona Dr. Dew.

I've been riding roads, greenways, whatever dirt or gravel I can find around me. I've learned that cruising along at 12-13mph and taking in sights, petting dogs, staring at the sky and looking for birds of prey, etc is what I prefer. Once a week, I'll cart it somewhere and do a longer ride (ATT, Neuse, Umstead). I am absolutely committed to biking+camping asap, and just waiting on a few clear days to head down to Croatan and/or Holly Shelter. If all goes to plan, I would like to do a tour this year as well.

Anyway, this bike got its hooks into me and won't let go. It's nothing sophisticated, which I believe is its primary charm. CroMo frame and fork, 1x12 Deore 11t-51t rear, hydraulic disks, 650bx47mm set up tubeless. I added a Redshift suspension seatpost and a rack. Found a used GRX 170mm crankset and put a 40t chainring on. Had a suspension stem but took it off as it extended reach too much; setting the front Pathfinder tire to around 28psi is a great alternative. I simply love riding this bike and try to get on it 5 days a week.

1739661819787.png
 
Any MTB’ers headed to Relic Run? I’m probably heading down Thursday morning and will likely try to ride the mountain bike trails around mid afternoon.

I’ve been off the bike for a while so it will be a leisurely pace if anyone wants to join…
 
@Pick wish I was able to make it this year I would love to bring my bike down to ride around .... maybe next year
 
PXL_20240907_133911857~2.jpg

@Pick
this is the new ride.... sold my old '07 Jamis Dakar XC full bounce for this '22 Trex Marlin 6 and I must say I am digging the hard tail again. It was nice to be all plush when riding the Jamis but this is very smooth as well with the bigger wide 27.5"s on it vs the old 26" rollers!
 
I'm only on hardtail and only on gravel or greenways, anyway LOL. Sold my old 2003 Cannondale two years ago and bought a Surly Krampus like below for around town, paths, etc. Would love to go full suspension, but need to "prove" to myself I can do more than light trails first :)

1744070522459.png
 
Pick said:
Any MTB’ers headed to Relic Run? I’m probably heading down Thursday morning and will likely try to ride the mountain bike trails around mid afternoon.

I’ve been off the bike for a while so it will be a leisurely pace if anyone wants to join…
Click to expand...
Fantastic question, I wasn't planning on bringing mine but I probably could and a ride would be great. I'll try and bring my bike but I may or may not end up with time to ride.
 
Welp, I lied. I ended up buying another bike, this time an All-City Space Horse (flatbar, Microshift AdventX, hydraulic disks). Fully rigid, all steel, 1x10, 650bx47mm. I'm riding this one more than my Dr. Dew, and not riding my ebike at all (Anyone wanna buy a Specialized Turbo Vado lol). This'uns even more comfy than the Dew, and rolls faster; it's also more playful. Such a shame QBP is retiring All-City, their bikes really have character!
1744156518581.png
 
@Pick @weejub that's all I am on nowadays too... and the hardtail is perfect for it... I want and keep telling myself I'll get back on the rough stuff but we will see.
 
Good news… Bad news…
Good news is my son is going to be able to make
Bad news is he can’t come until Friday

So… I probably won’t ride there now. I’m off on Thursday so I’ll probably get a ride in before coming down on Friday morning.

Hoping the weather holds out 🤞
 
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