WTB Gravelier Saddle: Quick Review
Of course, all saddle reviews are subjective, but for me the Gravelier ranks right up there with my current favorite gravel saddles….
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Of course, all saddle reviews are subjective, but for me the Gravelier ranks right up there with my current favorite gravel saddles….
The Cinturato M’s have what Pirelli claims is a “gravel specific” compound for the rubber. Whatever “SpeedGrip” is, it works.
Well, good looks and a lot of promises mean nothing unless one can expect a lot of miles of trouble-free use and an experience with that component that enhances the overall cycling experience. Will Max Hit bearings do this for me and my Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3?
On the road and on the gravel, the EC90 ALX displays a touch of compliance, but I wouldn’t say it is anything that will make you comfortable or make the handling of your bike any better.
The versatility of these pedals and the safety feature is what sets these apart for the gravel/back road/bikepacker cyclists out there.
These are good looking tires with big, diagonally placed knobs and a center row which forms a solid ridge, more or less.
In a sweeping change to a well established Shimano group hierarchy, Shimano has made the announcement today that CUES (Create Unique ExperienceS) will be their mid-level group for the “everyday cyclist”.
Easton took the racer feedback gained throughout the 2022 season and distilled it into what we have here, a gravel racing drop bar.
In the news today we have a new gravel handlebar from Easton for the racer out there and news concerning some gravel events. Let’s dig in and take a look….
So, as it stands now, WTB has a 36mm and a 40mm Vulpine that would make for a fantastic tire for racing, and maybe it would work for adventurous types and everyday gravel riders if the terrain was tamer.
They aren’t flashy, but they will get the job done reliably and with a high degree of performance.
So, looking at this tire as what WTB has described it as – a gravel racing tire – I have to hand it to WTB at this point.
But before we get too far into the weeds on aluminum’s value propositions for the gravel rider, let’s step back a minute and examine what the heck is really going on here.
I am a fan of alloy wheels. And by that I mean wheels built with aluminum rims.
The GRX Carbon wheel set is a definite contender in its price-point for carbon wheel sets meant for all-road riding.
We really liked the speed, ride feel, and grip that this ‘on the skinny side’ gravel tire had. Not surprisingly, we hoped that WTB would opt to offer a wider version of this great tire.
I like the inner rim width and the stance that this allows my Touaregs to have. The wheels look great, albeit maybe too generic!
This tire seems to me to be the “mountain biker’s gravel tire”. A tire for rougher adventures, dirt roads, mountains, and even light single track.
Today news comes from a company called Logos Components regarding new wheels in carbon fiber featuring a recent open standard technology many of you might be familiar with.
Now with several more rides in on these tires, my impressions have only been solidified and so, it is time for a final verdict on the Kimberlite tires.
And here is a thing to consider and debate over a flask of whiskey around a campfire: “When it comes to gravel bikes, smoother is faster.” True or?
I found the Speedmax to be stable on loose gravel, and capable in a bikepacking situation on deeper gravel as well.
It (the Kimberlite) felt less wooden and stiff than the previous versions of American Classic tires and more akin to a tire costing much more.
The County is the tire one should look to for mostly paved riding or where the unpaved roads are typically harder, smoother, and not covered in deep crushed rock.
