Colorado / Idaho Double Duty - Campy Ekar??

14 replies · 518 views

papsblue
6 posts
#1Jan 21, 2021, 12:50 PMedited
New member here! I started to get into gravel riding with an old Devinci CX bike that I no longer have and now just ride a road bike (Trek Emonda ALR5) and a hardtail mountain bike (Salsa Timberjack 27.5+).

Told myself that a fancy new gravel specific bike would be my reward to myself for losing 50 lbs and well, that time has come!

I live in Colorado so I'll be riding a mix of pavement and loose gravel with decent grades. I'll also be participating in Rebecca's Private Idaho Baked Potato later this year. I plan to sell my current road bike and have a spare set of wheels with road tires to swap on and off the new bike for pavement only rides. Not looking to bike pack or carry a ton of gear. At most a frame or handlebar bag for a drone / photography gear.

Current Trek Emonda with Shimano 105, Chainring: 50/34T and Cassette: 11-28T. Anything over 5% and I run out of gears. 34/28 just isn't enough at my current fitness level.

I was really intrigued by the thought of the SRAM Force Eagle AXS 1x setup until I started thinking realistically about using it as a road bike also and while that 10-50T cassette is awesome it is probably not the greatest idea.

I recently found out about the Campagnolo Ekar groupset and it was very intriguing to me. Close gearing at the top end with a wide range in those climbing gears. $274 for a cassette to put on a spare set of wheels seems excessive (I'd essentially be trading my current road bike for just wheels) and some of the Campagnolo maintenance ghost stories on the internet have cause me to shy away a bit though.

After that super long explanation.... some of the bikes I am considering are:
3T Exploro Race Ekar (38T, 9-42T 13 spd)
3T Exploro Race GRX 2X (46-30T, 11-36T 11 spd) *expected at LBS soon
3T Exploro Race Force AXS 2X (46-33T, 10-36T 12 spd)

Niner RLT 9 RDO GRX 2X (47-32T, 11-34T 11 spd)

Pinarello Grevil Di2 (48-31T, 11-32T 11spd)

Santa Cruz Stigmata Force 2X (43-30T, 10-36T 12 spd)

Canyon Grail CF SL(X) 8 Di2 (48-31T, 11-34T 11 spd)

Orbea Terra M20i (48-31T, 11-34T 11 spd)

Although realistically, I'm essentially trying to talk myself out of waiting for the Ekar knowing that the I can be riding the GRX version of the 3T within a month.

I would love to hear your experienced thoughts and maybe I'm missing something?

Another option: upgrade my road bike's RD to the GS version to fit an 11-34T onto that bike and get something with that dedicated 1x 10-50T for gravel?

Thanks
0
pdlpsher
4 posts
#2Jan 21, 2021, 8:23 PM
Hi,

Welcome to the forum. I'm also a new member here and a new gravel cyclist with 700 gravel miles under my belt. I also live in Colorado. For my first gravel bike I chose the 2021 Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon. I actually bought two identical bikes at the same time, one for myself and one for my son. We've been doing gravel rides together and love the bike and the gravel roads. For the price and features I think this bike should be on your shopping list.

Something to keep it mind when choosing a gravel bike. When fitted with a wide (hence also tall) tire you lose effective low gearing compared to a road bike. For example if you have a low gear of 31x34 on a gravel bike, it's akin to having a 31x32 on a road bike with 700x25 tires. So I'd suggest that you opt for a bike with a 2x. This will give you the range that you need since you've mentioned the possibility of using the same bike for road riding using a different wheelset.

After your bike purchase you can consider getting a 650B wheelset. The smaller 650B size will make the overall diameter of the gravel wheel similar in size to a 700x25, hence getting your effective gearing back to something that is comparable to a road bike gearing.

Lastly, based on my personal experience of riding gravel in Colorado, my current gearing of 48/31 and 11-34 works quite well. I find that I'm mostly in my big ring and the chain is mostly close to the center of the 11-34 cassette. Once I get my hands on a new 650B wheelset I'll have an additional bit of lower gearing that will come in handy when I start to do more climbing gravel rides.

I hope this helps.

Jonathan
0
stu
646 posts
#3Jan 21, 2021, 9:31 PM
Does your 105 rear derailleur have a short or medium cage? I have an Ultegra 6700 with a medium cage which is specified to shift a 32T cog but it works well up to 40T. My chainrings are close but I think it should also be OK with wider-spaced chainrings as long as you don't use big/big or little/little combinations (which aren't good anyway). You could put a cheap MTB cassette on your road bike to see which gears work for you.

I personally like the versatility of a 2X drivetrain. I think 1X might be better on really rough terrain but IMHO that's what MTBs are for.
0
papsblue
6 posts
#4Jan 22, 2021, 10:22 AM
pdlpsher wrote:Hi,

Welcome to the forum. I'm also a new member here and a new gravel cyclist with 700 gravel miles under my belt. I also live in Colorado. For my first gravel bike I chose the 2021 Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon. I actually bought two identical bikes at the same time, one for myself and one for my son. We've been doing gravel rides together and love the bike and the gravel roads. For the price and features I think this bike should be on your shopping list.

Thank you! And that's an awesome first! It was on the list for a little while and I'll be honest, took it off purely for superficial reasons. Even though that down tube storage compartment is super cool.

pdlpsher wrote:After your bike purchase you can consider getting a 650B wheelset. The smaller 650B size will make the overall diameter of the gravel wheel similar in size to a 700x25, hence getting your effective gearing back to something that is comparable to a road bike gearing.

stu wrote:I personally like the versatility of a 2X drivetrain. I think 1X might be better on really rough terrain but IMHO that's what MTBs are for.

Oh for sure, I was originally set on a 650B for gravel from the box and buying a 700c wheelset separately for the road. That's less of a concern now when I look over at my 27.5+ hardtail though and I can go either way Same thought, will probably save that rough stuff for the hardtail. FWIW, that's got a 30T chainring with an 11-42 10spd cassette... it also weighs over 30 lbs.

pdlpsher wrote:Lastly, based on my personal experience of riding gravel in Colorado, my current gearing of 48/31 and 11-34 works quite well. I find that I'm mostly in my big ring and the chain is mostly close to the center of the 11-34 cassette. Once I get my hands on a new 650B wheelset I'll have an additional bit of lower gearing that will come in handy when I start to do more climbing gravel rides.

This is comforting. Would you mind PM'ing where you've found yourself riding most often? I'd also be newly venturing off the pavement here but gravelmap looks like there is PLENTY to be exploring.

stu wrote:Does your 105 rear derailleur have a short or medium cage?

Unfortunately it has the short cage so that limit is listed as 30T.
0
Pipeliner
129 posts
#5Jan 26, 2021, 8:17 PM
If you like your Emonda, I suggest you consider keeping It for a while. You may spend as much on wheels, rotors and cassette as that Trek is worth if it has rim brakes. And if you like to be competitive, the gearing and design of the Emonda is an advantage on the pavement. If you aren't a competitive rider, don't plan to race, I would suggest you eliminate the Exploro from your list. They are one hell of a gravel race bike if you plan to compete but they're also pretty harsh riding in the rough stuff and ride in an agressive posture that is great for aerodynamics but not so much comfort.

If you keep the road bike you can shop for an AXS/Eagle setup instead of a 2x on your gravel rig. I am a 2x diehard but that 10/50 eagle cassette with a 46t crank and the wireless shifting would convert me if I were in the market for a new gravel rig. Keep your road rig and your bases are covered.

When it comes to which bike to buy, I suggest going with a frame that can fit 700/45 at a minimum. Comfort is very important when riding rough roads for long periods so don't discount the more upright riding geo. It doesn't make you less competitive unless you are a front of the pack racer...and comfort means more saddle time.

In short, don't buy a race bike for gravel unless you are committed to all-out performance, it will make you suffer and you won't stay committed to training.

0
Pipeliner
129 posts
#6Jan 26, 2021, 8:30 PM
Ashton Lambie won a gravel race I did last year by a humiliating margin (world class athletes make everyone look bad) and he was riding a Lauf with the Lauf fork and a AXS Eagle setup, 54t chain ring. Really nice guy, got a chance to talk to him. He used aero bars and the Lauf fork really helped with riding aero without paying the price on rough roads.

Not many people compete at that level but if I were serious about competitive racing, I would take a hard look at that setup.

FWIW..
0
papsblue
6 posts
#7Jan 27, 2021, 12:24 AM
Pipeliner wrote:If you like your Emonda, I suggest you consider keeping It for a while. You may spend as much on wheels, rotors and cassette as that Trek is worth if it has rim brakes. And if you like to be competitive, the gearing and design of the Emonda is an advantage on the pavement. If you aren't a competitive rider, don't plan to race, I would suggest you eliminate the Exploro from your list. They are one hell of a gravel race bike if you plan to compete but they're also pretty harsh riding in the rough stuff and ride in an agressive posture that is great for aerodynamics but not so much comfort.

If you keep the road bike you can shop for an AXS/Eagle setup instead of a 2x on your gravel rig. I am a 2x diehard but that 10/50 eagle cassette with a 46t crank and the wireless shifting would convert me if I were in the market for a new gravel rig. Keep your road rig and your bases are covered.

When it comes to which bike to buy, I suggest going with a frame that can fit 700/45 at a minimum. Comfort is very important when riding rough roads for long periods so don't discount the more upright riding geo. It doesn't make you less competitive unless you are a front of the pack racer...and comfort means more saddle time.

In short, don't buy a race bike for gravel unless you are committed to all-out performance, it will make you suffer and you won't stay committed to training.

I really appreciate your input. This is something that has been on my mind the past few days. I've read more than a few comments about the aggressive geometry of the Exploro and.. well I'm 235 lbs and in my 30s.. I'm not going to be a front of the pack racer in any format! And I'm totally okay with knowing that. I cycle for me and my health. But yes, as my goal is to just finish long ride events (50-150 mi.) in the future, comfort should probably be a priority. I'll admit 100% though, vanity is playing a major role in this decision.
Could be using the site wrong but comparing the geometries of the Emonda and the Exploro on 99 spokes is hard to see a huge difference, was even considering going up to 58 for the Exploro. If I can rock a 40 mile ride on the Emonda comfortably
https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=trek-emonda-alr-5-2019;*z.56cm|w.700,3t-exploro-race-grx-2x-2020,3t-exploro-max-grx-2x-2020

I have enjoyed my time with the Emonda, maybe I should try to fit a bigger cassette on it first, because like I said, the 34/28 combo runs me out of juice quickly on the roads around here, which is what got me going in the direction of one bike and two sets of wheels. That.. and living in a 1 bedroom apartment.

Redirecting back to the Stigmata Eagle 1x [42T chainring] ($1,100 more than the Exploro GRX 2x) and keeping the Emonda (btw, yes, it's rim brakes) is conservatively a $2k swing... so yeah, effectively breaking even on a base level carbon wheelset. (Looking at ENVE 45 on competitivecylcist)
Pipeliner
129 posts
#8Jan 27, 2021, 1:27 AM
Unless it has been updated for 21 the stigmata is a dated design that has limited tire clearance and more of a cyclo cross geo. I'll also caution you that 40 miles on pavement isn't comparable to 40 miles on gravel (unless your gravel roads are perfect).

Given your size and fitness level, A compliant and more relaxed frame design like the Giant Revolt, Norco Search xr, GT grade are good suggestions. If you want more exotic, the new pivot Vault or Lauf True Grit have really nice features that smooth out the ride but are still racy.
2
pdlpsher
4 posts
#9Jan 27, 2021, 1:05 PM
I agree on the 700x45mm minimum tire clearance as a starting point. And you could keep a spare wheelset with narrow tires for road riding. From my experience gravel roads in Colorado the perfect balance between traction and speed is 40mm. That's for my weight. Since you are heavier than me perhaps 42-45mm will be prefect.

My Diverge has the Headshock 2.0. It really does work and it keep me fresh on longer gravel rides.

I don't know where you live in Colorado but I ride near my home mostly which has a ton of gravel roads. I sometimes take my bike and drive east 7 miles which cuts out 14 miles total of paved roads. Then I can ride on 90% gravel roads. I rode gravel on this past Monday and started from my house and finished in town to meet up with my wife who then took me home in her car. My Monday ride is on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/4681339105 On the weekends I like to drive further out to more remote areas and trying new roads. You can see my Sat. ride starting from Wellington: https://www.strava.com/activities/4670565094

Good luck with your purchase decision.
0
Snake
25 posts
#10Jan 28, 2021, 5:55 AM
Those are all great bikes. Focus on fit and comfort. I race gravel and use to road race. I use my road bike with 25mm tires when I go with the hammers but tend to use my 1x cross bike with 38mm to 40mm tires on the easier road rides simply because it is more comfortable.
The AXS stuff is amazing but so expensive so using Force 1x.
The new Campy gravel looks good. I’ve been using Campy on my road bikes since 1986. Super reliable but bike shops around here don’t typically stock Campy parts so I always have an extra chain on hand.

1
papsblue
6 posts
#11Jan 28, 2021, 4:26 PM
Pipeliner wrote:Unless it has been updated for 21 the stigmata is a dated design that has limited tire clearance and more of a cyclo cross geo. I'll also caution you that 40 miles on pavement isn't comparable to 40 miles on gravel (unless your gravel roads are perfect).

Given your size and fitness level, A compliant and more relaxed frame design like the Giant Revolt, Norco Search xr, GT grade are good suggestions. If you want more exotic, the new pivot Vault or Lauf True Grit have really nice features that smooth out the ride but are still racy.

That Lauf True Grit is VERY exotic. I don't hate it! I am actually into the Giant Revolt, will be test riding this weekend unless someone else grabs it first, not many of those left in the country.

Snake wrote:
Those are all great bikes. Focus on fit and comfort. I race gravel and use to road race. I use my road bike with 25mm tires when I go with the hammers but tend to use my 1x cross bike with 38mm to 40mm tires on the easier road rides simply because it is more comfortable.
The AXS stuff is amazing but so expensive so using Force 1x.
The new Campy gravel looks good. I’ve been using Campy on my road bikes since 1986. Super reliable but bike shops around here don’t typically stock Campy parts so I always have an extra chain on hand.

Will have to keep that in mind if I end up with something with the Campy 1x, but definitely leaning more towards something with a GRX-810 2x setup now. Especially after the expense that you mention for the AXS stuff!!

pdlpsher wrote:I agree on the 700x45mm minimum tire clearance as a starting point. And you could keep a spare wheelset with narrow tires for road riding. From my experience gravel roads in Colorado the perfect balance between traction and speed is 40mm. That's for my weight. Since you are heavier than me perhaps 42-45mm will be prefect.

My Diverge has the Headshock 2.0. It really does work and it keep me fresh on longer gravel rides.

I don't know where you live in Colorado but I ride near my home mostly which has a ton of gravel roads. I sometimes take my bike and drive east 7 miles which cuts out 14 miles total of paved roads. Then I can ride on 90% gravel roads. I rode gravel on this past Monday and started from my house and finished in town to meet up with my wife who then took me home in her car. My Monday ride is on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/4681339105 On the weekends I like to drive further out to more remote areas and trying new roads. You can see my Sat. ride starting from Wellington: https://www.strava.com/activities/4670565094

Good luck with your purchase decision.

Thanks for this and reaching out on Strava as well! Setting a minimum tire size of 45 definitely clears out some of the competition, including the Grail,

I've seen some murmoring on the internet about Headshock 2.0 not really being as great for people over 200 lbs. I'll have to try it for myself.

That's a thing about this year, finding bikes to even test ride is crazy difficult. I know I'll be driving over an hour to check out the Revolt.
Snake
25 posts
#12Jan 28, 2021, 5:32 PM
So much nice bike stuff out there right now.
1
papsblue
6 posts
#13Jan 28, 2021, 10:40 PM
Pipeliner wrote:Ashton Lambie won a gravel race I did last year by a humiliating margin (world class athletes make everyone look bad) and he was riding a Lauf with the Lauf fork and a AXS Eagle setup, 54t chain ring. Really nice guy, got a chance to talk to him. He used aero bars and the Lauf fork really helped with riding aero without paying the price on rough roads.

Not many people compete at that level but if I were serious about competitive racing, I would take a hard look at that setup.

FWIW..

The customer service I got from the chat box on Lauf's website convinced me that they were a company that I wanted to work with. The uniqueness and value can not be beat either! Just ordered a Lauf True Grit Weekend Warrior AXS. I'll keep the Emonda for a while too. Guess I need to find room for another bike in this apartment. 😁
1
Pipeliner
129 posts
#14Jan 29, 2021, 6:14 AMedited
Let us know how you like it. Set it up tubeless right away if it doesn't come that way.
1
pdlpsher
4 posts
#15Jan 29, 2021, 5:10 PM
Great to hear. Please post a pic of the new bike once you get it.
0

Related threads

Show us your Gravel bikeGravel Pictures · 972 replies · Mar 3, 2025
Starting a new Bombtrack Hook EXT-C Build; components, groupset and wheel options input????Bikes · 23 replies · Apr 16, 2021
Campagnolo Ekar 13 speed Gravel GroupsetComponents - Discussion and Reviews · 55 replies · May 3, 2022
Question on the groupset for gravel bikesComponents - Discussion and Reviews · 62 replies · May 30, 2019
FS: Wolf Tooth Road LinkComponents and Accessories · 1 replies · May 6, 2016