Thank you.

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Big agree with this humble opinion!

As a local in Bentonville. Love your Grail AL7 Etap! Ngl upgraded almost every component to it, but worth it! At least still have the Rival Etap derailer/Shifter, and brakes (Did change the cranks). The bike rips!

Thank you, Scott. I appreciate the support.

Thanks, Lucy. Heck no, you are not alone. Half of gravel seems to be figuring out how to deal with things when they get sideways. What tires did you use? And did you flat?

Cheers. Me too.

Thanks 👍

Boneheadedness is my lane. 🙃

Cheers, X. One of these days we should ride again.

😜

Thanks for subscribing.

Cheers, Gerry. Let me know your thoughts on the fit after you check one out.

Got to Carlsbad Sat. Five hours in car RT and well worth it. Grail is quite a handsome bike. Looks better in person, sporty, sturdy, made for gravel. Bike only for display so couldn't throw a leg over it. So here's my question to you sir... putting aside added investment. Could you offer a totally shooting from the hip... thought on the Grail you rode with new wheelset 40mm depth, 417g lighter, 25mm inner rim width and another 150g less on other components. Also, I get it. Weight isn't everything. Putting this aside given this exercise "how might" these changes have affected your already impressive ride at big sugar. If too much of a pretend scenario for you to answer that's cool... but if sitting down shooting the breeze over a beer with some friends... what would you tell them? @@TheRidewithBenDelaney

@@gerryl8310 I don't understand the question. Comparing the bike as built to the bike with what setup?

No worries. All good. I got it. Taking it out for first ride tomorrow. Swapped DT Swiss out with Zip 353's. Few more adjustment yet to happen but so far... she's a looker. @@TheRidewithBenDelaney

@@gerryl8310 were you able to get a computer mount and internal storage bag?

Thanks for subbing.

Thank you.

Hell, what else can you do sometimes? 😜

I did, and it didn’t. 🤷‍♂️ Still a great bike, though!

Well played dad… well played.

Holey

Thank you.

If it was on my game I would have found a way to insert that Far Side 'school of the gifted' kid pushing hard on the door that says PULL.

Thanks 👍

I don't go to F1 races often. But when I do, I make sure to walk awkwardly through Buxton's shot. 😉

The cover had me against the ropes, and it was looking grim, but with Big Tall Wayne, all things are possible.

Cheers, man. Good chatting with you about your GoPro remote tips. And congrats on hitting your goal.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Diverge is a great bike. I like the FutureShock, even though it can be fussy for maintenance. Feels much more natural to me than the Redshift stem. Howes videos coming up! I am looking forward to those, too. He’s a funny dude.

Hey thanks. And no shame in cramping; we've all been there. Just enjoying the day and finishing is the main thing. Last year at Big Sugar I had all the flats and decided to sit in the river for a bit. It ended up being a great day talking to a lot of people and enjoying the area. Way different than road racing.

Totally. The race day was brilliant and agreed, its the people you share the event with that make it great. The peeps I finished with became instant friends. That’s what it’s all about. …It’s just so frustrating when you think you've put in the training, then your ageing and less prepared / less trained than you thought body lets you down! :)) ...It would be great to hear some more of your stories / advice about preparation for gravel race day if that’s something you’d be willing to share… I think us mere mortals (has beens!) could do with some more sage words about both preparation for big events and how enjoying them regardless of where you place in the event is the essence of gravel events. @@TheRidewithBenDelaney

The one before the climb to the Coke oasis, yeah? Ooph!

Thanks. Those wheels could be an OE-only thing. They're a good Goldilocks configuration with wide internal and kinda aero but not super deep/jarring. Better suited for midwest/wide-open gravel than Big Sugar, but performed just fine there, too.

Hey Sebastian. I used the ‘puck’ circular insert for a Wahoo mount (which has a 90-degree difference from Garmin) and longer mounting screws. I would suggest going to a bike shop where they should have a bunch of different small parts like that.

Thanks. Similar, but Stigmata is slacker with more tire clearance (50m) and more adjustment options with a normal post and bar/stem.

On the side of the main tread. I filmed myself putting a Dynaplug in but the audio was terrible so I skipped it. 45 might roll a touch faster but the added weight would probably mean a slower overall package. Cheers.

Sure, I could do that. Which race are you doing in February? Two short answers: I use Optimize from FasCat for training. To get ready for 56mi, just work your way up to that distance in between now and then, taper off in the week or two before, and then have fun.

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Thanks, that sounds simple enough :-). That's what I thought and have read. I freedive so I'm pretty familiar with training, but training for endurance seems to have its differences. Freedivers kind of train. as if we were 800m runners. Definitely different from endurance racing. I will check out FasCat too. I guess I just have to get used to being in the saddle for prolonged periods of time. I've never done a group ride. I'll have to learn what the best nutrition is while I'm on the bike. I'll have to learn to ride with others to take advantage of drafting too. I'm doing the Gravel Miami race on February 18.

Musta been the bike. 😃 It was a beautiful day, eh? Being from NM & CO, the amount of deciduous trees was a treat in the fall.

Hopefully early next week. The Red Bull Advanced Technologies technical director was out with Covid when we visited Austin, so I'm sitting on my footage until I can get an interview with him.

Thanks, Brandon. I appreciate you subscribing. 'More speed' could be defined a few ways, but I'm guessing you mean aerodynamics, given your aero-road bike preference. Aero's a thing in gravel, for sure, but not a huge thing. I mean, Keegan seems to do okay on a round-tube bike. The Revolt and the Crux are definitely not aero bikes, but plenty raceable (I won SBT 100 and got third at Unbound 100 on the Revolt), and a bit more forgiving than the Aspero and Ostro (both of which I enjoyed riding at Unbound 200 and 100, respectively). Really, you should go for the bike that gets *you* the most excited. Feeling stoked on your bike will count for more than a tiny fraction of a CdA reduction.

Just a particular SciCon road case where you bolt both front and rear axles in place.

Your wish I my command! Seriously though, I'll be seeing him again here in a couple of weeks. As for my seemingly perpetual bridesmaid status... maybe I should get some shirts made...

Thanks. I'm 6ft/183cm and that's a Medium.

Thank you for the response!

Happy I have a Grizl. The only thing I like more on this bike is the downtube storage...IF they fix the door😂

@@veganpotterthevegan I’d like to follow up on this if I may: For someone new to gravel cycling and living (literally) in the Dirty Kanza area, would you recommend the Grail or Grizl CF SL8 2by? I am leaning toward the Grizl- bigger tires, seems more ready for the “ unexpected” but would appreciate an expert opinion.

@akmola1 Totally!!! I've never ridden there but I'd go with the Grizl for long term survival IF you're the type to ride in the mud. You can run a 40-45mm tire and still have mud clearance. With the Grail, you'll be better served running a 35(or even a 33mm cross tire) so you don't eat your frame away in the mud. And while Canyon says they specifically design the Grizl for 700c tires, it still gives you the versatility to run a 650 with big rubber. My ex GF will throw 2.5" 650s in her Grizl and ride single track with it. I live in Utah and have some pretty gnarly gravel/road climbs(look up the Wasatch All-Road) and run a 38t up front with a 9-46 e*thirteen cassette. I think I'm going to throw on a 44t chainring, fenders and a 10-36 cassette and it'll be my bad weather bike for the winter. I'll just ride my 45mm Schwalbe G Ones I gravel rode all summer and replace them in the spring. Kinda nice having a slower tire when it's ultra cold to decrease windchill, especially if I'm descending one of our big canyon climbs.

@@veganpotterthevegan thanks for the insights! You’re confirming what my gut feeling has been. Plus if we are talking about 33s tires for the Grail, I already have a Canyon Roadlite CF8 with 30s on it so there’d be no need to duplicate the bike (I’m absolutely loving my Roadlite, by the way, and averaging higher speeds on it than on my Co-Op ARD road bike. The only issue is, there hardly any paved roads that would be safe to ride on down here in Kansas, so I am ready to venture in the world of gravel. When in Rome, do as the Romans do I guess.

@@akmola1 Many Thnx for your notes. Compared with such gravel roads in Kansas or Utah the roads here in Germany feel like hiking trails for me my area. And I have 'fear' about Mudd Noo :) at 'road'. grail AL6 Have fun with regards!

6ft/183cm and Medium. ✌️

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney i am 187cm. The L has a massive reach but i fear that the Stack is to small on a Medium one as I have my saddle on 80,4 cm and i am not the Most flexible 😅

@@sitaha3299 did you end up getting the Grail? I'm the same height and wondering the same thing.

Guten tag. I use Silca’s tire pressure calculator all the time, because correct pressure is all about weight (yours and the bike), tire width, and where you are riding. silca.cc/pages/app-tire-pressure-calculator

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Hi Ben, thanks for your answer! i'm always using the sram calculator...on my last ride a few hours ago i took the pressure für an rainy ride (although its the brightest sunshine). This brought better results to me (dued to my weight of 80kg: front tire 2,3 bar and rear tire with 2,4 bar).

Those are Canyon side-load cages. You can also get those from Bontrager, Specialized, Lezyne, etc.

Eagle eye. 👌

Jim Potter smiling 😃@@TheRidewithBenDelaney

Yep, always tubeless for gravel! I use Silca sealant: alnk.to/ge5KLEV They are a supporter of mine this year, so you can save 10% with code 'theride' For plugs, I really like the Dynaplug Racer. It's pricey, but it is super easy and quick to use. amzn.to/3JHbZPp

I need to get on the latest Aspero. Good idea for a video...

Yes. At least that has always been my experience with multiple Canyon test bikes out of the box.

Thanks. Medium. I am 6ft/183 and usually ride 56s.

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney thanks, I am 179 and have a size M Grizl, which I love. I am now looking into a more race-oriented size S Grail, which would be proportionally similar to your setup! Congrats on the great content, very interesting and entertaining!

@@bogdanc2309 Hi. Have you ordered a bike? I am 180 and site recommends M size. But isn't the bike too long for size M? Top tube length is enormous, 586 mm. If you compare S size Grail to M size Grizl, you will notice that their geometry is very similar, except for seat tube length. I'm starting to think about size S with a 90-400 or 100-400 cockpit.

Medium, 76.

thanks for the quick reply. I'm a 74.5 so it's in the ballpark.@@TheRidewithBenDelaney

I use gorilla clue for that creak/click

Where do you apply it?

That is annoying! Personally I haven't had that with these Argos, perhaps because I'm always swapping bikes. Potter's Gorilla Glue suggestion is interesting.

@@justinjewell1043 I just put it in the back holes where the rails are inserted.

@@veganpotterthevegan Awesome thanks! So you must have experienced this as well, yeah? Feel like my creak/click is coming more from the nose of the saddle. So you just squirt a bunch around the rails to plug it from anything getting in? Kind of a lame solution but I guess it's a solution haha.

I'm not 100% sold on the geometry for all rides, all of the time. The more mountain bikey a course is, though, the more that slack front end shines. I wanted/want to keep trying it in different situations. Challenge my own preconceptions, you know? A big part of my bike choice comes down to what I have in for test. The MOG is not one of them right now, but that would have been a great one for Big Sugar. Thanks for asking!

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney thanks for the answer! You make good points.

And who should I see but Mr Jeremy Dunn. In a tie, no less.

Depends on how you define faster, right? Just based on physics modeling with power in and the resistance variables of weight, aero, and friction out, it's gotta be faster than the old one. If we're talking how fast it *feels*, then yeah, on pavement the handling feels slower, but on rough stuff feels more stable. So Canyon I'm sure would argue that the handling contributes to going faster off road if the rider feels more confident.

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Thanks Ben.

Not yet. I am waiting for Canyon to come back to me with availability and pricing. Right now they have not told me either for bars, bags and the aero bar.

Thank you, and welcome to the funny farm that is gravel! You're in the heartland there in Emporia. Grizl is a better option for the unexpected and/or a wider range of roads and trails. As you said, bigger tires - or at least the option to experiment with a wider range of tires.

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney thank you, sir! You are a living proof that one can ride fast on gravel. Having not ridden any gravel bikes, yet, I’m a little concerned about how much speed I can possibly reach (I’ve been doing amateur-ish road cycling all my life and I’m averaging about 17 mph on my Canyon Roadlite CF 8- absolutely loving it, except that living in Emporia, gravel cycling finds you. Hope I can get up to comparable speeds if/when I get a Grizl (potholes and rock chips and all notwithstanding…🙄). You’ve got a new subscriber now!

Maybe on the front, but the rear is constricted by the stays on the sides.

Hi Ben. Great channel and info!! I like the Panaracer Gravel King tyres and the SS model which i ride mostly, come in 43 mm..have you by any chance tried to fit them on the rear? Thanks!

Medium.

It's a little heavier than a top tube bag, but has more capacity and doesn't hit my knees, which pretty much all top tube bags do. I dig it.

@TheRidewithBenDelaney my legs definitely hit my bag if I'm standing. Thinking about going to a hard box like I use for training on my P5. My knees don't hit that but it's smaller. *I do love the idea of this bag and the size. The front of that flap just bugs me

I don't know about that, but I can say that keeping your wheels firmly attached is a good best practice.

No, no - both of those are 100% on me. I neglected to tighten the axle properly and I had the cover upside down! 🙃 Keep watching.

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney omg hahahaha

If there is a way to screw it up, I will find it. Once, I glued a ‘cross tubular on in the wrong direction.

Or three.

Grizl is your answer there.

Maybe *this* time!

😆@@TheRidewithBenDelaney