Rotherham v Halifax

[davidj]

For far too long I have been admiring CX/Gravel bikes. This summer may be my time to get back on an unsprung drop bar bike.

I have liked the On One Dirty Disco for ages, but I am an Orange "fan boy" now so the RX9 would fit in...

Anyone riding modern CX bikes can give me some pointers? Can I use XT/XTR (stuff I have and know) or are they road only components?

How do I get to hydraulic disc brakes, no way am I going back to cable!

 

[jimo746]

Re:

The RX 9 is probably what you'd call a cx/gravel/do it all bike these days.
You could use an xt/xtr mtb rear mech with Shimano drop bar brakes/shifters, but you'd need something like a Wolftooth Tanpan to take account of the different cable pull ratios.
And Chainset you could use no problem, I use an SLX chainset, and an SLX cassette too on my gravel bike, the rest of the kit is Sram Rival 1x11 though.

There's loads of components aimed at the road/gravel/cx market. Hydro disc brakes are ten a penny, matched with the levers/shifters they're as good as mtb disc brakes imo.

You're a bit limited to the mtb parts you can use on a drop bar bike, without things getting unnecessarily complicated due to compatibility issues, and there are so many good road/cx/gravel specific components these days you may as well go with those tbh.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

There's loads of components aimed at the road/gravel/cx market.

Though surprisingly few chainsets that except a chainring smaller than 34t; I know I've been looking. There are some, but they're quite pricey: https://www.dolan-bikes.com/sugino-ox2- ... black.html.

Apparently, you can use an 11 speed 11-40 tooth cassette, something like a Shimano SLX or SunRace, with the latest Shimano medium cage, shadow type, road rear derailleurs, which are supposed to be used with a maximum of 34t, but Shimano are perhaps being a little conservative. https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-slx-m7 ... -cassette/

I recon something like an 11-34 cassette with a 28 or 30t inner ring and a 40 to 44t outer chainring up front would be great for loaded gravel or touring.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

I had a RX9 and it was a nicely built thing but my god it was heavy! So much so I never really used it as I couldn't see the advantage over a MTB. Sold it and bought a P7. To be fair it was the budget version so plenty of the weight would have been in the groupset and basic finishing kit.

Got a road bike now that's light as a feather in comparison. Not that I ride that either! :facepalm:

 

[davidj]

Re:

That is disappointing to hear Brocklander, especially as I am an Orange fan boy.

Looks like Rotherham just pulled out a lead with the Dirty Disco!

 

[xerxes]

Re:

I am currently waiting for one of these to turn up:

I actually ordered just a frame and have all the other parts sitting here waiting.