I have a Crux and can’t compare to an Aspero, but can say that I love the bike on the road with a 55mm deep wheelset and 28 tires. I choose it for most of my training rides over my Tarmac SL7. Only choose that for the most competitive of group rides.
The reason for hesitation is that is hard to find frame only. I already have the wheels and I don’t plan to use that Red group.
What wheels are you running on your Ostro? Thx
9th Wave Ninefold 356.
A Dutch brand, that‘s really focused on gravel and Allroad.
Love geh 26mm internal width and the extremely low weight.
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Thanks!. Since you are the aero resident expert. Let me ask you, should I be concerned about aero losses on a 25mm deep wheel, when I’m running 42 or 44mm tires?
I’m trying to decide between the Roval Terra CLX or Berd GVX with DT180….
Thanks
Nah…most brands say the aero benefit of wheels is minimal once you get to 40+mm in tire width.
With 28-32mm tires, the 3.4 is going to deliver a wattage savings of up to 10 watts at 20 mph over the G23 with the same tire. That doesn’t tell the entire story, however. As tire width increases beyond 32mm, the 3.4’s aero advantage diminishes. Going up to a 40mm tire, the two wheelsets would essentially be aerodynamically equal.
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Never tested it myself, but from my sources (aka. Aerocoach and Silca/ Josh Poertner/ Dylan Johnson), deeper wheels don’t or do hardly yield measurable aerodynamic gains.
In my personal experience, these 35mm deep wheels do not feel any slower than the ENVE SES 4.5, yet feel significantly more stable and are lighter.
Josh Poertner says, he has not seen a single wheel wide enough to really make the most of 42mm tires. There are a couple 40mm wide wheels (3T, and also 9th wave). I personally would never ride these in racing, I’d be much too worried to strike these and break the carbon.
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Thanks a lot!. That’s an implicit endorsement of the Berd wheelset.
- Incredibly light.
- Super compliant for chunky descends.
- Yet stiff enough!
Are you running the new DA 12 speed?… I’ve been talking to Factor, this is what they said:
12 speed DA or Ultegra you are limited to a 38mm rear tire because of how the cable enters the front derailleur
A 42mm tire (measured, not nominal) will fit pretty well.
A 44mm tire (measured, again) fits pretty tight.
It’s very close to the FD.
For me, using 26mm internal TSS rims, 40c nominal is perfect.
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With Dura Ace 11sp or 12sp?
Dura Ace 9200 (12s)
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“Dylan is always tinkering w/ tires and aero water packs and fancy socks. He needs to stop talking, HTFU, and just go ahead beat Keenan.” - Backward Hat Dude.
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- Keegan
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I think the other thing to consider would be given the same weight and aerodynamics would the more compliant wheel be faster in gravel?
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I wonder how Swenson feels about orange soda
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After 6 months on the RaceMax - it’s a great bike if you don’t need to go larger than 40. There is plenty of width, but it’s just the rear cutout that is ridiculous. For the few races I’ve done, 38s (measure 40) have been fine in terms of comfort. It’s a fast bike. It’s also rough. The 54 felt a lil tight and wish the seat post had some setback.
Sometimes I feel the bike is going to fall apart while bombing down gravel or light singletrack. It’s been good for road riding with my aero road wheels and the few crits I have done. It is planted and feels good when ripping corners in the few crits I have done, but pedal strikes beware. Anyway, I’ve over this experiment and selling it, going back to a dedicated road bike and a separate gravel/cx bike. Will look to build up another Focus Mares or Crux.
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I have no idea what this statement relates too.
Keenan & Kel. It was a good joke.
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So what would be the best gravel bike if you wanted it to have as few compromises as a road bike as possible?
Currently I’m using an Inflite CF SLX, set up with an integrated aero cockpit, and GRX Di2, a 42 rear and a 50t AXS Red front Aero crankset. I raced that against some reasonably serious road hitters before (ex grand tour podium guys) so it isn’t an awful set up. I can also fit the canyon aeroad clipon tt bars for long distances.
The frameset is ~900g, but I’d give up a little for improved aerodynamics (not that the frame is a big part of it, but certainly an integrated cable setup). I don’t need 50c capacity at 700c.
Considered a Ribble SL - but the frameset is HEAVY.
Aspero 5? Ostro VAM?