All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Iceland, 10/10, would ride again

 

Nice! I really want to do this race. Mostly an excuse to go explore Iceland. How many other Laufs did you see?

Where did you stay?

 

It's hard to explain how gnarly it actually was. I watched people fall just trying to stand still in that mud.

 

The race was incredible - blue bird day. More Laufs than I could count!

We flew into Keflavik a few days prior and stayed in Reykjavik at an Airbnb, then we shuttled to Hvolsvollur before the race and were setup in hostel/cabin kinda thing. Lauf is a title sponsor for our gravel team so they handled a lot of the transportation logistics, which was a major relief! Renting a car is expensive, but fuel is even more so ($8.70+ per gal!!!) I'll be back again next year to get a clean run at the race, which was cut short competitively at mile 55 with a cut sidewall. I managed to finish, but I lost almost an hour trying to plug and inflate, ultimately giving up and riding it flat with a Panzer insert for nearly 45 miles. Tubes rarely held for those with similar tire failures. The volcanic rock would get inside the tire and rub a hole through that tube in no time. Big tires are key! 50mm would be ideal for that course.

 

Would be super fun to get a ride or two in while I'm there. The plans aren't set yet, but this helps solidify my idea of driving and bringing the bikes!

 

yea, southern california has some really good riding, especially when the weather is cooler. definitely a sleeper city for MTB. I live only a couple miles from the bottom of Mt Wilson, so there's really easy access to a ton of trails near my house also. though there's not as not as much variety as Laguna, its mostly exposed techy trails, a lot of fun if you like that.

definitely hit me up when you're in town!

 

beautiful scenery! Beautiful bike!

 

The extra costs are the only thing making me think twice about it. With some of the costs in Iceland might be cheaper to throw some 44" Icelandic style tires on the Tacoma, ship it, and camp out in that. Ha.

Maybe I'll see you there next year though. It's pretty high on the list of gravel races I'd like to do.

 

I want to try this, obviously not this in depth. Next level content on the subject of SC vs DC forks.
I'm listening to it like a podcast and switching over to watching for the good parts, but there's too many good parts.

 

Didn't watch the video but it would take ALOT of convincing to justify a dual crown fork on anything but a purpose-built downhill bike. Single crown forks are really supple and stiff nowadays

 

Alright guys, I just noticed a couple more things. The bike doesn't have the stock wheelset, its got a WTB i23 in the front and DT Swiss M1700 Spline in the rear (25mm inner width)....That makes it sound like not as good of a deal when you combine the lower spec fork and wheels.

I've already told myself to ride this weekend and make a decision, if it's still available on Sunday/Monday I may pull the trigger...but not at $3700. I know there are no new Izzo's in stock right now but I'm also not set on it. Part of me is wondering if finding a used Ibis Ripley AF would be the better route?

I'm walking into some analysis paralysis right now haha.

 

Fellas please be careful out there.

Had a buddy get Tboned by an SUV last night riding out on the road on his gravel bike.... had to get airlifted..... Broken back in a couple of spots...from the sounds of it he doesn't need surgery but FACKKK.

When your strava looks like this...


Little reminder we are all just vulnerable sacks of meat.

 

fuck that is shitty. I did a gravel ride this morning and saw a couple beer cans on the road...I'm like fuckin sweet

 

that caption is dark humor hilarous

 

Hour lunch breaks, I watched it.
Very entertaining.

Cliff notes:
He completely modified a DC to be as identical to the SC as possible. Only variance was 700grams heavier for the DC, and obviously the number crowns.

Verdict:
A DC will likely put you on the podium in an EWS race. Assuming you’re already competing at that level. Everyone else should just continue running modern SC forks and have fun doing it.

 

Horrid, and the exact reason I spend as little time as possible on anything that resembles a road when on a bike or on foot.

 

Yep, same here. I don’t mind pavement riding, but I pick roads that are very scarcely driven.

 

Agreed.. I'll take my chances in the rocks and dirt... at least I can control my destiny.

 

Before my move recently, I put in 10 hours of weight training/cardio a week, busting my ass with relatively good eating habits and I have been hovering at about 260 for a couple years.
I just started riding recently and hoping that helps out a bit too

 

Wish your buddy well.


I lost a friend two weeks ago to a hit and run. Hit four people. One passed two still in the ICU.

The roads can be scary and we're all quite vulnerable.

It's not a force field or anything but I never ride without a Garmin Varia. It's the best bike accessory I've ever owned.