Author Archives: gravelbike

First Impressions: SeatSleev Retention System

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In the days before saddle packs, riders used an old toe strap to secure their spare tubular to the saddle’s rails.  Then, as clinchers gained popularity, saddle packs became more ubiquitous.  When saddlebags became passe, tubes and mini-tools were then relegated to jersey pockets.  But now there’s another option for carrying spare kit–the SeatSleev retention system.

Conceptually, the SeatSleev is the exact opposite of a saddle pack.  All your gear is visible–and more importantly, accessible–even when strapped to the saddle’s rails.  With the SeatSleev, there’s no rummaging through packs or sagging jersey pockets.

OK, it’s convenient, but is it secure?  Absolutely.  I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical at first, but I’m pleased to report that the SeatSleev is very secure.  The heavy-gauge elastic conforms to the items’ individual shapes, and cinching down the dual hook-and-loop keeps everything in place (even on dirt roads and trails).

GRAVELBIKE.com SeatSleev Selle An-Atomica Kalloy Black Mountain Cycles Pedro's Topeak Lezyne

A compact and convenient alternative to traditional saddle packs.

Capacity-wise, I was able to able to carry everything that normally resides in my medium-sized Lezyne saddle pack (with room to spare).  And while I’m certainly no featherweight, the SeatSleev is about half the weight of the aforementioned saddlebag (45 grams vs 85 grams).

The SpeedSleev retails for $34.99, and can be purchased on the company’s website.

Disclosure: SpeedSleev, LLC provided review samples for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.

Weekend Project: Drivetrain Conversion

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When I built up my Black Mountain Cycles frameset, most of the parts came from my previous bike (Rawland rSogn).  That build worked well enough for me to get a feel for the new rig, but after several hundred miles, I found myself wanting gearing that was a little tighter (both in range and jumps).  And since I was running 10-speed shifters with an otherwise 9-speed drivetrain, it was the perfect opportunity to make the switch to a total 10-speed setup.

GRAVELBIKE.com "Black Mountain Cycles" Campagnolo Centaur Veloce KMC H+Son Schwalbe Vecchio's BikeHubStore.com

The author’s Black Mountain with newly-upgraded drivetrain.

Because I wanted to avoid hybrid- or conversion-cassettes, the upgrade to 10 speeds would require a rear wheel with a Campagnolo-compatible freehub.  I was already working with Brandon at BikeHubStore on a related project, so that problem was easily solved with one of his SL218 hubs.  Peter Chisholm of Boulder’s Vecchio’s Bicicletteria built the hub into a new rear wheel, and I was ready to make the jump from 9 to 10 speeds.

GRAVELBIKE.com "Black Mountain Cycles" Campagnolo Centaur Veloce KMC H+Son Schwalbe Vecchio's BikeHubStore.com

Campagnolo Veloce (med cage) derailleur shifts a KMC chain over a Veloce cassette. Shifters and front derailleur are Campy Centaur.

With the necessary parts in hand, it only took a couple of hours to install and adjust the new components (cassette, rear derailleur, chain).  The process was largely uneventful, but I did run into a couple of gotchas along the way.

  • First, don’t bother with universal-fit derailleur cables if you run Campy shifters.  Cutting off the un-needed end results in a tip that’s prone to snagging–or worse, unraveling–when you thread it through the shifter (and housing).  You could always solder the end of the freshly-cut cable, but since you’ll be trimming it again, just use a single-ended cable to begin with.
  • If you’re even remotely unsure that your chain is the correct length, preserve your sanity and get a couple of Wipperman Connex links.  I was able to open and rejoin the stock KMC Missing Link, but only after searching YouTube for help (and jury-rigging some snap ring pliers).

The new cassette’s range (13,14,15,16,17,19,21,23,26,29) works well for most conditions, but when paired with the 46t big chainring, I find myself spinning out on paved descents.  A 48t or 50t chainring is on my shopping list for when the 46t ‘ring eventually wears out.  Sharp-eyed readers will notice that I’m running a 10-speed chain and front derailleur with 9-speed cranks and an 8-speed large ‘ring.  It shifts better than expected, but there’s a slight lag getting the chain onto the 46t Real Design chainring (but it’s something I can live with at the moment).

Disclosure: BikeHubStore.com and Vecchio’s provided review samples and services for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this article.

First Impressions: Schwalbe Marathon Winter Tires

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Last February, I logged a measly 25 miles for the month because of icy roads.  This winter I vowed that Mother Nature would not get the best of me.  Ice or no ice, I was going to keep riding.  In order to meet that goal (and stay upright), I decided that it was time to invest in some studded tires.

Checking the internet, I discovered that Schwalbe offered four studded tires.  Since I would be riding primarily on pavement, I chose the Marathon Winter in the 700×35 size.  The studded Marathon utilizes the company’s RaceGuard anti-puncture technology, and is constructed from a special winter (rubber) compound.  The tires also feature reflective sidewalls, and dynamo strips.

Schwalbe Marathon Winter GRAVELBIKE.com Sun Ringle

One of the first things you notice about the Marathon Winters is their weight.  The 35mm versions weigh 910 grams–230% heavier than the Vittoria Voyager Hypers that I normally run.  At the maximum recommended 85psi, the tires measured 35.1mm when mounted on 23mm rims.  Before the carbide studs are broken in, they’re surprisingly sharp, so it’s not a bad idea to wear gloves when mounting these tires.

On dry pavement, the Schwalbes are extremely sure-footed thanks to the 240 carbide studs.  They’re also a bit noisy, but I found that I tuned it out after a short while.  Traction on dirt roads and trails was outstanding, even at pavement-friendly pressures.  My first encounter with ice was, thankfully, uneventful.  Straight-line traction (and braking) was very predictable, but I did detect some slipping when transitioning between the center and side studs (decreasing the pressure improved traction, however).

GRAVELBIKE.com Boulder Colorado Schwalbe Marathon Winter Sun Ringle Salsa Vaya Avid BB7

Surprisingly, snow presented more of a challenge than ice.  The Marathon Winters fared well in fresh snow (as long as it wasn’t too deep), but navigating rutted, “crusty” snow was tricky.  For those types of conditions, the wider 700×40 version would have been a better choice.

Because of the tires’ increased drag (and added weight), I only use them when I expect extended icy conditions.  After approximately 150 miles, the tread shows virtually no wear, and no studs have ripped out.  At this rate, I expect that the tires will last many years.

Please visit the company’s website for additional information about Schwalbe’s entire line of products