Just me, or does the Unbound route look even more monotonous than the Kona bike course?
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SPD all day if you ask me. You can get plenty stiff enough and road ‘looking’ SPD shoes these days
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I watched the live stream for a bit and it was incredibly dull watching. Got muddy for a bit, then got sunny for a bit, rained for a bit, was the only change I could see from dipping in and out. Doesn’t make me want to do it.
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Yesterday morning my Unbound 2026 moment happened; I found the limit of my endurance bike with 36mm tyres squeezed in. A farm track that was bone dry 9 days before, after a few days heavy rain had turned into what seemed like innocuous shallow mud. Nope, it was that horrible stuff that just sticks to everything. Within about 20m I heard a whirring sound and forward motion was denied. Used a stick and my hand to clear it out, got going after a few mins, but hit another smaller patch before the road. Ended-up at the end of the track taking both wheels out to do it properly.
I reckon even 5mm clearance either side wouldn’t have saved me. Should have taken the gravel option, not farm option!
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I tell you the road felt like bliss after that 
Surprised I stayed upright on the track.
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Definitely justifies the need for a new Gravel bike.
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The Revolt with it’s official 53mm tyre clearance is looking like a good candidate. Lots of breathing space with a 45 if it’s properly muddy. 50 in the dry.
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Mud.
Mud is one of the reasons I drifted away from CX. I know it’s an intrinsic part of the sport - I enjoyed the fast stuff, technical stuff, climby stuff etc - but mud was the part I least enjoyed & when it started to weigh down a bike & jam up the wheels, gears & brakes it just pissed me off.
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This is why the pit crew and the 2nd/3rd bike become part of the cross package. And then suddenly it’s not the “entry level” sport it’s made out to be.
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The North Wales League has a one frame only rule to keep it more accessible to people so no pressure washers just a variety of sticks to clear mud 
.
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I did not know this. Definitely not the case in the NW league.
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Gen 4 Crux ordered on c2w with 20% sale price confirmed. Even with the ‘admin’ fee I’m happy with the price paid. Just need my finance team to process the request.
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2550m over the Cambrian mountains. In 115km
That was hard.
Saw a stoat. And a few red kites. Good day
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This is my bargain Crux pre upgrade so will interesting to see if I can get it to sub 8kg. Plan to swap out the bars, put some Zipp 303 firecrests on and Tracer tyres.
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Could save 1kg by sending Fred Dibnah up that chimney to remove it 
EDIT: Spesh include SupaCaz bartape as standard? 
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I like the colour way. Needs some matching bottles. Nice!
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Was that the Glorious Gravel The Source? Don’t suppose you could send me the route 
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Aye. It was.
It took me 7hrs 11mins riding for nearly 8hrs elapsed. But I’m not fit! That was for the ~120km route.
It was just hard enough to be rewarding, whilst not being stupid. I got home smiling and my wife noticed, so I must’ve enjoyed myself!
Link: Garmin Connect
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Yup
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Needed something to train for so pulled the trigger on a Downs Divide entry. 162km Cranleigh to Eastbourne. Looks an ok route.
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