Rider Profile
Name : Sandy
Origin : USA
Information :
Information: Height 6'1", weight 170lbs.
Club: CBRE.
Clothing ambassador: Grade Cycling.
10,000+ miles per year since 2013. Road, gravel, CX, MTB, TT, Track (the more the
merrier!).
Biggest accomplishment - moved from Maryland to California by completing a self-supported
3,400-mile bike tour across the US in 34 days!
Specifications
Bike
Frame : Ridley X-Night SL Disc
Crankset : Sram Red w/ Quarq Power Meter
Chainring : Wolf Tooth 46t
Seatpost : Enve
Saddle : Prologo Dimension Tirox
Handlebars : Enve AR 42cm
Stem : Easton EC70 120mm
Pedals : Shimano XTR
Levers : Sram Red eTap AXS
Derailleur : Sram XX1 Eagle AXS
Cassette : Sram XX1 Eagle 10-50t
Wheels
Rims : Light Bicycle AR36 Disc 24/24H
Hubs : Enve Alloy Disc
Spokes : Sapim CX-Ray
Nipples : Black Alloy
Tires : Vittoria Terreno Mix 33mm
To me, cyclocross bikes (and more recently gravel ones) strike the perfect balance of a do-it-all performance bike.
There are very few things in life that are more liberating than being able to get on your bike and ride; traveling the world exploring new roads, or just touring around your usual stomping ground. Sometimes you have a destination like the local coffee shop, and sometimes you just want to disappear into the wild for a little while. If you don’t have the luxury of having multiple bikes, or even multiple wheelsets, having the right wheels for the job is critical.
To me, cyclocross bikes (and more recently gravel ones) strike the perfect balance of a do-it-all performance bike that can be taken on- or off-road and handle some pretty technical trails. All it takes is swapping on some road tires for fast road rides and racing, or some knobby 33mm tires for true cyclocross, up to some 38mm, or whatever your frame will fit for some true gravel adventure.
So what wheels do I choose to roll with on my do-anything go-anywhere cx bike?
My go-to, and one of the favorite wheelsets I’ve ever owned, is my Light Bicycle AR36 wheels I built up last year. They are amazingly light (667g for the front wheel), strong, stiff, and look amazing.
Wherever the ride takes me, I always end up with a smile on my face.
I’m lucky enough to live near several recreation areas with some decent (but steep) gravel trails, and even a few flat paths for morning commutes. This means I get to take the bike out year-round, on different terrain, and all different times of the day.
One of my favorite commute routes is the gravel path following the arroyo through town. It’s always calm and never too crowded. The light is beautiful in the morning and evening. There are a few turns but mostly it’s a straight shot or gently curving gravel path perfect for just enjoying your morning or evening ride.
When I want to be a bit more adventurous, I head to one of the local nature preserves/county parks to get out into nature and challenge myself with some steep climbs and fast laps. Sometimes the ride is about attacking Strava segments going for the KoM, and sometimes it’s just about cruising for a few hours to clear my mind and breathe the fresh air. Wherever the ride takes me, I always end up with a smile on my face.
Sometimes you just have to get out and race your bike!
And of course, sometimes you just have to get out and race your bike! For cyclocross, I like to set these wheels up with 33mm tires, at around 22-27 psi depending on how rough the course is. This may seem low (pros run as low as 14psi with tubulars), but the bead hooks on these wheels are rock solid and my tubeless tires stick to the rims even cornering at speed.
In the near future, I plan to get out for some off-road bikepacking adventures, and I think you know which wheels I’ll be taking for that trip!
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October 28th, 2021 | Light Bicycle
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