Hi Ben, your follow up to the YT is pretty on point: some bikes are super fun, even if they aren't the raciest, lightest or most efficient. I just built up a Diverge Evo, another bike that does not make much sense and makes me smile every time I ride it. Not the bike I would take for a gravel ride with my roady friends though.
Cool vid Bro, I’ll be interested to see how you get on with the saddle. I also own the specialized power mimic saddle and am interested in your opinion about comparing both
@TheRidewithBenDelaney I did an at home test with cardboard. I have extremely narrow sitbones (110mm or 11cm) and went with their recommendations on the site to +2 cm for the racing position so I purchased a 13cm and it was perfect.
I've found the Szepter interesting as it is the only gravel bike with the SRAM UDH derailleur hangar (as far as I can tell), so could in theory support the new SRAM wireless direct mount transmissions. It'd be expensive and certainly unnecessary, but an interesting idea. I've used SRAM mountain bike cassettes/traditional SRAM eagle wireless in a 1x setup on a Specialized Diverge and very much liked it. Having a transmission I'd never have to worry about again re: derailleur hangar bends when laying the bike down, take a spill, etc., crisper shifting under load, hmmm...
Free Aero RC if you don't want pockets: bit.ly/42XtOSG Free Unlimited if you do want pockets: bit.ly/3mSs2So I always recommend spending more on bibs and maybe less on jerseys. That's what we did with our FasCat order - we got the top-end Free Aero bibs and the second- (or maybe third?) tier Competizione jersey.
Yeah, they're the same ones I'm wearing in the whole video - Castelli Unlimited Baggy: bit.ly/3Knus4u Like you say, they're not too baggy. I wear the Unlimited vest a lot, too, which has the Polartec Alpha insulation: bit.ly/3Zza6cT
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney 👍 Thx a lot, really appreciated! Looking for something more relaxed and practical than my regular bibshorts for long zone 2 type outings...
Speaking from a guy who lives in Canada with two messy shoulder seasons, fenders are often mandatory. Those fenders though? Just wtf do they protect? Your ass and back will be well soiled. The front protects the lower bearing and may keep mud out of your face I guess. That rear fender though. Plain waste of effort. Love YT though, and this bike. Thanks for the content!
Great content Ben👏👏 As we’ve spoken before on bike fitting related items. Can I ask how do you cope adjusting your riding position on these various bikes you get to try. My biggest issue with gravel bike fitting is the lack of seat post lay back🤔🥴
Primary thing of course is just saddle height, which is straightforward enough. Saddle setback is second, and that is usually no problem. Then I get bar stack and reach as close as I can to my 'home' position. With gravel race bikes with standard stems, this is doable. With integrated bar/stems, it gets trickier, and is sometimes not possible. With the YT, as I mentioned, they have a different fit philosophy - wanting to get you in more of an MTB position. So that's why I didn't mess with the 70mm stem at all.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney many thanks for your reply Ben. Could I ask when further question about the Tuscany video. We’d love to head over there. Where did you guys stay to get access to those fabulous roads and villages. We looked at Siena but it’s perfect for Strade but I thought your location looked better suited to just heading out riding. Appreciate your taking time to reply. Many thanks.
I think you misunderstood my point. I was just trying to convey that the bike has very different geometry - a steep seat tube angle and a very short stem - than many gravel bikes. Sure, I could slam the saddle back and put on a long stem to get my normal position, but that would kinda defeat the purpose of testing the bike as they built and intended it.
You're living our dreams, Ben. Living THE dream.
yes please..love the Italian shots
Hi Ben, your follow up to the YT is pretty on point: some bikes are super fun, even if they aren't the raciest, lightest or most efficient. I just built up a Diverge Evo, another bike that does not make much sense and makes me smile every time I ride it. Not the bike I would take for a gravel ride with my roady friends though.
Looks lovely, I hope Italy treated you well!
100% Wish I could have stayed longer.
I've tried sooooo many saddles over my 15 years of riding, but not (yet) one by SQLab.....this will be my first. Cool !
Cool vid Bro, I’ll be interested to see how you get on with the saddle. I also own the specialized power mimic saddle and am interested in your opinion about comparing both
Very interesting. Well done. 😊
Great video Ben! Thanks for the fun words 😉
Thank you. Thanks for the loan of the fun bike!
Have an SQlab 612R carbon (the stiffboi race saddle). Absolute game changer.
Did you get measured in person before you bought one? For those outside of Europe - or even outside Germany - that seems to be a bit of a hurdle.
@TheRidewithBenDelaney I did an at home test with cardboard. I have extremely narrow sitbones (110mm or 11cm) and went with their recommendations on the site to +2 cm for the racing position so I purchased a 13cm and it was perfect.
@@cricketyosh Cool.
Great Italian Ben!
I think I pronounced 'Marittima' differently each time I said it over three videos... Need more practice...
I've found the Szepter interesting as it is the only gravel bike with the SRAM UDH derailleur hangar (as far as I can tell), so could in theory support the new SRAM wireless direct mount transmissions. It'd be expensive and certainly unnecessary, but an interesting idea. I've used SRAM mountain bike cassettes/traditional SRAM eagle wireless in a 1x setup on a Specialized Diverge and very much liked it. Having a transmission I'd never have to worry about again re: derailleur hangar bends when laying the bike down, take a spill, etc., crisper shifting under load, hmmm...
I have this bike and is not UDH compatible
Considera essa a melhor gravel atual ?
Looking at going with some castelli bibs but haven't used them before. do you have a go-to bib? I ride mainly gravel
Free Aero RC if you don't want pockets: bit.ly/42XtOSG
Free Unlimited if you do want pockets: bit.ly/3mSs2So
I always recommend spending more on bibs and maybe less on jerseys. That's what we did with our FasCat order - we got the top-end Free Aero bibs and the second- (or maybe third?) tier Competizione jersey.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Thanks for the reply Ben!! You're awesome
Hi Ben! What brand and model of shorts are you wearing? I like that they have a slim fit, not too baggy like some mtb shorts.
...I mean the ones at the beginning of the clip...
Yeah, they're the same ones I'm wearing in the whole video - Castelli Unlimited Baggy: bit.ly/3Knus4u
Like you say, they're not too baggy.
I wear the Unlimited vest a lot, too, which has the Polartec Alpha insulation: bit.ly/3Zza6cT
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney 👍 Thx a lot, really appreciated! Looking for something more relaxed and practical than my regular bibshorts for long zone 2 type outings...
Somehow a gravel bike is one with 23c tires and a bottle of vino at attached to your back and some salami ❤cheers from Oz 🇦🇺
This is the gravel I crave! ☮️❤️🚲🍷
Tried an sq lab saddle once and it did not agree with my physiology. Went back to my Aliante 👌🏻
Gotta have one that fits, right?
Speaking from a guy who lives in Canada with two messy shoulder seasons, fenders are often mandatory. Those fenders though? Just wtf do they protect? Your ass and back will be well soiled. The front protects the lower bearing and may keep mud out of your face I guess. That rear fender though. Plain waste of effort. Love YT though, and this bike. Thanks for the content!
That made me laugh. Cheers, James.
Great content Ben👏👏 As we’ve spoken before on bike fitting related items. Can I ask how do you cope adjusting your riding position on these various bikes you get to try. My biggest issue with gravel bike fitting is the lack of seat post lay back🤔🥴
Primary thing of course is just saddle height, which is straightforward enough. Saddle setback is second, and that is usually no problem. Then I get bar stack and reach as close as I can to my 'home' position. With gravel race bikes with standard stems, this is doable. With integrated bar/stems, it gets trickier, and is sometimes not possible. With the YT, as I mentioned, they have a different fit philosophy - wanting to get you in more of an MTB position. So that's why I didn't mess with the 70mm stem at all.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney many thanks for your reply Ben. Could I ask when further question about the Tuscany video. We’d love to head over there. Where did you guys stay to get access to those fabulous roads and villages. We looked at Siena but it’s perfect for Strade but I thought your location looked better suited to just heading out riding. Appreciate your taking time to reply. Many thanks.
@@fredrichards3998 We stayed here: tenutacicalino.com/en/ And these guys helped us out, too: bikeservicemassamarittima.com/
Did you mean Bon Jovi?
Doesn’t like steeper seat post. But saddle has room on rails to go back.
Thanks for your insight Bob.
I think you misunderstood my point. I was just trying to convey that the bike has very different geometry - a steep seat tube angle and a very short stem - than many gravel bikes. Sure, I could slam the saddle back and put on a long stem to get my normal position, but that would kinda defeat the purpose of testing the bike as they built and intended it.
This video was produced in collaboration with the Tuscany bureau of tourism - nice scenery and sound track !
I'm a Tuscany fan boy, what I say? Thank you.