Thanks for the feedback, great to hear that our pack works well for you, but l was actually asking seriously about the bento above. I forgot about the silca bag, but after Tom mentioned it, then l kind of remembered that silca recently made a bento too.
We are always looking for more feedback, especially from gravel riders: so, due to your need for more capacity, did you switch to the Speedpack 483D or 915D?
Thanks,
Greg @ dsw
[quote DarkSpeedWorks
We are always looking for more feedback, especially from gravel riders: so, due to your need for more capacity, did you switch to the Speedpack 483D or 915D?
Thanks,
Greg @ dsw
I went with the 915D. For me it was the perfect balance between capacity and streamlined (as opposed to the bulkier Salsa - which is also nice, but damn it’s like a Harley gas tank). I also like that the big opening and plastic liner makes it easier to find something while riding.
Mine is the Orange OPEN U.P. (now the Classic). I’m running 2.1" 650B Schwalbe Thunder Burts. Clearance gets a little tight near the dropped stay, but I’ve no issue with rubbing. While I love the orange, I kind of wish I was in your position to be buying today. The NEW U.P. looks a lot cleaner with the new fork and there is also the option of the U.P.P.E.R if you’re a weight weenie.
FWIW, the 3T in the back can run the same rubber as the OPEN.
This is the bike I want. But can’t afford. 
This is what I finished up this year with, old cannondale frame with Shimano 600 8sp STI and FSA gossamer crank. I’ve been taking the kids into the semi-local Bethpage state park for some dirt and gravel with their bikes above. One’s a 20" redline with several upgrades the other is a Raleigh RX24 which I wish I could find some better gravel tires for, not finding anything great in a 520 iso.
In the next 3 months I’m ordering my new gravel/cross frameset which will be a Milwaukee Bicycle Company Mettle frameset. I’m really tossed on exactly how I want it built though. Right now they have a full QR version in OX platinum or thru axle in Vari-Wall THRMLX which I’ve never ridden; liked the OX platinum frame I’d previously had; I’m considering QR rear with thru axle front. Either way its getting new king hubs with Velocity Aileron rims which can be ordered to whatever configuration I need and I haven’t decided on the rest of the parts package. Still trying to figure out the whole 1x11 vs 2x11 though I’m leaning towards a double. Bike will be used for cross racing which will require a 34 ring with a 34 or 36 rear low but the plan is to have it built for a week long bikepacking tour of Prince Edward Island with the whole family.
Replacing my road bike was one of the best decisions ever. Depending on where I ride 30-70% gravel.
Raleigh Stuntman with Compass Snoqualmies. It’s a Reynolds 631 frame with room for 2.2x29 tires, a large BB drop, Rival 1, high trail and drop bars. This is a great gravel bike if you’re going to use it on some single track, but still want to go relatively fast (unlike, say, a Salsa Fargo). It’s extremely comfortable to ride all day. I’ve since swapped out the cheap stock wheels for some Mavic Crossmax, mounted some bags and swapped the cages. It comes with a dropper with a remote, but I swapped it for a rigid post to clean up the bars.The paint job is inspired by The Fall Guy’s truck. Raleigh only sold this bike for one year.
My Parlee Z0-XD (medium)
Wheelset - HED Ardennes LT w/ Panaracer GKSK 35mm
Wheelset #2 Easton EA70AX 650B Maxxis Defuse 50mm
Cockpit - Easton EC90 AX carbon bars (40cm) with Redshift ShockStem (100mm)
Crankset - Shimano DuraAce 9100 with Absoluteblack chainrings 48/32
Pedals - Shimano XTR9000
Saddle - Berk Dila
Seatpost - Ergon CF3
Front D - Shimano Ultegra 8070 Di2
Rear D - Shimano Ultegra RX-805-GS Di2
Cassette - Shimano Ultegra 8000 11/34t
Brake Levers - Ultegra 8070
Brake Calipers- DuraAce 9170
Brake Rotors - DuraAce
Chain - KMC XL11SL
Thuraxles- Hardlites
Cages - Tune
Headset - CaneCreek 110
Cap+Expander - Extralite
BB- Parlee
Seatpost Clamp - Parlee
FD Clamp- Parlee
Bartape - Rapha RCC
.
whoa I feel more inspired looking those post!
This is my 2018 specialized diverge. Loved the red color so I bought the bike, stripped all the parts and built it up the way I wanted. 1x11 sram force 1, salsa cowbell bar, 27.5x47 tires wraped around industry 9 wheels.
Magnificent landscape! Where did you take the pics, Orbilius?
Those were from Crested Butte.
Rodeo Adventure Labs Trail Donkey 2.0
upgraded to a redshift shockstop stem for my dodgy wrists(car accident back in '01)
I’m about to build up a TD 2.1 here myself, I haven’t ordered a stem yet as I’m want to check some things on the fit first but how are you finding that stem? I’ve considered getting one for my bike. Roads here can get a pretty good washboard going and I thought it might be a nice addition.
Anyone with experience with the Kestrel TerX Force?
i’m currently using the softest set of elastomers, and i may go up one step in stiffness as it has (as per the instructions) softened up a bit.
other than that, i find it to be just like any other stiff alloy stem. bump absorption is good and rebound is damped well so there’s no boingy-ness.
any weight penalty is a non-issue for me.
i would finalize your stem length with regular ones first before buying as it is not cheap.
let me know if you have any other questions
I have one as well and have used it for gravel races with washboard. It works really well. Stiff enough for sprinting, but soaks up some of the higher frequency vibrations.
Thank you for the information, that all sounds pretty good to me.
3T warranty replaced my white Exploro with the new Exploro FM. Great customer service.
Thought I would share the good experience and a few more pics:
New bike with the Stans 650b wheels and 2.1in knobbies:
Telluride
Telluride
Black Bear
3T warranty replaced my white Exploro with the new Exploro FM.
What was the issue for the warranty replacement?
Cracking around the seatpost. The new retention clamp fixes the issue.
Good thing you got your replacement before showing these photos 
3T warranty replaced my white Exploro with the new Exploro FM. Great customer service.
Thought I would share the good experience and a few more pics:
New bike with the Stans 650b wheels and 2.1in knobbies:
Telluride
Telluride
Black Bear