Check out what the employees at Merlin are using!
In our first Weblog, we check out my newly constructed Kinesis GX Race gravel bike.
As one of many Buying Crew at Merlin, I get to take a look at the entire new and glossy bits of equipment that get launched yearly by the manufacturers we inventory, deciding what we must always vary and possibly extra importantly what we shouldn’t! I’ve been using for simply over 20 years now, and though I began of on mountain bikes, most of my bikes now have some kind of dropped handlebar! Learn on to seek out out extra about my freshly constructed Kinesis GX Race bike – maybe see you at Soiled Reiver!
Frameset
Gravel has undoubtedly change into my go-to using fashion. Bored of using on the roads on a regular basis with drivers that don’t see you, I’ve loved heading off the overwhelmed path and exploring the quieter lanes and bridleways. My first gravel bike was a phenomenal metal one however all the time had the burden penalty that the fabric offers. With the plan of using some gravel occasions in 2025, and never desirous to go carbon, I selected the sunshine GX Race from UK Primarily based Kinesis. An alloy body with all of the anticipated fashionable options of 45mm tyre clearance, Di2 compatability, tapered headtube and most significantly for UK using, a threaded backside bracket! Matched up with a full carbon fork from the specialists at Columbus with mounting factors on the legs, it’s a nice base for any quick gravel bike.
Groupset
I’ve all the time used Shimano, and to permit me to modify wheels with one other bike simply, I’ve stayed with 11 pace Shimano GRX. It’s not the hottest model of the manufacturers gravel particular groupsets, however I’ve all the time been impressed with its robustness, predictable gear change and highly effective braking. I used to run a 42T chainring however dropped this to a 40T which is significantly better suited to the hilly Lancashire Moors that make up my common using. I all the time use an XT degree cassette reasonably than these from the decrease groupsets as I discover the shifting is far smoother. To go along with the groupset, and since I’m a knowledge nerd, I’ve a 4iiii powermeter fitted.
Wheels and Tyres
The most effective locations to spend cash on a motorbike is unquestionably the wheels and I’ve been utilizing the Zipp 303 Firecrests for a couple of years now. Light-weight, clean rolling and a large inside rim width they’re good for gravel using with wider tyres. And first rate wheels are pointless with out good tyres, and I’ve been an enormous fan of the handmade choices from Problem for few years. Providing a smoother journey, decrease rolling resistance and wonderful grip ranges over ‘regular’ vulcanized tyres, after you have ridden on handmade tyres you gained’t return.
Ending Equipment
Coming from a mountain bike background, I’ve used Thomson for years. They’re recognized for reliability, clear appears and robustness. I made a decision to not use the conventional flared gravel bar nonetheless, choosing the extra conventional highway bars. That is simply incase I determine to enter any cyclocross races, but in addition as a result of it’s not fairly often that I journey on the drops anyway. The brand new G2 Stem additionally appears improbable and finishes the cockpit off properly.
Full Construct Listing
