Springtime

Gravel grinding with the Kona Rove

By Erik Plankton

April 1^st, 2015

Spring is here... or was.

Now it is miserable again with temps just above freezing and rain. But a week ago we got a nice glimpse of spring for a few days, and it was time to take the new Kona Rove for a spin on the local gravel roads.

into the groove

Finally there was some sun after a nasty winter with a lot of rain and ice, instead of good solid snow. The gravel roads from Pornainen to Sipoo varied from smooth and perfect to totally wet and nasty mud. There were some icy surprises in the shadows, but they were pretty short patches.

melt

The rivers were at peak flow with the snow melting rapidly. Even the smallest forest streams that almost dry out in the summer were abundant with crispy clear water.

Sipoonkorpi

I took a little detour and went to check if the walking trails were already ice free in the Sipoonkorpi National Park. Found a forest service shack with a bench and enjoyed a simple bacon & feta bread for lunch.

grit

Some of the roads were very wet and muddy. I felt really sorry for my drivetrain, but it worked almost flawlessly and complained only in audio.

KONa rove steel

This is my commute, gravel grind & bike packing rig for this season. Good old school steel tubing makes for a enjoyable ride. Still it is stiff enough when sprinting out of the saddle. Relaxed geo is a nice for long days on gravel.