The Gear That Carried Me

The Bike

I didn't buy a titanium-frame gravel bike. Instead, I chose an aluminum-frame, Pinion gearbox, Gates belt-drive bike: the Priority 600ADX from Priority Bicycles in New York City.

Some of you may recognize it as the same model that Ryan Van Duzer was riding when the airline lost it. Ironically, just days before Ryan posted that story on YouTube, I had canceled my own flight to Oregon and decided to drive instead. Sometimes things work out for the best.

Before the 600ADX, my Diamondback Edgewood faithfully served as my "ride what you have" bike for many years. It carried me on countless miles and never complained. But as my plans shifted toward a route that is primarily gravel, I had reached the limits of what the Edgewood could do. The frame simply couldn't accommodate the wider tires that make long days on gravel more comfortable and confidence-inspiring.

What's Changed Since the Unboxing?

Like most touring and bikepacking bikes, the 600ADX has evolved as I learned what works best for me.

• Saddle: SQlab 614 Ergowave Active 2.1.
• Seatpost: PNW Loam Dropper Post Gen 2. The team at PNW went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied, and I appreciate their outstanding customer service.
• Pedals: Burgtec Penthouse MK5 B-Rage Edition. My priority was long-term reliability, and these pedals can be completely serviced, right down to the bearings.
• Racks: Old Man Mountain Divide Front Rack and Divide XL Rear Rack provide a solid, dependable platform for carrying camping gear over thousands of miles.
• Cockpit: The stem has been raised to create a more upright riding position. At my seasoned age, comfort over eight or ten hours in the saddle is more important than shaving a few seconds off my average speed.
• Handlebars: After experimenting with several options, I settled on Jones H-Bars. They provide multiple hand positions and a riding posture that has proven much more comfortable on long rides.
• Handlebar Bags: I originally purchased a Dr. Jones Bag to fit neatly inside the Jones H-Bars. In the end, however, the Revelate Designs Handlebar Harness proved to be a better fit for my bikepacking setup.

As the Brits say, there are various "bits and bobs" that I won't bore you with, but you have a pretty good picture.

Every change has been made with one goal in mind: building a bike that is comfortable, reliable, and easy to maintain over thousands of miles of gravel roads and backcountry adventures.

Having said that, yes, I did remove every bolt and put a drop of blue Loctite on each one—a habit that's hard to break after my years in auto racing.

I'm also stepping away from the mainstream when it comes to tires. Many riders swear by the Vittoria Mezcal, and for good reason. But I'm sticking with Schwalbe. They carried me on both the Ohio to Erie Trail and the Around Lake Erie route without a single flat. It's hard to argue with success.