Hello! This is Yoshimoto from Circles Tokyo!
Lately, it feels like summer has finally arrived in earnest. I really feel like the festival season—including music festivals—is beginning.
When it comes to cycling, it's the time of year for gravel events that everyone knows, starting with the OMM BIKE, as well as Grinduro, NISEKO GRAVEL, and SDA Otaki. For those of you who managed to secure an entry, aren't you already getting excited and starting your preparations?
I haven't been able to make it to any events due to scheduling conflicts, so I’ve been poring over Google Maps, finding gravel paths, and heading out on my SKLAR.
Whether I’m in Nagoya or Tokyo, I generally ride everywhere under my own power. It goes without saying, but the way you play changes depending on the terrain, and so does the spec you require from your bike.
Since moving from Nagoya to Tokyo, the biggest difference has been how I approach the places where I want to ride. In Nagoya, my riding spots were 20km away—about an hour's ride—but in Tokyo, it can take 50km or about 3 hours, which makes for a distance that leaves me tired by the time I actually get to the good part.
First, I decided to change my tires, switching from 27.5/2.2-inch ULTRA DYNAMICO Mars to 700c/45c TERAVAIL Cannonball, and I updated the chainring to a larger size for a more on-road oriented gear ratio.
There are a lot more stop-and-go situations at traffic lights once you get through the city, and since I was shifting more often, I moved away from the mountain-mix components I liked for their low-tech bar-end shifters and switched to GRX, which allows for STI operation.
I updated my Super Something to this "Tokyo setup" with the customizations above, but compared to 2.2-inch tires, the 45c tires have less air volume, and I felt the stability on gravel was a bit lacking.
That's where I chose the ROCK SHOX Rudy Ultimate XPLR. It’s a conclusion reached through the simple idea of using suspension to compensate for the air volume lost by switching to 700c.
In practice, it has yielded excellent results, but there are few reviews online, so I wanted to share my experience in hopes that it might be helpful to others.
ROCK SHOX Rudy Ultimate XPLR
A short-travel suspension optimized for gravel bikes. It adopts the lightest Charger Race Day damper in ROCKSHOX history, finished in a lightweight package while including rebound and lockout functions. Available in 30mm and 40mm travel options. Compatible with tire widths up to 700x50c, allowing you to mount your preferred tires. Supports 3-bolt short fenders.
I introduced the 40mm travel model this time. I want to limit the roads I can go on as little as possible, and it’s important to be able to handle diverse road conditions on a gravel ride.
If you were in an environment with flat dirt roads like overseas, the 30mm travel might be an option. However, considering the wide variety of mountain roads and unpaved terrain in Japan, I personally feel that 40mm of travel is optimal.
And the thing that surprised me the most was the fork's weight. This was the deciding factor for me—it’s only about 1300g. This is roughly the same weight as the steel forks found on most gravel bikes.
Thanks to this light weight, you can enjoy the benefits of suspension without adding unnecessary bulk.
By the way, while every site states the maximum clearance is 700/50c, I was able to fit 27.5/2.2-inch UltraDynamico Mars tires in there too! (It might depend on the rim and tire combination, so please proceed at your own risk.)
Time for a Test Run
I’ll report based on my rides in Shuzenji on the Izu Peninsula and around Mt. Fuji!
As I’m sure is the case for most domestic rides, you have to connect on-road sections to reach your target gravel. However, since the Rudy fork has a lockout mechanism, it’s completely comfortable on the road, even for a style like mine that utilizes dancing/standing pedaling.
By locking out the suspension, it prevents power from being lost, so power is transmitted to the rear wheel without waste even when dancing. It would be even better if I could use the remote function with a battery like the new SID, but considering the price increase, this might be the best option.
As for the gravel, which is the most important part, on surfaces like the ones in the photos, it conveys the road information to my hands gently while still keeping the feel of the fine stone particles, and it absorbs impacts from underneath on rough roads without bottoming out.
It gives an impression very close to the feel of the 2.2-inch tires I was aiming for. So, I end up riding faster with the same sensation, but the tire contact patch is still 45c, so you have to be careful with cornering grip!
Once I got the hang of that cornering feel, the added sense of security allowed me to pay more attention to the road conditions further ahead, letting me concentrate fully on the ride.
Also, the Charger Race Day damper, the lightest in ROCKSHOX history, achieves excellent ground-tracking while suppressing unnecessary diving.
The bumps from rumble strips or tree roots on paved mountain roads feel as though they disappear as long as you absorb the impact to the rear wheel through a light pedal stroke.
It helps with both peace of mind and reducing fatigue, making it a very strong ally for those who search for routes deep in the mountains, not just for gravel.
It’s like an ultimate weapon that makes gravel riding even more fun. I'm sure it will be a big help in upcoming gravel events.
Why not consider it for your own build?
Furthermore, I believe the greatest charm of cycling is that even on the same path, customizing your bike to fit your ride style—not just with the ROCK SHOX Rudy Ultimate XPLR, but with anything—can drastically change the fun and comfort.
I’d love for you to tell me how you like to ride, and together we can find the optimal solution. I’ll be waiting for you at the shop!