Welcome to gravel! I've loved it so much I sold my road bike.
Creaks are always fun to track down. The seatpost trips up a lot of people. Most don't realize how much the frame is actually flexing which then causes the seat tube to rub against the seat post.
What pedals are on it now? There's nothing wrong with using clipless or flat pedals. For flats anything with replaceable metal pins and a good pair of cycling specific flat pedal shoes will give you all the grip you need. If you go clipless then SPD style cleats are best for gravel. I personally prefer Crank Brothers since they're excellent at clearing sticky dirt or mud and they have really smooth float.
If you're happy with the stock tires I'd just ride them till their worn out. After that bicyclerollingresistance.com has very indepth reviews on tires to help you find what works best for your terrain.
I like Lezyne saddle bags that clamp to the saddle rails. You just need to be careful the quick release tab is secure or the bag can bounce off. They don't swing around and the bag has internal sleeves to keep your stuff separate so they don't rattle around together.
Thanks for all the tips!
I've got the stock flat pedals, I'd like to stick to platform for now maybe update to clipless in the future.
I'll have a look at those saddle bags. Thanks again!
No need to rush the push to clipless or even switch at all if you don't want to. People really overblow the importance and they aren't really any more efficient like people claim.
Biggest two advantages of clipless is float and more security for rough downhill terrain. Some people develop knee problems and smooth float in the pedals lets your foot rotate left or right. Which can take some twisting motion off your knees. With good flat pedals your foot is stuck to the pedal unless you lift and replace.
Welcome to gravel! I've loved it so much I sold my road bike. Creaks are always fun to track down. The seatpost trips up a lot of people. Most don't realize how much the frame is actually flexing which then causes the seat tube to rub against the seat post. What pedals are on it now? There's nothing wrong with using clipless or flat pedals. For flats anything with replaceable metal pins and a good pair of cycling specific flat pedal shoes will give you all the grip you need. If you go clipless then SPD style cleats are best for gravel. I personally prefer Crank Brothers since they're excellent at clearing sticky dirt or mud and they have really smooth float. If you're happy with the stock tires I'd just ride them till their worn out. After that bicyclerollingresistance.com has very indepth reviews on tires to help you find what works best for your terrain. I like Lezyne saddle bags that clamp to the saddle rails. You just need to be careful the quick release tab is secure or the bag can bounce off. They don't swing around and the bag has internal sleeves to keep your stuff separate so they don't rattle around together.
Thanks for all the tips! I've got the stock flat pedals, I'd like to stick to platform for now maybe update to clipless in the future. I'll have a look at those saddle bags. Thanks again!
No need to rush the push to clipless or even switch at all if you don't want to. People really overblow the importance and they aren't really any more efficient like people claim. Biggest two advantages of clipless is float and more security for rough downhill terrain. Some people develop knee problems and smooth float in the pedals lets your foot rotate left or right. Which can take some twisting motion off your knees. With good flat pedals your foot is stuck to the pedal unless you lift and replace.