Current Upgrades on my Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer- Less IS More Healthy 189

I discuss current upgrades I've made to my G.1 Explorer.
I bought a 3rd pair of Antora 2s. They fit me so well and feel really good.
This is a referral code- you get $20 off and I get $20 off. Anyone can get this code from Merrell, they offer it to anyone who orders from their website. refer.merrell.com/leslie.herger
Walking is good!
#vlog #vlogger #cheapvloggingsetup #ozarktrail #g1explorer #gravelbike
#type2diabetes #type2management #makingchanges #konalavadome #vintagebike #railtrail #massachusetts #fatcyclist #fitandfat

[@rfwillett2424]

I've been using the Mercoa suspension stem for a while. I have Osteoporosis. On my road bike the Mercoa stem does an amazing job of cutting back the high frequency vibration that wrecked havoc on my wrists. My mountain bike is fitted with a Rockshox 34 air shock, it just doesn't damp that high frequency stuff down like the Mercoa does, but with thirty mm of travel Meroca's not going to stop the big bangs either. I think your going to find it's brilliant on gravel, particularly washboard.

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

I think I've got about 150 or so miles on it and my experience mirrors yours. It just smooths out the little stuff so well. I've been thinking about switching up the the almost stiffest spring, the 3rd, right now I'm on the 2nd softest. It's just so good. I think they are significantly underrated for making the ride that much better. A lot of the streets around me are pretty brutally rough and it smooths everything out.

[@tonywmckinney]

I bought this bike a little while back. I haven’t done anywhere near the upgrades you’ve done, but I really like it so far. I love your setup. Your custom bag is awesome.

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

Thank you! Totally worth the effort to make the bag.

[@chiparooo]

Very nice upgrades! Will be interested to see your final drive configuration. I’m looking at picking one of these bikes up and doing similar changes. I like your custom frame bag! What is the brand of your handle bar bag? Thanks for sharing!

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

I ended up picking up a L-Twoo RX 2x12, aliexpress had a sale and I jumped on it since it coincided with pay day. Looks like it will arrive soon. Looking forward to it. Thanks on the frame bag I really should make a how to video on them. They aren't hard just fiddly to make. The handlebar bag is a cheapie off amazon. I pulled the thick rubber logo off and like it a lot more. amzn.to/3Kvg9dq I did reseal the interior fabric with some seam sealer to get it back to waterproof ish. It's a perfect size for commuting- holds my phone and a few other odds and ends.

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

I just realized that bag isn't on camera but the other stem bag is, which is this one: amzn.to/3KBdjU9 it's a good size and will hold a large amount of stuff. The little side pockets really stretch out. Not the lightest but as cheapies on amazon go, very sturdy.

[@chiparooo]

@@LessISMoreHealthy Thanks for the link! I was only finding more expensive bar bags. Just need something simple. Will be interested to see how the LTwoo works for you. Never thought of looking on Aliexpress for bike parts 🤷‍♂️!

[@IowaNinersFan]

Good project bike if you have extra parts laying around and time to fidget with them to see what fits and what doesn't. What do you intend to do with the freewheel in the rear?

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

I considered getting a wide range freewheel but ended up buying a $125 wheelset off Amazon (which has been a real surprise in quality) and went with a 12speed cassette. I've probably put 150 miles on the new wheelset and it's worked really well. Despite taking it on some ROUGH roads and through some tougher trails it's remained true.

[@sojourn1544]

Great video! I just got the same bike and I love it! It’s so satisfying to do upgrades and fiddle with it. Fun bike and a great purchase! That’s a sub and like!!!

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

Right on!

[@rafriedman]

What’s your plan for the brifters? Usually, if you add gears, you have to change them out unless you use non-indexed friction shifters.

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

Right now I'm only using 7 of the available 10 gears. The brifters will get updated when I update the derailleur. The new set up is on its way from China now. It'll be on the bike by the end of the month

[@CreativeFishDesignsCharlotte]

i went ltwoo Hydro 150 from thw 1-8 of every month just saying u have the rest already 10-12 speed there all 150 just look , some are way more ltwoo store , Great frame bag

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

I went with L-Twoo Rx something (too lazy to look up) it's capable of 12 speeds up to 46 teeth I think so I'll use it for the 10 I have and update the cassette later. It was just less than $150 on AliExpress. Can't wait to get it in a few weeks. After that I'll update the cranks to 160mm maybe hollow, but I'm partial to square tapers. But probably get the 12 sp cassette first. Will also switch the thing over to gold bling singe the RX shifters have gold logos. Thanks on the frame bag I made it myself. I'm pretty happy with it. The light gray is perfect for sticker collecting.

[@CreativeFishDesignsCharlotte]

@@LessISMoreHealthy yes we got the same sale lol

[@lastfm4477]

​@@LessISMoreHealthy That sounds like a mistake. The 12 speed brifters will move move the chain latterally across the 10sp cassette much less than the 10sp inter-cog spacing. Your "use 7 of 10" with the stock drive-train likely shifted poorly, but tolerably. Partly because the 7sp width is much less than the 10sp width - so being off with every shift didn't add up the errors as much as you will find trying to use a 12sp shifter across a 10sp cassette -- which more or less have the same width. Thus you are stacking up even more movement errors. You likley won't be able to get this to tolerably shift into both the largest and smallest cog with any form of acceptability.

[@lastfm4477]

@@LessISMoreHealthy Why are you valuing 2 extra speeds (with almost the same gear range) over your knee and leg health? Smaller cranks would be much more critical change for your height.

[@DjeyB55]

What is the brand of suspension stem did you get? The specs?

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

Meroca Amazon sells them now, not as cheap as Aliexpress though. amzn.to/3Xcrbf6 It has between 15- 20 mm of travel with 4 different springs to adjust the spring on the bars. It works great.

[@DjeyB55]

@@LessISMoreHealthy thank you!

[@princepage632]

look, this bike has been all over the internet. i Ride really nice bikes. I thought i would never ever go back or buy a wal mart bike. I ride a really nice gravel bike, but what i was look for was a cheap bike that would do the job and was a decent bike, so i could ship or throw it on a bus and take off. I am not going to put my nice bike on a greyhound bus. Not anymore. they lost it one time, but i got lucky and got it back. but the point remaines i don't trust greyhound bus. NOW THIS IS WHERE THIS G-! GRAVEL BIKE COMES IN AT. I am going to make a bus bike out of it. for 250 dollars you do get a really nice bike. I can't believe walmart actually pulled this off. This is the perfect bike for what i was looking for. It comes with a steel fork and it has mounts all over it. it comes with a kickstand. normally i don't like kickstands but for touring bikes , its a must have. the bike is set up for bike packing and long distance touring which is what i wanted it for. I rode it yesterday for 12 miles and it really rode sweet even with the cheap drive train on it. i am gonna have to do some fine tunning on it. But i put a really nice gel saddle on it and an adjustable stem on it. next will be front and rear racks. I am not gonna put a lot of money into this bike because there's no need. i have other bikes for that. But this bike is really a nice bike . don't let the price fool you. this bike is solid. its got 6061 aluminum frame and internal routing with kenda tires. Are you kidding me. A gravel bike this nice for 250. WTF, Anyhow its gonna be a touring rail trail bike for me. I like what your doing with your bike. when you get through , it will be a really nice bike. I dont really care for that frame bag you have on it. I like the smaller frame bags. not sure about the stem suspenion. I mean i would have put a seat post suspenion on it before that. in fact, i might just do that to this bike as well. i can do that for 35 bucks. Maybe you could put some bigger tires on it too. take care . thanks for sharing!!

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

I honestly agree. After I bought my first LBS bike and then built up my used Kona last year, I thought I'd never buy a walmart bike. I saw the hype around the Ridge and was able to see one in person. A kid I work with rides one to get around- no one in his fam has a car, they all just ride bikes, and they all ride walmart bikes. The Ridge is totally solid. So I saw the rumblings about this on the internets and jumped on it. At this point I keep reaching for it and adding to it and tweaking it so it's better and better. It's a super solid frame and with new components it rides like a much more expensive bike. I'm planning on doing some touring and rail trails with it this summer. Hoping to do as much of the East Coast Greenway as I can. I know frame bags aren't for everyone. But I like them. I considered a half bag, but when I measured it out, it wouldn't hold what I need- my lock, some camera gear, and water bottles or when touring a water bladder and camera gear. I am considering making a half bag still. The thing with half bags you gotta get the fit just right or they look like garbage. Full bags you've got a little more wiggle room. The G.1 gravel grinder group on facebook has some people putting some much larger tires on theirs. I'm probably going to stick to the 40 to 45 range on this. I'm pretty happy with the Kendas for now. I'll look into Gravel Kings or WTB gravel tires eventually, because I'm looking to wear these out.

[@IowaNinersFan]

Don't know how far your bike touring adventure is but personally, I wouldn't go far unless I did some major upgrades to this bike. Don't care for Shimano tourney because it's junked (yes I've owned Walmart bikes with them), the crankset, front der. Kenda tires are better than what is normally on Walmart bikes but cheap nevertheless (they make great inner tubes though.) There are better quality tires that last longer at reasonable costs. You just have to bargain shop.

[@marvinkamei7007]

No fenders???

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

Not yet

[@FL-PHILLIP]

Seems like you could have spent the $$ at a LBS to get a bike that doesn't need all these upgrades...🤔 I know project bikes can be fun spec'ing out parts, but it can get pricey. Have fun! Great video@

[@LessISMoreHealthy]

Could have but specifically chose not to. Wrenching is part of the fun for me.