Katherine's 3T Exploro LTD For The Dirty Kanza

Katherine recently undertook the legendry Dirty Kanza on the 3T Exploro LTD gravel bike. Here's Katherine herself talking you through her set up!
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In association with 3T.
Want to check out the bike that Katherine used to complete the Dirty Kanza? Here she takes you through her set-up on the 3T Exploro LTD which saw her 206 miles across the flint roads of Kanzas.
If you'd like to contribute captions and video info in your language, here's the link 👍 gcntech.co/54
Watch more on GCN...
How to ride on gravel: gcn.eu/HowToGravel 📹
Photos: © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Bettiniphoto / www.bettiniphoto.net/
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[@gcntech]

What do you make of the 3T Exploro? Let us know your dream gravel set up in the comments!

[@johnsmythe9449]

Did you run with sealant in the tires? Orange Seal perhaps... Its a great bike, I wonder how well the bike would do in winter riding, like here in the US? Probably would do OK with the 40mm tire width especially with studded tires. Congrats on your Dirty Kanza finish - WELL DONE!

[@gcntech]

Yep, it was a tubeless set up - you'll have to wait for the full video tomorrow on GCN to see how it held up... thanks John! Katherine

[@rlemacs]

17 percent jump in gearing is not ideal.

[@casefarley5744]

GCN Tech seems like the aero design is also important when you have to ride 70 miles with a 20 mph block headwind, as most kanza riders did this year.

[@ihankim9851]

Great job! How did the tires hold up?

[@alexfulton375]

Katherine should be a presenter herself. Great presentation and good delivery.

[@MidtownSkyport]

Absolutely. If these DK videos have been her audition I'd say she's passed with flying colours

[@brody5211]

MidtownSkyport pretty tiff audition too !

[@mesere7]

Give this comment a thumbs up to see more of Katherine on GNC please. Congrats on doing the dirty kanza Katherine. Really jealous.

[@gregfields6841]

Hi Katherine, it was a please to ride with you a couple of times in the Dirty Kanza. You are fearless on the downhills of the Flint Hills! Congratulations on such a big accomplishment!

[@gcntech]

Greg Fields it was a pleasure! Thanks for keeping spirits high as we headed into the horror headwind 😱

[@Quevallyn]

Yay, more Katherine. How about a video with Katherine introducing Emma to gravel or maybe a GMBN cross-over: Emma and Katherine vs Blake and Neil at next year’s Cape Epic.

[@gerhardthartlieb8308]

Congrats on finishing! Katherine is a talented presenter, nice, natural, funny. good job!

[@Juan0003]

Great job Katherine! I really enjoyed your series. I hope to see you more often in front of the camera!

[@VictorBeltran]

Where have they kept you until now! Pro presenter right there!

[@slimelord314]

Haven't watched the video yet, I'm sure it's great but I just want to congratulate Katherine first. Huge admiration/respect. I can't even count to 200 much less ride it 😀

[@deans2239]

Katherine is an awesome presenter. Hope to see more of her on the channel ✌

[@scottphillips5677]

Your camera work has hit a new level. This and the Dirty Kanza feature are incredibly well done! Thanks for also keeping the music in the background, so Katherine can be easily heard!

[@PaulWalkerTalisphere]

Great presenting Katherine! Look forward to seeing more from you!

[@MoyMacGill]

Looking forward to seeing the rest of your video series. Lots of luck to you in all your endeavors

[@53glowe]

Great bike review...well done Katherine. Chapeau👍

[@theoretically3130]

This is literally my dream bike

[@ianstewart8301]

Great job Katharine! Great ride too. Hope you do more presentations for GCN

[@AndyVandy516]

Excellent job presenting! Congrats on finishing the DK200.

[@kevinthomson6324]

Excited to see how you get on with the kanza ride Katherine good luck. I'm sure your hard work will pay off

[@werdna1969]

So gorgeous...! And the bike looks cool, too

[@robbchastain3036]

You are selling it, Katherine, closing the deal on 3T 1x, at least for gravel. Not a fan of that bike for the road--I'm pretty snappy with a front mech--but I could see it for epic events like the Dirty Kanza. Thanks and congrats on your fine finish--I am looking forward to hearing all about it.

[@TheWaxChainFanClub]

"A mile munching off road machine.." oh, you didn't did you? You did. You've opened the pelter door now, Katherine.

[@JonCannings]

Michael McDermott 😮😲😳🤪😵

[@TheProjectX3]

WTB Nano, love those tyres!

[@James_taylor810]

A natural presenter, well done Katherine.

[@WesCook1]

looking forward to that video

[@davehoover8853]

Just bought one and my initial impression is the frame is very stiff and that coupled with short chain stays makes for a quick handling bike that transfers power very well. Any suppleness you might want will have to come from the tires you select and airing down a bit. Comfortable geometry and nice finish.

[@Dangarangg]

Katherine has some presenter swagger! And the 3t has to be the most versatile frame ever. Looks at home off road and world tour races.

[@miporsche]

Katherine, the bike is cool, but I'm anxiously awaiting your DK200 ride report! Bring it on! I'll hold my breath...

[@phabletfortyfour3457]

Looks a great bike for the race enjoy 👍 the cable protection around the stem I'd have to change tho

[@arrogantbliss]

I would love to hear Katherine’s experience with Dirty Kanza.

[@leqin]

That heat shrink needs a visit from my heatshrink gun. Nice bike and I'm super jealous you've done Kanza Katherine - well done :.)

[@ssudweeks4280]

I’m sure you’ll crush it! I’ll have my daughter watch the post ride summary!

[@robert_mn]

Katherine makes the best puns at GCN.

[@kryghyzho7868]

You're quite the presenter Katherine, very well done! And congrats on finishing this epic event as well... What's next?

[@zulfitrizulkarnainasnahzul7276]

great bike , It's could be my dream bike,,

[@g2g2010]

Congrats on finishing! You definitely dug deep to finish. Regarding your setup, think a post- race (next day or now even) interview would provide more insight. For example, I’d like to know more about your tire choice and psi. How did it perform? Did you pick up any flats? How many? How about your nutrition - would you change anything? There is a lot I’m sure you could share after experiencing the DK and pre-race/during-the-race videos will only communicate so much. Again, congrats on finishing!!

[@vivekrbs]

The 3T Bike frame costs around 4k dollars.Are there any decent gravel alternatives for a common man with a budget ?

[@MarkHagan83]

great piece Katherine, super comfortable on camera. looks like we have might have a replacement for Matt?

[@dustinsemenzin772]

Mark Hagan you can never fully replace Matt :(

[@MarkHagan83]

we just need her to complete a clip in test :)

[@harrie974]

Squaro, squoval, Gerard Vroomen is a great designer who sometimes thinks into the box.

[@richardmitton5292]

Would love to see Catherine added to the main GCN presenter team, Emma is great but bringing things further towards a 50/50 male-female balance would be a very good thing.

[@danrodcr]

I got the 3T Exploro with 650b wheels with 47mm tires. Should In consider 700c wheelset with 38sh tires? Big difference on speed and riding? Cheers

[@davepatton2131]

I think I'm in love 😍

[@eecak1973]

Good choice of steed indeed.

[@JWH.Design]

While 3t's exploro is very nice, but the XL isn't quite xl enough for me. So the open UP is certainly the dream bike for me

[@caffeinator]

I'd be curious to know more about the wheels, and in particular whether they were set up tubeless. Looks like a wonderful bike!

[@gcntech]

Definitely tubeless, and these are the 3T Discus C35 Pro Clinchers 👍

[@Dmatic89]

Double I Like!!!!!

[@havefunandbikestuff]

More Kathrine! shes a great presenter. go Kat go!

[@drummerboi989]

Anybody tried to fit a smaller tread 700x42mm tire on here? Wonder how the clearance would look be. Looking at 4:29, from the camera angle, it appears it might be a bit snug. Anybody?

[@automat8]

Katherine cold you go into the tubeless question and tire pressure issues for your ride? Thanks!

[@gcntech]

Hey Ismael, definitely rode tubless and zero troubles over 206 miles! Katherine

[@jlyonia]

What's with the horrible loop of wire running up and over the steerer tube and stem??

[@TheHuester44]

How did Catherine finish the Dirty Kanza ? Hope she did well.

[@tymbrimi0]

So when do hear how it went? I was a bit surprised you’d ride the 42T so I’m eager to hear how it worked out for you.

[@gcntech]

Check out the main video here - And yes, I used the 42T a LOT - all about controlling efforts when riding a very long day! gcn.eu/DirtyKanzaVlog

[@scottishjohn]

Loving Katherine's socks! What a gear set of socks... these future models for GCN CC?! Cool bike but interested to see that Katherine went with a mechanical set up and didn't go for electronic shifting... what is the story there? Electronic shifting is used in Cyclocross which is just as muddy as gravel so wonder why you would stick with traditional cable shifting given how much dirt and grime would come across in a huge long ride like the dirty kanza. Would be very intersted to hear how it held up after 20 hours in the saddle and how comfortable it was and how much of the 42x 42 she used! Thanks for this anyway!

[@jimsigafoos8799]

The socks are from Ridge Supply.

[@salty_commuter819]

Is there a review about how the Exploro turned out for you during the Dirty Kanza?

[@conanfa18]

Plus 1 on Katherine as an awesome presenter! Was she a pro MTB rider?

[@gcntech]

Absolutely not! Just an enthusiastic amateur... K

[@DamnitsAdriel]

Are those M520 pedals she's using?

[@gcntech]

Yep!

[@lennyharp]

bikes have come a long way but a good bike is still a good bike.

[@ridein]

How did Katherine finish in the DK?

[@gamecat1923]

Well she finished, which is flipping good going in my book, in 19:42:21.

[@gcntech]

Stay tuned for the full vid on GCN 👍

[@rovidelarosa]

Did any other presenters competed in the DK?

[@gcntech]

Not this year! Good idea though...

[@scrooge1913]

No, but imagine Matt Stephens trying to clip in with mud all over his cleat and pedal.

[@douglasbarnes1171]

I vote for Katherine for a permanent presenter. She is excellent!

[@mikicastan]

Wahoo stem mount has much more sense on offroad instead on the bars

[@tenjor]

What size frame?

[@gcntech]

This one is a small. Thanks, Katherine

[@llandor]

I do love that frameset, but as the frameset itself is about twice the price of what I paid for my own gravel bike (which I built myself, thanks to GCN's tech mondays), it'll remain a dream I'm afraid..

[@cheesesandwich1236]

Why not a suspension fork and suspension seatpost instead of relying on the tires.

[@EatMyPropwash]

Wouldn’t mud in the frame delete any aerodynamic advantage? I’d consider ceramic coating my bike to help shed mud/dirt/water, and protect the bike.

[@RyonBeachner]

PlanesTrainsAutos I’d save the money and spray it with NeverWet before the race for the $20 it costs 😜

[@53glowe]

Ryon Beachner It's like the Russians using a pencil in space, whilst the Americans spent $10m in developing a biro that works in zero gravity. Well done Ryon👍

[@princeedmunddukeofedinburg]

How much does this bike cost?

[@vuevuevue2002]

$4k usd for the "ltd" frame or "team" frame complete bike. $3k usd for the "team" frame.

[@princeedmunddukeofedinburg]

That's quite a lot of money, thanks.

[@johnpark8637]

Katherine is a born presenter. more screen time.

[@fivzzzz]

3:06 IS THIS A RUSTED CLAMP BOLT????

[@SundayShi]

Anyone who is used to road bike speed will find riding 650b 50mm tires is ridiculously slow(no matter tarmac or gravel), and at such low speed any aerodynamic improvement is insignificant if any. Let alone the drag caused by a handlebar bag when you do a long distance endurance ride.

[@cleggycyclist]

Great Bike maybe 3T would donate one to me? Please?

[@johnblack3447]

48Teeth doesn´t fit?

[@isaachudson5304]

So GCN is looking for a new presenter... I think you’ve found her.

[@DeMeynen]

I wish GCN could stop making videos about the exploro, because I'm way too close to pulling the trigger on one...

[@ARVash]

So you were the one dislike huh. :P

[@kevinthomson6324]

Lol we all need one more bike added to the collection don't we

[@TheHuester44]

It is a nice bike. Would like to have one myself .

[@drummerboi989]

You and me both, Alex. You. And me. Both!

[@scottphillips5677]

Okay, folks, what’s Katherine’s nickname gonna be? Given she’s a lot like Lasty - “the brick” (where’s he gone?), maybe Katherine should be The Briquette?

[@alexcieslak4644]

my wehooooooooo

[@jackseph03]

GCN are like London buses: you wait ages for a decent female presenter and then two (excellent) ones come at once.

[@gravel1brevet2campinghocke27]

👍👍👍💘💘💘🍦😘

[@tacituskilgore8379]

Miss Katherine, please finish removing the sticky labels from those Ciussis!!!

[@gcntech]

🙄

[@socaltop10]

You need clamp on aero bars.

[@yasincihat]

those cables above the stem hurt my eyes

[@mrpunchy100]

Is it just me or does Katherine really sound like Emma?

[@OMCbuilt]

Just you I think

[@garthly]

English rhythms?

[@TheWaxChainFanClub]

It was a bit of a poor show making your guide dog run for 200 miles, especially over gravel.

[@derekbiggerstaff]

So a tiny difference can be a "massive" difference. Hyperbole.

[@jockalladrick8255]

I'd respect 3t more if they said it's aero because it looks cool rather. Kinda embarrassing really

[@mrjakobt]

Looks nice, but that stem is horrendous. Slam it.

[@gcntech]

20 hours in the saddle slammed? No thank you...

[@JogBird]

too much marketing mumbo jumbo imo