My (fast) all year commuter: Canyon Grail CF SLX with Canyon fenders and aero extensions and 32mm Conti GP 4seasons - tested on home TT course with 315W, 355W, 395W - as fast as 2022 Aeroad CFR with narrow cockpit. Looking for proper light adapter below the aero extensions...
Would it be possible to look into how full fenders affect aero? Counter intuitively they could be an improvement, for example open wheel racing cars benefit from covering the tyres.
I've been cutting all my carbon steerer tubes using a cheap tile wet saw that I paid maybe $50 for, and was already in my garage. It makes clean cuts without creating carbon dust in the air. Just mark the cut with blue tape, and then lightly sand the inside/outside edges with wet/dry sand paper.
I would think changing the handle bars is probably the biggest waste of money you could employ. Most of the time gravel bikes on UK trails are travelling at speeds where any noticeable difference in aero gain would be negligible. I would prioritise comfort and endurance upgrades well ahead of aero.
Going from a 44 to a 40 is a pretty big difference for a fit athlete who can hold the more aerodynamic position. At least around here, there are numerous sections in amateur gravel races well above 20 mph; we were rolling turns on a gravel training ride at 26-28 MPH last week. Anytime you're in the wind, it does make a difference. Aerobars are a much bigger difference maker, but the narrower bar helps. After clothes and helmet, the narrower handlebar and a more aerodynamic position is one of the easiest gains to make. If you are not racing or don't care about speed, then yeah, it's a waste of money.
@@pupster6848 I really don't get the insults. He's pretty clear about why he's doing it. If you aren't riding for speed, don't do this stuff. If it isn't comfortable for you, don't do it. From my perspective, I went in for a gravel bike fit with the goal of improving my speed and comfort in long gravel races, and the end result is almost identical to my road position. How does dropping spacers make him a clown exactly if the fit works for him?
Alex, was that the CP0039 handlebar? Was it shown as a 40cm bar on the Canyon 'site or as the 42? The narrowest shown on the Canadian site is a 420. I wonder if you are using actual measurements over the listing.
Thank you for posting this. My (first and only) gravel bike came with 46 cm wide, flared bars. 😫 I just can’t bear it. I’m seriously considering something narrower and better fitting. 🤔
I have the same bike, and am planning the same upgrades. I cannot believe it came with 44cm bar, who wants that? I'm thinking the 42 or perhaps 40. The storage bag is out of stock at the moment, and the 40cm bar is not available in the U.S.
One could ask (sponsor Canyon) why almost all bikes come with too wide bars and too long cranks. I did exactly the same on my gravel bike but with internally routed cables. Super annoying and half a day of work.
Maintaining that changing from 44 cm bars to 40 cm doesn't adversely affect control is a losing argument. If its low aero drag you're after and narrower bars don't affect control, why not 38 cm or 36 cm bars?
90% doesn't get faster, just because they buy the same stuff as the pros. And I don't think a normal person feel any different with a different handlebar width
Would you do anything else to make your gravel bike fast and efficient? 🚵📈
No gravel bike - no problem
tt bars. always tt bars. i love using those on the road and then i could keep wider dropbars on the bike for the situations where i need them.
I made mine much slower with gigantic panniers. Oh well, at least I always have snacks and spares!
My (fast) all year commuter: Canyon Grail CF SLX with Canyon fenders and aero extensions and 32mm Conti GP 4seasons - tested on home TT course with 315W, 355W, 395W - as fast as 2022 Aeroad CFR with narrow cockpit. Looking for proper light adapter below the aero extensions...
Paint the frame red and fit a gold chain.
Alex is a good teacher. Not a lot of extra chaff. GCN is lucky to have him for viewers who like this kind of stuff.
we certainly are!
He really is a treasure.
Cannot stand Oli for this reason. Alex is godsent
I like that you are using a 2by drivetrain for your gravel bike.
Shimano is a GCN sponsor so....
The best looking bike with the best looking bag.
Would it be possible to look into how full fenders affect aero?
Counter intuitively they could be an improvement, for example open wheel racing cars benefit from covering the tyres.
@gcntech!! Such a good idea
They're probably not aero, and will flap on the wind
@@davidadamus177 "probably not" means very little - solid mounting is also very possible.
I’ve got the same bike and set up and love the ride of tbd bike and areo frame bag
Loved the bag, looks slick with the colour scheme.
I'd put a pro rider on it instead of myself. It would then go much faster.
which pro would you choose?
@@gcntech tadej
I've been cutting all my carbon steerer tubes using a cheap tile wet saw that I paid maybe $50 for, and was already in my garage. It makes clean cuts without creating carbon dust in the air. Just mark the cut with blue tape, and then lightly sand the inside/outside edges with wet/dry sand paper.
I would think changing the handle bars is probably the biggest waste of money you could employ. Most of the time gravel bikes on UK trails are travelling at speeds where any noticeable difference in aero gain would be negligible. I would prioritise comfort and endurance upgrades well ahead of aero.
Absolutely agree...never heard some much nonsense in my life 😂
So this clown changed the spacers to make it more like his road bike
Going from a 44 to a 40 is a pretty big difference for a fit athlete who can hold the more aerodynamic position. At least around here, there are numerous sections in amateur gravel races well above 20 mph; we were rolling turns on a gravel training ride at 26-28 MPH last week. Anytime you're in the wind, it does make a difference. Aerobars are a much bigger difference maker, but the narrower bar helps.
After clothes and helmet, the narrower handlebar and a more aerodynamic position is one of the easiest gains to make.
If you are not racing or don't care about speed, then yeah, it's a waste of money.
@@pupster6848 I really don't get the insults. He's pretty clear about why he's doing it. If you aren't riding for speed, don't do this stuff. If it isn't comfortable for you, don't do it.
From my perspective, I went in for a gravel bike fit with the goal of improving my speed and comfort in long gravel races, and the end result is almost identical to my road position.
How does dropping spacers make him a clown exactly if the fit works for him?
@@ericcoxtcu8037So why would you wait 12 months before you made this adjustment Bar height is something you would notice straight away.
Alex, was that the CP0039 handlebar? Was it shown as a 40cm bar on the Canyon 'site or as the 42? The narrowest shown on the Canadian site is a 420. I wonder if you are using actual measurements over the listing.
Thanks Alex, good ideas. I'm a bit surprised that your fork didn't fall out when you took the handlebars off.
Thank you for posting this. My (first and only) gravel bike came with 46 cm wide, flared bars. 😫 I just can’t bear it. I’m seriously considering something narrower and better fitting. 🤔
Chimney! Choo choo!
Hi great video was that the grail or grizl ?
Grail.
Unfortunately my Canyon came with the double decker handlebars. I'd love to have normal bars.
@5:59 That is Heresy Alex!
I put Ultegra di2 12 spd und full Carbon stem and handelbar on my gravel Bike (rose backroad Carbon)
I have the same bike, and am planning the same upgrades. I cannot believe it came with 44cm bar, who wants that? I'm thinking the 42 or perhaps 40. The storage bag is out of stock at the moment, and the 40cm bar is not available in the U.S.
The best upgrade for a gravel bike is to swich to a dual sus cross-country bike!
One could ask (sponsor Canyon) why almost all bikes come with too wide bars and too long cranks. I did exactly the same on my gravel bike but with internally routed cables. Super annoying and half a day of work.
dropbar fatbike when? i wanna see it. 😀
I'm converting my Canyon Dude to dropbar! 😎
@@kenhunt sweet! 😀
make sure you upload it to the bike vault!
Maintaining that changing from 44 cm bars to 40 cm doesn't adversely affect control is a losing argument. If its low aero drag you're after and narrower bars don't affect control, why not 38 cm or 36 cm bars?
44cm bars minimum for gravel
is this the new need for speed game?
Gravel bikes are a trend, mountainbikes are forever 😎
There's always one :-(
Thank you for sharing your opinion
90% doesn't get faster, just because they buy the same stuff as the pros. And I don't think a normal person feel any different with a different handlebar width
Sellout content?
Narrow bars restrict your breathing.