Poseidon Redwood // SHRED Gravel on a BUDGET!
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- Review of Poseidon's sub-$1000 Dropbar Redwood gravel bike.
Pros, cons, thoughts, and opinions inside. Thanks for watching!
The upgrade video:
• These 3 Gravel Bike Up...
The whole Poseidon Redwood playlist:
• Poseidon Redwood
Grab a Bike Sauce sticker or two!
www.thebikesau...
Hey, love your videos and basically agree with everything you have to say about the Poseidon Redwood. However, I have to roll my eyes at every time a relatively inexpensive bike is described as "entry level." This bike has a relatively inexpensive price-point that lowers barriers to ownership but it is smartly spec'd compared to similarly priced competitors in this space. You correctly point out the excellent MicroShift 1x10 drivetrain compared to the cheaper Shimano 2x8 Claris systems on other brands. The Tektro dual-piston brakes are also a step up from the spec on other bike brands. Yeah, the wheels and tires are a bit heavy but I was surprised and just how well the Kenda tires worked! I've been riding (and racing) bikes for over 35 years and for a "gravel" bike I didn't WANT to spend more than US$1500 and I was astounded that the Poseidon Redwood ticked all the boxes for me at under $1000. I think a better description for this or other Poseidon bikes would be "low entry point" bikes that a new rider can grow with. But hardly "entry level." That's some gate-keeping language right there. Cheers!
Cycling equipment is significantly different from other activites such as flying or scuba diving; for those hobbies, "entry level" means (relatively) simple to learn and operate, like a microlight or an open circuit regulator, whereas the advanced or "professional" equipment like a turboprop or rebreathers require almost complete retraining to use safely, as well as being more expensive. Bicycles on the other hand are almost completely identical in skill requirements across the range, there are skill differences between categories (crit racing does not prepare you for downhill etc.) but within the same category, if you can ride a $500 bike, you can ride a $15000 bike just as effectively. You could make a compelling argument that clipless pedals require retraining to use, but they aren't exclusive to "advanced" equipment.
Like it or not, the "levels" of cycling equipment are almost entirely determined by price, and this is a good thing. It means that a beginner can improve their skills like bike handling and fitness on a low-end bike just as rapidly as they would on a high-end bike, and that an ambitious rider isn't held back as significantly by "entry level" equipment as they would be in other hobbies. The Redwood is a fantastic bike, I'm very jealous because it's not available in Europe and I'd love to ride one, and I think calling it entry level is praise rather than gate keeping, because it means that a great bike is priced appealingly.
TL:DR "Entry level" means inexpensive in the context of cycling equipment, and is not an indictment of its quality or functionality, and the Redwood is an excellent entry level bike.
that was the most helpful comment I have ever read
You're a natural presenter. I've just found your channel and it's honestly filled with some of the most entertaining and informative videos I've seen on youtube. Incredible that you don't have more subscribers yet. No doubt you'll your numbers up real soon. Love these videos
This is the feedback that keeps me going! 🙏 🙏
This comment has aged like fine wine
The Poseidon Redwood is not as heavy as they lead you on to believe it is. It won’t win any road races, but then again, it’s not a road bike. If you want a weight weeny road bike, buy a weight weeny road bike, this ain’t it and never will be so don’t fool yourself. The saddle is junk, but you’re going to change that anyways, so it’s really not an issue. The way everyone talks about this bike, it weighs 100lbs out of he box and it barely rolls because of the tires… neither is true. I will be using it as a “touring” bike soon, because I think it’s a rugged bike that can be used for that purpose.
Solid. I just don't want it to fall apart if I happen to run it a little harder on dirt and gravel.
@@davidtinnerello1524 it’s not going to.
i’m considering this bike for long distance touring & rail trails & switching out to some much more narrow tires
@@Reelifeproductions. there actually isn’t as much rolling resistance as you’re being told by some of the reviewers. They don’t even make the monster tire humming that others make. I’m planning on changing the tires out also, but my priority has gone from right away to when they wear out. I suspect that most of the reviewers are big time race weight weenies who want the bike to weigh less than a pound, the way most of them talk, the bike weighs as much as a ship’s anchor and it doesn’t even come close. The seat isn’t even as bad as they make it out to be…although I don’t think I would really want to tour on it… wait until you have it in your possession before you make a lot of decisions, you may be pleasantly surprised.
@@david78212I hear you but I really like the efficiency of skinnier road/gravel tires vs the big mtb tires especially when a lot of my touring is on road/gravel. I wonder if I could even put slicks on this baby.
You might have just convinced me to get one! Great review thanks
I love my Poseidon X. I commute 100 miles a week on it and then I go out and ride probably another 50 miles on the weekends up and downhill. It's definitely time to upgrade as I've got thousands of miles on this bike I've had it for a year. I don't have a problem with Poseidon bikes at all as long as you have a budget to spend on upgrade parts I really dig the frames I'm writing a size large and I'm only 5 10
The tire clearence makes it an absolute beast, if hot don't go too fast you can ride basically all trails.
I've had mine over a year. Just..great for everything. Only changed the seat and added a dropper. The brakes do quite well on the mtns of north gerogia.
I did the same to mine and also changed the wheels and tires. I’ve had two green and black. Upgraded both different ways. The second I added a Jones bar , changed the crankset and added a rear rack. I sold both of them and the buyers still talk to me about all of their gravel/bike packing adventures. For the short time I had the black redwood with Jones bar it handled well as I took it from NYC to Poughkeepsie and back using panniers, feed bags etc. The bike is designed to be a work horse for sure. It’s not designed for speed. I now have a Ghost Grappler as I was looking for a steel bike for my bike packing excursions. I changed the cranks on it, added a rear rack , Hunt Wheels. It came with a dropper and pretty sweet Teravail tires. I may change drop bars to the Moloko bar but then I need new brake levers and shifters and a dropper button. We’ll see. Glad that you love your Redwood and are exploring with it :). Be safe out there!
Does it take an internally routed dropper?
@@petercroce the Redwood would be external.
Great review as always, you touched on all of my concerns thank you!
Really good review. Wished they sold them in Europe as well. Btw. TRP Spyre breaks work really good if you replace the crappy break pads with regular Shimanos.
Good tip on the spyre brakes
3.5 pounds is significant! I’d bet you can feel that right away.
I’ve heard that the crankset is pretty heavy and easy to upgrade. One guy used a shimano zee.
Wheel upgrade was huge
Nice! I love the loop
Great review, plan to add this and use 700x55 rene herse tires. much more aggressive than my old steel fargo, talk about heavy.
Nice. Those tires will be so good
How much did it cost to lose 3 pounds?
Dont eat breakfast next 2 weeks..
What about a carbon seat post and fork? Thanks for the great content!
After, I swapped the entire drivetrain with sram gx and nx cassette, and got carbon fork, bike weights 24 lbs (size L) with the stock wheels with sk panaracers tires with pedals and cages. Also switched to Juine tech F1 hydro, cable actuated brakes. The funny thing SRAM NX 12 speed cassette which is heaviest in sram's lineup, weights less than 10 speed Micro shift caseeete :) same goes for gx durelier, also sram apex shifters weigh less. here is the completed build, but without carbon fork, I added later: ua-cam.com/video/ROMlScIEyvE/v-deo.html
Hi, what’s your ht?
Im contemplating about M vs L size. Im 5’10.25”.
Thank you!
update - with Hunt Wheel set 25mm internal width, and carbon fork - bike weights now 17.7 LBS: ua-cam.com/video/0IC32jyDyHI/v-deo.html
@@jilenvera5243 I am 5.11 -(23 inseam) size large fits me like a glove !
Can anyone tell me which Poseidon flat bar bike they prefer for the gap/c&o trail the redwood or ambition
good video! I have a 1x11 with a 42t up front and an 11-42 Cas in the back.... climbing kinda sucks wondering how you found climbing to be with the 38 up front...thinking of upgrading
I don't know If I am ok with 2 tiny screws holding in the rear drop outs, one reviewer they loosened up during a ride. Yes I realize bolts come loose, but that's kind of exactly my point. Imo dropouts should be a part of the frame.
Once the wheel is on, the axle provides the main clamping force on the dropout
@@TheBikeSauce I understand how it works, and why some bike manufacturers do it (ease to convert one frame from qr to thru axle) The way its designed just allows alot of the lateral loads to work on loosening those 2 small bolts holding in the dropout plate. Me personally I would probably through bolt them with a nylon mini nut as an extra precaution.
Good looking budget bike.
I enjoy your channel.
Thanks
Loving your content. I just decided on the Redwood rather than the X. I’m keeping my old road bike so I thought I’d get something more capable if a bit slow.
Nice. Either one is a good option
Let’s hope it’s still in stock when I’m ready to buy
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Could you point me out to a nice 700c wheel set for this bike. Preferably with a brown sidewall! Thanks!!
I just got a redwood yesterday! Climbed and bombed Acacia hill today on my first ride with it and LOVED IT.
I agree about the brakes. My buddy just upgraded his Ambition X to compressionless and it made a massive and immediate difference.
What alloy wheels and tires did you go with to lose 3 pounds?
Did you try your buddies ambition x, wish I could physically take each for a ride, tough decision, mainly I'm on the highway but sometimes diet roads and in woods
@@ShouldaWaved I did! I like the redwood better for me. It’s more off-road oriented. The ambition x is a lot lighter and zippier. Also does well off road.
If you’re mostly on dirt - I like the Redwood. If you’re 50/50 - I like the ambition x.
If you’re in Fullerton California you can go to the store and test ride them.
Good stuff 🤘🏻
Thx Adam!
dude, how tall are you? thinking about getting a redwood, but not sure on the size. i ride a 54 road bike and a medium 17.5 mt bike. i ride some medium frame gravel bikes as well. the poseidon site says my size is small fits riders 5.7 to 5.10. thats a small size. a medium size is 5.9 to 6.0 ft. i am 5.9 long torso short arm and 29.5 inseam. i like a bigger bike if i can ride it . can i ride the medium frame . the only thing i am worried about is the seat post bottoming out in the frame and i cant get any bend in my knee. i really don't think that would happen but you never know. as long as i have at least 1 to 2 inches of seat post i am fine.
Good looking bike….just gotta say, I don’t care how light heavy, no hard nose/tail is going to be comfortable downhill/ uphill w the bumps..need a soft nose
That seatpost logo looks kinda sus.
What size and kind of bearings are in the front wheel? Thanks
How tall are you? Does the frame run large?
Which MCB bike bags are those?
Chino state park?
What bike bag is that?
how’s the size small? i had a medium X and felt it was way too big for me and ended up selling it. i’m 5’7 with short legs
Yea you should be on a small. I’m about 5’8” and the small is right
Do you still have the bike? Any issues at all? How tall are you and your inseam? It shows I need a small. 28 to 29 inseam 5'7 or 69 inches.
Thank you for the video.
Great bike. Still have it and it’s been tinkered with a lot. Really fun. I ride the small, and no issues with fit. I’m about the same as you
Does anyone with a redwood know if the decals that say “Poseidon” on the frame are removable with a heat gun? Or are they underneath a clear coat?
Under the clear
Can I use it for road bike?
Won’t be the fastest, but you certainly can
I have a question I hope you can answer. I came to this video to make sure I wasn't crazy. My Redwood front flat mount adapter is oriented so that it says F140 pointing up, same as your bike. I know these bikes are 160mm rotors, so I flipped it around and that was wrong. Do you know why that is?
Haha you’re not crazy. That’s just how those adapters are. Same situation on my specialized diverge
Three and half pounds! Must’ve been steel gas pipe for hoops.
Most cyclist prefer a 1X system, who are you talking for?
He didn't say "most cyclists" prefer 1x. Listen again, he did say, many cyclists who ride off road, and do not need tall gears for speed, may prefer 1x.
They made some great choices, but those tyres.... ah, no!
At this price point, I’d guess it’s a game of compromises
I replaced them with some fat slicks. I believe they are over 2 inches wide. Very comfortable and they rolled nice. If I planned on taking the bike is some softer dirt, the original tires might work, but I ride mostly on road.
Put a pair of teravail sparwoods, I love how versatile they are