The irony of all this is that it takes a $900 budget bike to give me all the stuff I'm looking for in a drop-bar bike: wider handlebars, huge tire clearance, gearing suitable for ordinary Joes, loads of mounts. The vast majority of bikes costing four times as much don't come with these elementary features. Someone at Poseiden really does know what daily riders are looking for. Maybe they should also produce the same bike with a better spec and maybe in a high-grade steel, charge more for it, and enter that $1500-2000 market where a lot of keen riders are willing to invest.
@im the only one with this name Good news! I think we'll see more manufacturers producing wide-clearance gravel bikes (and by that I mean 2.4" upwards) as the benefits of wider tyres become more accepted. It'll probably involve moving to a wider bottom bracket, which increases the Q-factor, the distance between the pedals. But would anyone riding a bike like that care? I certainly wouldn't; it's just another example of how race-driven road bike thinking continues to inform the industry instead of the real-world gravel needs of those millions of potential buyers who will never pin a number on their backs, unless it's to count down the miles to the next beer stop.
I bought a Redwood on pre order. It ended up being too small, despite Poseidons advice. Im 5'9 and ordered a small. I swapped stems and played with fit and it was just a little off..I chatted with Luis at Poseidon and he sent me a larger sized frame, with a return tag for mine. No problem! Excellent customer service so far, which is always a concern for this type of business model. Super stoked on everything so far! Lots of obvious upgrades as one sees fit to.lightnen it up. The LIFETIME warranty helps justify that for sure! Gonna be fun to rally it a bit. And the aluminum makes winter riding less of a worry, corrosion wise. Cheers from Whitefish!
Totally agree. Luis at Poseidon has quickly and substantially responded to all of my emails to help me figure things out, both before purchasing and since. Poseidon's shipping estimates were also very accurate; I'd say they have their act together. Been riding it for over a month and agree with Russ' review. Nice ride and perfect to help me tinker and figure out my preferences after not purchasing a bike for myself since the last century!
@@jev2867 yes for sure! Im 5'9..i ride a medium Salsa Fargo and love the fit! I tend to like longer top tubes.. i bought a small Redwood based on being kinda between the measurements of the small and medium. I contacted Poseidon about sizing and they suggested a small based on "how the bike was designed to be ridden.." meaning rougher terrain and fatter tires. I like all these things. So bought the small. It was really good lookin, however only one set of bottle mounts inside the down tube. Anyhow..no matter what i did i couldn't get comfortable. Tried and tried different stem combos. So Poseidon kindly replaced my small frame with a medium frame. So far so good, although havent really ridden it yet. All that being said, i would like to see longer top tubes on all the sizes, and i think they'd fit a little better. Overall very stoked on the set up, it ticks many boxes for me, and rides well.. i just have to go with a longer stem than id like.. Neat bike, great price, awesome customer service. Not a fan of how the frame is built to accommodate the internal routing, however its no stress because of the lifetime warranty. And it leaves ootions for creative use of space.. like perhaps a nifty place to store perhaps tent poles or something else inside the down tube.
@@ME-hm7zm they used it.. its just that the cables come out of the down tube near the BB.. its basically just half the down tube welded to the bb and the other half left open, for the cable routing.. looks a but hokey, but again, not worried with the lifetime warranty. Had a great rude today, impressed with the ride quality so far.
I've had my Redwood for about 2wks now and so far I love it. I think your review was really good and there's for sure some things that I will change at some point and some observations that I'd share. The not so good or things that will be changed at some point. Brakes: the Tektro MD-C550 are not very good and in fact, pretty awful, IMHO. My last pair of mechanical disc was about 10yrs ago and they were BB7, which if my memory serves me, were much better than these Tektro. I've adjusted them and tried to get them to the best point I can, but on any significant downhill, whether dirt or road, they do not give great confidence, especially the rear. Wheels: They were probably the least trued wheels I've ever seen?! I spent a couple hours truing them before taking it out on the first ride. Some of the spokes didn't even feel like they were tightened at all. The wheels are also heavy. Rear wheel with tire & tube weighs 6.9lbs. The tubes weigh 9.2oz, so after you going tubeless, my rear wheel came in at 6.03lbs and I lost about 1/2lb per wheel. Cranks/BB: after getting wheels tru and everything ready to go on my first spin around the block I heard some creaking/grinding noise coming from cranks/BB. I wasn't planning a ride that day, so I pulled the cranks and BB and found metal shavings inside the BB shell and on the BB. I cleaned it out, re-greased everything, put it back together and it's been fine, thus far. The Prowheel cranks and the BB are not something I'd feel comfortable with on a long-haul, multi-day adventure ride/tour. And as stated in your video, the seat post is chunky and the seat I don't think will be adequate for a long day in the saddle or beyond. Ok, those are the things I'd change and that I found somewhat concerning. Now for the good. The bike handles and rolls way better than I expected! It is a blast to ride. My first real ride on it was about 40 miles and a combination of road, gravel, fire roads and even some pretty technical singletrack and I was blown away by how well it handled and transitioned with all of it. With the geometry and the big 2.35 tires, it for sure feels like it leans toward the mtb side, but I was pleasantly surprised how responsive it was on road and fire roads. It cruises really nicely! The Microshift Advent X is also way impressive! I've heard so many bad things about their components and this is my first experience with Microshift and I think it works very well. I dialed it in and I've had no issues with the shifting whatsoever. I also think they nailed it with the gearing(38x11/48)! It has just enough good range for getting up over some steep, but again, I also find it great for cruising down the road comfortably. Yes, the bike is a little on the heavy, as expected with the big tires and etc, but for me, it climbs much better than I expected. I was a little concerned about the bars, since it's Poseidon own branding, but they seem great so far. I appreciate the 24 degree flair for handling/control. On some singletrack with some small bumps, I was routinely getting some small air and it takes it in stride. The feedback through the bars and connection to the ground with he tires, felt confident and always under control. I did not notice much flex or wiggle in the rear triangle when putting it under stress of climbing, turning hard or even getting air. The bike/frame feels solid. And finally, the bike just looks badass! Lets face it, it just looks wicked cool! The big tires, the Green color, the frame design and just how the complete package is laid out, it just looks like it's ready to take on whatever you throw at it. It's turned a few heads already on the few rides I've done thus far and I'm sure it will continue. This is my first adventure bike experience and I can't wait to load up all the bosses with bags and roll this thing on some long haul trips. Sorry for long post, I couldn't stop typing. :-) Cheers-
Good review! how you think this bike with do with thinner tire on the road as a daily bike to work etc and some light gravel when feeling kicks in. Mainly use for 7-10 days trip with tent and some other bags :) thx M
How do you think it rides on the road? I love everything about the redwood but hoping it can cope on the road manners like the X with some little upgrades.
Thanks for the detailed and informative review. I was worried the bike would be really slow on the pavement due to the lower gearing(95" for the top gear) and relatively fat tires but it sounds like it's more than adequate. I have the same top gear on my Reid MTB and it's acceptable. Also love the dark green color on these bikes. The Salsa Journeyman Claris and the Fuji Jari 2.3 have the same dark green and they both look awesome. How was the riding position? I had heard the Redwood puts you in a more hunched over, aggresive position due to the lower handlebar position.
I’m really digging the Microshift trend we are seeing in these cheaper bikes. They seem like good bang for your buck. Even Cannondale opted for them on their 2021 Topstone
Just got my Redwood yesterday, took it on a varied 25 mile ride today, and I AM IN LOVE. It's my first gravel bike. And, if anyone is new to gravel bikes who doesn't know much about bikes (that'd be me), it's really impressed me on day 1. Also, it looks quite beautiful.
What a great bike for a reasonable price! Having been a cyclist for 45 years I'm staggered at what companies are asking cyclists to pay for bikes these days! The inflation over the last 10 years has been way, way, way out of line with general inflation as a whole and even out of line with inflation due to improvements in materials and technology. At this price one could afford a second set of wheels and tires, a rack or two, and have a near "do anything" quiver killer. Thanks for the review!
@@michaelsj7968 Craigslist a honda goldwing and you'll see the lower mid level bike prices will put on a fulll size bike with 80,000 moles of life left in it.
I was at a motorcycle convention in NYC about 4 years ago and Giant had E-bikes on display they had one for $6500 looking at it I could see the Kawasaki versys X 300 adventure bike my brother had just purchased new for $4500 right behind it. Bike costs will just never make sense to me. I remember when bike prices hit the fan about 15 years ago an enthusiast's bike was $1500 a pro level bike was $3500. Scott made a super light road bike that was $10,000 then the next year every company's top level bike was $10,000 now with inflation there $15,000 and an enthusiast is expected to drop $6,000 on a mid level bike it's totally crazy.
I love it so far! I swapped the tires for the byway 47s tubeless and did not notice any harshness. I also swapped the stem for a Zipp stem with a slightly higher angle. Everything is killer except the brakes. Took about 80 miles to bed and still are pretty bad but usable. I'm going to look into getting some hydro mechanical calipers eventually. All I can say is this bike is fun. Not for racing but if you really don't care about speed but want more adventure this is it!
Just swapped on Juin Tech GT-F brakes (flat mount hydromechs). Rear bolted without the adaptor, directly to the frame and works great with the stock 160mm rotor. Front puzzled me; requires the adaptor shipped with brakes (or the stock one from the Redwood), but then only contacted the outer edge of the rotor. Swapped the 160mm rotor for a 180mm rotor in the front and now the entire pad contacts the rotor. Like how they feel and work.
How do you think it ride on the roads? I love everything about the redwood but hoping it can handle the road as well as the X with little upgrades. Since you change it to the byways, is it a lot better? I'm not into speed either, but always 50/50 pavement and gravel.
Someone just shot me a link to this bike! Really glad there’s a production bike now that’s not just for the roadies who think they can ride dirt... Nice clearance for tires and love the price point! Too often are people being priced out of what should be a more inclusive sport. Every time I see an article about an affordable bike and realize they’re talking about a 2500 price point I want to put my head into a wall... this definitely puts a smile on my face... also looks to be way more practical for most people as well!
Seriously as someone who paid more than twice as much for an All City Gorilla Monsoon all I really got for the increase is a flashier paint job, though I dig this matte green finish.
The Teravail Rutland I feel are the ideal tire for this bike as an all arounder, it maintains the monstercross nature of the bike, intention wise, but improves the overall riding experience on all surfaces over the stock Kendas. I've been enjoying linking up gravel/ditch riding and pavement connector miles to hit the local singletrack all on the Teravail Rutland (27.5 x 2.1 tanwalls) and they are well suited to this bike. Another thing, this bike straight up rips downhill in fully loaded bikepack mode. I did a multi day bikepack in northern NM on this recently and we hit some serious miles long baby head descents and this bike with some finessing was relentless. My other bike is a steel Krampus, and the aluminum rides just fine relative to steel, the right tire and pressure goes a long way with the Redwood.... oh, and some thicker handlebar tape helps.
I’m still digging this bike, but definitely looking to make changes. I just bought a Race Face Ride crankset, Race Face Team XC BB and Race Face Chainring to replace the Prowheel cranks and square taper BB that comes with the Redwood. Before installing the new setup, I did a weight comparison and the new Race Face setup is 1.47lbs lighter than the Prowheel!! That’s a lot in the crank rotation!! I was actually a little shocked it was that much lighter, because Race Face Ride cranks are definitely not the lightest cranks on the market. I noticed an immediate difference riding it. The rotational force just felt lighter in the cranks. Next upgrade, those horrible tektro brakes. Considering Juin Tech R1?
I was worried because Ive never owned a 1 by. After this review I purchased the Ambition x flat bar. You gave me confidence that the gearing will be enough to tackle the hills in my city. This is going to be my baby and errand hauler! So pumped. Love this channel, fits my philosophy on why I love bicycles...the adventure! Got it on sale for $600!!!
I've been on mine for about 3.5 weeks now. Digging it immensely. I am rider who took off about 11 years so for pulling the trigger to get back into it the price took the sting off of getting back in the game. That said, gearing is great in woods, and more harsh trails, I do a bit of hunting in the flats to find a good gear. I did order a pair of 29er wheels to use with a little less meat, but I am just under 6 feet so that wont hurt. my only complaint was for fit wise I felt the stem was a bit short. I gotta say though I like that the company focused on affordable and what matters to the consumer. Affordable bikes that arent just carbon copies with different stickers are hard to find. This definately shines for that reason alone.
@@johnmckenzie5707 yup majority of my time is on the 700c with 2.1 inch tires. Is pretty good. Alot of the trails I'm on are a mix of haddock, dirt road, and a little bit of single track so the extra is appreciated. It does feel a little less responsive. But that was the trade-off.
This is incredibly enticing as a compliment to my lightweight carbon gravel bike. I'd use that for everyday gravel rides and road riding, while I'd use the Redwood for bikepacking and a commuter/around town bike that I wouldn't be afraid of locking up
Had the bike for almost a month now and loving it! Super fun on the trails dirt/loose ground and love that I can pack my drone/camera equipment, tools and bottles with me, definitely a take me anywhere type of bike and the best thing is the price. Threw some Vitorria Randonneurs on them for a weighted training road bike 😂
@@daveyman looks sick man. How’s it doing on the roads? Hey m wondering if it would be quick enough to try to hang on some road rides. Sounds like a no but with the faster tires set up tubeless... maybe
@@coreyreeder2321 I have some WTB Byways set up tubeless, definitely makes it faster but still pretty thick, might have a hard time keeping up with really aggressive and competitive road riders.
Great review as always. I got my Redwood early September and have done some trips using bikepacking bags and/or panniers. Worked out really well. Thanks
@@marybarrymassage Not really, at times I've carried around 40 lbs, but I wasn't go up 15%-20% grades either. I been very pleased with the gearing for climbing.
I've got both the Redwood and the Poseidon X. The Redwood is definitely slower but more comfortable. The gear range is perfect for someone that has been away from riding for 10 years.🙂
This has to be the coolest OEM bike I've seen all year. And all of 2019, too! What are the eyelets on the seatstays meant to be used with? The lower one, in particular, seems an odd spot given the traditional rack mount near the axle. Is the design for a rackless bag, a la the RoadRunner Buoy Bag?
I think you definitely hit the nail on the head with every point in this video. This bike is definitely chunkier than a lot of options out there. As more of a commuting/weekend workout road bike rider, I actually really love this bike as it's my introduction to gravel riding. Things I want to change right out of the box: pedals, wheels/tires, and brakes. The brakes are underwhelming, but I haven't tried tuning them just yet which may improve performance a bit. Absolutely love this group set.
The Cutthroat has been shown in press photos with a full rack and pannier set-up, so it seems safe to say it can handle a front rack. Those things are built to be burly and handle mountain bike loads.
It can handle some front racks but not all. I’ve personally asked the engineers if it can run a platform and they say no. It is not reinforced enough under the crown to prevent it from potentially breaking and putting the rack under the wheel. Also a few seasons of Cutthroat fire starter forks were recalled so 🤷🏽♂️ salsacycles.com/cutthroat-carbon-v2-fork-recall
I cancelled my State All-Road order last week for this bike. I placed the All-Road order on Aug. 1, and State delayed shipping to late October. I ordered a Redwood last week and it shipped next day
@@7lmcguir Wow they have been sold out forever too. What made you cancel and get the Redwood? I am literally in the same predicament, but also interested in the Poseidon X.
for me it's the mounts and wheel clearance, this would be great to bikepack on after a couple of upgrades, plus frame fixes can be done if you can find a local farmer/handyman out in the bush....surprisingly more possible than getting a signal on your phone...... anyway i like this bike.... yeah a bit heavy...but what's heavy in this day & age.
I absolutely love my AC Gorilla Monsoon. And I love steel bikes and flashy paint, but if this were available at the time, would have I loved that enough to not keep 1200 in my pocket? who knows, but this bike is a real winner for those in the market right now!
I tried hard to get the first gen AC Gorilla Monsoon with no success but "settled" on the Poseidon, at least that was my initial feelings when I ordered the Redwood. After a month of riding and a multiday bikepack under the Redwood, I have no regrets in getting it over the All City GM... however, I have already picked up a direct mount crankset and ring, new bottom bracket, new saddle, new tubeless Teravails, and the Tektro brakes are definitely going soon. The $899 is a huge steal, and gets anyone out there happily riding whatever they can throw at it out of the box, but that upgrade creep sneaks up on ya, or it did for me.
Yay thanks man always appreciate your perspective I was looking for something to compliment my giant revolt advanced 0 which I love but wanted bigger tires for sandy bike packing or techy stuff. Figured this will help me double down on the grav grav lol and my wheels can swap from my sets over to this.
Salsa Journeyman is kind of out of stock until who knows when. Considering the times maybe including availability in your video info would be helpful. As for the Redwood, since something like the Journeyman is out of stock it’s my first pick.
You'd have to use Hydro Mechanical brakes or swap the full component set. Microshift doesn't support full hydraulic brakes with their drop bar shifters so it needs to be cable driven
Can you run a dropper right out of the box? Internally or externally routed? I’m kinda dropper curious and considering this as replacement for my old school math, perhaps replacing my old road bike too.
This has a really nice non flashy paint job. The Microshift Advent is a solid drivetrain to go with these days. There is one on my Bildabike Civilderness.
I just bought this bike and will soon mount tubeless, WTB Venture Road TCS Tires. The tires that came with the bike were simply too knobby for me. Also adding a new seat and a used, Thudbuster seatpost I bought on eBay. I'm 61 and need the riding comfort!
WTB Ventures are crazy good tires, both on pavement and gravel. I was thinking of switching to Byways or Horizons, but honestly, the Venture is just the best of everything.
Great review. Unfortunately they don’t ship to Europe (yet?). I got the Marin Nicasio+ recently (was also tested by the channel and your review had influence on my decision) which also has the great Microshift but a steel frame. Could be a good alternative for those who are looking below $1000 with a 1x and good tire clearance plus 650bs. Only downsides are similar to the Redwood, so weight and poor Tektro brakes. And colour is a bit of an „interesting“ brown. Great to ride and awesome bang for buck though with what I feel best gravel combo (steel, 1x wide gearing, 650b) - supple ride @partypace ;)
This category, gravel bikes under $1000 USD is filling up rather quickly. Does this make four? The Marin, the State, the something something, and this one... Or is it five? And thanks again, Russ, for another great video.
Things are moving in the right direction. The chain ring is still too big in my opinion for the heavy setup. I run a 38t chain ring in a more race oriented setup and I hardly ride in the 11t cog.
In the presence of $4000 steel bikes, sporting compact doubles, like someone will actually race them, this is a welcome reprieve. 28 lbs isn't bad and when you are loaded with 30-50 lbs of gear, it won't matter much. Upgrade to some hydro mechanical brakes to avoid messing with levers and you are good to go.
I've found aluminum to be great for gravel with some nice, wide tires. The problem I ran into was that I started to feel it pretty quickly on bad roads and logging tracks. The vibrations went right up the bike into the bars, then into the hands, wrists, shoulders, etc. It's great though if you don't want to ride it on anything too rough.
@@cjohnson3836 I should try that, currently using the Salsa Cowchippers. I've thought about carbon bars, but it would not be fun to get a break and end up out in the woods with half a handlebar.
I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on how you think the Redwood would handle a longer trip such as the GDMTBR. I'm looking to do it this summer and have a Marin Gestalt that I love but am looking to be able to run wider tires.
This is what I want to know as well. This is why I bought it hoping that I can ride it do the GDMBR next year. Breaks my heart to have to spend 3 grand on a bike.
for a 5' 6" guy with 30" inseam do you know if the Redwood small would be right size. I know I know lots of variables but I tend to like a little larger frame than what the bike shop always seems to push but this being a straight cross bar don't want to come up "short" on standover. Great channel BTW.
Thank you for making this video. Would like to hear your thoughts on the Stave All-Road vs Redwood vs Poseidon X. Would like to get one of these but can't decide which one. Thanks in advance.
I cancelled my State All-Road order last week for this bike. I placed the All-Road order on Aug. 1, and State delayed shipping to late October. I ordered a Redwood last week and it shipped next day
I am also a shorter rider; looks like I'm right between XXS and XS by their height suggestion...but the XXS has a higher stand-over height than my inseam. Bummer!
Thank goodness!!! I love this guy. Unlike GMBN, this UA-cam is by far the best content. With its quick, get over your carbon wheel overviews of products that most would buy. The cherry on top, is this guys personal opinion. Awesome 😎
I’ve finally decided to go Redwood. But I’m not sure what size I should do. I keep reading the top tube is short. As a complete noob to bike riding I don’t have any bike to compare comfort to. The only one I remember riding and loving was the Journeyman in I think it was a 54. I’m 5’10 with a 32 inch inseam. Do you think I should go with the Medium which Poseidon’s size chart recommends, or the Large?
I love this bike, but man I wish the paint job was way better . Scratches to dam easy , first week the cables rub all the paint off the front. Solid bike though I would recommend it to any one.
Can you compare the Redwood vs Marin Four Corners. The Nicasio comparison is nice but I'd pick the four corners over the nicasio. I am also a total beginner but want to ride long routes on forest roads from time to time and eventually the continental divide.
Hi Russ. Great review. I see you tesred the size Small frame. May I ask how tall you are and your inseam length? I am considering purchasing this bike and trying to research the bike geometry and bike fit for me. I’m 5’4” (5’5” with clipless shoes) and 29” inseam. Poseidon fit guide says I could be a XS or S frame for the Redwood. Thank you in advance!
Do you think this bike would be ok to turn into a 6-7 day road touring rig? I plan to ride the Oregon coast (PCH) next year with a buddy who will be on a Surly LHT. Should I just look for a used LHT for myself? I know some of these things are subjective but curious what you think. I have bike toured before on an older all aluminum Cannondale (road the California coast in 2014) and I managed but it wasn't the most comfortable. Thanks! Love your content and reviews.
The problem for me with these direct to consumer bikes is sizing. I will no longer buy a bike without test riding it first. Fit never seems to be what is stated.
@@PathLessPedaledTV correct. Set them up to ride in the drops. That's where you have good technical control. In my opinion obviously. Mostly I'm talking about significant tech with rock moves and step ups. That kind of thing just doesn't work for me on the hoods.
I convinced a friend to get one of these (over a garbage entry level mtb). My only pause was that the seat tube angle is super slack. I'd rather a longer reach and steeper seat tube, but it appears not to be an issue (no reviews have even mentioned it). What do you think Russ?
I've had issues with toe overlap (I like mid-foot cleat) and too slack seat tubes (over forked mtb and that was still way steeper than this), so I pay attention to these things. Apparently not an issue for most people. My buddy loves the bike, I however have given up on the aggressive off-road drop bar thing. I tried it, but a good XC mtb really is better (I have a new epic with long bar-ins that replicate the hoods position).
Do you have any thought on non square taper cranks that can be installed on this? Ran into a bit of a hiccup with what I wanted to use as I hadn't realized it was a 73mm standard bottom bracket shell not a 68 and none of the road cranks I have will fit I believe.
Thx for review! Was looking for Kuna Sutra ltd 2020 and saw this bike. Wonder how the bike will ride on road with thinner decks and as a daily bike for work etc....am 6.2 is L or xl my frame? realy cant find that anywhere. Thx M
The irony of all this is that it takes a $900 budget bike to give me all the stuff I'm looking for in a drop-bar bike: wider handlebars, huge tire clearance, gearing suitable for ordinary Joes, loads of mounts. The vast majority of bikes costing four times as much don't come with these elementary features. Someone at Poseiden really does know what daily riders are looking for. Maybe they should also produce the same bike with a better spec and maybe in a high-grade steel, charge more for it, and enter that $1500-2000 market where a lot of keen riders are willing to invest.
Definitely punches above its weight.
@im the only one with this name Good news! I think we'll see more manufacturers producing wide-clearance gravel bikes (and by that I mean 2.4" upwards) as the benefits of wider tyres become more accepted. It'll probably involve moving to a wider bottom bracket, which increases the Q-factor, the distance between the pedals. But would anyone riding a bike like that care? I certainly wouldn't; it's just another example of how race-driven road bike thinking continues to inform the industry instead of the real-world gravel needs of those millions of potential buyers who will never pin a number on their backs, unless it's to count down the miles to the next beer stop.
I did the same on a touring bike from Decathlon that had everything right out of the box and it cost me 800 bucks
@@PedroDVC triban rc 500?
@@lazyenderman3019 probably riverside touring 520
I bought a Redwood on pre order. It ended up being too small, despite Poseidons advice. Im 5'9 and ordered a small. I swapped stems and played with fit and it was just a little off..I chatted with Luis at Poseidon and he sent me a larger sized frame, with a return tag for mine. No problem! Excellent customer service so far, which is always a concern for this type of business model. Super stoked on everything so far! Lots of obvious upgrades as one sees fit to.lightnen it up. The LIFETIME warranty helps justify that for sure!
Gonna be fun to rally it a bit. And the aluminum makes winter riding less of a worry, corrosion wise.
Cheers from Whitefish!
Totally agree. Luis at Poseidon has quickly and substantially responded to all of my emails to help me figure things out, both before purchasing and since. Poseidon's shipping estimates were also very accurate; I'd say they have their act together. Been riding it for over a month and agree with Russ' review. Nice ride and perfect to help me tinker and figure out my preferences after not purchasing a bike for myself since the last century!
Can you tell us more about the sizing? I'm 5'7" and my usual size is medium MTB and 54 for road.
@@jev2867 yes for sure! Im 5'9..i ride a medium Salsa Fargo and love the fit! I tend to like longer top tubes.. i bought a small Redwood based on being kinda between the measurements of the small and medium. I contacted Poseidon about sizing and they suggested a small based on "how the bike was designed to be ridden.." meaning rougher terrain and fatter tires. I like all these things. So bought the small. It was really good lookin, however only one set of bottle mounts inside the down tube. Anyhow..no matter what i did i couldn't get comfortable. Tried and tried different stem combos. So Poseidon kindly replaced my small frame with a medium frame. So far so good, although havent really ridden it yet.
All that being said, i would like to see longer top tubes on all the sizes, and i think they'd fit a little better.
Overall very stoked on the set up, it ticks many boxes for me, and rides well.. i just have to go with a longer stem than id like..
Neat bike, great price, awesome customer service. Not a fan of how the frame is built to accommodate the internal routing, however its no stress because of the lifetime warranty. And it leaves ootions for creative use of space.. like perhaps a nifty place to store perhaps tent poles or something else inside the down tube.
@@erickgelbke4771 It's built for internal routing and they didn't use it?
@@ME-hm7zm they used it.. its just that the cables come out of the down tube near the BB.. its basically just half the down tube welded to the bb and the other half left open, for the cable routing.. looks a but hokey, but again, not worried with the lifetime warranty. Had a great rude today, impressed with the ride quality so far.
I've had my Redwood for about 2wks now and so far I love it. I think your review was really good and there's for sure some things that I will change at some point and some observations that I'd share.
The not so good or things that will be changed at some point.
Brakes: the Tektro MD-C550 are not very good and in fact, pretty awful, IMHO. My last pair of mechanical disc was about 10yrs ago and they were BB7, which if my memory serves me, were much better than these Tektro. I've adjusted them and tried to get them to the best point I can, but on any significant downhill, whether dirt or road, they do not give great confidence, especially the rear.
Wheels: They were probably the least trued wheels I've ever seen?! I spent a couple hours truing them before taking it out on the first ride. Some of the spokes didn't even feel like they were tightened at all. The wheels are also heavy. Rear wheel with tire & tube weighs 6.9lbs. The tubes weigh 9.2oz, so after you going tubeless, my rear wheel came in at 6.03lbs and I lost about 1/2lb per wheel.
Cranks/BB: after getting wheels tru and everything ready to go on my first spin around the block I heard some creaking/grinding noise coming from cranks/BB. I wasn't planning a ride that day, so I pulled the cranks and BB and found metal shavings inside the BB shell and on the BB. I cleaned it out, re-greased everything, put it back together and it's been fine, thus far. The Prowheel cranks and the BB are not something I'd feel comfortable with on a long-haul, multi-day adventure ride/tour.
And as stated in your video, the seat post is chunky and the seat I don't think will be adequate for a long day in the saddle or beyond.
Ok, those are the things I'd change and that I found somewhat concerning.
Now for the good.
The bike handles and rolls way better than I expected! It is a blast to ride. My first real ride on it was about 40 miles and a combination of road, gravel, fire roads and even some pretty technical singletrack and I was blown away by how well it handled and transitioned with all of it. With the geometry and the big 2.35 tires, it for sure feels like it leans toward the mtb side, but I was pleasantly surprised how responsive it was on road and fire roads. It cruises really nicely! The Microshift Advent X is also way impressive! I've heard so many bad things about their components and this is my first experience with Microshift and I think it works very well. I dialed it in and I've had no issues with the shifting whatsoever. I also think they nailed it with the gearing(38x11/48)! It has just enough good range for getting up over some steep, but again, I also find it great for cruising down the road comfortably. Yes, the bike is a little on the heavy, as expected with the big tires and etc, but for me, it climbs much better than I expected. I was a little concerned about the bars, since it's Poseidon own branding, but they seem great so far. I appreciate the 24 degree flair for handling/control. On some singletrack with some small bumps, I was routinely getting some small air and it takes it in stride. The feedback through the bars and connection to the ground with he tires, felt confident and always under control. I did not notice much flex or wiggle in the rear triangle when putting it under stress of climbing, turning hard or even getting air. The bike/frame feels solid.
And finally, the bike just looks badass! Lets face it, it just looks wicked cool! The big tires, the Green color, the frame design and just how the complete package is laid out, it just looks like it's ready to take on whatever you throw at it. It's turned a few heads already on the few rides I've done thus far and I'm sure it will continue. This is my first adventure bike experience and I can't wait to load up all the bosses with bags and roll this thing on some long haul trips. Sorry for long post, I couldn't stop typing. :-) Cheers-
Try installing new brake pads; Tektro's are awful. Kool-Stop makes good ones. Cheaper than new brakes.
Good review! how you think this bike with do with thinner tire on the road as a daily bike to work etc and some light gravel when feeling kicks in. Mainly use for 7-10 days trip with tent and some other bags :) thx M
How do you think it rides on the road? I love everything about the redwood but hoping it can cope on the road manners like the X with some little upgrades.
This is a very helpful reply for those of us considering the bike, thanks.
Thanks for the detailed and informative review. I was worried the bike would be really slow on the pavement due to the lower gearing(95" for the top gear) and relatively fat tires but it sounds like it's more than adequate. I have the same top gear on my Reid MTB and it's acceptable. Also love the dark green color on these bikes. The Salsa Journeyman Claris and the Fuji Jari 2.3 have the same dark green and they both look awesome. How was the riding position? I had heard the Redwood puts you in a more hunched over, aggresive position due to the lower handlebar position.
I’m really digging the Microshift trend we are seeing in these cheaper bikes. They seem like good bang for your buck. Even Cannondale opted for them on their 2021 Topstone
I have to say, I watch most of the bike channels in here but you are hands down the best bike reviewer.
Just got my Redwood yesterday, took it on a varied 25 mile ride today, and I AM IN LOVE.
It's my first gravel bike. And, if anyone is new to gravel bikes who doesn't know much about bikes (that'd be me), it's really impressed me on day 1.
Also, it looks quite beautiful.
What a great bike for a reasonable price! Having been a cyclist for 45 years I'm staggered at what companies are asking cyclists to pay for bikes these days! The inflation over the last 10 years has been way, way, way out of line with general inflation as a whole and even out of line with inflation due to improvements in materials and technology. At this price one could afford a second set of wheels and tires, a rack or two, and have a near "do anything" quiver killer. Thanks for the review!
Seriously some of the high end gravel bikes I see are more than a friggin motorcycle...
@@michaelsj7968 Craigslist a honda goldwing and you'll see the lower mid level bike prices will put on a fulll size bike with 80,000 moles of life left in it.
I was at a motorcycle convention in NYC about 4 years ago and Giant had E-bikes on display they had one for $6500 looking at it I could see the Kawasaki versys X 300 adventure bike my brother had just purchased new for $4500 right behind it. Bike costs will just never make sense to me.
I remember when bike prices hit the fan about 15 years ago an enthusiast's bike was $1500 a pro level bike was $3500. Scott made a super light road bike that was $10,000 then the next year every company's top level bike was $10,000 now with inflation there $15,000 and an enthusiast is expected to drop $6,000 on a mid level bike it's totally crazy.
I love it so far! I swapped the tires for the byway 47s tubeless and did not notice any harshness. I also swapped the stem for a Zipp stem with a slightly higher angle. Everything is killer except the brakes. Took about 80 miles to bed and still are pretty bad but usable. I'm going to look into getting some hydro mechanical calipers eventually. All I can say is this bike is fun. Not for racing but if you really don't care about speed but want more adventure this is it!
Just swapped on Juin Tech GT-F brakes (flat mount hydromechs). Rear bolted without the adaptor, directly to the frame and works great with the stock 160mm rotor. Front puzzled me; requires the adaptor shipped with brakes (or the stock one from the Redwood), but then only contacted the outer edge of the rotor. Swapped the 160mm rotor for a 180mm rotor in the front and now the entire pad contacts the rotor. Like how they feel and work.
Michael, before you go to that expense, try Kool-Stop pads; they're vastly superior to the stock Tektro pads.
How do you think it ride on the roads? I love everything about the redwood but hoping it can handle the road as well as the X with little upgrades. Since you change it to the byways, is it a lot better? I'm not into speed either, but always 50/50 pavement and gravel.
Someone just shot me a link to this bike! Really glad there’s a production bike now that’s not just for the roadies who think they can ride dirt... Nice clearance for tires and love the price point! Too often are people being priced out of what should be a more inclusive sport. Every time I see an article about an affordable bike and realize they’re talking about a 2500 price point I want to put my head into a wall... this definitely puts a smile on my face... also looks to be way more practical for most people as well!
Seriously as someone who paid more than twice as much for an All City Gorilla Monsoon all I really got for the increase is a flashier paint job, though I dig this matte green finish.
As a 6'2" 300 lb guy I've really enjoyed mine. I've just got back into biking, and I felt it is a good entry bike to explore what you might want.
Im assuming an XL?
@@trackjosh Actually, I got the large and it's just about perfect.
I’m considering buying one and wondering how it’s holding up for you a year later?
Considering getting one and I'm 6'3. I might stick with the XL
@@jonl8816did you end up getting it? How does it fit?
The Teravail Rutland I feel are the ideal tire for this bike as an all arounder, it maintains the monstercross nature of the bike, intention wise, but improves the overall riding experience on all surfaces over the stock Kendas. I've been enjoying linking up gravel/ditch riding and pavement connector miles to hit the local singletrack all on the Teravail Rutland (27.5 x 2.1 tanwalls) and they are well suited to this bike. Another thing, this bike straight up rips downhill in fully loaded bikepack mode. I did a multi day bikepack in northern NM on this recently and we hit some serious miles long baby head descents and this bike with some finessing was relentless. My other bike is a steel Krampus, and the aluminum rides just fine relative to steel, the right tire and pressure goes a long way with the Redwood.... oh, and some thicker handlebar tape helps.
I’m still digging this bike, but definitely looking to make changes. I just bought a Race Face Ride crankset, Race Face Team XC BB and Race Face Chainring to replace the Prowheel cranks and square taper BB that comes with the Redwood. Before installing the new setup, I did a weight comparison and the new Race Face setup is 1.47lbs lighter than the Prowheel!! That’s a lot in the crank rotation!! I was actually a little shocked it was that much lighter, because Race Face Ride cranks are definitely not the lightest cranks on the market. I noticed an immediate difference riding it. The rotational force just felt lighter in the cranks. Next upgrade, those horrible tektro brakes. Considering Juin Tech R1?
I was worried because Ive never owned a 1 by. After this review I purchased the Ambition x flat bar. You gave me confidence that the gearing will be enough to tackle the hills in my city. This is going to be my baby and errand hauler! So pumped. Love this channel, fits my philosophy on why I love bicycles...the adventure! Got it on sale for $600!!!
I've been on mine for about 3.5 weeks now. Digging it immensely. I am rider who took off about 11 years so for pulling the trigger to get back into it the price took the sting off of getting back in the game.
That said, gearing is great in woods, and more harsh trails, I do a bit of hunting in the flats to find a good gear. I did order a pair of 29er wheels to use with a little less meat, but I am just under 6 feet so that wont hurt. my only complaint was for fit wise I felt the stem was a bit short.
I gotta say though I like that the company focused on affordable and what matters to the consumer. Affordable bikes that arent just carbon copies with different stickers are hard to find. This definately shines for that reason alone.
Have you had any time on the700c wheels yet?
@@johnmckenzie5707 yup majority of my time is on the 700c with 2.1 inch tires. Is pretty good. Alot of the trails I'm on are a mix of haddock, dirt road, and a little bit of single track so the extra is appreciated. It does feel a little less responsive. But that was the trade-off.
I just ordered this bike for riding fire roads and Bikepacking. Looking forward to this.
I'm a fan of my redwood. Running 27.5x2.6 with plenty of room for mud to fly through.
This is incredibly enticing as a compliment to my lightweight carbon gravel bike. I'd use that for everyday gravel rides and road riding, while I'd use the Redwood for bikepacking and a commuter/around town bike that I wouldn't be afraid of locking up
Who here has watched this excellent vdo 3-4 times, gleaning Redwood details?
Poseidon will have more production available by June 2022
I just got my redwood last Friday - awesome bike! love it !
@@vmxd congratulations. We are all jealous. Make sure you post your experiences!
If this had been around when I bought my Trek 920, this probably would have won out. Amazing value.
Had the bike for almost a month now and loving it! Super fun on the trails dirt/loose ground and love that I can pack my drone/camera equipment, tools and bottles with me, definitely a take me anywhere type of bike and the best thing is the price. Threw some Vitorria Randonneurs on them for a weighted training road bike 😂
Some photos of my redwood setup on ig @dvdmnhn
@@daveyman looks sick man. How’s it doing on the roads? Hey m wondering if it would be quick enough to try to hang on some road rides. Sounds like a no but with the faster tires set up tubeless... maybe
@@coreyreeder2321 I have some WTB Byways set up tubeless, definitely makes it faster but still pretty thick, might have a hard time keeping up with really aggressive and competitive road riders.
Is there any chance we can will a review of the Felt Broam 30? it looks like a good allrounder bike with lots of mounts. Nice videos, very informative
Great review as always. I got my Redwood early September and have done some trips using bikepacking bags and/or panniers. Worked out really well. Thanks
Hi, wondering when touring with the weight of back panniers, did you find the gearing limiting on climbs?
@@marybarrymassage Not really, at times I've carried around 40 lbs, but I wasn't go up 15%-20% grades either. I been very pleased with the gearing for climbing.
@@richardwheeler1869 thanks!
Best budget gravel bike for me is diamondback haanjo 3, i paid $1000, this year its $1100, 30/46 cranket, 700x45 tire clearance, rides smooth
I've got both the Redwood and the Poseidon X. The Redwood is definitely slower but more comfortable. The gear range is perfect for someone that has been away from riding for 10 years.🙂
hello. which model would you recommend for a 50/50 road/gravel riding style?
This has to be the coolest OEM bike I've seen all year. And all of 2019, too! What are the eyelets on the seatstays meant to be used with? The lower one, in particular, seems an odd spot given the traditional rack mount near the axle. Is the design for a rackless bag, a la the RoadRunner Buoy Bag?
Could be used with support racks like the Nitto R-12
I think you definitely hit the nail on the head with every point in this video. This bike is definitely chunkier than a lot of options out there. As more of a commuting/weekend workout road bike rider, I actually really love this bike as it's my introduction to gravel riding. Things I want to change right out of the box: pedals, wheels/tires, and brakes. The brakes are underwhelming, but I haven't tried tuning them just yet which may improve performance a bit. Absolutely love this group set.
I'm told that Kool-Stop pads are vastly superior to the stock Tektros. Worth a try?
Pathlesspedaled also suggested swapping out the pads for Kool-Stop pads first as it is cheaper
The Cutthroat has been shown in press photos with a full rack and pannier set-up, so it seems safe to say it can handle a front rack. Those things are built to be burly and handle mountain bike loads.
It can handle some front racks but not all. I’ve personally asked the engineers if it can run a platform and they say no. It is not reinforced enough under the crown to prevent it from potentially breaking and putting the rack under the wheel. Also a few seasons of Cutthroat fire starter forks were recalled so 🤷🏽♂️ salsacycles.com/cutthroat-carbon-v2-fork-recall
@@PathLessPedaledTV ah well damn, I am mistaken. it's a shame really, a cutthroat basketpacker would be rad.
So cool to see affordable pricing on some very capable bikes 😁
Very curious to hear your thoughts on this vs the State All Road
My thoughts actually
Same here. Flip flopping between both of those choices right now.
I cancelled my State All-Road order last week for this bike. I placed the All-Road order on Aug. 1, and State delayed shipping to late October. I ordered a Redwood last week and it shipped next day
@@7lmcguir Wow they have been sold out forever too. What made you cancel and get the Redwood? I am literally in the same predicament, but also interested in the Poseidon X.
THANKS for the awesome review!! Just ordered mine :)
for me it's the mounts and wheel clearance,
this would be great to bikepack on after a couple of upgrades, plus frame fixes can be done if you can find a local farmer/handyman out in the bush....surprisingly more possible than getting a signal on your phone......
anyway i like this bike.... yeah a bit heavy...but what's heavy in this day & age.
Wow this ticks all the boxes, for unbelievable value. Thanks, for another great review!
I absolutely love my AC Gorilla Monsoon. And I love steel bikes and flashy paint, but if this were available at the time, would have I loved that enough to not keep 1200 in my pocket? who knows, but this bike is a real winner for those in the market right now!
I tried hard to get the first gen AC Gorilla Monsoon with no success but "settled" on the Poseidon, at least that was my initial feelings when I ordered the Redwood. After a month of riding and a multiday bikepack under the Redwood, I have no regrets in getting it over the All City GM... however, I have already picked up a direct mount crankset and ring, new bottom bracket, new saddle, new tubeless Teravails, and the Tektro brakes are definitely going soon. The $899 is a huge steal, and gets anyone out there happily riding whatever they can throw at it out of the box, but that upgrade creep sneaks up on ya, or it did for me.
Thanks! Would you happen to know the drop bar drop/reach on the Redwood? Thanks again. Great subscription!
Yay thanks man always appreciate your perspective I was looking for something to compliment my giant revolt advanced 0 which I love but wanted bigger tires for sandy bike packing or techy stuff. Figured this will help me double down on the grav grav lol and my wheels can swap from my sets over to this.
This would be cool in a matte orange. I like how capable it looks and is specced.
Salsa Journeyman is kind of out of stock until who knows when. Considering the times maybe including availability in your video info would be helpful. As for the Redwood, since something like the Journeyman is out of stock it’s my first pick.
I'm a mountain biker and this is the first dropbar bike that appeals to me. Hydraulic brakes, tubeless, and a dropper post, would be day one upgrades.
You'd have to use Hydro Mechanical brakes or swap the full component set. Microshift doesn't support full hydraulic brakes with their drop bar shifters so it needs to be cable driven
@@michaelsj7968 Or run a bar end shifter and hydro levers.
Can you run a dropper right out of the box? Internally or externally routed? I’m kinda dropper curious and considering this as replacement for my old school math, perhaps replacing my old road bike too.
Been researching for weeks and im having a hell of a time picking between the redwood and the nicasio plus
Not bad. It looks like It had internal routing but the wires do not look like they are routed internally out of the box ?
This has a really nice non flashy paint job. The Microshift Advent is a solid drivetrain to go with these days. There is one on my Bildabike Civilderness.
I just bought this bike and will soon mount tubeless, WTB Venture Road TCS Tires. The tires that came with the bike were simply too knobby for me. Also adding a new seat and a used, Thudbuster seatpost I bought on eBay. I'm 61 and need the riding comfort!
How long did it take to get to you? I have the same idea of getting a Thudbuster LT seatpost and a redshift suspension stem also..
WTB Ventures are crazy good tires, both on pavement and gravel. I was thinking of switching to Byways or Horizons, but honestly, the Venture is just the best of everything.
@@tosainu1 Only about 1 week. I am holding off on the Redshift stem since I saw the price! BTW, I was impressed with all the foam packing on the bike.
Really loving your unique perspectives on cycling. This bike is definitely on my radar right now. Does anyone here have experience commuting with it!?
I'd like to know what people think of the bike with 700c wheels instead of the 650b?
That bike looks great, seems pretty tough, and not a bad price at all.
Great review. Unfortunately they don’t ship to Europe (yet?). I got the Marin Nicasio+ recently (was also tested by the channel and your review had influence on my decision) which also has the great Microshift but a steel frame. Could be a good alternative for those who are looking below $1000 with a 1x and good tire clearance plus 650bs. Only downsides are similar to the Redwood, so weight and poor Tektro brakes. And colour is a bit of an „interesting“ brown. Great to ride and awesome bang for buck though with what I feel best gravel combo (steel, 1x wide gearing, 650b) - supple ride @partypace ;)
How does it ride in the city? Still decent rolling resistance?
This category, gravel bikes under $1000 USD is filling up rather quickly. Does this make four? The Marin, the State, the something something, and this one... Or is it five?
And thanks again, Russ, for another great video.
Things are moving in the right direction. The chain ring is still too big in my opinion for the heavy setup. I run a 38t chain ring in a more race oriented setup and I hardly ride in the 11t cog.
Right. Who really wants to bomb 50mph road descents on this bike? Just give it the gear to help it climb!!
In the presence of $4000 steel bikes, sporting compact doubles, like someone will actually race them, this is a welcome reprieve. 28 lbs isn't bad and when you are loaded with 30-50 lbs of gear, it won't matter much. Upgrade to some hydro mechanical brakes to avoid messing with levers and you are good to go.
Any recommendation for european friend? Would love a budget bike like this. It's just all I'm searching for !
Very nice bike looks agricultural in a good way. Another great review.
I've found aluminum to be great for gravel with some nice, wide tires. The problem I ran into was that I started to feel it pretty quickly on bad roads and logging tracks. The vibrations went right up the bike into the bars, then into the hands, wrists, shoulders, etc. It's great though if you don't want to ride it on anything too rough.
@@cjohnson3836 I should try that, currently using the Salsa Cowchippers. I've thought about carbon bars, but it would not be fun to get a break and end up out in the woods with half a handlebar.
Depends on the tire. At 2.3 it soaks up a lot.
I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on how you think the Redwood would handle a longer trip such as the GDMTBR. I'm looking to do it this summer and have a Marin Gestalt that I love but am looking to be able to run wider tires.
This is what I want to know as well. This is why I bought it hoping that I can ride it do the GDMBR next year. Breaks my heart to have to spend 3 grand on a bike.
do they only ship to USA or also to Germany / Europe? it looks really nice 👍
for a 5' 6" guy with 30" inseam do you know if the Redwood small would be right size. I know I know lots of variables but I tend to like a little larger frame than what the bike shop always seems to push but this being a straight cross bar don't want to come up "short" on standover. Great channel BTW.
I'm 5'5" with a 30" inseam. I bought the xsmall and it's just right for me.
I heard nothing but great things about Poseidon. I really wish they would have store/options for us EU peeps.
Would love if you could demo the Marin Gestalt X
The seatpost diameter could be a pro if you consider a dropper seat, there are more options at that size.
Yeah most likely the reason. It does have external routing for a dropper.
Thanks Russ. Great review.
Give me that with 700C wheels and it's perfection.
Thank you for making this video. Would like to hear your thoughts on the Stave All-Road vs Redwood vs Poseidon X. Would like to get one of these but can't decide which one. Thanks in advance.
I cancelled my State All-Road order last week for this bike. I placed the All-Road order on Aug. 1, and State delayed shipping to late October. I ordered a Redwood last week and it shipped next day
@@7lmcguir you got the bike in yet?
I am also a shorter rider; looks like I'm right between XXS and XS by their height suggestion...but the XXS has a higher stand-over height than my inseam. Bummer!
How tall are you
@@tayoanimashaun1055 something like 5' 3"
@@ME-hm7zm I’m 5’2 did you get the bike was it a good size for you
@@tayoanimashaun1055 I didn't, no.
@@ME-hm7zm damn lol but thanks for responding
Thank goodness!!! I love this guy. Unlike GMBN, this UA-cam is by far the best content. With its quick, get over your carbon wheel overviews of products that most would buy. The cherry on top, is this guys personal opinion. Awesome 😎
I watch both for different things... I don’t get the comparison...
I’ve finally decided to go Redwood. But I’m not sure what size I should do. I keep reading the top tube is short. As a complete noob to bike riding I don’t have any bike to compare comfort to. The only one I remember riding and loving was the Journeyman in I think it was a 54. I’m 5’10 with a 32 inch inseam. Do you think I should go with the Medium which Poseidon’s size chart recommends, or the Large?
Compare the stack and reach numbers and see how close they are.
“Fat meats.” Oh dear sweet baby Jesus, this make me laugh every time.
What size frame did you test out? thanks!
I love this bike, but man I wish the paint job was way better . Scratches to dam easy , first week the cables rub all the paint off the front. Solid bike though I would recommend it to any one.
can you change the rear dropout from thru axle to quick release and vice versa?
Can you compare the Redwood vs Marin Four Corners. The Nicasio comparison is nice but I'd pick the four corners over the nicasio. I am also a total beginner but want to ride long routes on forest roads from time to time and eventually the continental divide.
Yes. Baby heads are back....
Does it ride and handle like an improved version of the ‘90’s rigid treks and giants?
what size frame did you test out?
Got qn email after asking about the weight capacity for the redwood and I was told max 350lbs
This or State All Road???
State becouse of steel frameset.
Hello, I'm looking to buy my first gravel bike. What would y'all recommend?
Hi Russ. Great review. I see you tesred the size Small frame. May I ask how tall you are and your inseam length? I am considering purchasing this bike and trying to research the bike geometry and bike fit for me. I’m 5’4” (5’5” with clipless shoes) and 29” inseam. Poseidon fit guide says I could be a XS or S frame for the Redwood. Thank you in advance!
5’8 with 29 inch inseam. I’d suggest the S so you don’t have to run as many spacers.
How does it compare to Marin Nicasio Plus 650b? They have the same price. So which one is better?
All your questions answered tmrw.
Do you think this bike would be ok to turn into a 6-7 day road touring rig? I plan to ride the Oregon coast (PCH) next year with a buddy who will be on a Surly LHT. Should I just look for a used LHT for myself? I know some of these things are subjective but curious what you think. I have bike toured before on an older all aluminum Cannondale (road the California coast in 2014) and I managed but it wasn't the most comfortable. Thanks! Love your content and reviews.
You could but there are better bikes out there for that purpose.
@@PathLessPedaledTV What would you recommend? My budget is up to $1000. Thank you!
38t is too much for big boy mountain bikepacking. Any idea if one could downsize to 32t without having to replace the cranks?
What are the odds that bike packs will wear off this paint texture? And what would an owner want to do to protect it?
What does he mean by the rear end handling is spicy?
“He” means: Short rear. Quick to accelerate.
What’re you referring to when you say “gravel events?” As in....competitive events?
Yes.
The problem for me with these direct to consumer bikes is sizing. I will no longer buy a bike without test riding it first. Fit never seems to be what is stated.
I'm always surprised when I see folks riding trails on the hoods. Trails and especially technical sections is almost exclusively in the drops.
Depends on how the bars are set up.
@@PathLessPedaledTV correct. Set them up to ride in the drops. That's where you have good technical control. In my opinion obviously. Mostly I'm talking about significant tech with rock moves and step ups. That kind of thing just doesn't work for me on the hoods.
Can you compare this bike to the salsa journeyman
I convinced a friend to get one of these (over a garbage entry level mtb). My only pause was that the seat tube angle is super slack. I'd rather a longer reach and steeper seat tube, but it appears not to be an issue (no reviews have even mentioned it). What do you think Russ?
I didn't have an issue with it and was able to get my saddle where I want it. Picking the right size would prob be more important.
I've had issues with toe overlap (I like mid-foot cleat) and too slack seat tubes (over forked mtb and that was still way steeper than this), so I pay attention to these things. Apparently not an issue for most people.
My buddy loves the bike, I however have given up on the aggressive off-road drop bar thing. I tried it, but a good XC mtb really is better (I have a new epic with long bar-ins that replicate the hoods position).
Do you have any thought on non square taper cranks that can be installed on this? Ran into a bit of a hiccup with what I wanted to use as I hadn't realized it was a 73mm standard bottom bracket shell not a 68 and none of the road cranks I have will fit I believe.
Can you compare the Redwood and the X.
What dropbar bag is that on your redwood?
Do they ship outside the US, i'm from the Philippines and would want to purchase one.
Is this anything other than a rigid mountain bike with drop bars?
Isnt that the exact same. Body design as the. Ozark trail. Gravel bike?
nope.
Low stack is a real bummer. This is a bike designed by and for Gen Z guys who don’t have back problems.
Seems that the seat post size is to allow a dropper, looks like it has holes for an internal, could the left lever actuate one?
Left lever has no shift mechanism.
Taking delivery of a Nicasio Plus Friday, wonder if I made the wrong choice?
There is no wrong choice. They are two completely different kinds of bikes.
Thx for review! Was looking for Kuna Sutra ltd 2020 and saw this bike. Wonder how the bike will ride on road with thinner decks and as a daily bike for work etc....am 6.2 is L or xl my frame? realy cant find that anywhere. Thx M
I have the large at 6'2" and I've enjoyed it.
No option for hydraulic breaks? Ugh.
Are the tires 26"?