I'm just not sold on suspension for gravel. For me the ideal setup is a compliant frame, proper tires, and dialing in air pressure to suit the conditions. From there flexy stems and seat posts can add even more comfort if needed. That said, if it adds more comfort, confidence, control, and keeps people on bikes then bring it.
The scenery is gorgeous. Your insight on Giant's dropper lever is also very helpful. I guess the bike didn't work so well in the race only because it was not a good match for the terrain it raced in.
For rougher terrain an XC MTB will outperform a ‘chunky’ gravel. I built my own gravel with suspension but a lot lighter and faster tyres as I ride a lot of flat terrain and a little extra weight doesn’t matter for me as much. But for rougher stuff I simply pick up a full suspension MTB where suspension is where it needs to be to reduce the unsprung weight and with up to 140mm travel it can eat up a ton of bumps or lock out partially for climbing on roots or fully for smoother sections. So yeah I kind of agree with the notion that such chunkier gravel bikes have a pretty small niche- for example bikepacking/ touring bikes that can use the triangle space for luggage but still need suspension and chunky tyres for unpredictable situations.
I like the Manitou-style backward arch on the Fox fork. Because of its position it's shorter and stiffer and the arch blocks mud from the tire being flung onto the stanchions. Lauf gravel fork is nice too. Better for washboards, lighter, no maintenance, but not adjustable, nor can it be locked out.
In all do respect what the point then. IF you can lock out simple physics. More drag, ect,ect with road riding. Road riding, straight line setup. Lauf OK for light mountain trails , ect little climbing and depending. Heck an inexpensive coil spring is $. If it is at least 2 position & rebound. Coils are Ungodly underrated as is high quality rim brakes. Have both on a analog machine. Sweet
I got interested in the X after learning about it from a mate with a 23 model, which co incidentally are still available here for just over $4K New Zealand, so a lot of bike for the money. As with large parts of NZ there is a ton of gravel to explore on my doorstep. Sadly for years I have watched many cycling tourists risk life and limb riding within a hairs breadth of giant truck and trailer units on the highways as they attempt to see as much of the land as possible. With a bike like this at last they can get off the bloody roads if they are sensible enough to make the most of what is all around instead of trying to tick off all the major centres. Anyway enough of that already, I guess I’m just a bit disappointed you weren’t able to get onto gnarlier trails which would kinda be more representative of the poorly maintained gravel we accept as normal especially in such a hilly country where washboards and washouts are the order of the day.
It’s a cool offering. I hit some fierce washboard the other day and I could see the benefit of suspension. I bet a sus fork adds a lot to headset longevity.
Watched a bit before, enjoyable. Subscribed. Regards, A Surly riding Brit, from NE Thailand, 25 miles from the Mighty Mekong river and the Laos border.
Thanks for the sub. I'll have to go find you on Strava to check out what riding there looks like. I enjoy following a couple riders in Vietnam, and had a good video chat (on my channel) with Inno when he lived in Thailand.
Have now also a Grizl Suspension. Ride it with 50 mm G-Ones. It’s perfect for the rough firetrails that are washed out and rough. Also for gravel downhills it’s great. I use it preferredly on longer training rides as it provides a lot of comfort. For faster and better conditions I ride a Grail. No hardtail MTB anymore.
❤ great ride we had out there. My left hard tail gravel bike thing killed it out there and I feel like I’d do it again all over again with the Same set up
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney a cool Aussie bush trick is to cut off the back half from front of the elasticised bits down level to the inner sole. They are then a pair of super comfy slides sorta like a hammered pair of Birkies 😃
I've found that the right tire width is the one that keeps your weight from sinking you to stalling or crashing in sand. That width goes up in weight. I need 48s.
AMEN Clark..... To each there own. As long as one is out in the great outdoors funnin with a workout and exploring all the beauty mother nature has graced us with. All good. Point blank. Happy, safe riding. Craig
How would a light weight carbon hardtail with farr aero extensions , with fast rolling tires and tighter gearing compare to the revolt in a race like this?
I’ve been thinking about my next custom gravel bike. Occasionally I’ll put 700x50c tires on my traditional gravel bike and share your same sentiment about feeling sluggish compared with my 700x40c tires. But the extra volume is appreciated when the road is not as smooth and easy. Coming from a Mtn bike background and riding my XC hardtail’s to the local trails is a completely different experience when I ride my gravel bike to those same trails. Obviously the roads are easier and faster on my gravel but the descents of the rougher trails are much more difficult. This is way I’m going to build up a custom gravel bike designed with 700x50c tires and a Fox fork, a dropper post and perhaps a flat bar or alt bar with a short stem and modified frame Geo that allows more clearance to avoid toe over. Thanks for sharing your experience with the bigger tires and Fox forked gravel.
I had the same thoughts but my budget was limited so I ended up with an XC bike for rides where gravel bikes would be no fun at all. The XC bike now has 45c tyres and narrower bars. The suspension is better than anything on a gravel bike and it's so much quicker on the rough that I'll forgive slower road sections. Gravel suspension is, in my opinion, hopelessly overpriced and overrated.
With all the various tech coming out like shocks and drop posts to improve the ride over various surfaces I’m surprised we haven’t seen more tire inflation tech like the Scope Atmos used by gravel pros/amateurs with large bank accounts to get optimal pressure especially on mixed road and dirt courses.
Love the content. Finger's crossed for a best tire review for Unbound 😂. Seems like a vary popular discussion in other social media platforms and enjoy other perspectives.
Recently purchased the advanced pro 1 with 45mm tires and did notice a bit sluggish compared to my bmc urs AL one with 45mm tires. In a rock garden it performs well with the shocks vs. the rigid but on the road it's not as fast; i do like testing the limits with technical trails and enjoy hitting the tarmac in between. So for now i do enjoy the comfort of riding off road and do like the 10/52 cassette for steep off road climbing. I can only imagine what the 50mm tires would feel like as far as speed, probably even worse. Everything you shared about the dropper post lever location and the seat noise reigns true. Solid review.
Just curious, are there many participants in these events riding electric bikes with gravel tires? Like the new 28 mph Domane?? Not trying to compete, it would just be blast to keep up with the fast guys at the front.
Most events that allow e-bikes have separate categories/start times for them. That said, when I did BWR CA Wafer in 2022, Molly Cameron was on an e-bike in that mass start event. Depends, is the short answer!
love your videos, keep it up. you mentioned the 40/52 was a bit much on the steeper bits but not if the 40/10 was fast enough on the flat or downhill bits...? the hat on your web site is cool but a T shirt with "the ride" logo on it, that i would buy.
The 40/10 was adequate for out there. Other places I would want more. Good feedback on the merch. I like the hats because they are one size fits all - plus the performance benefit of getting you nowhere 6-10% faster than the other leading hats.
I both a MCR and a revolt and I find I ride my dual suspension a lot more on gravel and my revolt a lot more on road. I should add I use my lockout all the time on mine and I don’t think that fox has that.
I think that the line between a gravel bike and a modern race XC bike is already pretty blurred so there's not much space for these suspension gravel bikes to have functional use case. I run an XC race bike on races that have extended bridle trail/ difficult terrain or single track sections and gravel bikes on courses that have a lot of road, fast gravel and limited technical sections. If i had enough disposable income I'd pick this up as a bike on races where I can't decide.
This is similar to my experience last weekend at Gravel Locos. I don't have a the fork, but I ran 2.0 race kings on my stormchaser. It was a lot of fun on the downhills, and I felt safer. But it was the worst on the 30 or so miles of paved road. I'm coming to the idea than narrower tires but paired with a susp fork is probably the best for not pro riders. As much as I hate getting dropped on climbs, its the residual hand numbness that is the real problem and I suspect that neuro degenerative damage in the hands is going to be a major long term issue for gravel athletes we will see in the future.
Nerve damage is something I haven't delved into. I wonder if there is a group out there who has looked at something like this. I hear you on the 2.0s being a double-edged sword. I've done the Paris-Roubaix sportif a few times, and once did it on 50s. The paved way down from Roubaix to the start of the cobbles was kinda miserable, and I felt like I was riding flat truck tires. But then we hit the Arenberg Forest and I had a big dumb grin on my face while everyone else was grimacing. Can't have it all. At least that's what Mick Jagger says.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I get web of science hits on ulnar nerve compression and cycling generally. That's an old news topic though. But nothing really comparing prevalence or severity in gravel vs other disciplines. Actually "gravel cycling" as the search term only gets 3 articles and they're all in the social sciences.
Regarding nerve damage, when I was a couple of months into my cycling “career”, I hit a huge pothole (alloy bike, 23mm tires, 100psi, as was the norm in 2008) and felt it through my whole body, but specially in my left hand. It went numb for two weeks, I could barely apply any force with it and typing at the office was challenging. Thankfully my hand sorted itself out but that was definitely a hard lesson.
Ben thanks for the incredibly informative review and the wonderful scenery. I'm just curious on your thoughts/comparison of this Giant Revolt X vs the Santa Cruz Stigmata that you previously tested with similar suspension and seat post. I'm currently in the market for a suspension equipped gravel bike. I would change the tires to a narrower (say 40 - 45mm) on the Giant to be more in line to what the Santa Cruz comes with. What are your thoughts on the comparison of these two bikes? Is one noticeably better then the other? Thanks again for your opinion and experience as I don't have the option of testing both myself.
Hi there. You said you are riding a M/L , right? I am about to buy this exact model but not sure about the size...I am a little over 6 feet, any advice is appreciated :). Amazing video btw!!!
I cringe at seeing sus forks on a drop down bikes. Probably shouldn't but rode only mtb for most of my adult life so that probably has something to do with it. Other hand, I was a little late to the dropper post game on my mtb. Transformed my experience. Can't shut up about them. If I ever get another gravel bike w/drop bars, I'll put one on it.
How about a less sore back after a ride? That dropper post is useless. At least have a suspension seatpost. I have a Niner MCR9 I ride mostly these days. It aint light!. Also have an Otso Waheela C with little suspension bits. Much lighter but not good on the really rough stuff which I personally enjoy mixing in to a multi surface ride.
It's really not that far off from my +10 y.o. trek mamba hardtail, and I would trade that for this bike in a heartbeat because it still might be ~10 pounds lighter 😂 It's definitely location specific niche tuning.. yeah it's making it impossible for me to figure what to buy for my first new bike in forever overwhelmed with options (xc? full sus? hardtail? klunker? gravel?? gravel fork!?), but if I was certain I wouldn't be riding rougher trails I can totally see myself trading the mtb in for a comfy gravel bike that eats chatter well, fork or not. BUT I also know I've never been on a proper light racy bike and I'm sure once I've tasted the forbidden fruit I might have a hard time wanting to go back to the heavier/more capable bikes I'm used to
Unpopular opinion: you need to have both wheels suspended to take advantage of the benefit of suspension. I mean, if the terrain is such that suspension is appropriate, then the unsuspended wheel is holding you back from the speed and comfort that the suspended wheel would offer. I'll even go as far as saying for gravel I'd rather have rear suspension for better pedaling power. I can easily absorb shock with my hands.
Susp fork minimizes arm fatigue and allows you to remain tucked for more of a race. Its what Ted King credited for his win at Unbound. There's more to a race than pedal efficiency. Also, neuro degenerative damage is a thing in cycling and we're probably going to see it become a common chronic condition with gravel athletes.
@@cjohnson3836 I agree with you, suspension reduces fatigue. It's just that with a mixed setup (one wheel suspended and one not) you've always got one wrong end. Don't forget that rider comfort is only a part of the equation, suspension brings power savings and control.
@@galenkehler A proper linkage system yes. The types of "rear" suspension we've seen on gravel not really, except maybe that BMC style "soft tail". I'm ignoring Niner since theirs has an actual linkage. I think a front shock is still beneficial on its own. If for no other reason than even running 29x2.0 on my bike at gravel locos on saturday, I'm still feeling numbness and slight grip weakness today. A fork would have let me get more comfort with skinnier tires than I had. And I'd have been faster since the tires I had were about 3mph slower than my gravel slicks on paved.
This is the setup I've arrived at in recent years - super fast tires, deep aero wheels, flexy post, and suspension fork (MRP Baxter). Best of all worlds IMO.
Keep ‘em coming Ben! Was just in Fruita for the Co2uT and the course was a constant bone-shaker from cattle pot marked double track. I was wishing for full suspension MTB to bring back the “fun” factor.
Cheers, amigo. Ah yes, the dreaded cowboy cobblestones... Yeah, there were a few people at Wild Horse who did Co2uT, and one woman was saying suspension should have been 'mandatory' out there. Another guy said his training for next year will consist of pummeling his taint with a percussion massager like a TheraGun... lol.
I'm more than happy with the future shock on my diverge. It's more of that "dropper post wiggle" but for my hands. I feel like the electric dropper with hood-programmed buttons would be REALLY nice. Wild Horse looks INCREDIBLE.
Lovely place to grind… am surprised you wanted more gears? That’s what happens when you doing a 1 by. The price of new models is spiralling out of control, I mean it’s a Giant? I rather spend that sort of money on a Bespoke option. Ouch. Good Luck and all the best with the new website. 👍🏻
Hi Ben. I really like your review. And I am wondering would you mind me to translate it into Chinese, and pub it on bilibili( a big video platform in China like UA-cam). Gravel bike is just starting at China, and many people are interested with Giant bikes, I think this will offer many help and also introduce some gravel race and gravel culture in USA to Chinese people. 🎉
I enjoy your videos. But man, I’m my opinion if you’re going to spend 8k+ for a bike it better be made in the USA. Compare the giant to Lauf coming in with better components (sram red) and several pounds lighter, and 2k+cheaper, I can’t believe anyone would buy it.
There's no need for more than 50-60mm of travel on gravel, and that's the worst of it. 40mm of travel to take the NVH out and allow for narrower tires. Its not a XC race. Also, your procaliber doesn't have the top end due to chain ring limitations. Not to knock it, its a cool bike. But there's a reason for differences. Drop converted XC bikes are a thing and are good for some races, mainly the ultra endurance stuff. Wilcox has won on such a modified Epic. But for sub-24 hour races a proper gravel bike is going to be the best tool, even if it borrows mtb tech.
This bike was really easy to assemble ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
US$8500.00 !!! WTF? 😮 This is just a bike (Made in Taiwan) with measly 40mm front suspension and a simple 1x drive train. Maybe those other UA-cams have a point with "How to turn your '90s MTB with an ol'skool 60mm RS Mag21 into a modern gravel bike" ! Or has super inflation hit the markets so bad like in the 1920's ?? 🤔
And a road bike with none of the features can cost $17k. Most of that money isn't the fork and no one is going to be competitive on a 30lbs steel mtb frame. Whether you like it or not, a race is about marginal advantages. But carbon over steel is not marginal. And that's what this video was about. A race.
Y people allways have problems with Things that are different or not a Brand? I don't get it;) if it is not in your Interesst and u don't need it? Don't buy it.
Dropper and suspension on a gravel bike make no sense to me. I mountain bike and actually did this race on a Rootdown which was fun but bit ideal.I dont know why you would make a bike like that heavier or less efficient. I'm looking at getting the revolt because my road bike has seen its last days. I really like that it hss thr bike packing capability and is 2 by since ill road bike on it a lot. Thanks for the info.
Brian... NO shipping outside the US ?? Come on man... Don't we International supporters count ? ? Stopped this video 2 minutes in and went directly to your new site to order merch and no shipping outside the US...................................................
This bike is just a weak hardtail mountain bike. Why the hell do you need a dropper post to do gravel and dirt road rides????? The big bike companies are trying to create a new "hardtail" mountain bike/ gravel hybrid. I for one just use a gravel bike for riding gravel and dirt roads and leave the single track to my mountain bike. To me this is just another over hyped piece of expensive garbage that the bike market is so fond of providing time and time again.
It's the evolution of gravel bike. Gravel riding is about speed and mileage + elevation. Is like a road bike off road. The downside of a gravel bike is the rigid fork and the seatpost all the way up that is why they opted for suspension and dropper post.
Nah, overpriced and underperforming. XC bikes still have a role and tyre/wheel choices have improved thanks to gravel. XC suspension is so much better value and its race proven.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
You packed in a lot of quality content there. Thanks Ben.
Thanks for watching.
I like how these vids are more about giving some sound advice,useful tips and sharing an experience than scoring bike on a good/bad binary.
Thank you. Fundamentally what I am trying to do is share some context and stoke; glad to read that you dig the formula.
The vid with the horse leading riders out is awesome.Scenery and tips are cool. Thanks!
I'm just not sold on suspension for gravel. For me the ideal setup is a compliant frame, proper tires, and dialing in air pressure to suit the conditions. From there flexy stems and seat posts can add even more comfort if needed. That said, if it adds more comfort, confidence, control, and keeps people on bikes then bring it.
Game changer. Put a Fox 32TC and PNW Coast squishy dropper on the GR300. So much comfier now. Back, butt, and hands thank me.
Solid review Ben as always. Seems like it might make a good adventure, possible bikepacking rig. Think Tour Divide.
The scenery is gorgeous. Your insight on Giant's dropper lever is also very helpful. I guess the bike didn't work so well in the race only because it was not a good match for the terrain it raced in.
For rougher terrain an XC MTB will outperform a ‘chunky’ gravel. I built my own gravel with suspension but a lot lighter and faster tyres as I ride a lot of flat terrain and a little extra weight doesn’t matter for me as much. But for rougher stuff I simply pick up a full suspension MTB where suspension is where it needs to be to reduce the unsprung weight and with up to 140mm travel it can eat up a ton of bumps or lock out partially for climbing on roots or fully for smoother sections. So yeah I kind of agree with the notion that such chunkier gravel bikes have a pretty small niche- for example bikepacking/ touring bikes that can use the triangle space for luggage but still need suspension and chunky tyres for unpredictable situations.
I like the Manitou-style backward arch on the Fox fork. Because of its position it's shorter and stiffer and the arch blocks mud from the tire being flung onto the stanchions.
Lauf gravel fork is nice too. Better for washboards, lighter, no maintenance, but not adjustable, nor can it be locked out.
In all do respect what the point then. IF you can lock out simple physics. More drag, ect,ect with road riding. Road riding, straight line setup. Lauf OK for light mountain trails , ect little climbing and depending. Heck an inexpensive coil spring is $. If it is at least 2 position & rebound. Coils are Ungodly underrated as is high quality rim brakes. Have both on a analog machine. Sweet
Gday mate; so entertaining. Loved your review. Fit as for old fella
Nice piece! Both the bike and the ride look super fun! Thanks
Thanks for subscribing.
I got interested in the X after learning about it from a mate with a 23 model, which co incidentally are still available here for just over $4K New Zealand, so a lot of bike for the money. As with large parts of NZ there is a ton of gravel to explore on my doorstep. Sadly for years I have watched many cycling tourists risk life and limb riding within a hairs breadth of giant truck and trailer units on the highways as they attempt to see as much of the land as possible. With a bike like this at last they can get off the bloody roads if they are sensible enough to make the most of what is all around instead of trying to tick off all the major centres. Anyway enough of that already, I guess I’m just a bit disappointed you weren’t able to get onto gnarlier trails which would kinda be more representative of the poorly maintained gravel we accept as normal especially in such a hilly country where washboards and washouts are the order of the day.
"Highest form of flattery". Very nice...
Loving your reviews. Would love to see some entry level gravel bikes reviewed, Im biased but love my Salsa Journeyer!
Thank you. I am working on a ‘best gravel bikes under $3,500’ piece. Takes some time. Thank you for the feedback.
It’s a cool offering. I hit some fierce washboard the other day and I could see the benefit of suspension. I bet a sus fork adds a lot to headset longevity.
Watched a bit before, enjoyable.
Subscribed.
Regards,
A Surly riding Brit, from NE Thailand, 25 miles from the Mighty Mekong river and the Laos border.
Thanks for the sub. I'll have to go find you on Strava to check out what riding there looks like. I enjoy following a couple riders in Vietnam, and had a good video chat (on my channel) with Inno when he lived in Thailand.
Have now also a Grizl Suspension. Ride it with 50 mm G-Ones. It’s perfect for the rough firetrails that are washed out and rough. Also for gravel downhills it’s great. I use it preferredly on longer training rides as it provides a lot of comfort.
For faster and better conditions I ride a Grail. No hardtail MTB anymore.
❤ great ride we had out there. My left hard tail gravel bike thing killed it out there and I feel like I’d do it again all over again with the Same set up
Top content, as always 👍🏼
Thank you.
Amazing videos always
Great vid mate. Love the Blunnies too. I wear them every day!
Cheers, Simon. Yeah, I love those things! I get a new pair every five years or so, and then the old pair becomes the yardwork pair.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney a cool Aussie bush trick is to cut off the back half from front of the elasticised bits down level to the inner sole. They are then a pair of super comfy slides sorta like a hammered pair of Birkies 😃
I've found that the right tire width is the one that keeps your weight from sinking you to stalling or crashing in sand. That width goes up in weight. I need 48s.
50 mm tires and 40mm front shock sounds similar to my second Mtb. with 1.9" tires and a Mag 21 (1.5" travel).
AMEN Clark..... To each there own. As long as one is out in the great outdoors funnin with a workout and exploring all the beauty mother nature has graced us with. All good. Point blank. Happy, safe riding. Craig
Clark what egravels do you like or have in your stable? Tia
How would a light weight carbon hardtail with farr aero extensions , with fast rolling tires and tighter gearing compare to the revolt in a race like this?
I’ve been thinking about my next custom gravel bike. Occasionally I’ll put 700x50c tires on my traditional gravel bike and share your same sentiment about feeling sluggish compared with my 700x40c tires. But the extra volume is appreciated when the road is not as smooth and easy.
Coming from a Mtn bike background and riding my XC hardtail’s to the local trails is a completely different experience when I ride my gravel bike to those same trails. Obviously the roads are easier and faster on my gravel but the descents of the rougher trails are much more difficult.
This is way I’m going to build up a custom gravel bike designed with 700x50c tires and a Fox fork, a dropper post and perhaps a flat bar or alt bar with a short stem and modified frame Geo that allows more clearance to avoid toe over.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the bigger tires and Fox forked gravel.
I had the same thoughts but my budget was limited so I ended up with an XC bike for rides where gravel bikes would be no fun at all. The XC bike now has 45c tyres and narrower bars. The suspension is better than anything on a gravel bike and it's so much quicker on the rough that I'll forgive slower road sections. Gravel suspension is, in my opinion, hopelessly overpriced and overrated.
Wow if you were in AZ , I would pay to have you do a build out. 2 egravels under 9k . All your professional options greatly appreciated. Craig
I've had my eye on the Grizl with the front sus fork.
Seems like a no brainer for something to soak up some bigger bumps (relatively speaking).
Indeed
Canon could keep lefty in stock, speaks volumes. POINT BLANK
With all the various tech coming out like shocks and drop posts to improve the ride over various surfaces I’m surprised we haven’t seen more tire inflation tech like the Scope Atmos used by gravel pros/amateurs with large bank accounts to get optimal pressure especially on mixed road and dirt courses.
Love the content. Finger's crossed for a best tire review for Unbound 😂. Seems like a vary popular discussion in other social media platforms and enjoy other perspectives.
Thank you. My top two suggestions are the top two in my favorite gravel tire video: G-One RS and Pathfinder Pro.
Recently purchased the advanced pro 1 with 45mm tires and did notice a bit sluggish compared to my bmc urs AL one with 45mm tires. In a rock garden it performs well with the shocks vs. the rigid but on the road it's not as fast; i do like testing the limits with technical trails and enjoy hitting the tarmac in between. So for now i do enjoy the comfort of riding off road and do like the 10/52 cassette for steep off road climbing. I can only imagine what the 50mm tires would feel like as far as speed, probably even worse. Everything you shared about the dropper post lever location and the seat noise reigns true. Solid review.
I'd love one to do it all - I do spend quite a bit of time on the road. You think some slicks on it would make it a bit quicker?
Just curious, are there many participants in these events riding electric bikes with gravel tires? Like the new 28 mph Domane?? Not trying to compete, it would just be blast to keep up with the fast guys at the front.
Most events that allow e-bikes have separate categories/start times for them. That said, when I did BWR CA Wafer in 2022, Molly Cameron was on an e-bike in that mass start event. Depends, is the short answer!
love your videos, keep it up. you mentioned the 40/52 was a bit much on the steeper bits but not if the 40/10 was fast enough on the flat or downhill bits...? the hat on your web site is cool but a T shirt with "the ride" logo on it, that i would buy.
The 40/10 was adequate for out there. Other places I would want more.
Good feedback on the merch. I like the hats because they are one size fits all - plus the performance benefit of getting you nowhere 6-10% faster than the other leading hats.
Curious to see where you would put this vs a salsa cutthroat
I both a MCR and a revolt and I find I ride my dual suspension a lot more on gravel and my revolt a lot more on road. I should add I use my lockout all the time on mine and I don’t think that fox has that.
Cool. I can't remember - on the Niner, do you have lockouts front and rear? The Fox has three settings from firm to open, but not a full lockout.
Have tested or will testing the new Cane creek invert front fork?
I tested it briefly at Sea Otter, and have been talking to them about getting one for a longer term test at home. Stay tuned.
I think that the line between a gravel bike and a modern race XC bike is already pretty blurred so there's not much space for these suspension gravel bikes to have functional use case. I run an XC race bike on races that have extended bridle trail/ difficult terrain or single track sections and gravel bikes on courses that have a lot of road, fast gravel and limited technical sections. If i had enough disposable income I'd pick this up as a bike on races where I can't decide.
This is similar to my experience last weekend at Gravel Locos. I don't have a the fork, but I ran 2.0 race kings on my stormchaser. It was a lot of fun on the downhills, and I felt safer. But it was the worst on the 30 or so miles of paved road. I'm coming to the idea than narrower tires but paired with a susp fork is probably the best for not pro riders. As much as I hate getting dropped on climbs, its the residual hand numbness that is the real problem and I suspect that neuro degenerative damage in the hands is going to be a major long term issue for gravel athletes we will see in the future.
Nerve damage is something I haven't delved into. I wonder if there is a group out there who has looked at something like this.
I hear you on the 2.0s being a double-edged sword. I've done the Paris-Roubaix sportif a few times, and once did it on 50s. The paved way down from Roubaix to the start of the cobbles was kinda miserable, and I felt like I was riding flat truck tires. But then we hit the Arenberg Forest and I had a big dumb grin on my face while everyone else was grimacing.
Can't have it all. At least that's what Mick Jagger says.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I get web of science hits on ulnar nerve compression and cycling generally. That's an old news topic though. But nothing really comparing prevalence or severity in gravel vs other disciplines. Actually "gravel cycling" as the search term only gets 3 articles and they're all in the social sciences.
Regarding nerve damage, when I was a couple of months into my cycling “career”, I hit a huge pothole (alloy bike, 23mm tires, 100psi, as was the norm in 2008) and felt it through my whole body, but specially in my left hand. It went numb for two weeks, I could barely apply any force with it and typing at the office was challenging. Thankfully my hand sorted itself out but that was definitely a hard lesson.
Check out Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome; it's real.
Actually sounds like my kind of gravel bike, but what do you want from a mountain biker! Still love my Revolt A1 though!
Can you lock the front suspension?
Come to VT for our local The Ranger.
Ben thanks for the incredibly informative review and the wonderful scenery. I'm just curious on your thoughts/comparison of this Giant Revolt X vs the Santa Cruz Stigmata that you previously tested with similar suspension and seat post. I'm currently in the market for a suspension equipped gravel bike. I would change the tires to a narrower (say 40 - 45mm) on the Giant to be more in line to what the Santa Cruz comes with. What are your thoughts on the comparison of these two bikes? Is one noticeably better then the other? Thanks again for your opinion and experience as I don't have the option of testing both myself.
Man, I love the Stigmata. I have been thinking about a “best gravel suspension bikes” video addressing what you are after.
Do it! It would be super informative - valuable for folks trying to decide what to buy! Thanks so much.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney
Also I'm impressed that you replied btw! You've gained a loyal follower!
Ramblers are wildly slow in any size. It just gets worse the bigger they get. See BRR tests.
Hi there. You said you are riding a M/L , right? I am about to buy this exact model but not sure about the size...I am a little over 6 feet, any advice is appreciated :). Amazing video btw!!!
I am 6ft and that is a M/L. Always best to visit your local dealer for sizing.
I cringe at seeing sus forks on a drop down bikes. Probably shouldn't but rode only mtb for most of my adult life so that probably has something to do with it. Other hand, I was a little late to the dropper post game on my mtb. Transformed my experience. Can't shut up about them. If I ever get another gravel bike w/drop bars, I'll put one on it.
Fair enough. 👍
Great review. Would you place this bike in the same camp as say a YT Septer?
Thank you. Yeah, same general camp, but I found the Szepter to be a lot livelier and therefore more fun.
I should have talked about that in the video. Thanks for asking.
Awesome :)
How about a less sore back after a ride? That dropper post is useless. At least have a suspension seatpost. I have a Niner MCR9 I ride mostly these days. It aint light!. Also have an Otso Waheela C with little suspension bits. Much lighter but not good on the really rough stuff which I personally enjoy mixing in to a multi surface ride.
Hi there! What is the distance between having that bike or a Mtb? Looks like we returning to mtb era.😅
The difference is getting smaller for sure. But a mountain bike with a 40mm fork would probably get laughed at.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney 😀👍
Geometry that allows a more efficient pedal stroke. Taller gearing due to larger max chainring sizes than found on mtb yokes
It's really not that far off from my +10 y.o. trek mamba hardtail, and I would trade that for this bike in a heartbeat because it still might be ~10 pounds lighter 😂 It's definitely location specific niche tuning.. yeah it's making it impossible for me to figure what to buy for my first new bike in forever overwhelmed with options (xc? full sus? hardtail? klunker? gravel?? gravel fork!?), but if I was certain I wouldn't be riding rougher trails I can totally see myself trading the mtb in for a comfy gravel bike that eats chatter well, fork or not. BUT I also know I've never been on a proper light racy bike and I'm sure once I've tasted the forbidden fruit I might have a hard time wanting to go back to the heavier/more capable bikes I'm used to
@Little Teapot exist so many options sometimes I'm lost 😅 now I'm using a cx bike for gravel competitions 😅😅
Unpopular opinion: you need to have both wheels suspended to take advantage of the benefit of suspension. I mean, if the terrain is such that suspension is appropriate, then the unsuspended wheel is holding you back from the speed and comfort that the suspended wheel would offer.
I'll even go as far as saying for gravel I'd rather have rear suspension for better pedaling power. I can easily absorb shock with my hands.
Susp fork minimizes arm fatigue and allows you to remain tucked for more of a race. Its what Ted King credited for his win at Unbound. There's more to a race than pedal efficiency. Also, neuro degenerative damage is a thing in cycling and we're probably going to see it become a common chronic condition with gravel athletes.
@@cjohnson3836 I agree with you, suspension reduces fatigue. It's just that with a mixed setup (one wheel suspended and one not) you've always got one wrong end. Don't forget that rider comfort is only a part of the equation, suspension brings power savings and control.
@@galenkehler A proper linkage system yes. The types of "rear" suspension we've seen on gravel not really, except maybe that BMC style "soft tail". I'm ignoring Niner since theirs has an actual linkage. I think a front shock is still beneficial on its own. If for no other reason than even running 29x2.0 on my bike at gravel locos on saturday, I'm still feeling numbness and slight grip weakness today. A fork would have let me get more comfort with skinnier tires than I had. And I'd have been faster since the tires I had were about 3mph slower than my gravel slicks on paved.
This is the setup I've arrived at in recent years - super fast tires, deep aero wheels, flexy post, and suspension fork (MRP Baxter). Best of all worlds IMO.
Isn't it rockshox Rudy?
Go PERC!
Specialized Cruz for the win , and its just so much simpler and less is more
The is certainly a lot less (weight) and a whole lot more (money). :-) Seriously though; that thing is an exceptional bike.
Keep ‘em coming Ben! Was just in Fruita for the Co2uT and the course was a constant bone-shaker from cattle pot marked double track. I was wishing for full suspension MTB to bring back the “fun” factor.
Cheers, amigo. Ah yes, the dreaded cowboy cobblestones... Yeah, there were a few people at Wild Horse who did Co2uT, and one woman was saying suspension should have been 'mandatory' out there. Another guy said his training for next year will consist of pummeling his taint with a percussion massager like a TheraGun... lol.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney lol oh man that is truely how I need to train!
That’s a XC MTB with dropper and shallow angle on front
I'm more than happy with the future shock on my diverge. It's more of that "dropper post wiggle" but for my hands.
I feel like the electric dropper with hood-programmed buttons would be REALLY nice.
Wild Horse looks INCREDIBLE.
Lovely place to grind… am surprised you wanted more gears? That’s what happens when you doing a 1 by.
The price of new models is spiralling out of control, I mean it’s a Giant? I rather spend that sort of money on a Bespoke option. Ouch.
Good Luck and all the best with the new website. 👍🏻
I would have shifted lower and higher and the extreme ends of the course, yeah.
And agreed, bike prices are a bit astounding for many of us!
"I ground the beans up at home." Hmmm, what is this channel turning into?🤣
You really grind my gears. Beans!
I think you can set up a XC bike with 45mm tires and you will have a better bike than a gravel with suspension.
Such a amazing background !
You gotta come out next year.
Hi Ben. I really like your review. And I am wondering would you mind me to translate it into Chinese, and pub it on bilibili( a big video platform in China like UA-cam). Gravel bike is just starting at China, and many people are interested with Giant bikes, I think this will offer many help and also introduce some gravel race and gravel culture in USA to Chinese people. 🎉
Hello. Thank you. Have you already done this was other videos? If so, could you please send me a link? Thank you.
So the question is, how many miles did YOU actually ride on that course? 150? 🤣 Nice hanging out with you. Bryan.
I enjoy your videos. But man, I’m my opinion if you’re going to spend 8k+ for a bike it better be made in the USA. Compare the giant to Lauf coming in with better components (sram red) and several pounds lighter, and 2k+cheaper, I can’t believe anyone would buy it.
So it is a little bit lighter than my 3000$ Trek Procaliber which has proper Suspension, Isospeed and wider tires.
There's no need for more than 50-60mm of travel on gravel, and that's the worst of it. 40mm of travel to take the NVH out and allow for narrower tires. Its not a XC race. Also, your procaliber doesn't have the top end due to chain ring limitations. Not to knock it, its a cool bike. But there's a reason for differences. Drop converted XC bikes are a thing and are good for some races, mainly the ultra endurance stuff. Wilcox has won on such a modified Epic. But for sub-24 hour races a proper gravel bike is going to be the best tool, even if it borrows mtb tech.
I've definitely seen some XC bikes set up with road drivetrains for some races, maybe Divide?
@@cjohnson3836 Yes I understand that, I have a slate with 30mm of travel., but the price is insane.
This bike was really easy to assemble ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
US$8500.00 !!! WTF? 😮 This is just a bike (Made in Taiwan) with measly 40mm front suspension and a simple 1x drive train. Maybe those other UA-cams have a point with "How to turn your '90s MTB with an ol'skool 60mm RS Mag21 into a modern gravel bike" ! Or has super inflation hit the markets so bad like in the 1920's ?? 🤔
And a road bike with none of the features can cost $17k. Most of that money isn't the fork and no one is going to be competitive on a 30lbs steel mtb frame. Whether you like it or not, a race is about marginal advantages. But carbon over steel is not marginal. And that's what this video was about. A race.
Bike companies only charge the highest price the consumer will pay. Clearly someone's happy to pay this ...
It's because it's full carbon, unlike back in 90s.
You could still build a gravel bike cheaper with aluminum or steel based frames.
Just use an XC MB
Y people allways have problems with Things that are different or not a Brand? I don't get it;) if it is not in your Interesst and u don't need it? Don't buy it.
Dear lord 8 k
Dropper and suspension on a gravel bike make no sense to me. I mountain bike and actually did this race on a Rootdown which was fun but bit ideal.I dont know why you would make a bike like that heavier or less efficient. I'm looking at getting the revolt because my road bike has seen its last days. I really like that it hss thr bike packing capability and is 2 by since ill road bike on it a lot. Thanks for the info.
Price is ridiculous tho.
Brian... NO shipping outside the US ?? Come on man... Don't we International supporters count ? ?
Stopped this video 2 minutes in and went directly to your new site to order merch and no shipping outside the US...................................................
Hi. If I could figure out a way to ship that doesn’t cost more than the hat itself I would!
suspension gravel bikes are not for racing proper. they are for gravfondobro jam sessions. they do take the edge off.
And yet, Ted King, who is a far more proper racer than you or I, has credited a lefty susp fork for his win at Unbound.
This bike is just a weak hardtail mountain bike. Why the hell do you need a dropper post to do gravel and dirt road rides????? The big bike companies are trying to create a new "hardtail" mountain bike/ gravel hybrid. I for one just use a gravel bike for riding gravel and dirt roads and leave the single track to my mountain bike. To me this is just another over hyped piece of expensive garbage that the bike market is so fond of providing time and time again.
It's the evolution of gravel bike. Gravel riding is about speed and mileage + elevation. Is like a road bike off road. The downside of a gravel bike is the rigid fork and the seatpost all the way up that is why they opted for suspension and dropper post.
Front shock, seat shock & dropper: at this point it's a MTB.
Nah, overpriced and underperforming. XC bikes still have a role and tyre/wheel choices have improved thanks to gravel. XC suspension is so much better value and its race proven.
Great, then it’s a mountain bike, eh?
Pointless… if you need suspension, you’re on the wrong train with the wrong bike…
So…rigid MTB only?
I'm wondering if something like this would be good for Northern England, where the "gravel" is mostly rocky, muddy, rutted bridleways.