I'm after a gravel bike for all round use, bridleways, fireroads and maybe some not very technical forest tracks around the South Shropshire hills. I also plan on using the bike on road from time to time and maybe some bike packing. I've been looking around and can see some good deals on 2022 Giant Revolt Advanced and the current Cannondale Topstone Carbon.
I was also wondering how much tyre clearance people think is needed in for typical UK riding conditions? The Giant can run up to 53 and the Cannondale 45, is 45 enough?
With the Giant I've seen some good reviews, but they also mentioned that they've steepened the head angle and that it has a pressfit bottom bracket. Is the bike still stable off road compared to other similar gravel bikes? Are the pressfit BBs OK on this bike or are they problematic? Also I notice that the fork looks like it has two bolt fittings instead of three, is it possible to use them for things like anything cages for luggage?
The Cannondale seems to tick a lot of boxes, standard BB - not pressfit. I like the sound of the kingpin suspension and the fork has triple mounting point for luggage. I think the fork may have a little more trail than the Giant so was wondering if it may me a little more stable but I haven't ridden either bike - or any gravel bike so not sure which is best.
I was also wondering how capable these bikes are on the road, would they compare well to a dedicated road bike with a second set of wheels if waning to do a pure road ride?
A lot of questions I know but I would appreciate any advice. Thanks all
It’s neither of the 2 you’ve listed, but Mrs BS is using a new gen Trek Checkpoint SL6 as a road and off road bike, she has 1 pair of 700x32 slick tyre’d wheels and a pair of 650b x 1.9. It’s that good at doing both she’s sold her road bike now.
Re the Giant - iirc those front.mounts on the fork are for guards, not luggage; I wouldn't mount bags into them. And it's very capable as a road bike with the right tyres - a tiny bit bigger tubed and slacker than an endurance bike, but still highly competent.
As usual with gravel bikes, it's about compromise: you can get something more stable and capable off road by going for something slacker, rowdier, 1x and more like a rigid 29er. Or you can go lighter, perhaps quicker on road, 2x, but not an off road monster truck.
Also: a bunch of gravel bike capability comes down to the rider: I have watched colleagues on GravelKing 33s pound trails I have full on eobbled down on bigger, knobblier tyres!
I have a 21 Revolt 0. Not sure how the head angle compares with the new bike, but it seems pretty stable and I’ve had no problems with the Praxxis press fit BB, in 3000 miles in all conditions. I’ve just come back from a holiday in Shropshire and the bike was great around the country lanes, bridleways and up Brown Clee.
Things I haven’t been happy with :-
1. the bearings on the hubs of the Giant wheels the bike came with were crap. I had to keep taking it back to my local dealer as the front wheel kept developing a lot of play. They advised me that the standard hubs are useless, and it was probably worth thinking about changing them at some point (he may have been after a sale, but I bought some carbon Hunt wheels).
2. the internal seat post clamp starts creaking every few months. I have to take it out, clean it up and cover it in a fine layer of grease. This solves the problem periodically
Apart from those two things, I love it. Last gravel bike was an Arkose, and this is much better off road and since I changed the wheels, is a rocket on road too.
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2023 Revolt Advanced 0 here, which is the same as the '22 when I believe they changed the frame geometry and layup. At the time the build was great vfm compared with other similar priced options I could access through C2W
Love it (despite the colour and D-fuse seat post...). On 40mm tyres, came tubeless, run between 25 - 30psi off road, up to 50 on road. The bike is far more capable than I am, have ridden lots of SE bridleways, Scottish gravel, lots of tarmac including the Dunwich Dynamo, and some Shropshire gravel lately.
I've done more road miles than off road since I purchased in March, regularly head out with a roady mate and don't seem to slow him down on the flat... I've also been commuting through London on it regularly.
I'm 5'11 so took an M and an ML for a spin, I much preferred the M as it felt a lot more sprightly and agile, and not too dissimilar to the CX bike it replaced. The ML felt a bit more planted and stable (it has a slightly slacker fork I think) but I didn't like its relative unresponsiveness.
No one told me the forks can't take luggage, if required it will also run full guards and a pannier rack using the collar which comes with it.
Have done several thousand km since new and the only signs of wear are the pads and rear tyre, and a few paint scuffs due to my carelessness.
I've been vacillating on a set of road wheels since I got it, waiting for the right deal as generally it never feels too slow and I very rarely ride in larger groups. At some point I may test the flip chip and try 650Bs but so far haven't the need and I've a Scott Scale for more XC focussed duties.
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Thanks all for the responses, great to hear that people have had such a good experience with the Revolt. I was worried about the pf bb after having a bad experience in the past with an older Boardman bike. It sounds like a good all rounder, no one complaining that it feels twichy nervous off road and by the sound of it good on road as well. I'm hopeful that I might replace my Tarmac road bike when fitted with good road wheels, it sounds like this is a possibility which is great news. I don't use the Tarmac to race but for group rides and sportives, it sounds like this is an option 🙂
If anyone has a current Topstone carbon I'd be interested in your thoughts as well. It sounds like they're both good options and I think it might come down what deal I can get on each bike.
CRC appear to have stock of the Ragley Trig at a bargain price again...
Would highly recommend getting one and spending some of the savings on a set of 700c wheels & tyres.
Actually I'd probably flog the 650b wheels and get 2 sets of 700c if you're wanting some dedicated road wheels.
I'm 182cm/ basically 6ft and ride a Large Revolt. (Basically, a 58 in road sizing). My bike fitter told me it was the right size when I asked if it was too big - though it comes with Big Everything: wide bars, 175 cranks, long stem. Or at least did a few years back. I am long torso, shorter legs. An ML would be a possibility, but I found my past 56 awful squished, esp on road. The Large has been fine for long gravel (80k) and road (100k+) rides. (Your definition of long may vary).
As usual, "try to sit on one" applies.
Not one of the bikes your looking for but have just finished up 40km of lanes and south downs way on my Fairlight Faran on 44mm WTB Raddlers. Gravel bikes are all about the compromise, the Faran probably leans more towards the road and it's great for exploring and accessing new bridleways / linking up interesting bits but I'm a lot more nervous off-road then the MTB and flints are even scarier ha.
I got a Cervelo Aspero-5 last year to replace my aging road bike and scratch the gravelly itch. Love it. It goes as fast as I need it to either on or off road. I've done 100km + gravel rides and longer on road, no problems with either.
It's on the more roady/racy end of the spectrum, and doesn't have any mounts so may not fit your bill, but it is a lovely bike and I'd highly recommend trying one if you can.
Some interesting reading...
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/long-reads/gravel-changing-road-bike-design/
FWIW OP I have a Topstone. I bought it to taker over the gravel role I'd prevously been fulfilling with my VN Amazon. The Topstone is exactly what I wanted it to be. I'm currently running 650x47 Teravail Rutlands, based on my use of these before. They're decently fast on the road and decently grippy on the rough, but inevitable a compromise. The rear "suspension" definitely reduces fatugue and makes the bike overall more comfortable. I considered the Lefty version but though that was getting a bit close to the Ti hardtail I also have. The wider tyres make a huge difference anyway.
I might consider a 700c wheelset at some point but then I already have the Amazon and a carbon road bike so would end up with considerable overlap.
i am currently saving for one of these.
i havea ti fargo, which will do anything really. but these keep popping up on my want list.
I have a 2019 Revolt Advanced and it has been great. I am 183cm (6ft) tall and have a ML. The L was too long and I felt too stretched on it.
Head angle is 71deg and hasn't really been a problem except on very steep stuff. The newer models have 72deg head angle.
The press fit bb was never really a problem but did creak every now and again. When it finally died at about 2,500 miles I replaced it with a screw-together Wheels Manufacturing bb that has been faultless (now on just under 5,000 miles).
As mentioned above the Giant wheels aren't great but are perfectly useable. The lock nut on the rear hub bearing came loose a few times but a bit of thread lock seems to have solved that. I use the original wheels most of the time but also have a set of 650b wheels with chunkier 47mm tyres that I use for longer off-road rides.
I've done 100+ mile road rides and 40+ mile gravel rides without any problems. The bike is comfy enough (after changing the saddle) both on- and off-road and I'd get another if I was looking to change it.
Are all Giant hubs the same?
The various Revolt options seem to have different rims but from a cursory glance, the specs blurb is unclear on the hubs..
Head angle varies from 71 to 72 degrees depending on frame size fwiw.
45mm is just under 1.8inch. I spent the mid 90s riding the trails of south Shropshire on 1.8s and 1.9s and thoroughly enjoyed myself! 🙂
As we're posting pictures.
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Mine's a 2019 and as others have said the best upgrade you can do (at least on the cheaper bikes) is the wheels - they are heavy and it makes it much more sprightly. I've got Mavic Allroad Elites on mine and they have put up with an incredible amount of abuse. I'm still on the original BB but have had to use carbon grease on the seatpost to stop it slipping.
Lovely bike but my head has been turned by the Fairlight Secan, maybe next year I'll buy a frame and swap the bits over.
Ridley kanzo here
If its more road a fast. If you're a bimble merchant like me an adventure
The Topstone is certainly closer to the gravel than road end of the spectrum, though tyres are a huge part of this.
The Topstone is exactly what I wanted it to be. I’m currently running 650×47 Teravail Rutlands, based on my use of these before. They’re decently fast on the road and decently grippy on the rough, but inevitable a compromise. The rear “suspension” definitely reduces fatugue and makes the bike overall more comfortable. I considered the Lefty version but though that was getting a bit close to the Ti hardtail I also have. The wider tyres make a huge difference anyway.
I have the Lefty and have been on the lookout for a better in mud and dirt tyre than the WTB's it comes with, esp the semi slick rear, so have just ordered a set of these 650 x 47 Teravail Rutlands, thanks for the pointer :). It covers everything from gravel trails to light singletrack, as my only 'mtb' is a FS Levo SL
I also have a Spec Diverge expert carbon, which is much more road like, though the Futureshock keeps it comfy on bumpy stuff. It is a very light frame, with carbon wheels and doesn't weigh any more than my carbon Synapse with alloy wheels. This is probably my most used bike currently as it is great on light trails right through to road and bikepacking, with few compromises