I’m sure when it launched the Sonder Dial was called an XC bike, but apparently it’s now been (down graded?) to “aggro-gravel”, whatever that is! Dial
I hadn’t realised yet another sub-genre had been created, is XC not marketable any more?

Mind you, Alpkit also seem to have decided the Cortex is a down-country bike now rather than a short travel trail bike, although to me (as an owner of one) it’s too hefty for that.

Anyone who used the term ‘downcountry’ to describe a bike went on The List. Anyone who uses aggro-gravel deserves nothing more than a hoof in the short and curlies.

I was half-looking at the Cortex, but (and I know this is stupid) marketing bollocks like this actually puts me off.

Has a sub-genre really been created, or has their copywriter just had too much coffee?

Would have thought that Evil gravel bike was an aggro gravel trend setter.

What happened to XC?

Monster cross?

Has a sub-genre really been created, or has their copywriter just had too much coffee?

There’s a difference?

Bridle-slayer?

but (and I know this is stupid) marketing bollocks like this actually puts me off.

It puts me off too. Which makes me super vulnerable to the anti-marketing marketing techniques of companies like Surly, but I am aware of that so it is ok. Or is it…

Perhaps there is a lighter weight XC race bike on the way to replace it? That or the April Fool has been uploaded too early. 😆

This is like the 90s thing where you could add ‘Real’ or ‘Extreme’ to anything to create a magazine title. So ‘Real Hamster’. ‘Extreme Gerbil’, ‘Real Baking’, ‘Extreme Knitting’ and so on. Create you own niche by adding the ‘Aggro’ prefix: ‘aggro XC’, ‘aggro downhill’, aggro gravel’ etc.

I’m waiting for the launch of an authentic aggro up-country bike.

This is like the 90s thing

That’s a good point, surely this is gravel-core, isn’t it? Or Downcountry-lite?

It doesnt even make sense based on the bizzare existing naming conventions.

If Cannondale started calling that lefty-drop-bar abomination aggro-gravel I’d reluctantly agree with them. Ditto the hideous Evil thing that I was convinced was either a joke or a way for their sponsored athletes to train on the road.

But that sonder doesn’t make sense.

Its got mtb forks, gearing, wheels, tyres, cockpit and seating position.

The only hint at gravel is the refusal to spec a dropper, even on the 2k model.

cockpit

You probably just went on IHN’s list

Its got mtb forks, gearing, wheels, tyres, cockpit and seating position.

Maybe it should be called an “all terrain bicycle” 😉

Down-Gravel?

Wasn’t Downcountry initially just a joke that Mike Levy made on Pinkbike that somehow ended up being used by the bike industry?

Monster cross

To me that is your old steel hardtail with rigid forks and drop bars but 2”+ tyres with knobs on.
If you leave the suspension fork on your old hardtail but spec 700x35c tyres and flared drops like I did briefly it’s hyper gravel.

Dropdown Country !

What’s that? Suitable for aggregate and gravel?

Wasn’t Downcountry initially just a joke that Mike Levy made on Pinkbike that somehow ended up being used by the bike industry?

Yup, and I think he’s rueing every minute 😀

My Spanish friend called my bike a countryside bicycle.
A perfect description.

I’d be interested in an aggro-e-cargo-bike.
Get rad, go shopping

Dropdown Country !

😆

Wasn’t Downcountry initially just a joke that Mike Levy made on Pinkbike that somehow ended up being used by the bike industry?

I love this!

Am I missing something or is that Sonder just a hardtail from 15 years ago?

I mean, I don’t really want to even think about this but surely a gravel bike has drops no?

Maybe Sonder are responding to the Derbyshire CC ‘repairs’?

You think bikes are bad for genres, don’t ever go near Metal music
Heavy Metal
Speed Metal
Thrash Metal
Power Metal
Death Metal
Melodic Death Metal
Technical Death Metal
Brutal Death Metal
Slam Death Metal
Black Metal
First Wave of Black Metal (Blackened Thrash Metal)
True Norwegian Black Metal
Depressive Suicidal Black Metal
Symphonic Black Metal
Post Black Metal
Atmospheric Black Metal
Pagan Metal
Viking Metal
Folk Metal
Symphonic Metal
Gothic Metal
Glam Metal
Hair Metal
Doom Metal
Funeral Doom Metal
Stoner Doom Metal
Groove Metal
Industrial Metal
Modern Metal
Neoclassical Metal
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
Post Metal
Progressive Metal
Avantgarde Metal
Sludge
Djent
Drone
Kawaii Metal
Pirate Metal
Nu Metal
Neue Deutsche Härte
Math Metal
Crossover
Grindcore
Goregrind
Porngrind/Shitgrind (Yes, those are a thing)
Deathgrind
Powerviolence
Hardcore
Metalcore
Deathcore
Post Hardcore
Mathcore

Lol at Pirate Metal

Anyway, that Sonder is guff is bllx

@kerley disappointed there’s no genre involving fighting… Scrap Metal

Lol at Pirate Metal

You need some Alestorm 😁

Woohoo  so my 15 year old 26″ Cube Acid is now worth more as I can sell it as an Aggro Gravel bike. I knew if I kept it long enough it would come back into fashion.

Lol at Pirate Metal

Off i go to Spotify to check out Pirate Metal!

That Dial looks like something Planet X / On One would knock out for £500 in the early 2010’s.

Bridle-slayer?

Now this I like.

But I suppose “aggro gravel” is more marketable than “hybrid”.

Code for “not a very good mountain bike”

“aggro-gravel” – new bike category?

Yuba Spicy Curry

Dammit. I still can’t work this forum properly.

You think bikes are bad for genres, don’t ever go near Metal music

Nedal “Not as fast as Bartcore, and a little cleaner than Krusty Punk”

Your occasional reminder that the bike industry in general and the off-road category within that industry in particular is fashion, branding and marketing led.