Got UDH? SRAM redesigns two more groupsets, Force and Rival XPLR that need a UDH frame fitting in order to attach SRAM’s Full Mount 1×13 derailleur. As we saw in August last year, SRAM launched its top tier SRAM RED AXS XPLR groupset, which saw…
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Vittoria simplifies and expands its gravel tyre range
Today Vittoria launches its updated gravel range, adding a new gravel tyre liner and a T50 mixed terrain tyre. It also renames some tyres in order to help riders find the right tyre for their planned terrain. Not sure if your gravel is closer to…
USE Components Vybe stem and seatpost review
Would I keep the USE Components Vybe stem and seatpost on my bike? Yes. Do the benefits beat the weight penalty? Yes. Recommended. Reviewed by Lewis Deacon “It’s just a 90s MTB” was the first response when I showed the USE Components Vybe suspension stem…
Dropbar options added to Shimano CUES
New dropbar-flavoured Shimano CUES and Shimano ESSA product series announced. The news includes the launch of Shimano CUES U6000, U3000 and Shimano ESSA U2000 products. Here’s the Press Release and UK pricing in full: Drop Bar Options Added to SHIMANO CUES Ecosystem From city streets…
Vittoria Mezcal III, Terreno Dry & Terreno Wet tyre review
Vittoria has developed its broad range and I was happy test three different models, at least one of which is likely to fit your particular needs. As the world of gravel riding has expanded, we are now offered multiple gravel tyre options that allow the…
Bird Cycleworks: Now with custom paint and gravel options
Bird Cycleworks, the UK company well known for its responsive and approachable customer service (as well as some very popular mountain bikes), is now offering custom paint options. Plus, next year they’re bringing out a gravel bike. But for those who were expecting it to…
‘Cross Is Coming! Team GB revealed
The UK has some great cyclocross riders at the moment, and with some of the old guard moving along, it could be an exciting an unpredictable season ahead. UK fans will need Discovery+ to watch live streams, unless you go for some VPN jiggery-pokery. Here’s…
Brompton goes gravel
Billed as the brand’s “biggest launch in over 50 years” the new Brompton G Line sees the adoption of 20in wheels and gravel. The new bikes also feature revised geometry, custom made Schwalbe tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and Shimano 8-speed hub gears. The prospect of…
What This Bike Needs… Is $1500 Mudguards?
Ok, it never really stopped raining, but let’s pretend this is a seasonal moment. Your thoughts turn to keeping the puddles off your posterior and the mud from your moustache. What your bike needs, is a sensible winter coat: some mudguards. Or fenders, if you…
Genesis announces new range of Croix de Fer, Tour de Fer and Vagabond gravel and adventure bikes
While some brands are trimming down their ranges, Genesis continues to offer a wide range of choices across its gravel and adventure bikes. Whether you’re looking for a ‘is this mountain biking?’ monster cross bike, a mix-it-up commuter, or an over the hills with your…
Interview: Clandestine’s (Beautiful, Practical) Bikes
Pi from Clandestine makes beautiful bikes that make me want to pack a picnic and ride off into the sunset. Practical, fun and gorgeous, I’d happily have ridden off on any of the bikes he had on display at Bespoked, Manchester. Trying not to fangirl…
SRAM Goes 1×13! SRAM Red XPLR. Sorry MTBers, it’s gravel only
Today, SRAM is launching SRAM Red XPLR – a brand new 13-speed, single chainring groupset. Before mountain bikers get too excited, although it’s an off road system, it’s intended purely for drop bars and gravel bikes, though much of the technology will already be familiar…
Shimano GRX RX825 Di2 Gravel Groupset First Ride(s) Review
Chipps reports on his first impressions after riding 100 miles on Shimano’s new flagship electric gravel groupset – GRX RX825 Di2 Before we get to the ‘Aren’t I lucky?’ bit, here’s a quick summary. Pros Cons Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to get…
The Grit.cx View Of Eurobike Gravel
Chipps takes a look at some of the gravel, travel, drop-bar and ride-far components and bikes on display at the world’s biggest bike show. As well as keeping an eye out for some of the new bits and pieces in the mountain bike world, I…
Interview: Medusa Cycles – Made In Manchester for Northern Grit
Two beautiful gravel bikes caught my eye – or were they looking at me? – at Bespoked, Manchester. Their builder, Pete, talked me through them – and his many talents that lead them to be as they are. His bikes took both the Best Gravel…
GRX RX825 Di2 Wireless Groupset Launches today!
In one of the least surprising announcements of the gravel year, Shimano today has announced an electric version of its popular GRX groupset. If the big news of August 2023’s GRX announcement was that it had one extra gear (or two if you run a…
Shimano GRX RX820 Mechanical Gravel Groupset review
Chipps, perhaps perversely, specified his test on Shimano GRX RX820 to cope with gravel riding that was more mountainous than groomed, how did he get on? Pros Cons When ‘new’ GRX RX820 was launched at the end of last summer, I was very interested to…
Trek Velocis MIPS helmet review
The Trek Velocis MIPS is the brand’s lightest road* helmet. Improved ventilation and channelling. The MIPS Air system is designed to improve comfort and protection. The single-lace BOA fit system. Rubberised sunglasses docking port. Bevelled front edge improves field of view. *gravel for me Pros…
Scott Addict Gravel 10 Review
Scott Addict Gravel 10 is the upper end of the model range, and a prime example of exactly how a performance gravel bike should look and feel. Don’t skip past this because the of the price, as the range is huge and the bike is…
Redshift Sports ShockStop PRO Suspension Seatpost RT Review
The Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Seatpost RT delivers on the promise of increased comfort and control in a package that works. Pros Cons Unlike suspension stems, suspension seatposts never really went away. USE, Rock Shox, Cane Creek: I have been fortunate enough to have ridden…
Redshift Sports ShockStop PRO Stem review
The Redshift Sports ShockStop PRO stem is its top end suspension stem. It comes with +/- 6 degrees of rise and can be flipped between the two. Pros Cons “Suspension stems? Seriously? Did they not go the way of the Dodo when Proflex/Girvin stopped production…
How to watch the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships this weekend
The world’s top cyclo-cross riders are heading to the Czech Republic this weekend to compete at the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, at the circuit in Tabor. Expect technical racing, in cold but dry conditions for most of the weekend – with light rain forecast…
Ribble Gravel AL Rival XPLR Review
If you’re looking for value, great spec, and a do-it-all gravel bike built to last, this Ribble Gravel AL ticks a whole load of boxes. Built and tuned in Lancashire, Ribble Cycles have been hand-assembling bikes since 1897, and have a rich road cycling history…
Pearl Izumi Amfib Lobster Gel Glove review
The Pearl Izumi Amfib Lobster Gel Gloves pass the ‘warm’ test; even below 0°c I had toasty fingers. However, they really are only suitable for drop bars. Read on as to why. Pearl Izumi has been making ‘lobster’ gloves for years. They now make the…
Cyclists Not Welcome At This Spanish World Cup
This weekend, January 21st, sees the UCI Cyclocross World Cup descend on Benidorm. And before you say ‘Eh, what?’ – it’s a cracking course – dry, dusty and fast and one that provides the world’s best racers with some welcome relief from the mud pits…
New Sonder bikes: gravel, road and E
Sonder is a perennially popular brand with you lot so we thought we’d just slap up a quickie about its new Sedona gravel bike, Prima road bike and its first e-bike: the El Camino. Sonder unveils its first e-bike, the El Camino, alongside brand-new road,…
Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 review
The Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 is a gravel bike for the racers. If you are a competitive gravel rider, this is your fast-track ticket to the top step of the podium. Pros Cons The Bike At a glance, this bike is a vast improvement…
Gravel biking: How it started, how it’s going…
Gary ‘Rocketdog’ Walls from the UK Gravel Collective (and regular Forumite) has shared this article with us about where he thinks gravel came from, and where it (should be) going. Does he paint a familiar picture, or is your experience different? The picture below is…
Hutchinson Tundra 700 x 45 tyre review
The Hutchinson Tundra tyre is a gravel tyre designed for all year round riding conditions on a variety of surfaces. Gravel is a broad church, so this sounds like a bold claim… Pros Cons I have had the mid-sized 700x45C Hutchinson Tundra tyres in bronze…
Bespoked Bike Check: The Metal Bike, by Fern Bicycles
For the first time ever, the Bespoked Bike Show is leaving the UK and taking place in Dresden, Germany. From 13th-15th October, people will be able to go and peruse gorgeous hand built bikes and accessories, and chat to their makers. Sadly we couldn’t make…
Genesis Fugio 10 (2022) review
The Genesis Fugio 10 is a great entry level gravel bike spec’d with 650b wheels, big tyres, plenty of mounting points and guaranteed smiles. NB: Genesis have just recently updated the Fugio range but the following review of the outgoing (2022) model is still more…
Shimano Issues ‘Inspection Process’ For Road Cranks In EU and UK
Last week Shimano issued a recall of some 11-speed Hollowtech Road Cranksets in the USA and Canada, following instances of a ‘bonding separation issue’ on certain models. In the UK and Europe, there is not as yet a recall, however inspection instructions have been issued…
VIDEO: Calder Divide Trail 2023 – Faffing and Laughing
The Calder Divide Trail is a long distance circular route across 12 valleys, 6 moors and 1 floodplain in West Yorkshire. It is a multi-day adventure along the watershed of the River Calder. There are 5 route options to cater for varying fitness and technical…
Shimano GRX RX820 – New Gravel Groupset Goes 12 Speed!
Today Shimano has launched its new GRX gravel groupset – Shimano GRX RX820. The brief highlights are that it’s now 12 speed and that, by using Shimano’s Microspline cassette, it can now offer a 10T smallest sprocket to give a bigger top gear (or a…
3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross: No Gravel Bikes Allowed
The latest tweak to the Bike Regulations in the 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross rule book confirm the event’s cyclo-cross intentions. No suspension forks or frames (but suspension stems and seatposts still allowed?) The 59th Edition of the 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross takes place on Sunday 24th September…
Chipps With Everything: The Current State of Grit, Gravel and Bikepacking
It’s definitely a good time to be into gravel, ‘cross or drop-bar off road bike riding. Nearly all of the manufacturers, big and small were showing drop-bar bikes intended for the wide-ranging needs of gravel riders – from dropper-posted, suspension-forked gravgnar bikes, to sleek, aero…
Hope Tech RX4+ Brake Caliper review
The Hope Tech RX4+ caliper is a great solution to the road and gravel rider looking for more braking power, better lever feel and beautiful machined caliper aesthetics. Pros: Cons: First things first; the Hope Tech RX4+ calipers are designed as an upgrade set of…
FARA F/Gravel Bike Review
FARA is a small bike company based in Oslo, Norway which was set up in 2015 by Jeff Webb, a Canadian ex-pro racer and it (currently) offers three styles of drop-bar bikes: a road bike, an ‘adventure’ road bike and the one I’ve had on…
2023 Cube Gravel Line Up: Which is right for you?
One of the things about Cube is that it’s a pretty massive company offering a pretty massive range of bikes in a pretty massive range of builds. That can make picking the right bike for you a pretty massive undertaking. Even if you’ve narrowed it…
Lauf Moves Assembly To USA and Drops Prices
Yes, bikes getting cheaper! That deserves a story, right? Gravel bike specialist Lauf has moved a significant portion of its operations to America, and in doing so has managed to create efficiencies that translate to some quite significant price reductions on its bikes. The new…
Apidura Expedition Full Frame Pack review
The ability to carry up to 3L of water is the USP of the Apidura Expedition Full Frame Pack. Invaluable for the long distance rider. Please note: Hydration Bladder is sold separately in two sizes: 1.5L £39.00, 3L £49.00 Things I loved: Things I would…
grit.cx 2023 Tour of Flanders Gallery
Chipps reports from a chilly Belgium at last weekend’s Tour of Flanders. Ahead of an influx of new content for grit.cx, I thought it’d be good to have a gallery from last weekend’s Tour of Flanders to get you in the off-road, drop-bar mood –…
Riding The Pictish Trail – a route down Scotland’s east coast
This nice video from occasional STW contributor, Huw Oliver, and first person to complete the HT550 in winter, Annie Evans, may have you planning a trip. Even if you don’t head off to the Pictish Trail, there are some nice moments in there about getting…
Journey To Unbound: Riding Your First 100 with Marley Blonsky
If you’re looking at how your training plan has withered along with your quads and wondering whether that Dirty Reiver entry was such a great idea, here’s some inspiration for you. Follow along as PEARL iZUMi athlete, Marley Blonsky takes on her first century ride…
YT Szepter Core 4 Review – Gravel For MTBers?
For this YT Szepter review I’ve been testing a medium sized YT Szepter Core 4, the slightly pricier version – the Core 3 gets a slightly lower grade suspension fork and drivetrain, and doesn’t have a dropper post. The YT Szepter Core 4, we are…
Ragley Trig review
First introduced to the line-up in 2019, the Ragley Trig has proved to be extremely popular from the word go. This review first appeared in Singletrack World Magazine issue 140 Ragley is a small UK-based brand that designs and tests its bikes right here, in…
Santini Women’s Vega Grido Bib Tight review
Is an all in one thermal top and bottoms a practical solution for cold weather? Hannah tests out the Santini Women’s Vega Grido Bib Tights. In my experience, Italian cycling brands often fail at two things: sizing, and winter. You may imagine then that I…
Orange RX9 Pro review
The Orange RX9 Pro is great for a quick hour ride, a blast along the bridleway, for training or for spending an evening bikepacking. This review first published in Singletrack World Magazine Issue 140 The RX9 first made an appearance in the Orange array of…
SCOTT issues voluntary recall of Speedster Road and Gravel bikes
If you bought a 2022 Speedster Gravel bike from Scott, or a Speedster Road bike, your bike may be subject to a voluntary recall. Read on… Press release from Scott: In cooperation with national recall authorities, SCOTT is voluntarily recalling approximately 2000 SCOTT Speedster Road…
Assos Mille GTC Löwenkralle Jacket C2 review
The Assos Mille GTC Löwenkralle Jacket C2 is targeted squarely at gravel riders looking for a versatile softshell. The jacket is a snug fit without being ‘roadie tight’, meaning this outer layer shouldn’t catch too many unwanted stares and not snatch at the wind. A…
Match Your Gravel Bike To Your… Lamborghini?
For the corners of the world unaffected by the cost of living or fuel prices, there’s a new bike/car pairing specially for you. If you’re in Miami at the Miami Art Basel art fair (perhaps choosing some pictures to put on the wall of your…