Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS test ride - Moloko Cycling demo day

I tried gravel for the first time, thanks to ‪@CanyonBicycles‬ and ‪@molokocycling‬ that have arranged a great demo day and gave me the opportunity to ride a beautiful Grail CF SLX 8 AXS.
Check www.molokocycling.com for the upcoming Canyon Weekender Road and Gravel Festival, 6th, 7th and 8th of September 2024. 20% discount code WEEKENDER-FEDE-20
As usual I am wearing a kit courtesy of Siroko Cycling: if you wish to shop for Siroko kit you can use my code FEDE1275 for an extra 10% discount or access their website through my direct link and the discount would be automatically added. Thank you!
Extra 10% Siroko Cycling link: srko.co/fede1275
Let me know how you like gravel riding, thank you for watching,
Federico

[@Millicente]

Sponsor the man!

[@fede1275]

😀😀

[@valmorell]

Just built myself a gravel bike this very week. Wanted a comfortable road bike with loads of clearance. Set it up with road 32s. Totally sublime. Huge suprise. Ridden 100 miles on it this week and totally love it.....

[@fede1275]

Sounds great!

[@marcdaniels9079]

Great video 👍 Never ridden gravel but long time MTB rider as well as road . Much dirtier up to the axles in water sometimes and brilliant fun when it’s too cold on the road. As you say to get into nature nothing beats MTB. SPD pedals would solve your flat pedal niggle perfectly - I am sure you know this. Would be cool to see you do a video on an MTB event in the mountains somewhere .

[@fede1275]

@@marcdaniels9079 I can't afford to focus on MTB, I will like it so much and I can't afford all the additional kit and bike 😂

[@Incorruptus1]

Great video! Always good to have a fixable bike, in a bike fixing - and biking nation.

[@siy01]

I ride around 100 miles a week, in and around the gravel tracks and roads of Richmond park. Going clockwise in the evening is better as the descents are more gradual. From Richmond gate down to Roehampton is an absolute blast when its quiet after 6pm. A short ride down Kings Road from the Kingston gate gets you down to the Thames, over the bridge to Hampton Court is very scenic from there you circle round to Bushy park. Between the two parks you can ride for 30 miles without covering the same path. Gravel bikes just open up so many new routes and areas to explore, all away from stupid drivers. A 47-50mm tyre is no slower, but makes for a safer more comfortable ride.

[@fede1275]

I can see the appeal of this riding style, moving away from other traffic

[@siy01]

@fede1275 Drivers make me a bit mad. Even on the roads in Richmond Park, they are overtaking while I'm doing 25mph when the speed limit for cars is 20mph, then have to go 35mph just to stay in front of you, on a descent. It's like they see a cyclist and think to overtake no matter the speed.

[@fede1275]

@@siy01 it's an unfortunate situation and not getting better...

[@leftywedge]

😱OMG😱 you joined the “Dark Side”. Trying a gravel bike for the first time is like having your first mistress. 😂😂😂😂😂. You wont be able to stop now. Just kidding. 🤣🤣🤣. Well done Federico. And Canyon, sponsor this man please. Tanti saluti del tuo tifoso di Montréal. Grande, grande grande.

[@fede1275]

😂😂 grazie mille!!

[@lostboy8814]

Fantastico Federico another blindingly great video,thank you for sharing.

[@fede1275]

Thank you!!

[@k.r.lionheart6460]

A smooth transition from Bianchi road bike to the grail no going back now for me

[@AndreaCrosetti]

Definitely right bike for uk country side! You can ride wherever you want with more comfort and safety. At the end of the story, the most aggressive (like this Canyon or 3T or Basso Palta) are endurance bikes with larger tyres! Riding B groups in Oxfordshire with no issues at all!

[@14Xaveco]

Yeah sponsor this guy! Jawohl!

[@fede1275]

Natürlich!

[@simonthacker1841]

Thanks Frederico. I want one of those bikes.

[@Heidimm]

Never thought I'd see you on a gravel bike, Fede! Suits you 😊

[@fede1275]

I'm surprised as well 😂

[@cyclingunboxed]

I think the grail is a solid top tier gravel bike. Great and unique features, comfortable, good price

[@fede1275]

Agree, great package!

[@Maxd555]

I have new grail and I fell in love from day 1 🚲🥰 my bike número uno 👌🏻

[@fede1275]

I can understand that!

[@del4189]

Defo consider a Gravel Bike for your collection, my gravel bike is not as slow as you think because on the road it's so smooth and quiet, the 40mm pirelli gravel tyres just soak up all the rough roads, they also make a great winter bike because the bike feels really planted and safe in crap weather, ok it takes a bit more effort but that's no bad thing, it's fun and I probaly get more enjoyment from it than my roadie.

[@fede1275]

Yes, it definitely felt faster than expected

[@del4189]

@@fede1275 If you get a chance try a GRX mechanical groupset (I know you like mechanical) I have a 2 by 11 speed and it's probably one of the best mechanical groupsets i've used.

[@molokocycling]

Great video Fede, glad you had fun on the trails! We'll hook you up with a gravel bike anytime you fancy another trip to the dark side 😂

[@fede1275]

It was a great experience, hopefully next time Alex would not need to lie about the weather 😂

[@mbee6606]

Hi Federico. Just had a first ride out in my new Siroko kit which I bought following your recommendation and discount code. Got to say that first impressions are very good. The quality and fit is up there with some of the much more expensive brands 👍

[@fede1275]

Thank you for your feedback!!

[@colinbailey6236]

Nice video my friend 👍

[@Khalil.8611]

I'm not a speed freak or a KOM hunter so gravel bikes are perfect for me.

[@Maxd555]

On some segments I flying faster on my gravel then road bike 😁tyres gravelking slick in 40mm in blue colour 🤩

[@Maxd555]

Thanks for superb video and honest review 😎

[@fede1275]

My pleasure 😊

[@sherab2078]

I bought my first gravel bike the previous summer, and while I still have some issues with it (mainly due to the sizing of the model I chose and my diminutive height of 162 cm) I fell in love with this type of bicycle. I was switching from an old touring bike on 26" wheels. Initially, I wanted a new bike just for more 'sporty' rides but ultimately it has become my bike for everything. I wouldn't call myself a sport-oriented cyclist. Yes, I like the speed and feel of progression in my performance and fitness level but what I really enjoy is exploration and adventure - only me, the bike and the road. Ok... that's not exactly true because it is hard to avoid traffic and other people altogether, but I hope you get my point. From this perspective, a gravel bike gives me a well-balanced compromise between speed/efficiency and comfort and versatility. I won't be lying - I prefer to ride on tarmac, but I avoid cities and busy roads and prefer local rural ones. It is surprising how good asphalt one can find on some of them, but the other half is rather less than desirable (central to northeastern Poland). Wide tyres with lower pressures really add to comfort then. While prefer asphalt, when I see a good quality gravel road, or even some smooth singletrack, I'm going to take it just to avoid traffic and get closer to nature. I guess an XC mountain bike could fulfil my needs quite well too, but I don't really need this additional off-road capability in the lowlands where I live and ride at the expense of speed on tarmac. Obviously, one won't be as fast on a gravel bike as one would be on a road bike - especially a race-oriented model. Still, depending on the specific model, the difference can be smaller than one would suspect. So, I love the concept of a gravel bike. I only hope it will preserve its roady DNA since there is a trend getting closer and closer to MTBs and this is not something I would like to see.

[@fede1275]

Yes, some models have front suspension, definitely closer to MTB. I'm still a road bike fan, but I will explore gravel more

[@wizkidcyclist9968]

Time to conquer the world of gravel; try exploring the GRX 800 series…! Shoes just like RC702 the XC 7 series is just wow… time to get graveling!

[@TheBikeChallenge]

I'd definitely recommend gravel for New Forest Federico, great riding!

[@fede1275]

A new world for me!

[@edymarkonthego4096]

This could be like a holy grail to me.

[@fede1275]

😀😀

[@malcontent_1]

I'm considering a gravel bike as an _all around_ bike, both for the poor roads here in the SF Bay Area and some new off road adventures.

[@WheelersAtLarge]

Absolutely,😁 Rain? We don't worry about such things.🤣 Will you be visiting our local trails in the New Forest Frederico?

[@fede1275]

Yes I am! I will be at the Weekender event in September

[@muratmustafa4532]

I have the Gen 1 Grail. As you said they do everything I ask for. Have a frame bag, lights, bell, two bottles and mud guards on it all the time and it does everything I ask for including taking me to work on bad weather and road conditions and keeping up with Sunday club Tempo rides. I do not think it is a hindrance as long as the cruise speed does not exceed 36-38 km/h. After that my grail becomes difficult to push to a higher speed for a longer time which is not surprising as it has so much extra weight on it from the accessories and not aero at all.

[@fede1275]

Definitely a really universal bike. Would still need to use a proper road bike to follow my group 😅

[@muratmustafa4532]

@@fede1275 your group is extremely fast then 😂

[@balosahan6990]

Definitely get more versatility with a gravel bike in terms of paths and surfaces you can take the bike on. For now, I'm team road bike. I can see myself enjoying gravel when I get a little older 😄.. I have the canyon endurace, I'd be keen to see you do a video with that bike and hear your thoughts 🚲 the Moloko situation is a amazing, kudos to them!

[@fede1275]

I really enjoy the rides and events Moloko are setting up! The Endurace should be very similar to my Ultimate, maybe with a more upright riding position. I appreciate the sportier Ultimate position as I have it slammed. Less effort in the faster rides, while I still can be comfortable.

[@balosahan6990]

@@fede1275 yes it looks like the rides are always a fun time 😎. I'm not sure I could manage a slammed stem haha but going faster is fun. See you in the next video

[@fede1275]

Sometimes it's the saddle, if it allows for the pelvis to rotate forward!

[@molin1978]

I've been there, tried Endurace which was awesome, tried Grizl and didn't like it too much. Tried as well Grail and was positively surprised

[@davideca3402]

Why grizl not?

[@molin1978]

I didn't like the head angle, too slack for me, turns slowly. However I tried it only on roads, didn't go to gravel, perhaps for gravel this frame setup is be better suited. And I'm used to road bike and maybe I should spend more time on grizl.

[@Diogene_Ventuno]

Prossimo step la MTB 😉... Vedrai, è uno spasso (col terreno giusto) 👍

[@fede1275]

Già per me è tanto aver provato la gravel 😂😂

[@soapy_stevens6366]

It looks a really nice bike - not as 'agricultural' as I naively imagined. What's the range on the rear cassette? Moloko seem like a great organisation.

[@fede1275]

This one had a massive 10-44 cassette! Love Moloko, great community!

[@steweymacaroon7815]

Rio Ferdinand competing with Ben Foster I see

[@fede1275]

😂😂

[@user-sc4sp6tb2j]

Flat pedals ok for this sort of bike,what other system allows you to change Q factor,fore- aft and rotation whilst on the fly !!

[@fede1275]

Yes, but too much freedom is new to me!

[@ZwiftDude]

I wouldn't worry about the brake type for Gravel as it's dirt after all and designed to be that way... well basically a mountain bike with a drop bar/slightly thinner wheels. Would you commute to work off-road in all weather conditions and serious muddy conditions and arrive at work/home in such messy state?

[@fede1275]

Definitely I would stay on road for the commute 😅

[@albertosantangelo6872]

Gravel is great, very funny...except for the dirt

[@JGuitarPlayer825]

Ciao Federico! Excellent video that showed your initial thoughts on the sport, through to your end opinion. May I ask, how did the feel of the bike compare to your Ultimate?

[@fede1275]

I haven't tried anything yet that beats my rim Ultimate feeling, but this Grail felt surprisingly light and agile. In its category it seems a winner

[@JGuitarPlayer825]

Grazie Federico

[@frankmontag9518]

Was that a "Auf Wiedersehen"? Didn't see that coming 😅👍

[@fede1275]

The bike would not understand English or Italian 😂

[@Bodyidentify]

@@fede1275😂😂😂😂

[@SuperDodoe]

Beautiful! Thanks again...did Canyon bicycle offer you a coupon code for your subs?

[@fede1275]

Not for the bikes, Moloko offered a discount for the event in September

[@Elonpocalyps420]

Fede, if they offered you a sponsored aeroad or ultimate would you take it, if it means you have to ride road disc?

[@fede1275]

You know, it would be a nice problem to have! I can see an Aeroad could work together with my rim Ultimate, as they would be different tools for specific routes. I would always try to stay true to myself and be honest with my judgement. I mention bike sponsorship more as a joke, as I am sure there are other content creators that could be more suitable for it.

[@GatleySkateKrew12]

Hi so I’ve never ridden gravel either I have an Orbea Avant 2019 rim brake endurance bike, I was thinking of a new bike would you recommend grail for road and gravel?

[@fede1275]

@@GatleySkateKrew12 it would depend on how you interpret road cycling. If you go for performance maybe not, for endurance with the right tyres can do everything

[@GatleySkateKrew12]

@@fede1275 so Endurace with tyre clearance be better?

[@fede1275]

@@GatleySkateKrew12 yes, if you prefer comfort to top speed the Grail can do everything

[@GatleySkateKrew12]

@@fede1275 suppose I could get another endurance and get some gravel tyres aswell as slicks

[@fede1275]

@@GatleySkateKrew12 yes, the two types tend to overlap a bit

[@user-qy8ph8tf3d]

Which one would you describe as more agile "feelwise" a gravel bike or the aero bike you tried recently?

[@fede1275]

Maybe because it was lighter than expected, I felt that the Grizl was more agile. Possibly the geometry is also designed to be less stable at speed comparing to an aero bike and that also makes a difference.

[@davideca3402]

Grizl more many different on road?is more agile?

[@fake__plastic9209]

[Faccio prima in italiano] Il top è averle entrambe. Quando uno ha la crisi da mezza età da cazzolunghismo dove spendi più di gel che di benzina per fare quel percorso la bdc sta lì. Poi però piano piano inizi a non volerti più precludere posti dove con la bdc non ci vai. Non vuoi più ogni volta pensare alla prestazione, o ai gr di carbo, all’aerodinamica. No, vuoi solo fare un giro in bici. Senza che le auto ti ammazzino. E toh, ci puoi anche dar dentro con una gravel cazzuta.

[@fede1275]

Hai ragione, con la gravel puoi veramente andare ovunque e il senso di liberta' e' ancora piu' accentuato! Pero' io ho la crisi di mezza eta' cronica, quindi alla strada non posso rinunciare!

[@vfclists]

Did you see Fenton?

[@fede1275]

Unfortunately not, but the echo is still there if you listen carefully 🤣

[@charlesmansplaining]

Gravel routes are not that accessible for me anymore. We have lots of rail trail systems that used to be unpaved and back then I used to have a Ridley Cross bike that I could get 80 mile dirt and gravel rides on. The idiots that run the trails eventually paved them so I sold my Ridley. What's the point of having a second bike if I have to drive a couple of hours to get to a place where I can ride it. That rail trail is too flat and boring to ride a road bike on. The roads have hills to climb and turns that challenge your skill level so I just mix it up with vehicle traffic on the roads these days and pray I won't get hit. That gravel trail you did in the video, would it be as much of a workout if they paved it? Probably not.

[@fede1275]

Interesting, haven't looked at the avaliable routes yet

[@georgepepper5993]

No IPA?

[@fede1275]

I'm still learning the gravel rules 😂

[@davideca3402]

C'è molta differenza con la grizl?

[@fede1275]

Purtroppo non l'ho provata la Grizl

[@davideca3402]

@@fede1275 che difetti hai trovato con la grail invece?

[@fede1275]

@@davideca3402 visto che è la prima gravel che ho provato, ho avuto solo sensazioni positive. Più leggera e agile di come me l'aspettavo. Nel suo campo mi sembra ottima e anche il prezzo tutto sommato allineato. Poi per ora preferisco sempre la strada, ma quello è per il tipo di bici

[@bennettshfd2]

What size gravel tires did you have?

[@fede1275]

40mm on this one

[@del4189]

@@fede1275 That's probably the sweet spot.

[@cicci72]

eeeeeeeee pioveeeee...............governo ladro😁

[@fede1275]

Hahaha, sempre così!