Is a Gravel Bike FASTER than a Road Bike? Giant Revolt VS TCR Advanced

[@joonlee920]

Great video! I am now convinced that for the VAST majority of us (who don't regularly race crits) a bike like the Revolt is the best bike coupled with larger tires. The expensive/aero/stiff bikes that the pros use with skinny tires are good for them but not for the majority of people on this earth. Plus, a wider tire (like a 38mm) can provide much more confident handling that may actually make you go faster than a skinny 28mm so I'm not surprised by the results of the David's test/video. Yes, a light racing bike will be easier to go up hills but so can a lightweight gravel bike. I'm ditching my stiff race bike and opting for a good all-round gravel bike that still weighs around 19-20 lbs with a good set of 38mm tires.

[@nitemunky76]

I run my Revolt on 30mm Goodyear Eagle F1s for road riding. Goes great. TBH unless youre racing to any serious degree a gravel bike with road tyres will get you 95% of the performance of a more dedicated road bike.

[@shyamfootprints972]

Isn’t the reverse also true? A good aluminium roadbike with 32mm knobby tires will run fine on gravel and dirt better than a gravel? Or am I wrong to assume that?

[@petrhanak6950]

@@shyamfootprints972 it is not engineered for off road riding. Comfort usually much less on it, doesn't usually come with tubeless and I'd even worry it cracking if I'd hit something hard a bit more

[@sambrown7673]

@@shyamfootprints972 not necessarily. A gravel bike is usually more than just a road bike with increased tire clearance

[@ericharman4064]

@@shyamfootprints972 In reality I think you're probably right. If I had clearance for 32mm tires on my old aluminum road bike (AL frame/AL fork) it would be interesting to compare that to my 2021 Giant Revolt 2 (Al frame/CF fork). Now you're got me wondering... how large a tire could I get on a 2000 Specialized Allez Elite? Certainly the triple crank makes the low end pretty close.

[@georgedawson235]

@@shyamfootprints972 if you could fit 32 gravel tyres in a road frame it'll be tight with zero room for mud clearance but in theory yes it would work fine

[@eteocles4452]

I own and regularly ride a 2018 Defy Advanced, 2020 Defy Advanced Pro, 2019 Revolt Advanced and a 2019 TCR Advanced Pro. I have ridden all 4 fitted with 28mm Grand Prix 5000's on Hyper 50mm wheels(plus other identical wheelset/tire combos), the TCR simply kills the Revolt when it comes to holding speed on tight turns and in agility on winding roads. The Revolt also feels heavier on climbs, not drastic, but noticeable. On fast descents the Revolt feels more stable, the TCR slightly faster but much twitchier. The Defy lands in between and is a better all rounder, in my opinion, than the TCR or Revolt.

[@eteocles4452]

@@yungcashmere5201 Out of my four Giants, if I was only going to keep one, it would be the Defy Advanced Pro(Ultegra R8000 Di2 Hydraulic). It's relaxed enough for longer rides, fast enough for racing and does ok on hard pack gravel with 32mm tires. The Revolt is definitely a better off road bike, the TCR is definitely a better race/climbing bike but the Defy is definitely the better does everything well enough bike. I keep the 2018 Defy because it was my first carbon fiber bike when I got back into cycling in early 2018, it has sentimental value.

[@cwmoo]

I ride a 2021 Defy Advanced 1 and have ridden a friend's 2019 TCR Advanced Pro. I prefer the Defy for comfort and stability. The TCR is faster and more fun but I get tired of it on long rides and it's not a bike I would enjoy riding every day like I enjoy the Defy.

[@eteocles4452]

@@cwmoo My TCR gets treated like a sports car, fun to take out on a Saturday or Sunday for a fun ride and a few thrills. If I'm going out on a longer ride or with a group I take a Defy.

[@linhadireta1]

@@yungcashmere5201 Totally agree, comparing both bikes with different tires on the road, is as relevant as comparing both on gravel with their stock tires ;) Redo the test, by putting the TCR wheelset on the Revolt and compare times. That would be a more interesting video. Cheers!

[@davidarthur]

Part of the idea behind the test was actually seeing what difference there were in the tyre sizes of these two bikes

[@Teddyspice04]

My Revolt Advanced 2 with Gravelking 32mm slicks on a road wheel set keeps up with the best of them. Zero punctures as well. When I’m feeling more adventurous I throw the stock rims and some 38 semi knobs and it does great on the pavement until I hit the local gravel (even some single track). Very happy with the gravel bike, 2 wheel set solution. Looking forward to your long term of the revolt!

[@BrettinLux]

I had a Giant Revolt but sold it as it was a little to big.Now riding a Trek Checkpoint SL6.I have a 104km road route that I enjoy as a long ride and usually do it in my Trek Emonda .Last week I decided to put my 40mm carbon wheels onto the Checkpoint and did the road ride on my gravel bike.I was 7 minutes quicker than my previous best and I put it down to the comfort of the 30mm tyres and the easier gearing up the 1300m of climbing.

[@marcdemichele2689]

Damn.... That is a significant diff..

[@MrTschalow]

I've been riding exactly this Revolt model since February and in my opinion there is no sense in getting a road bike for someone like me where every second doesn't count. The comfort benefits on bumpy roads or poorly maintained paths far outweigh the speed you loose!

[@davelloyd8454]

Same here. I rode side by side with a friend and she just rode away from my because I couldn't keep my wheels on the terrible tarmac

[@markburrow5916]

Exactly why I'm thinking this might be my next bike.

[@mathewkilgore890]

I recently purchased a 2022 Revolt Advanced 3. 70 miles on the bike and loving it. I just logged a segment and hit a PR on the Revolt. It’s quite impressive just how “quick” this bike is. Compared to my 21 Emonda with 50mm clinchers I managed to knock of 28 seconds while riding the Revolt. Next on the agenda is to swap to a lighter wheelset with ~32mm tires to see just how well this gravel bike is on the road.

[@michaelyoung5071]

How is your Revolt 3 riding on the road with the lighter wheelset with 32mm tires?I am planning on buying a 2022 or 2023 Revolt for gravel and the road. What wheelset and tires did you go with?

[@BensMis-adventures]

Hi David, I bought a Revolt Advanced 0 based on your Advanced Pro review, and now you have the Advanced 0 too! My goal was to hit a 100km ride by the end of the year, I did it on my 3rd ride out! As a MTB rider I was concerned about how rough the ride would be, but I am very happy with it. Great to see I am not really going to lose much to the road guys if I ever decide to join them on a lap.

[@davidarthur]

Amazing to hear that Ben glad it's working out for you and you're smashing the distance goals. 200km next?

[@pscoop]

It would be great to see you compare these with the Hyper wheels & 28mm tyres on both. Also maybe using power meter pedals to try and push the same power on both over the course?

[@jtalley8191]

I put 25 mm tires on my trek checkpoint and it was very noticeable that the 25 mil tires were much faster both up and down hill compared to the 40 mil tires that came with the bike.

[@davidzacharie8684]

Love the channel and content, im at the point in my life of N-1. With a career and young family im not managing to ride all my bikes, (road, gravel and MTB) Im considering have a gravel bike with two sets of wheels, standard gravel wheel set and and another deeper section wheel set with narrow tyres (25-28mm) for the road. Im interested to see how a gravel bike with a road wheel set-up compares against an all out road bike. Yet to find a comparison like this on youtube.

[@joelhenderson3723]

It is odd that I haven't actually seen a head-to-head road kitted gravel bike (road tires and deep section rims) vs aero road bike, considering how often the idea of a do-all bike gets floated. I don't expect them to be the same, but if the gravel bike is within 3-4%, that's enough for me.

[@davidzacharie8684]

@@joelhenderson3723 My sentiments exactly, lets hope theres enough interest for David to make a video.

[@philtomlinson8220]

Great test, and I have to be honest the result didn't surprise me too much. I'd love to see you do the test using the same wheels and tyres on the road bike and gravel bike. I suspect there'd be very little in it. It would also be interesting to see a test over a much longer route, say about 80km. The longer distance would highlight any smaller differences which don't show up on the shorter test. To be honest unless you're racing seriously, I think a gravel bike with a swap of tyres / wheels is plenty good enough on the road. The main advantage to having two bikes is that it's nice to have something a bit more pristine for the road, whilst saving the gravel bike for the mud and slop.

[@stephenwilliams8384]

It would be interesting to see how the gravel bike performs with the road wheels & tyres on... the idea of 1 bike but 2 sets of wheels/tyre combinations is an interesting proposition

[@mattholland331]

I've got one of these Revolts on order and that's exactly what I plan to do with it!

[@Goriaas]

and maybe 2 stems. Those are easy to change out and make a huge difference for riding position

[@dangray6745]

@@mattholland331 How did you go with the Revolt on the road with road wheels??

[@mattholland331]

@@dangray6745 I just got the bike in September and haven’t picked up the road wheels yet. It’s pretty good on the stock tyres which are basically gravel slicks - am thinking they’ll be pretty good as “winter tyres” then I’ll shop for road wheels in the new year. One thing I have done is swap out the handlebars for something more road-y (I.e. narrower).

[@donadams5094]

I wonder: how long until the pros move to what I will call "super wide" tires? Obviously there are some types of racing for which traditional race tires are still best, but for some of the longer classics-style racing, I suspect someone is going to give 38s or 40s a try someday. I mean, in a sport where saving even few watts matters, how much faster might a pro go over the cobbles, and/or with how much less energy lost due to all the bumping? They will take enormous risks to get into the smoother gutters on the side, or to ride along the ridge in the middle of the road even when it is wet and they could slide down either side at any moment. Would high-end tubeless tires, including those classified as "gravel" tires, be faster? One of these young riders who is not totally caught up in "it's always been done this way" will at least try, I'd wager.

[@SteveBrill]

Interesting test Dave and it's exactly this thought process that led me to buying a new Trek Checkpoint SL6 etap and running both 40mm Bontrager gravel tyres and then switch to my Zipp 303s wheels with 30mm Goodyear Eagle F1's. The bike is 1x and geared for gravel, so inevitably I can run out of gears going downhill. But at my age I'm not wishing to break any land speed records. But so far it works out really well. Great video and keep them coming.

[@carlosmarcalo8297]

You can upgrade de cassete for a 9-45 ethirteen and a 44 chainring, I have the some bike

[@michaelwatters5600]

I bought the Revolt Pro 1 last year, I wanted something a little more comfortable than a road bike. It hits the mark! every ride is truly a pleasure.

[@Emolokz]

32's on the Revolt vs the 28's on the TCR would be a nice comparison video.

[@tombox4282]

I've been eyeing this 2022 giant revolt advanced 0. Thanks for the review and close up shots.

[@bbweyman1]

I've been using my Lauf Anywhere exclusively for almost two years and other than a bit slower handling on the road and twisty descents it's been great. Set up with SRAM Red AXS 2x, 10-33 on the road wheels and 10x36 on the gravel wheels. Both wheelsets are Zipp 303's.

[@shuangliu1897]

Plan to do the same on my gravel bike, do u change the chain for different cassettes between two wheel sets?

[@williamsmith1453]

I have timed myself on my salsa journeyman grave bike. I have slicks 28 vs 37 nob gravel tires. The 28 are consistent faster but only by seconds on tarmac. I was not using a bout meter, but just road the same routine with my bike. No power meter. So there can be variables. The slickes are quiet and smoother, on tarmac. But I do switch for off road. To me, there is a good bite of difference to buy a second sect of wheels to swap easier. I do have a road bike, My but is a cheap bike, I us it only for a second bike because the gravel bike has better components. Gravel is my one bike for all mt road needs lol. Love your content. And thank you for lots of valuable information. Your videos did help me find my wonderful choose of my grave bike. Thank Thank

[@TheTurnerturner]

I’d love to see you put the hypers from your tcr on the revolt and do a test. To a lot of us who can only afford one bike, a gravel bike for commuting and gravel riding, and then swapping out the wheels could be the way to go. I don’t do races, just ride with mates and the odd fondo, so this could be the way for many of us to go. Plus the hyper seem to be a great set of wheels at an affordable price.

[@ashleyhouse9690]

Your test of the Orro Terra C gravel bike several months ago made me buy one. I use it all the time on the road with my carbon deep section wheels. I haven't actually tested but I think there's very little difference between that bike and my Cannondale Synapse. I think if you tested the two Giants back-to-back with the same wheel and road tyre combo the results would be even closer.

[@veyrethomas3934]

Great video, and please make the comparison with a road wheel set on the Revolt

[@janieengelbrecht640]

Do not negate the benefit of the larger tire by going for smaller width, you can reduce the drag by going for a large volume slick. Try something with a supple case like the Panaracer Gravelking Slick TLC 700x38C.

[@kidShibuya]

I went from gravelking slick 38c to gp5000 s tr 32c and noticed very little difference on my grail. I certainly feel more grip in turns but that is about it. Haven't noticed a difference in speed.

[@Nahhnope]

Gravelkings aren't particularly supple. There are way more supple, higher TPI casings out there than what panaracer is offering.

[@petervandijk8574]

I have a Giant revolt and a Giant TCR and prefer my TCR on the road but my Revolt runs very smooth to on and off road..i love them both.

[@robbijay]

I knew you were local now but surprised to see you on my local climb! Will have to keep an eye out for that sparkly TCR! Brave man flying down Portway.

[@aaronpostlethwaite8449]

Looking forward to an update on this bike David!

[@slantedorbit]

My experience with my Revolt is that a 38 versus a 43 provides livelier handling and more feedback with little penalty in rough stuff and is noticeably lighter but once the 43s are on there I am reluctant to swap them out because the ride is so smooth that a 5 hr ride leaves me still relatively fresh. Occasionally I consider trying a 35 or even 32 to do a similar test but then I decide I don’t care enough about speed to bother and if I did I would work on my aero tucked positioning more. If I did more spirited club rides I might have a second wheelset but even then I wouldn’t go narrower than 35. I am satisfied thinking that whatever holds me back, the bike is the least of it.

[@jimbo4203]

I teally like the wtb 40c Nano, its the perfect size

[@slantedorbit]

@@jimbo4203 38/40 seems to be the sweet spot for sure but I feel compelled to max out tire clearance on principle lol (I gravitate toward slicks like the Gravelking SS but have Resolutes for the rough stuff)

[@andyjones3874]

I have a Revolt Advanced 0 that I ride on the road and mellow gravel trails with the stock Maxxis Velocita 40mm semi-slick tires. Hardly a perceptible difference from my old TCR with 25mm slicks that I retired. I have a second set of wheels with 45mm Flintridges for spicier trail riding. One gravel bike and two sets of wheels along with my a 25lb down country mtn bike, and I'm good for any ride on any surface within reason. Ironically, all the segmentation of the market into narrowly focused categories of specialized bikes has brought me to two bikes to cover the spectrum with nearly zero sacrifice.

[@markreams3192]

I have a Sage Titanium gravel bike. It’s the only bike I own. I have two sets of wheels one of which I had planned to set up for pavement only. The gravel wheels are fitted with Pirelli cinturado gravel h in 35mm. They roll so well on pavement giving a smooth quiet ride I haven’t felt the need to set up the road wheels. I will eventually but this gravel bike is a pleasure to ride on pavement and harder packed gravel and dirt. If there is a decrease in speed it’s not noticeable. If you’re not an elite racer a gravel bike is a jack of all trades. It’s very versatile!

[@Flexo_l]

That is way so many new models are getting wider tires. Normal riders get more confidence from wider tires. As a bonus they are more comfortable and are less likely to puncture.

[@Kevnidk]

Please test it with the TCR tires. I'm considering not replacing my road bike and using a new gravel bike for everything, would love to see how that test goes.

[@aspenyellow2963]

David, great review as usual, yes, try the same wheels/tyres. Also @ 2:22, that cable bend looks a bit tight.

[@jhipi205]

That’s very annoying for a new bike, but sadly not unusual these days.

[@robertkeefer1552]

I love my Revolt Advanced 2. I am running Panaracer Gravelking SS 35 C tires. It's quick and comfortable. It has been professionally fitted for me.

[@BoomsRiddico4868]

Another great vid David! I look forward to the follow up one. Nice looking bike for sure

[@jasboehlke]

TCR frame color alone is worth opting that direction, what a gorgeous color palette.

[@joestorytowne]

I’ve been doing my own comparison of my TCR 2 and Revolt 3 using road wheels and 28c tires on both. Over a 40 mile ride the TCR was 0.1mph faster. Conditions were similar but different. More testing is in order, but so far the difference is negligible. I’m thinking a Revolt 0 with GRX 810 could be my one bike for gravel and road riding and I already have a set of good road wheels for it when I ride with a fast group. I look forward to having one less bike to maintain.

[@rudyelizondo1935]

Great vid, yeah I timed myself on my gravel bike vs my road bike on flat surfaces and there is only a small difference in the time. I own a soaeialized diverge with size 38 panaracer sk on it with psi of 40. The rims are carbon and the higher psi the faster it goes, lower psi of 25 for hard ruff gravel is smooth as butter. Safer and more forgiving on this bike than my road bike. The only drawback is the over toe.

[@lloydjarm]

yes for more roadie tire test. Also, a flat section would be nice too.

[@pj9375]

Wheels and tyres make a massive difference. I have a 10 year old aluminium defy and a 2021 advanced pro 1 tcr and when I put faster wheels (not aero just good wheels r700 shimano) on the old defy it’s nearly as quick as the lighter more aero tcr!

[@JM356]

But how much more energy are you expending on the Revolt?

[@Jbgopro]

Would be great if you did a special on outfitting your TCR to a gravel set up and riding with impressions and tips!

[@fromoutwest]

Hi David. As an owner of a Revolt Advanced 2 who does a mix of road/gravel (using stock 38mm now), I'm very interested in seeing how a road tire would perform on this bike all else being equal. While perhaps more of an ask, I would like to see this comparison done over a period of at least a 1hr.

[@fromoutwest]

@Matej Juhás Not a priority at the moment and David asked if people would be interested in having him take this on.

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

Surprising how close the times were. Maybe a comparison on 38mm tyres would be good. Until a few years ago I used Ritchey Tom slicks or Spezialised Fat boys 1.5"x26" on my old Merida mtb with drop bars (converted for commute/tours) worked well enough on hardpack but not mud or loose stuff and faster on road.In the U.S they use slicks on the slick rock of Moab,Utah.

[@frederickkeegan3270]

I do group paceline rides in Houston Texas. Need to test the two bikes on a long flat course with a head wind.

[@twodads]

would be great to see the same comparison over a longer distance - maybe with some flats thrown in

[@morrisizing]

I wish more Gravel bikes came with 2x as that really helps make them more diverse.

[@xymek24]

For the future I think it would be a good idea to add info about avg watts for each one one the bikes

[@durianriders]

The reality is all the road disc bikes are a joke and just get a gravel bike if you want road disc as you can run 2.0 tires or 25mm road race.

[@rickbeckner9906]

Thanks. Based on your prior review, I recently purchased a Giant Revolt Advance 3. Great value for the money. I upgraded the wheels and also went with Rene Herse 35 mm semi-slick tires. I have not done controlled testing and am eager to see you do more comparisons vs your TCR and with different wheels / tires. My general impression so far is the bike is very capable and comfortable, but not quite as fast as my road bike. I do wonder to what extent my impression is not accurate because I am confusing increased comfort / stability with being slower.

[@davidjohnson2839]

I've got an Advanced Pro 1 set with 42mm Spesh pathfinders. Our weds night off road rides are a blast, obs not as good as my full sus mtb , but great fun. I also ride it on our roadie club rides and fast Monday night rides, no issues keeping up whatsoever. Easily as quick as my Cervelo and descending is just different class.

[@colinrichards7572]

What I would like to see is the TCR and Revolt tested on the same course, or even better on 3 different courses, with the same wheels/tyres on both bikes (preferably just fit the the Hyper wheels/tyres to the revolt). I think that would be a very interesting test, and answer once and for all whether you can just get away with a gravel bike only, even on a fast club run.

[@davidarthur]

I think this already shows you can get away with just a gravel bike. But if you want to go really fast a road bike still has the advantage

[@onenotesolo256]

@@davidarthur yes but does it really, with the same wheels and tyres and decent gearing. My gravel bike on semi-slicks is pretty much as quick as my road bike. In fact it weighs slightly less as it’s a 1x. I’ve done the same routes and they are very similar for average speed (within 1kph over 1-2 hours). I think there’s a fitness threshold under which the difference is quite close indeed. I average around 30kph for a 100km ride on both bikes, and 32kph-33kph for 50km. The gravel bike only falls away a bit on fast group rides, and that’s my decision to run it 1x. Great video as always, Dave. This road gravel conversation keeps us all entertained as the gravel bikes keep getting more racy at one end of the curve, and then adding suspension at the other end. I get the sense from all the KZbin vids that gravel bikes are getting relatively much better at being fast road bikes than they are at being MTBs, which of course makes sense based on their similarity in frame attributes and geometry. -Edited for typos.-

[@viveksubramanian8141]

hi David, I would like to see narrower tires on the gravel and then revisit the comparison.

[@ctclimberguy34]

I have a 19 Revolt Adv 2. I put some very light weight 40mm CF rims & 28c tires on it & it is fun on the road. Contrary to Shimano specs , I currently run a 11-40 cassette & it is very nice for spinning up steep grades when I have the bike loaded w/ 20lbs of bikepacking gear. My 19 will only fit 42c tires but it has been a great bike, gravel or road; but of course I still want another bike lol.

[@rogercmerriman]

My experience over last few years with the Gravel bike is it’s really close, to the extent I’m not sure at my level I can tell. At least with fast gravel ie not particularly knobby stuff!

[@duncantocher2522]

Would love to see comparison where you use a control set of wheels and tires with the same cassette on both bikes.

[@kippen64]

Nice looking bike. Edited to add that you have sold me on gravel bikes. Next bike is definitely going to be a gravel bike.

[@davidleonard3716]

Love to see your road tyres on the gravel bike and it’s results.

[@CB19087]

Most beautiful frame geometry, the Liv is even nicer 👌

[@U.s.e.r.3493]

Power difference between both rides though...?

[@RobertPaulCantoy]

I have the exact same bike. Fitted 700x35c Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H tires and it flew!!!

[@n22pdf]

Would be great to see a test with the same wheels and tyres 👍🚴

[@joonlee920]

@Pete Franks: I don't see the point of that test; I mean, David's test shows that larger tires and essentially a gravel bike do not translate to slower speeds or that much longer times. If the test is run again with similar wheels and tires, the comparison results are going to be even closer. The point is to dispel the myths that (1) road bikes are the fastest bikes; and (2) larger tires are slower than skinnier tires. Clearly, neither are true.

[@TheArniec91]

Lets see how the gravel bike does with Road Carbon Wheels and Road Tires please

[@garyhocking6947]

The 2020 Revolt Advanced 0 is now my only bike. I have two sets of wheels, one with 40c gravel tires and one set with 28c road tires. When equipped with road tires, the difference from my old road bike seems very, very small. I attribute any difference I feel to the slightly longer wheelbase and about 1 pound weight difference.

[@Rob_33]

Nice video. Would love to see a video where you add a similar spec Defy into the mix and use the same wheel set across all 3.

[@DangerDaveLok]

If you switch to road wheels on the Revolt, wouldn’t it be the Defy then with the flip chips dialed to a shorter configuration?

[@k04s4]

would be great to see a longer comparison with some mixed gravel, rough tarmac and smooth tarmac.

[@xj31]

Your reviews are awesome, and since I ride 3 Giant bikes, your channel is like crack to me. Thank you. I was surprised the Revolt was that close to the TCR. I figured the TCR would kill it on the climb and the Revolt on the descent, but I did not think it would be that close. Cool test, for sure. Your comments on the tires are on the money. I have been riding for about 30 years and 700 x20c was common back in the day. Now my TCR is on 700 x 28c and the comfort difference is huge. The tires definitely are not slower, even though I sure am. I also have a Revolt, 2021 model and my only issue is on the road, it feels a little bouncy due to the flex in the seat post

[@michaelsrealm9365]

I put on a set of hunt wheels with 32c Roubaix tires. It has become a fantastic endurance road machine.

[@bryansmith7490]

I have a 2022 Trek Domane SL 6 etap with 30mm Pirelli p zero race tlr tires and a 2022 Specialized Diverge comp carbon with 32mm Vittoria Corsa Next tires and they are extremely close in speed. Both have upgraded carbon wheels, the Trek has Zipp 303 Firecrest, and the Specialized have Roval terra cl. I enjoy them both for different reasons. I can put the stock rims and wheels (Specialized pathfinder pro 42) on the Specialized and ride gravel. I strictly use my Trek for the rode.

[@tornagawn]

Recently bought a Giant Revolt 1 2021, even putting 28mm Conti 5000 on my Allez Elite, the Giant has the edge for all round performance with the ability to do multi day tours. No5 had that since I sold my Dawes Galaxy touring bike in 1985 (I used to run 23mm tyres on the Spesh……😵‍💫

[@hexyw0w]

I own a Cube Nuroad gravel bike, got myself a 2nd wheelset for it. On the one wheelset i got road tyres (Schwalbe Pro One) and on the other i got my gravel tyres (Schwalbe G-One) . Riding the gravel bike feels awesome with road tyres to me. Its still pretty confy due to the geometry of the bike.To me it feels kinda better then a endurance road bike. (My bike is fitted with a road groupset).

[@DaveCM]

I can basically confirm your findings. If you swapped the wheels over to the gravel bike, it would have been very close. I have a "ride from home after work route" I do a lot. I average between 1/2 to 1 mph slower on my gravel bike. It will vary a bit depending on the tires I had on my gravel bike. The Challenge TLR 42c were the slowest while the Specialized Pathfinder in a 38 was the closest by a lot. I've been tempted to try my road wheels on my gravel bike to see how different it would be.

[@PedroPrego]

That giant revolt with the wheels from the TCR... if that difference goes to a handfull of seconds, then you won't be dropped riding with it in a grupetto. With the huge added bonus of being able to throw down another set of really gravel wheels. Two bikes in one.

[@fivesfish]

Chainrings, sprockets, and groupsets have a big effect on times and speeds, etc.

[@paul_rider]

Of course frame geometry and gearing is relevant. But I here run slicks (30 rear 28 mm front) for road on my Ribble CX SL. I've also got a second set of wheels for off road with the same cassette and rotors with 42 mm knobblies. The road setup is almost as quick as my BMC Roadmachine on 28s or 25s! So I agree one bike with 2 sets of wheels is adequate for most riders.

[@OldGreyPunk]

Lots of 'I can't believe how close they are' comments, as if it's a shock. But the truth is, 99% of riders, on any decent reasonably comparable properly set up bike (and that includes bikes from at least the last 10 years), will not see much difference at all between a £500 2nd hand bike and a brand new £5k (or more) bike. Hype sells bikes..........

[@thilo1berg]

Good video. Yes, it would be interesting for me to see the result of the giant revolt VS with narrow tires. Because I will buy a light gravel bike with the intension to use it as well on the road.

[@jeffthompson3095]

Hi David. Do you still have this bike? I never have seen a subsequent review video. I bought one, in large part because of this video. I really like it, but have seen many reports of cracking seat tubes! Mine is still good after 1300 rough miles. I would like to know what you know about this issue. Did yours crack? Thanks. Your vids are really top notch!

[@davidarthur]

I've heard the reports about the cracked seat tube but I've not had that happen on mine which I've still been riding. Final review is coming soon by the way

[@j.milleraabamsc9400]

The Giant Revolt is an absolute all around bike. That said, head to head against the TCR on paved road, the Revolt doesn't stand a chance. The TCR has better power transfer through the frame and enables a more aero position for the rider. You should ensure your position on the bike and watts are exactly (or very close) the same too

[@ricky7396]

I have 2022 giant tcr advanced pro 0 and have this on order due in July🎉

[@anthonyeaton778]

Great comparison. Are those the 50mm Hyper wheels on the TCR? I'm really considering hitting the buy button on those. For my first carbon wheels on my BMC Teammachine would you recommend them 50mm Hypers? I've also been looking at the Hunt 44UD Carbon Spoke wheels.

[@nikpavlovic2770]

get the hunts, ive got them on my tcr sl, with 28mm tubeless, fantastic performance and looks!

[@vongdong10]

I'd say the hypers are hard to beat for the price. If you want an entry set of carbon wheels then get the hypers.

[@twraia]

Would’ve loved to see how they compare on the same course with comparable power outputs

[@matteocazzaniga3254]

I got a Giant Revolt Adavanced 3 in 2021with a shimano 2x which is so disturbing off road. Now looking for a gravel bike with 1x (sram or campag) and carbon wheels and the choice is between 3T, Orbea and Canyon. The prices are aligned with Giant.

[@MeshalZKhan]

Try the revolt with narrower tires would be nice to see

[@davissenbergs837]

Could you at some point make a review on Revolt alloy version? KZbin is missing Revolt alloy version reviews

[@douglasbarnes1171]

Please do the comparison with road tires. I would be very interested

[@jamestwidale2457]

Thanks for this video David. Been struggling with the next bike question throughout winter. My road bike is great in dry conditions of summer but in a wet and gritty winter, looking for something with disc brakes and that can take some more of the winter road punishment has pushed me toward a gravel/all-road bike. This is really interesting and running slicks 32mm on the gravel bike may be the perfect answer. Gravel vs All-Road, any suggestions

[@ajwitt7472]

This bike. Unless you're seriously racing having this bike and a spare "road" wheelset will be all you need. A few years back I did Ride London on a proper CX bike on Gravelking SKs - mainly because I ran out of time to change the wheelset in the car park. Was agony towards the end - neck and shoulder pain - due to the CX geo. This is way slacker/longer but will be plenty fast enough on the new wide slick tyres we've got - I mean they even do GP5000s in 32mm now,

[@colinrichards7572]

Really wish someone would do a test like this but with the same road wheels and tyres on both bikes. There is loads of talk about 'quuver killers', and I'm sure there are loads of people like me wondering if a gravel bike could replace their 'race bike' without then struggling to keep up on the club run.

[@saschakraemer6793]

would be great to see the time difference at the same power output.

[@PeterSteward]

Would really like to know how the revolt goes on the road with road tyres on the rim, and another complete set of road wheels with a road orientated cassette.

[@renegadeflyer2]

I have a 2 by 10 with compact chain rings on my old gravel bike. I spend most of my time riding gravel, pavement and stone dust trails, with very little single track. As far as my riding goes , its very close to perfect

[@PatrickDelorenzi]

Great video! how much does this bike weigh?

[@robertrunkle2315]

I have this bike…I’ve done a few centuries, gravel bike races, two cyclocross races….with just two wheel sets… it’s so versatile I am starting to neglect my Transition Spur 😢

[@samit4me]

Just recently found your channel, loving it ❤️ Would love to hear your thoughts comparing this to the canyon grizl CF? Looking for a do it all bike, commuting, a bit of road and some longer gravel/bike packing. These two are quite similarly priced and at the top of the list so far.

[@Synthminator]

Narrow tire comparison too! Cheers

[@vongdong10]

Dang, that's a lot of tyre clearance. Perfect do it all bike.

[@peterconlin9002]

Did I miss the update on the Advance 0? I haven’t seen or heard it mentioned since this video.

[@djscars572]

Great video again Dave, it’s very helpful as I have the last years revolt the same model as that, and it’s been fantastic, but I spend 95% of my time on road with it. I’m in the need for a wee bit more speed, and I have been looking at either a pair of Zipp wheels with 32mm road tyres , instead I’d getting a road bike to complement the gravel bike, so test with narrower wheels and tyres would be great, and could save me getting into having two bikes. I worry about comfort on the TCR as I’m running 41psi front and 43psi rear on the revolt and gives great comfort and compliance and it’s been very good appt chasing that top Strava times and it’s handles excellent. But getting a 40mm tyre to last and not blister has been an issue, the Maxxis ones I have like road tyres as poor wearing and blister so easily, I’m not sure what else would be good, as they grip well on road dry, and wet and give good confidence when pushing hard, any good rolling 40mm road tyres I could swap out for?, thanks Derek

[@donadams5094]

Great video, very useful comparison. I've been riding 35mm road tires for some time now, and just love them. I don't race, but for even my hardest efforts and fastest segments, they are every bit as fast, if not faster, than the 28s and 32s I have run previously. My next bike is a Fairlight Secan, a steel gravel bike recommended on this channel. I'm debating between 38s and 40s, and this video may seal it. For me, comfort is king. Not only better for long rides, but with no loss of speed. I ride crappy roads, so even if a wider tire was slightly slower in a sprint or through technical turns, minimizing the abuse I take keeps me strong for longer. Sincere appreciation for David's reviews. They have not only confirmed much of what I thought anyway, they have added to my thinking as well.