Is This The Next Step For Gravel Bikes?

[@gcn]

Do you think a drop bar mountain bike is taking things too far in the world of gravel cycling?

[@CycleXplorer]

Not for UK gravel or proper rough stuff. I'm keen to try it on my hardtail at some point.

[@oplkfdhgk]

depends on what kinda riding u do. for snow they are great so if it snow where u live then they are a literal life saver because they can fit very wide studded tires.

[@Crossers76]

It's like a flash back to the late 80's early 90's. Yes I remember people racing on drop bar mountain bikes.

[@afuel4sport]

I would ride it but with a slightly longer stem

[@chrispressdee5747]

the best gravel bike is an xc mtb. with a lock out lever on the bars

[@littleshopofrandom685]

The joke has come full circle I guess. Roadies are now xc racers, who will become trail riders, who will become enduro riders, who will then buy a road bike to get in shape and round and round we go.

[@jelle7224]

Cyclists are cyclists are cyclists.

[@dylan-5287]

Eventually everyone will be riding a dual crown downhill ebike, everyone lol.

[@Matt-fb5xe]

@@dylan-5287 Uh, no.

[@AliasHSW]

Mtb’r here, and start looking at gravels

[@jebleshful]

It always was 90s xc track die hards using modern bikes i guess, maybe 40-60mm light and ero suspension front and back is what gravel is going to end up with...

[@JoeOaken]

Revolutionary! I can't wait to see whats next!? Flat bars? 😅

[@pio7763]

They forget that MTB exists 😂

[@colinricketts1415]

like an old school hybrid bike??

[@johnlieto8906]

😅

[@htonmusic]

that would be a step backwards

[@christopherharmon9336]

Flat bars with bar ends, giving you the "hoods" position?

[@jeskli11]

Not even in a dream I had a thought I would ever see Dylan Johnson on GCN. Love it!

[@FixedundFertig]

I was hoping to see a Backwards Hat Dylan Alter Ego Scene 😅😂 That would be the icing on the cake 😜

[@PepeDalinShow]

😂 me too

[@unklesannjay]

More than that he's actually saying wide tyres ride badly? Goes against the GCN narrative

[@vladislavbares2410]

Took a while but finally GCN caught up with Dylan Johnson! Good stuff!

[@Greg-ht2uv]

Well gcn is across the pond from DJ, so just catching up

[@rampapandiontinling]

For those of us who really are not concerned with cycling categories, it's great we have so much choice in variation to build whatever bike we want these days. It actually erases the categories.

[@birdergirlrs]

I get a kick out of seeing various "Frankenbike" iterations. Experimentation breeds innovation. And most experiments have less than desirable results. But we learn from them. For example, after watching this, I've learned that instead of spending a bunch of money "upgrading" my gravel bike to make it handle rougher terrain, I need a hardtail mtb. Thanks for doing the work for me!

[@ColinKlupiec]

Agree on your comment about innovation. For me, experimenting with switching to 50mm tires on my gravel bike was a small change that made a big positive difference.

[@gcn]

We're glad you found it useful!

[@jenmac287]

Jonny Tomac was an early member of the drop bar club...early 90's

[@tomrodriguez9052]

Flat bars are so much better for breaking and stability for technical riding but can be hard on my wrists for long rides, if you are old like me. I ride a lot of rough roads and gravel and have been going back and forth with bikes. For my riding I've settled in on the Propain Terrel Gravel bike with 50mm tires. and just ordered one. I think that will be the best for my riding adventures. Other will have different needs. Having people like Dylan Johnson, and his willingness to try out things that are different, ultimately grows the sport, even if it's not for everyone. It's great to have choices.

[@PaulJakma]

You can definitely apply a lot more torque with the longer flat bar, if you're using it as a crow-bar to try break things. Good for braking too, when mounted on the bicycle.

[@tomrodriguez9052]

@@PaulJakma Who said anything about torque with the bars? When bouncing around on a steep down hill you get better control with flat bars and the mountain bike breaks, with the one finger levers.

[@gcn]

thanks for sharing your experience :)

[@PaulJakma]

@@tomrodriguez9052 I prefer my mountain bike to not break to be honest. I find that broken mountain bikes don't brake very well.

[@inthebush3]

Dylan Johnson really knows his stuff. His videos are interesting and also funny.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

John Tomac is clapping, thinking better late than never.

[@timpie4456]

Tomac ... my MTB hero. The Father of Gravel .

[@TazioN]

Came here to post that 😁

[@SamMilsomJediMaster]

Thank you. Farmer John strikes back.

[@yawningchasm33]

@@SamMilsomJediMaster i love beacon 🐷🐷

[@webster169]

A bike is a bike is a bike, ride what you want, or have, to where you want, don’t be forced into believing you have to have specific bikes for specific disciplines, if any bike puts a smile on your face then that’s the right bike.

[@hi9580]

Not safe to push a bike beyond it's design.

[@scopie49]

@@hi9580 Any decent bike can do more or less anything. The key is not considering crappy Walmart-style bikes where a full suspension $150 bike says on the sticker that it's not to be used for jumps or anything off trail, really. Idr which bike channel it was but the guy was jumping a gravel bike and hitting insanely gnarly trails that mountain bikes could even struggle with. Gravel might not be ideal for mountain but you can definitely do it. Even a road bike could do mountain stuff. It just wouldn't be ideal because of chain drops and thin tires. Doesn't really make it unsafe, just means it would probably be very unfun. I think tire size has more to do with what a bike can "handle" than anything.

[@briankloft6299]

I have a Niner MCR full suspension gravel bike. On rough gravel races (not mtb courses, just rough roads) I can sit and pedal while others are are having to use their legs for suspension. Also on those same courses I used to finish feeling that my whole body was beaten up when racing on my rigid gravel bike, now my body does not feel beaten up at all. I think there is a difference between a designed for gravel full suspension bike and a mtb with drop bars put on it, specifically the angles. Of course one of the big problems with the Niner MCR is that it is heavy. Good full suspension xc mtb weigh less than the MCR. If they came out with a new lighter MCR I would rush out and buy it.

[@budycelyn]

i have an mtb and gravel bike but i also have a franken bike, "parts bin and cheap frame build i had in my garage" the main ride i do is in between an mtb and gravel ride, the franken bike is a blast. i've timed all my bikes on the route, the mtb is the slowest, gravel bike and franken bike are fairly even but on different sections. Gravel bike sucks on the super rough sections and franken bike is slower on the faster forest road sections but overall even out in time. like Dylan says they are specific to the trail you ride. been following Dylan on youtube for years, shocked to see him on GCN.

[@DayZeroFWD]

We want Dizzle!

[@mxw515]

Absolutely love my Niner MCR with flat bars and Lauf Fork

[@danlewis7678]

Sounds like a sick build! Love my Niners!

[@tinman7551]

I owned the Niner MCR for 3 years. I bought it after watching the GCN video on it. I loved the Bike, Absolutely Loathed the company. The bike was smooth and so comfortable to ride. It was also very heavy and slow compared to a traditional gravel bike. The lock out's for the front and rear suspension were great, but I had a lot of issues with the reliability of them. I also had to replace the rear shock and the Niner help line were horrible to deal with. They didn't even sell replacement shocks or parts and told me to get in touch with the shock manufacturer. Just horrible. In the end I traded it for a Trek Fuel EX. About the same weight with the right tires, so much more comfortable and Trek support are available everywhere in California and are almost always a delight to work with. I've honestly had so many great experiences at over a half dozen or so stores I've visited in the last 6 years. I can't honestly say I miss it. And yeah you trashed that bike, should have gove with a straight gravel for all the reasons you listed. Love the channel.

[@danlewis7678]

Loathed Niner? Odd response. Care to elaborate?

[@BikeNorthSeattle]

GCN. Something I appreciate about you is that it's not about what you cover so much as how you cover it. Thank you for being you. I enjoy your quirky, dry, sense of humor so much!

[@huwleonard9261]

Damn…a 62 year old ahead of my time. I bought a second hand Specialized Epic HT Comp, put Redshift Kitchen sink bars on it and SRAM AXS. That was nearly 2 years ago. Owwwww, hows a pretty boy now then.

[@pgn666]

You have missed the point the whole idea is about NARROW and Aero bars, ie 36cm road bas on Full XC bike

[@stephenbetley9596]

Next big thing? Old 26er hardtail frame with 650b wheels & 45mm tyres, 100mm front sus, and gravel bars. You heard it here first. 😀

[@paulmcilvenny]

In the process of doing that. It’s the future for adventure/commute etc. 🤣👌

[@iansingleton]

My gravel bike is a 2015 Saracen Mantra Elite 650b hardtail mtb. It's now a drop bar 700c rigid fork gravel bike and it rides sweet.

[@Barendol]

I made it first than I heard about it in this comment.

[@JamesSmith-ly2ef]

I will get my 26” Cannondale XC with a lefty out the garage then 😂

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

That sounds like a fun project! I’d better start collecting parts.

[@fretlessed25]

I just put Schwalbe G-One Overland 50mm tires and grips with a built in palm rest on my Trek X-Caliber 8 XC bike and it's my new Gravel Bike with a front shock.

[@robbchastain3036]

Great to see this bike and Dylan, too, Si, and my set-up would be that bike with flat bars with bar ends. And I'd even be okay not to have 3x and cantis. But straight little bar ends are a non-negotiable for that hood-like feel as I storm to a participation ribbon in the over-60 class. 😀

[@gcn]

ok but carbon bar ends

[@CycleXplorer]

Hard tail drop bar gravel bikes have clocked up some pretty good results in ultra races. Keen to convert my hard tail. I just feel we will soon have the flat bar gravel bike with 100mm front forks and then it'll have gone full circle ⭕️ 😂

[@Paulklampeeps]

Gravel races replaces almost all the xc marathons we used to see back in the early 2000s 2010s

[@oplkfdhgk]

yes hardtail dropbar is good.

[@oplkfdhgk]

maybe suspension seatpost with lockout would work better for this type of riding because it's likely more aero.

[@nellyx1x493]

Yup, I've been riding this type of bike for a decade. Sub 20lbs, narrow semi-slick, goes well anywhere. Surprisingly not even shabby on the road given how many roadies I've dusted on it.

[@Livi70590]

I do find it quite interesting that at exactly the same time, GCN have put out a video about buying a mountain bike, and GMBN have a video about buying a gravel bike.

[@Eric.V.]

Marketing departments laughing all the way to the bank…

[@richardpeet6829]

For 5 years I've been riding a Hard Tail on everything but never feeling centered in either GCN or GMBN. Great to see GCN is starting to come around. Now if GMBN will start to experiment with gravel tires...

[@deividasb]

I'm a cross country rider and ride a 120mm cross country hard tail. I've followed lots of gravel riders in my local forest (Epping forest) and while they are really fast I'm able to keep up and usually they seem much more wobbly on gravel, take corners slower and slower decending.

[@Sozzled39]

A good hardtail MTB can keep up with/leave for dust a gravel no problem off road, and OK it's a bit slower on the road, but who cares. I've never really seen the point of gravel bikes.

[@TheCrazywiener]

In my youth I was an amateur road racer. Quite a few years later I got into mountain biking, mostly because riding on public roads got a little bit stressful and dangerous. But that flat bar forced me into a one only position, so I got myself those little horns at the ends of the bar and it got way more relaxing and fun. Those are somewhat out now, what a shame. I always thought, that drop bars would be a blast. Just a little bit wider and there you have it: you can`t climp the Everest on a single trail and the Tour de France is also not in reach with that setup, but in my opinion everything in between is possible ! Keep on rolling !😁

[@adamabbas8876]

When you convert a MTB to a drop bar gravel. I think you need to use a frame that is a size smaller. Otherwise you end up with a ridiculously short stem.

[@thomasVerne]

I actually like the idea of drop bar mountain bikes, also that bike looks seriously cool

[@WoWOmegor]

Are you blind

[@lawrencehallett5669]

Should have kept it a hard tail with a sus seat post. Wider bars would help too, as well as being able to use the lock out.

[@WartalesinSkyrim]

I transformed my 27.5+ mtb to a 2.8 inch monster gravel bike, got a big front chain ring, handlebar and grip swap. Its now super comfy and strong. Ride my kids trailer, ride all my groceries around (20kg+), commute pretty fast 40kms a day and I can still do mountainbiking... albeit not in the mud. Monster gravel bikes are super versatile.

[@jezworld]

Marketing marketing marketing. We have now gone full circle. We'll start to add MOAR travel to the suspension, add wide bars (cos of more precise steering when it gets technical) and add some nice angled bar thingies to the end of the flat bar - we could call them 'end bars' - to help with honking up hills. Oh and then we could introduce bars that have some rise in them?

[@TheArimatheus]

Yeah, they're the same damned bikes they sold us in the 90s, now they're selling us the bikes from the 00's.

[@mysteriousMatchStick]

Bar ends aren't just for use in going up hills they are an essential second hand position when using flat bars on long trail rides. Long live bar ends.

[@fuzzi1002]

​​I never stopped using them😊@@mysteriousMatchStick

[@peterjanovcik9973]

A pro tip here: Always carry a bit of gravel in your back pocket in case there is none to ride on

[@guitarburke]

I’ve repurposed my 2014 Trek Top Fuel MTB as my gravel rig. The geometry is no longer competitive with current MTB events, but the relatively upright geometry is perrrfect for gravel!

[@RicardoRocha-lg1xo]

“Facts don’t care about your feelings” - Dylan Johnson??!!

[@mtthwng]

Poilievre

[@christopheparisse9499]

Like Dylan said, sometimes it's the most efficient solution. And yes for some people a full suspension bike with drop bars could be great. Obviously not a major market, but the bike was nice like that. I liked it.

[@darrinschwarz7446]

I have road bike bars, mountain bike wheels, and gravel tires on a hybrid frame. Have I covered everything?

[@nellyx1x493]

As someone who's been riding a front sussed hardtail as a sort of XtremGrav build for the last decade... there's a big elephant in the room here with the above sort of bike... The running costs are stupid. Most gravel riders will be putting loads more hours in than would be normal for a mtb, service intervals for forks can be short, add pivot wear and a rear shock to service and no thanks - except for an outlier event build, it doesn't make sense. A racey XC hardtail can be lighter than a gravel bike, but it'll likely cost x2. The biggest takeaway from ten years of riding the same sort of bike that these Unbound type outliers are gravitating towards is that something like a 2.1 Schwalbe Thunderburt is not a slow tyre, in fact it'll have lower rolling resistance than many treaded narrower gravel tyres. Rigid gravel with a high volume (48-50C) supple casing tyre will be the way to go for most.

[@thedownunderverse]

By rigid you mean fully? Hard tail and no front sus? If so I totally agree!!

[@nellyx1x493]

@ yeah, I mean rigid frame and fork, either flat bar or drop- with big supple tyres. Add a short travel fork for rougher trails, but in my experience the wear and tear on lightweight suspension components and usual short service intervals get annoying if you’re clocking up the miles in all conditions.

[@jcmgc]

I own a Terra, and I love it. I ride Gravel, cyclocross, and some single track on it and it’s a blast. I live with there are a lot of steeper hill so I chose a 2x so I don’t need to run a 28 tooth front ring. I do think a Laufy with a different stem and flared drop bars would make a pretty sweet gravel bike. I also have an Occam Because I do like to occasionally play on some flow trails, trails. I really love technical x-and the Occam is a nice compromise.

[@joshuaedwards15]

I love the fact that you are willing to disagree with a sponsor to give an option.

[@JordanPalfrey]

I think if you put some bar tape on it that didn't look like it was 5 years old, it would probably look alright!

[@melihakdogan]

as a bike shop owner i was doing that builds for fun couple of years ago. It is funny to see some people build them to sell.

[@chrisgregson3626]

The bicycle industry never fails to amaze. All this 'innovation' that is essentially leading the consumer back to the kind of riding experience they could have had in the early 1990's - little or no suspension, tyres that aren't that fat, drop bars. Why is the cycling community so excited by gravel bikes? There are so many better options, I don't get it at all. Which niche will be exploited next? A bike you can only ride on wet leaves on a Tuesday in October? A bike with only one pedal? Give me strength.

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

When I was young, I used to race cyclo-cross in the winter .. and it was deeply uncool ... but rebrand basically an all road road bike from cyclo-cross to Gravel and the World exploded for it ... I blame the Americans

[@AntiMatterDeathray]

Except for the fact that those bikes in the 90s were generally sucked compared to most bikes now. If those early bikes had completely nailed braking power, geometry, components, comfort, then nobody would have continued to tinker.

[@chrisgregson3626]

​@@AntiMatterDeathrayWell yes, they were worse, but it's the same basic blueprint is my point.

[@cruachan1191]

For me the appeal of gravel bikes is versatility. I only have one bike and I can ride it on roads, cycle paths and light trails comfortably. I didn't much like riding a flat bar bike (started off riding an old hardtail MTB) and it wasn't geared for road riding obviously. In an ideal world I'd have more bikes for different things, but that isn't an option and a gravel bike covers the most ground, at least for my use anyway.

[@goodeggnoggs]

Square wheels next...they might not feel faster but they are..ok!?

[@robertparry8725]

I've got a Giant Talon 2 with 27.5" wheels. Initially I cut 35mm off each side on the ridiculously wide handlebars (yes, wide ones on a full suspension MTB, but not needed on a hardtail. They just tire out your shoulders) Then I put 3T Superergo dropbar on it. And a Selle SMP TRK dropnose saddle. And a set of WTB Riddler 42mm tyres for some speed It's obscenely comfortable to ride, I can sit on it all day. Quick (or as quick as I need it to ever be), responsive, not tiring. Yes, it looks ungainly. But damn, I can cover some distance on it and still feel good

[@peterknight7880]

I've had a 40mm travel suspension fork on my gravel bike for about 18 months now and I'm not going back! If you ride mostly off road, you need some front squish. For the future, I predicted a return to the 'soft tail'. We will see several gravel bikes sporting around 20-40mm of travel in the form of frame flex enabled by a small shock or elastomer. (Also, cool to see DJ on GCN.)

[@PaulJakma]

I also went "up" from a rigid gravel bike to one with a 40mm fork (Rudy XPLR). It's a revelation. Especially over rougher forestry roads with chunky gravel it makes a huge difference, first in terms of control, and then - as the KMs get on - in reducing fatigue.

[@pex3]

Yeah I agree with this. I think we will see tiny travel rear shocks as well at some point, just below the top tube like an XC bike, and that it will move from just being for racing and into appealing to people looking for more smoothness and longer rides. I'd pay great money for a 50mm steel short travel full suspension gravel bike 😂

[@JoseValdes78]

Been using mine for 6 years now, not a single regret. I love road (and own a dedicated bike) and i was tired of MTB due to slowness and being in an age where I cant be too dare on descents, so I modified my MTB bike to make it more Cross or Gravel instead of buying a new one! Even changing my handle bar to road one!

[@davetbassbos]

RoadThatHasntBeenStuckTogetherVeryWell Bikes are the Future!

[@yanniskoulouridis1805]

I actually think a drop-handlebar mountain bike is a really great idea. I always wanted to do this to my old mountain bike but never got the time and money to do so. Maybe I will after this video :) I do think though that adding on a normal gravel bike suspended handlebars and suspended seatpost (for example something like the Redshift ShockStop system) is a much cheaper and very elegant way of accomplishing a similar feeling without creating a Frankenstein.

[@gcn]

Thanks for your opinion, let us know if you do your own Frankenstein bike

[@milybanily]

Circle completed. John Tomac is back.

[@WDMandre]

After 3 years with gravel, upgrades with hydraulic brakes and GRX drivetrain, with dropper post and Fox gravel fork, my conclusion is: Buy older XC carbon hardtail with pike fork 27,5 wheels and put on it drop bars :D cheaper and well working solution. That would be my next build :D Best combination of bikes to own that work for me: One light carbon allmoutain or enduro for parks and riding around (I have Ibis Ripmo), one electric enduro for winter and days when you dont have energy (definitely it would be Cube Stereo One 77 with 800Wh and mulett setup which will cover my needs for moutains around and fun during winter rides in snow), one gravel for long rides, for traveling, for riding to work and so on. (Currently I have custom build Specialized Diverge- as mentioned- dropper post, suspension fork- I would prefer Lauf and GRX drivetrain)

[@MichaelLargent]

I actually ride a flat bar gravel bike with a suspension stem and seatpost. Feels responsive and nimble but chills out the roughest terrain without all the weight and squishiness.

[@yumyumhungry]

The tour divide is another ultra race where a drop bar mountain bike is the norm. There are sections that are just far too gnarly for a gravel bike but it's mostly long dirt roads

[@BarrioBarranco1]

I made an old 26" Carrera into one of these with some (what were decent) Recon Race 100mm forks and 2.1" gravel tyres.... Gravel is fine if you are on relatively smooth off road like fire roads etc, murder on anything beyond that it's worse than 90's rigid MTB even due to being leaning over and narrow bars, I find it is murder for whiplash and neck issues on anything even moderately rough...Then again I'm getting old that might be a problem lol

[@trykpaa]

Tried it, similar conclusion 😊 If nothing else a great illustration on how much geometry matters to the feel of a bike. Road, gravel and MTBs just feel very different, even if position is the same.

[@jramirezar]

Install a corner bar and use the MTB components, a lot cheaper and just enough drop bar for the MTB to be fully rideable

[@yamric]

My first gravel bike was a 2013 Salsa Fargo 29er mountain bike with drop bars. Today, I am riding a 2022 Orbea Terra.

[@aaroncharlton7775]

Slinging that around Hamsterley you would get some very funny looks, all for it 😂

[@mpvsystems9302]

I've been following Dillon's experiments for a few years now and I definitely agree with his finding that there is no single approach for all conditions. A XC bike with drop bars (with or without suspension) is faster on rough courses. For everything else, a nice light CX bike is faster than a regular gravel bike in my experience. Current gravel bikes seem to be compromise. Each year many of my club mates are increasing the size of their tires and repeatedly having to replace their entire bikes to fit larger these. I either ride my CX bike or my drop bar XC bike ( with no suspension) depending on the route...and I always seem to be at the front LOL

[@PereAndreuUbachdeFuentes]

Just on point: Gravel is just a way to make fully rigid vintage mountain bikes from the 90's more expensive, but not better. That's why I keep my vintage steel mountain-bike from the 90's (with bar-ends, of course!). And I love it more and more.

[@markrskinner]

I've ridden on road to and from my local gravel trail on a hardtail, FS and my 35mm tyred gravel bike. I don't ride the first two much these days.

[@tom_tom_k98]

so you mean gravel bike better than hardtail ?

[@THR-zf6ti]

That looks like my 2001 Specialized Stumpjumper Cross Country with 28'' wheels and a dropbar...🤣 ... OK I wrote this on the first view - it is a mountain bike... I have simply 4 bikes: A Gravel with narrow tires for commuting and kind of racing, Gravel with wider tires for forest fun, my old MTB for mountains and an indoor spinning bike for nasty weather like today 🥶🌧

[@bobfoster687]

Dylan finally getting recognition!!!

[@hi9580]

Gravel with future shock (20mm travel) on both front and rear is where it's at.

[@BrawndoDrinker]

Waiting for the Commencel Supreme v5 Gravel Edition!

[@on2play736]

Same bike, but hyper flared drop bars will feel closer to flat handlebars. That's what I have on my gravel bike

[@mattbibbings]

Every hater: "That's just a (insert similar bike design here), and it has all been done/It's all a con/I refuse to be duped/emperors new clothes!" Rational cyclists: "That's just a bike. I like bikes. Bikes are good"

[@kaltonian]

Gravel bikes are reverting into mountain bikes more & more, i am currently building a gravel bike using a 2009 scott mbk frame, and it's looking good with a respectable weight, only downside is having to use a smaller wheel size, but i don't think will be a problem, not sure to put on suspension of straight forks, the frame came with suspension forks but they do add weight to it,

[@robertforbes6083]

I honestly can see a use for a drop-bar mtb. I don't have smooth gravel roads in my area. I have torn up forest service roads. Thousands of miles of them. There have been many times where I've wanted suspension on my gravel bike and have to keep my speed in check coming down hill, just because my tires aren't really making good contact with the ground and I feel out of control. On the other hand, I think a drop-bar mtb would give up quite a bit of efficiency to a gravel bike on smooth roads and pavement. Everything is a compromise.

[@squngy0]

Drop bars and flat bars aren't the only kinds of handlebar that exists. Something similar to "Surly Corner bars" might be better for this case, and you would be able to keep the MTB shifters and breaks.

[@MrAlexshellard]

Come on guys catch up the MTB guys beat you too it! I ran last years dirty reiver 200km on a 26inch ridged drop bar mtb last year, my longest ride at the time, manged some of the mtb trails with ease for my training up there beating gravel bikers. Sus stem and post and fantastic. Now ive got mtb and a 29er with drops for the next one, really not hard to take a sized down mtb and use drops on it. What your missing is with sus you can use aeros on gravel. Planning on the dr200, dead water 100 and 109 cyclone on the same bike (for charity) with just swapping tires, dare you guys to join me.

[@tomtiehatten4346]

Have done a 'project' like this because first of all I don't like flat bars and I wanted te know if I could get a bike together by myself. I think it doesn't matter what kind of bike you ride, as long as it's good for you and how you are riding it. For me a mountainbike with drop bars works great, it's way more comfortable than my gravel bike and when the terrain is getting really rough and a gravel bike is not enough it's very nice to ride.

[@Shopsmith10er]

Try not to overthink that prototype. Also, you can keep your e shifters. Six years ongoing with a 29er carbon hardtail, front susp w/lockout. Keep it simple, robust and crash worthy. Flat bar but added vintage Scott drop bar ends though mounted 'inboard'. Two different wheelsets quick swap, prepped for application or event. Bonus is quick on/off full kit for bike packing.

[@marcuspartridge11]

I LOVE when you collaborate with other youtubers that I follow! Next, you really need to reach out to Vegan Cyclist!

[@keepingtherubberdown5715]

You can always take that Manitou Front Suspension and change it to 80MM instead of 120 and see how it feels. Firm it up a bit and bam, would be a hot ride. Although I think the front end would drop a bit.

[@agrmbl]

We like gravel bikes for stiff frame. Dual suspension would kill power transfer.

[@johnnyloco11]

imo the likes of redshift give enough suspension for much less cost/weight or the vast majority of these scenarios

[@cadellhe]

Just as I have built one this comes out

[@deadcandisco5974]

This is definitely the future of gravel, maybe not full sus, maybe just a hardtail frame with gravel specific spec. I'm in the process of building one now. You would have had a much better experience if you had the lockout options available, or didn't have a full sus bike. Rockshox now makes electronic suspension that automatically locks out your suspension as you need it, no lockout levers required. You don't even have to think about it. It automatically detects when it needs to be locked out. Also, I believe having a longer dropper post option, due to a short seat tube giving you more drop, can make you more stable and aero on steep descents, and the boost hub spacing will make your wheels stronger and more stable at speed. We are already seeing boost hub options on some gravel bikes. Just my opinion. I guess I'll find out when I'm done with my build.

[@gcn]

Nice stuff, with luck with your build

[@stevegoss7600]

Drop bars are way more functional and comfortable on my arthritic wrists. The older I get, the more I appeciate a bike with compliance that can go almost anywhere and everywhere all day long with efficiency and do it for hundreds of miles over many days. I currently ride a Trek Checkpoint with a Fox tapercast fork and I love going on multi-day bikepacking tours from airbnb to airbnb with this rig. If Trek comes out with a full sus gravel bike I will grab that thing faster than you can say "Shut up and TAKE MY MONEY"

[@rogersimmons8788]

The next phase will be 'Oh yes, I remember the marketing departments ramming gravel bikes down our throats'

[@Mavczers]

I think that drop bar mtb is the same way as flat bar road bikes. If you find it look fancy and you love it - do it! If you don't, then don't make others suffer because of it.

[@unklesannjay]

10:51 Dylan Johnson saying "wide tyres are going to feel shit and slow" is quite hilarious. How many people have been duped into buying them thinking it will improve their riding experience! Let's keep bikes exciting

[@nilochoye]

I love those old school looking manitou forks

[@jramirezar]

There is a race in Colombia - South America called Transcordilleras, this year it was won by Laurens ten Dam using an Epic World Cup with drop bars... Last year finished second using a proper gravel bike, Diverge I think...

[@tanderson278]

For about 15 years I used 2 MTBS I bought in the mid 1990s. But I couldn't replace them, because in that time, the design, geometry and components had changed so much, I couldn't ride them, because they are now too different from my road cycles. Extreme gravel bikes are the relacement to my 1990's MTB 👍

[@macaron3141592653]

I think the issue is the lack of progression from a full race bike to a mountain bike. This and also niner full suspension bike makes alot of sense, and gravel bikes that are literally just endurance road bikes with tire clearance also make sense, especially for myself who occasionally goes on flat trails. So I dig it.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Si and crew . No dropper seat post ? Horses for courses , eh ?

[@stevekelly6544]

Drop bar XC MTB’s are fun for sure- Drop bar rigid Adventure MTB’s are also fun and have a place….

[@paulcurotto3884]

Years before even MTB’s were brought out riders used to do off roading/ gravel riding on good dependable do it all touring bikes and had immense fun and adventures on them.

[@elnebuloso9391]

Welcome back CC MTB as it used to be before Red Bull Rampage. 😊

[@timbetts7377]

Reminds me of my Santa Cruz Superlight of 20+ years ago !

[@talos935]

Full sus drop bar is a bit overkill for suspension. Hardtail or full rigid with some big fat tyres can work

[@ianfurqueron5850]

It's an idea... I can imagine a few uses for such a bike, but it would definitely be one of the less frequently ridden bikes in my stable - that already has too many bikes I don't ride often enough.

[@MatthijsPlender]

The one of Laurens ten Dam of the 2nd place of the divide was 👌🏻. This one looks more like a frankenstein.

[@KwadSkwad]

I did unboud 200 in 2022 on an XC MTB (Orbea Alma) with drop bars.. it's not new, it's just getting more mainstream. It was doable, but the actual gravel bike I have now is way more comfortable.

[@michiganstate149]

An epic World Cup, Lux or Supercaliber with lockouts or flight attender would be great. Can run MTBs if needed but can also do 45s or so with mud clearance.

[@stuartclarkson4102]

I’ve got an orbea oiz with surly corner bars and 40mm gravel tyres and I love it. Sorry not sorry 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jeanclaude631]

The Wilier Adlar with a Rock Shox Rudy and a SRAM Red XPLR groupset. That is what I want.

[@Ginder0815]

I have an orbea OIZ and a Canyon Grail. I use my Gravel 80% on streetlike ground and my OIZ is used 80% on loose ground. No need to change anything.

[@timverkoyen8742]

I would love this bike 👏