Gravel bikes aren’t just a clever marketing scheme, nor a bike aimed solely at Instagram-loving hipsters, these are machines that can conquer just about any kind of terrain, epitomising the term ‘all-road’. Giant’s new Revolt Advanced is turning its back on a smooth life out on the road, swapping it for a wild ride across the gravel and dirt with its sublime gravel-grinding design and components. Think you’re ready to crush some gravel?
The do-anything bike
Making its debut at this year’s Dirty Kanza 200 gravel extravaganza, the Revolt Advanced certainly had heads turning. A super slick, carbon adventure machine that could squeeze into a pair of 45mm tyres was sure to stand out from the pack, and stand out it did.
It’s a true ‘do-anything’ bike but with the super lightweight and stiff carbon frame to match the fastest road racers, setting it apart from many other bikes in the gravel market. Giant describe how the bike is specifically designed for “versatility, compliance and long-distance efficiency on adventurous terrain including roads, gravel and dirtâ€. In other words, it’s a gravel-grinding beast and the perfect bike for a race like the Dirty Kanza.
Equipped with a host of new features and key performance factors integrated into the design and build, the Revolt is just about ready for anything – if you can dream it, you can ride it.
Honing gravel performance
Going faster over gravel requires a totally different kind of bike compared to those designed for speed on the roads. Frames needn’t be quite as stiff, championing a smooth comfortable ride over a super stiff one. The Revolt Advanced takes this into account, its Advanced composite frame maximising pedalling power and efficiency, while also ensuring all-round versatility thanks to its smooth and accommodating ride feel.
Compliance is another big feature of a gravel bike and thanks to Giant’s innovative Contact XR D-Fuse handlebar and D-Fuse seatpost, shock is absorbed while also maintaining stiffness, keeping the bike aggressive and ready to race. Further compliance is added with wide tyre clearance which allows for high-volume 45mm tyres to be fitted to the bike. These fat tyres eat up the road below, smoothing it out for an all-round more comfortable ride.
Just like it is on road bikes, geometry is crucial to how gravel bikes feel, ride and even race. The Revolt Advanced has been designed with an all-new, unique gravel-riding geometry that features endurance positioning and shorter chainstays. The more upright positioning is perfect for longer events, allowing you to stay comfy for a whole lot longer. Combine this with the shorter chainstays and you’re left with a bike that can turn on a dime and stay upright in all manner of dicey situations, from steep gravel switchbacks, to hair-raising dirt descents.
Extra gravel-grinding features
Disc-brakes are a must on gravel bikes and the Revolt Advanced is no exception, Giant opting for a pair of flat-mount, integrated disc brakes that promise sublime braking performance, no matter the weather or road condition. The Revolt Advanced also features a smart mounting system, making it easier to equip racks, fenders and bike bags for the tourers and randonneurs amongst you.
As well as the D-Fuse technology described above, the Revolt Advanced also benefits from a few other, unique performance-enhancing technologies, namely the Powercore bottom bracket and Megadrive downtube. Both features are massively oversized, allowing for unprecedented steering and pedalling stiffness, while also minimising weight.
The Revolt Advanced will be available in a top-end Revolt Advanced 0 model and an entry-level Revolt Advanced 2 model. If you’ve been tempted by the gravel-grinding Revolt Advanced then be sure to pop into one of our stores to test one of these monsters out for yourself, or drop us a quick email to enquire about their availability.
