However, according to feedback from other riders, the heavier tires had an impact on their riding experience. Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm . At about 30 pounds, the ADV is easily the heaviest bike on our list (not including Cannondales Synapse e-bike, which really is a different category). And the Cannondale Topstone 1 has a StraightShot internal cable routing design. It's built for the rigors of gravel and dirt roads, but it's also right at home on morning commutes and centuries. Moreover, you miss out on a vibration-dampening carbon fork (the Konas is stiffer alloy), and it sports less-powerful mechanical disc brakes rather than hydraulic. 2023 Top 10 City Bike Bell Super Value-For-Money, 27.5 vs 29er Mountain Bikes The Battle Of The Century, Best 20-inch Bikes For 6-13 Years Old Kids Bikes (With Gears), SmartForm C2 Alloy, 12142 thru-axle, tapered headtube, flat mount disc, StraightShot internal cable routing, multiple gear/bottle mounts, BallisTec Full Carbon, 1-1/8 to 1-1/4 steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, flat mount disc, internal routing, 12100 thru axle, Cannondale 3, butted 6061 alloys, 16 deg flare drop, Shimano GRX 400, hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT54 rotors, Formula cartridge bearing, Centerlock, 12x100mm, Formula cartridge bearing, Centerlock, 12x142mm. Another issue is power: if you run out of juice on the trail, itll be a slow and difficult ride back to your car. It looks like a brown tree trunk blended with orange and red fallen leaves, and at the same time mixed with the reflective metallic texture of SmartForm C2 alloy, a gentle yet refined feeling. See the Giant Revolt Advanced 2 See the Women's Liv Devote Advanced 2. Learn more , SmartForm C2 Alloy, 12x142 thru-axle, tapered headtube, flat mount disc, StraightShot internal cable routing, multiple gear/bottle mounts, 300 Series Alpha Aluminium, tapered head tube, Control Freak internal routing, 3S chain keeper, rack and fender mounts, flat mount disc, horizontal sliding dropouts, 142x12 mm thru-axle, BallisTec Full Carbon, 1-1/8" to 1-1/4" steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, flat mount disc, internal routing, 12x100 thru axle, Checkpoint carbon, tapered alloy steerer, rack mounts, mudguard mounts, flat-mount disc, 12x100 mm thru axle, FSA Integrated, sealed cartridge bearing, 1-1/8'' top, 1.5'' bottom, Size: 49, Bontrager Elite, 31.8 mm, Blendr-compatible, 7-degree, 80 mm length; Size: 52, 54, Bontrager Elite, 31.8 mm, Blendr-compatible, 7-degree, 90 mm length; Size: 56, 58, Bontrager Elite, 31.8 mm, Blendr-compatible, 7-degree, 100 mm length; Size: 61, Bontrager Elite, 31.8 mm, Blendr-compatible, 7-degree, 110 mm length, Cannondale 3, butted 6061 alloy, 16 deg flare drop, Size: 49, Bontrager Elite IsoZone VR-CF, alloy, 31.8 mm, 93 mm reach, 123 mm drop, 38 cm width; Size: 52, Bontrager Elite IsoZone VR-CF, alloy, 31.8 mm, 93 mm reach, 123 mm drop, 40 cm width; Size: 54, 56, Bontrager Elite IsoZone VR-CF, alloy, 31.8 mm, 93 mm reach, 123 mm drop, 42 cm width; Size: 58, 61, Bontrager Elite IsoZone VR-CF, alloy, 31.8 mm, 93 mm reach, 123 mm drop, 44 cm width, Bontrager Montrose Comp, steel rails, 138 mm width, Bontrager Comp, 6061 alloy, 27.2 mm, 8 mm offset, 330 mm length, Shimano GRX RX810, long cage, 34T max cog, Size: 49, Shimano GRX RX600, 46/30, 165 mm length; Size: 52, Shimano GRX RX600, 46/30, 170 mm length; Size: 54, 56, Shimano GRX RX600, 46/30, 172.5 mm length; Size: 58, 61, Shimano GRX RX600, 46/30, 175 mm length, Shimano GRX 400, hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT54 rotors, Bontrager Tubeless Ready, 28-hole, 17 mm width, Presta valve, Formula cartridge bearing, Centerlock, 12x100mm, Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, CenterLock disc, 100x12 mm thru axle, Formula cartridge bearing, Centerlock, 12x142mm, Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, CenterLock disc, Shimano 11-speed freehub, 142x12 mm thru axle, Bontrager GR1 Comp, wire bead, 60 tpi, 700x40 c. Love bikes? As their name suggests, gravel bikes are designed to be ridden on surfaces like gravel trails, doubletrack, and forest service roads. Salsas Warbird, for example, has been through many iterations over the years in search of that perfect balance. Cookie Notice All told, Salsas fourth-generation Warbird is an enviable gravel race bike that happily pulls double duty as a lightweight bikepacking rig for weekend trips. What we like about it: SmartForm C2 alloys rugged frame, BallisTec full carbon fork offers three mounting notches and lightweight versatility. Were particularly fond of two tire manufacturers at the moment: WTB and Donnelly. Gravel rigs, on the other hand, tend to be lower and longer for increased stability during fast-paced descents. The whole journey the Topstone 1 just lifted the leaves on both sides and rode the wind. For example, Backcountry and REI often have an additional charge for shipping a bike, although REI offers a free ship-to-store option, which is a great alternative for buyers who want the added benefit of employee advice and expertise. Other notable features include a 1 x 11 drivetrain for ultimate simplicity, multiple mounting spots for racks and gear, and fender mounts for rainy-day commutes. While small, niche bike companies have dominated the gravel race scene for years, this growing category has recently started to attract the big players. Uphill-focused riders that want a twitchy and extremely responsive ride wont like the laidback stance or beefed-up construction, which adds weight. In general, we prefer cross-country shoes and pedals on our gravel rigs. Tell us how tall you are, we'll help you find the right size. In case, the above comments are helpful to you, please remember to share the subscription. Finally, the braking system of theShimano GRX 400 and the 38c tires do not provide the rider with enough stability on slippery surfaces. Learn More: 2022 Cannondale Topstone 4 Review-Can It Give You A Fun Road Experience? Lower your tire pressure by 3 to 5 psi and repeat this process again until you barely feel the item. The Cannondale Topstone 1 is just that. Of note, Specializeds Diverge lineup is expansive, starting at $1,300 and going all the way up to $10,500, so most riders should be able to find exactly what theyre looking for.See the Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon. Formerly Clement, this niche and adventure-oriented company made its name in the tire arena, but in 2018 decided to shift its focus to dedicated cyclocross and gravel bikes. Moots Routt lineup has been around for years, but its the latest YBB version that really caught our eye. In recent years, gravel bikes have become very popular because they offer a lot of versatility for a wide variety of terrain and are perfect for riders who want to go on adventures. Its wired rims also make the tires very strong. Whether you're a new gravel rider looking for adventure, or an experienced cyclist on a budget, the Topstone 105 is well worth a look. The stock front rim on the Topstone weighs 4.1 pounds. And of course, I'll always plug my favorite gravel tire, the Specialized Pathfinder Pro in 42mm. The steel frame and reasonably fast-rolling 700c x 38mm tires make for a comfortable ride on pavement and light gravel, but they also add a lot of weight. Trek and Cannondale are two of the largest bike companies in the world and they both offer lifetime warranties on frame + fork for bikes purchased new, receipt in hand. This is thanks to the agile OutFront steering and Shimano GRX 400 hydraulic disc brakes. While it cant match the racing pedigree of the Trek Checkpoint SL or versatility of the Salsa Warbird above, the Search XR is an impressively capable companion for everything from backroad exploring to daily commutes. If your mountain biking gear budget has been stretched thin and youre tempted to skimp on the helmet, dont. After all, no one wants to have the problem of chain breakage off the beaten track, which will be no small trouble. Gravel, dirt, and single track all have to be taken into account. Most gravel bikes come with one of two popular drivetrain options: 1x (which features a single front chainring and fewer overall gears) or 2x (which has two front chainrings and more gear options). Taking the place of the unique and innovative Slate gravel bike is Cannondale's latest all-road creation: the Topstone. The Topstone 1 has better components. Gravel bikesalso known as adventure or all-road bikesare built to handle terrain ranging from forest service roads to pavement, dirt, and even mellow singletrack. Also, the lack of tire clearance affects grip in mixed terrain. Model 5260845. The canyon is a lost (30mm) longer in front than either bike for toe clearance with fat tires. Its balanced geometry also hits a nice sweet spot of responsiveness for climbs and road riding with a relaxed and confidence-inspiring feel on the descents. It's also 10mm lower front if you want to slam that stem. For pedals, we like Shimano's clipless 520 SPD in particularweve put over 5,000 miles on ours and have been very impressed. A capable, versatile gravel road bike. To achieve this, the Shimano GRX 400 has a flush-mount design that provides us with better control. This provides high-speed efficiency on tough roads and maintains speed even on big climbs. Frame: AluminumGears: 2 x 10Tires: 700c x 40mmBrakes: Mechanical discWhat we like: Solid feature set for those dabbling in the sport.What we dont: Fairly heavy and middling performance overall. In the woods, I can confidently avoid whatever obstacles I encounter. In parsing out the differences, the 650b Kona has wider tires and does a nicer job cushioning impacts on washboard roads, while the narrower and faster-rolling Diamondback is the superior option for commuting and mixing in longer stretches on pavement. Further, when the time comes to replace your tires (or you simply need a different tread pattern that better suits your local terrain), there are significantly more options available in the 700c size. The ideal tire pressure lies between these two extremes, but unfortunately, theres no universal numberthere simply are too many factors to account for, including rider weight, tire width, surface type, and riding style. Retailer prices may vary. I think the difference between them is also the rear derailleur: the Cannondale Topstone 2 is a Shimano GRX 400, while the Cannondale Topstone 1 is a Shimano GRX 810. Other thoughtful features include a rubber downtube protector to ward off high-speed rock impacts and a chainstay guard to help keep the chain quiet on bumpy rides. For more information, please see our The Topstone 1 has better components. Frame: CarbonGears: 2 x 11Tires: 700c x 40mmBrakes: Hydraulic discWhat we like: Rear decoupler does a great job of soaking up bumps while retaining efficiency.What we dont: The suspension increases cost. Over the weekend, I met up with my friends and rode the Cannondale Topstone 1 into the woods around the city. All that said, there are many benefits to purchasing a true gravel-focused bike. That said, buying from Santa Cruz involves paying a premium for the brands attention to detail (all models are admittedly fantastic-looking), strong warranty, and reliable long-term performance. You can now . The bigger contact patch with the ground also translates to increased traction, which can be especially helpful on soft or loose sections of road. Put another way, its the polar opposite of the Evil Chamois Hagar above, which crushes the downhills at the expense of power and efficiency when pedaling. I had been riding at second-gear speed before, but luckily I had Shimano GRX 400 hydraulic disc brakes. Cannondale does have some respectable gravel bikes like the all new Topstone and lefty slinging Slate, but we're a bit confused as to why the Synapse Disc SE bikes are in this category. All that said, theres a reason behind the saying steel is real. In short, its hard to ignore the ride characteristics, burly feel, and long-term durability of a steel build. Straightshot internal cable routing design place of the unique and innovative Slate gravel bike is Cannondale 's latest creation... 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