Unbound Gravel was a hotbed of unreleased new bike technology this year. We spotted an unreleased SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13-speed groupset, a COROS bike computer with 90+ hours of battery life, a new racing kit and new wheels.
We’ve also seen new bikes, including a Giant prototype, which we’re pretty sure is the new top-of-the-line Revolt.
This bike was ridden by Australian Brendan Johnston, aka Trekky, of the Giant Factory Team in the men’s elite 200 mile race. Johnston finished 15th after an impressive performance in a «brutal» race that saw him suffer three flat tires.
(Photo: Anne-Marije Rook)
Giant is staying mum on the details of the new bike, but here’s what we do know:
Giant introduced the Revolt gravel bike ten years ago, and since then several iterations have been released, addressing the need for increasingly capable and faster off-road horses.
The flagship model of the range, the Revolt Advanced Pro, has pushed the limits of weight while achieving a balance of compliance and capability with speed and race geometry.
Innovations in the last few iterations include:
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– Flip chip rear dropout that allows riders to adjust the wheelbase to fine-tune handling for different types of terrain.
– Lowering the seat joints with thinner diameter tubes to improve rear end compliance.
– Proprietary D-Fuse seat mount designed to reduce shock and vibration from rough surfaces.
Many of these technologies appear to be present in this prototype as well.
At first glance, the biggest change is the addition of storage space in the downtube — a growing trend in gravel bikes and something riders, not racers, are looking for, Giant found.
Incorporating the tank into the down tube involves more than simply cutting a hole in the carbon. There are complex design elements to consider, including designing an access door or cover, hinges and latches, ensuring the compartment and contents do not interfere with internal cable routing and, of course, the structural integrity of the downtube. To compensate for the cutout, manufacturers have to add extra material, which means this new prototype may not be any lighter or even as light as its predecessors.
(Photo: Anne-Marije Rook)
Internal frame routing is also new. Internal routing isn’t the easiest for home mechanics to work with, but it creates clean—perhaps even more aerodynamic—lines and allows riders to attach accessories without tangling cables.
The D-Fuse seat and flip-chip are also present on this prototype, but the addition of the UDH interface is missing. Introduced by SRAM in 2019, the Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standardizes the derailleur mounting interface on different bicycle frames, with the aim of improving shifting performance and increasing system robustness.
(Photo: Anne-Marije Rook)
The UDH interface is required to run the new SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13-speed derailleur we spotted, which the Trekky, despite being a SRAM-sponsored athlete, couldn’t take advantage of. Although using the new SRAM red shifter levers, carried over from the recently released SRAM Red road set, the Trekky has to settle for a SRAM mullet build consisting of a 1x chainring up front and a 12-speed mountain bike derailleur. shifter and Eagle cassette in the back. It is not yet known if this bike, once commercially available, will have a UDH interface.
New SRAM red brake levers
(Photo: Anne-Marije Rook)
The cockpit on Trekky’s bike appears to be CADEX’s Aero Integrated Handlebar, a $699 upgrade that we’re guessing won’t be standard on commercially available bikes, or perhaps only on high-end models.
For his scouting rides, Trekky ran CADEX AR 35 Disc Tubeless gravel wheels with carbon spokes and wrapped in 50mm Pirelli Cinturato tires with plenty of clearance.
(Photo: Anne-Marije Rook)
As with the current model, the prototype sport accessory is placed on the top and down tubes.
Again, Giant wouldn’t reveal anything about this other than what we could see with our own eyes, but we’re sure it will be announced later this season. Stay with us.
(Photo: Anne-Marije Rook)