This one is out of control, as is the press release, and aren’t we a day early for April Fools? Are you ready for this one, penned by the maniacs over in Colorado at Guerrilla Gravity? Read on below.
#gravel-bike
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Radar
Introducing Fustle Bikes and Their Causeway GR1 Gravel Bike
Fustle Bikes is a new brand out of the UK, bringing MTB design and pedigree to the world of gravel bikes. Their flagship model, the Causeway, features a modern fit, with a 69º head angle, a 73º seat angle, 430mm stays, and a longer reach. The Causeway is designed to be ridden with a shorter stem, much like a modern mountain frame and comes in three sizes, S/M, M/L, L/XL with a fourth, XS/S coming in September 2020.
Features:
– 6061 Aluminium frame, (tested to ISO 4210 MTB Certification)
– Full UD Carbon Fork and Steerer
– 12x142mm and 12x100mm axle spacing
– Dropped Top Tube for dropper-post compatibility
– Internal Cable routing and dropper post routing
– 31.6mm Seat post diameter
– Tyre clearance for 700x50mm (650x 2.1”)
– Red, Green, or Blue frameset color options
– Frameset £849.99, build kit similar to as shown £1999.99 with plenty of upgrades from Shimano, Pro, Hunt, ENVE, DT Swiss.
Check out more information at Fustle Bikes and see more photos below!
Radar
What Bikes Would You Like to See Reviewed Here?
So as you can imagine, the contributors to the Radavist are all sitting on a bit more free time these days, myself included. While personally, I still have a few bikes to review, which will be rolling out over the next few weeks, we’d all like to queue up a few more. Over the years, the readership has provided outstanding feedback, and with those opinions, we’ve reviewed various bikes from big brands to small. We’re all collectively wondering which bikes you’d like to see reviewed here on the Radavist? Drop your preference in the comments and we’ll take note!
Radar
Panaracer GravelKing Tires in Limited Edition Colors
Panaracer’s dominating gravel tire, the GravelKing is now available in a variety of colors, including these three limited-edition tires. The gold, purple, and olive GravelKings are now available for pre-ordering at your local dealer, with either black or brown sidewalls. Prices begin at $49.99. Head to Panaracer to see the full lineup!
Radar
Kindhuman’s Made in Canada Gravel Bike: the Don
Named after Toronto’s Don River Valley Park, KindHuman’s newest bike is handmade in Canada using lightweight 7000 Series Italian oversized aluminum tubing. With versatility in mind, the Don dons rack and fender mounts, internal cable routing, and room for 42c tires, offering up practical, modern design, with a customizable package. You can design your Don with its own paint, bar tape, and build kit. Pricing begins at $1,899 for a complete bicycle as shown! Head to KindHuman to see more!
Reportage
Shifting the Paradigm with the Titanium Knolly Cache
Are you ready for the next paradigm shift in drop bar bikes? In news that will come with little to zero surprise, this same shift began in the mountain bike world nearly a decade ago. It took a while for people to jump on the bandwagon, but once they were on, the entire industry figured it out. Now it’s drop bar’s turn. Here we go with the titanium Knolly Cache.
Radar
Dave Weagle on the Evil Bikes Chamois Hagar
Yesterday’s post was a hoot! Evil really created a divisive bike! While our comments were pretty calm, our Instagram got out of hand! A friend sent me this post yesterday and I thought I’d share it for those looking for more insight on this bike!
“The Chamois Hagar is an outlier though. I hated my previous road bikes. Too sketchy, twitchy, felt like an accident waiting to happen. So, around the spring of 2015, I came up with some geometry and specs to make a “road” bike that riders like me would immediately understand and be able to ride.”
If you’re curious about who designed the Chamois Hagar, then head to Dave’s Instagram!
Reportage
The Gravel Antichrist: the Evil Chamois Hagar Gravel Bike Parties Hard
Now, I’m not a religious person, but I did grow up in a Christian church, so I am well aware of the characters, entities, and symbolism that exists in the Bible. Using the word “Antichrist” in the title of this review will ruffle some feathers, but hear me out. If we look at the phrase metaphorically, the Antichrist is opposition to the status quo, said to appear before the end of the world. Now, reading the reactions to this bike online, many would have you believe it is the harbinger of doom for the gravel world and ya know what? If that is the case, burn it down because the Chamois Hagar is exactly what the gravel world needs…
Reportage
Her Knight in Shining Armor: Brenda’s Otso Warakin Stainless
Returning to Minneapolis from my solo bike trip in Scotland, the last thing on my mind was riding bikes. Turns out pushing your fat bike through rivers, bogs and pouring rain for three weeks makes you want to never look at a bike again. I needed a break and I had planned on recovering by a lake for the rest of the summer. That is until I received an email that my new gravel adventure bike was ready in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Reportage
What It’s Designed For: Matt Acker’s Very Muddy Mid South Salsa Stormchaser SSGX
As you can imagine, the Mid South was intense this year. Between the Corona Virus pandemic and the weather, the team running the race had to scramble to adjust to the ever-changing circumstances. At the last minute, our coverage team decided to pull the plug, and we didn’t get a whole lot from the weekend, but luckily Jared Harber was able to shoot Matt Acker‘s winning Stormchaser. I wish we could have also shot Hannah Finchamp and Payson McElveen’s winning bikes, but as I said, it was a chaotic event!
This bike was just about the only thing Jared shot from the weekend and while we didn’t really get a lot of other coverage, we have a few things that we’ll be sharing shortly. I really wanted to share not only Jared’s amazing photos but Matt’s thoughtful insight into his build, which he rolled into 8th position, so read on below.
Radar
Cinelli’s King Zydeco Frameset Clears a 2.1″ Tire and Features a Dual Rake Fork
Over the years, Cinelli has addressed trends within the cycling industry and their latest is the King Zydeco frameset, an update to the original Zydeco which was launched a decade ago. A lot has changed in ten years. Back then ‘cross bikes were “gravel” bikes and disc brakes on drop bar bikes were still working out all the kinks.
The King Zydeco has tire clearance on-par with other offerings in the field. The frameset’s double dropped chainstays allow for a 700 x 40mm or 27.5 x 2.1″ tire.
There’s also a double rake feature, thanks to the Columbus Futura fork and with a claimed frame+fork weight coming in around 1550 grams, the Zydeco is designed to be a race-ready machine. With all these features, you can build this up to suit your specific needs. The above photo of the complete bike is only for reference. ;-) Check out more at Cinelli’s USA website.
Features:
-Headset: IS 42 / 28.6 | IS 52/40
-Seat Post: 27.2mm
-Seat Clamp: 31,8mm
-BB Shell: BB386EVO 86.5mm
-F/Derailleur: Clamp 31,8mm
-Cable Routing: Internal – Di2/EPS Compatible
-Tire Clearance: up to 700x42C / 27.5×2.1 Inches
-Fork: COLUMBUS Futura CROSS 1-1/8″ – 1-1/2″ Tapered Carbon Monocoque
-Weight: Frame 1000g (size M) – Fork 550g
-Brake: Flat mount disc brake, rotor size up to 160mm
-Dropouts St: Rear TA 12x142mm, Front TA 12x100mm
-Frame Kit: Extra Hanger / Di2/EPS cable inserts / Front & Rear skewer
Radar
Salsa’s New Gravel Singlespeed Bike: the Stormchaser
Available in April and launched today at the Mid South, the Stormchaser is Salsa’s new singlespeed gravel bike. This new bike is available at the moment only as an aluminum frame, with a carbon fork, and is inspired by the Warbird’s all-road, all-conditions, no-nonsense geometry.
Because gravel races often take place in inclement conditions, Salsa added abrasion plates on the fork, internal routing, and extra clearance for when the mud really gets caked on.
The all-new Alternator Flat Mount dropouts allow for single speed setups or 1x drivetrains with a geared dropout plate. This geometry is adapted so that wider bars can be run with it as well.
Complete builds are priced at $1,499 with the frameset coming in at $1,099. See more information at Salsa.
Reportage
The State of Gravel Racing and the WTF Bikexplorers Gravel Program
The idea for a WTF Bikexplorers Gravel Program sprouted in 2019 as I spun back into the gravel race scene. I saw the same deficit in diversity that bike-touring had (and still has) when five friends and I decided to organize the first WTF Bikexplorers Summit in 2018. Despite gravel racing as a rapidly growing sport within cycling, it is still very grassroots. It is not controlled by the UCI – yet – or any other sanctioning bodies and therefore it has the opportunity to mold and change to be the way we want it to be.
Reportage
J’s Black Magic Bearclaw Bicycle Co Thunderhawk Gravel Bike
Jacinta, aka J, was on the hunt for a new bicycle. She had some money set aside and began looking at the options out there. There was always the option for custom, but J eventually grew a liking for Bearclaw Bicycle Co’s offerings. The Thunderhawk checked all the boxes but she wanted to make it her own. Enter the wizards at Black Magic Paint…
Radar
PNW Components Introduces the Redesigned Rainier Dropper Post with Adjustable Travel
Personally, I love the look of a dropper post, properly slammed to the seat tube. It creates a visually clean and simple aesthetic, even on very complex bikes. The problem is, most people fall between dropper sizes. For instance, you might be between a 200mm and 175mm dropper, resulting in excess post at the clamp, limiting your dropper travel. Well, PNW Components announced their new Rainier Dropper on their Instagram today. The new Rainier has adjustable travel, in 5mm increments to help gain most travel out of your dropper. Check out more information at PNW Components.
Features
-Tool-less Travel Adjust
-Shortened Overall Length
-Travel: 125, 150, 170 or 200mm
-Diameter: 30.9 or 31.6mm (34.9 coming soon)
-Internal cable routing
-3-year warranty!
Radar
Otso Announces the All-New Warakin Titanium All Road
Otso’s Warakin is their titanium all road and gravel bike with versatility in mind. This bike can be built to suit your needs from bikepacking to gravel racing and has the ability to tackle any road, all with a light and lively feel thanks to the 3Al/2.5V B338 grade 9 titanium. It’s durable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and timeless. Keep this bike for decades to come.
Reportage
Adam’s Sklar Scorcher Gravel Fixed Gear
Something happened down in the Sonoran Desert this winter. Maybe it was Ronnie’s influence but people began riding gravel roads on fixed gear bikes. These bikes aren’t like the street track bikes, popularized by MASH and the like in the mid-2000s, yet they utilize a gravel bike’s geometry, down to the tire clearance, yet they just don’t have gears, or in this case, brakes. This type of machine is great for developing a smooth pedaling cadence and perhaps its the long and low rolling hills of the grasslands found around Patagonia, Arizona. Yesterday we looked at Ronnie’s Madrean and today, we look at Adam Sklar‘s own bike.
Reportage
Ronnie Romance’s Madrean Ultradynamico Country Fixed
That suntanned, SUNTOURist, king of the grandiose, the beausage factory himself, Mr. Ronnie Romance, aka Ultra Romance, really knows how to put a bicycle together, even a simple one such as a fixed gear. Yet we’re not talking a Kierin bike, those NJS-stamped sparkle machines, or even a British Path Racer. This is a bike designed specifically for a plump, rough and tumble tire, with a relaxed fit, eons past the aggressive saddle-to-bar drop bikes of yesteryear, yet somewhere in-between the monster-truck abilities of a tracklocross bike. This Madrean Fabrications ‘country fixed’ is unlike anything I’ve seen in recent memory… or maybe it’s just my old age.
