Gravel Bikes

These days, more and more bikes, no matter how you categorize them, have claimed to be and do more than a simple label leads you to believe. Trail bike capability has closed the gap between it and the all-mountain category to the point where there seems to be little difference between the two. Advances in suspension kinematics and performance have enabled many all-mountain/enduro bike owners to forgo the need for a full-on DH bike for the park. Within the extremes of race-specific bikes, you can safely and efficiently ring just about anything you bring.

The “gravel grinder” is another prime example of a bike without borders, and we were able sneak in a few of these for a long-term test. What appears to be little more than a road bike, these adventure rigs offer the geometry, durability, and features capable of handling the road less traveled, making for an interesting option for even the most serious of mountain bikers.

Niner RLT 9

Whether it’s endurance training, racing cyclocross, or a multi-day bikepacking trip, the Niner RLT 9 comes equipped to handle anything from gravel roads to light singletrack. Niner’s stiff, hydroformed alloy frame (also available in steel) comes with a carbon fork, a 2×10 drivetrain, 160mm mechanical disc brakes, two water bottle bosses, and eyelets on the fork and rear triangle for a fender and rack setup. While the RLT wasn’t the most forgiving on more technical singletrack, the Niner fork does accept up to a 1.75″ tire which, set up tubeless, may get you a little further into the woods.

…I love the geometry, it’s super fast and snappy, it’s light, and the carbon fiber fork is super comfortable so you can ride this thing all day long.

-Colton Locke

Watch Colton Locke’s bouncing biceps in his full video review of the Niner RLT 9.

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Cannondale Slate

For strict trail riders who might be a little road-curious or for Lycra-clad roadies who might want to take a detour home, the Cannondale offers one of the most interesting mash-ups of 2016 with the Slate. Larger 42c tires on 650b hoops roll out the same as a standard 700x23c road bike, but the larger volume essentially functions like a plus mountain bike, adding traction while damping chatter. Short chainstays and a slacker head tube angle provide a snappy yet stable feel when going from on to off road and, yes, that’s a suspension fork! Judging by its numbers alone, the Oliver Lefty clearly has its limits, yet the 30mm of travel proved to be more than capable–fun, even–whether we were weathering the washboard, pounding potholes, or smoothing out light singletrack.

After about 1 mile, my confidence grew and I opened ‘er up. This bike SHREDS the singletrack. I did not wash out in one single turn in about 15 miles of singletrack (keep in mind this is hardpack with some roots and some light rocks). I had my hands on the hoods and felt like a fighter pilot ripping through the woods. I ended up running into a group of friends out on the trails and I rolled with them for 8 miles or so. To my surprise I was able to ride just as fast as the others in the group on the true mountain bikes (if not faster than some!).

-Colton Locke

You’ll either hate it or love it. Cast your vote after watching Colton Locke’s full video review of the Cannonade Slate.

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Specialized Diverge Comp

As with the Niner RLT (and to the untrained eye), there’s apparently very little separating the Specialized Diverge from a cyclocross or road bike. Upon further inspection, however, this new crop of adventure bike is designed with lower bottom brackets, slacker head tube angles, and wider tire clearance, which translates to improved handling in rougher terrain, better mud evacuation, and the ability to run larger volume tires. I’m not exactly sure how much more “adventure” (over a typical mountain bike) that translates to, but given their all-road prowess, bikes like the Specialized Diverge seem like a great all-road alternative for mountain bikers.

…I will never buy a standard road bike ever again. If I buy another drop bar bike, it will be an adventure bike like the Diverge. This capable rig can tackle any dirt road surface that you throw at it, and it’s also not a slacker on pavement. Even with a bum knee and minimal fitness, I was able to pull down an 18mph average into a headwind on pavement. If you’re a mountain biker looking at a road bike, do yourself a favor and buy a roadie that you can ride on ALL the roads… not just the paved ones.

-Greg Heil

Read how Greg voids the warranty on his ACL repair in his full review of the Specialized Diverge Comp.

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