Unbound Gravel was a hotspot for this year’s unreleased new tech on the bike. We spotted SRAM’s unreleased Red XPLR AXS 13-speed, a COROS bike computer with 90+ hour battery life, a new racing kit and new wheels.
We’ve also seen new bikes, including a Giant prototype that we’re pretty sure is the new top-of-the-line Revolt.
This bike was raced by Australian Brendan Johnston, known as Trekky, of the Giant Factory Team in the men’s 200 mile elite. Johnston finished 15th after an impressive performance in a “brutal” race that saw him suffer three flat tires.
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
Giant is staying mum on the details of the new bike, but we do know this:
Giant introduced the Revolt gravel bike ten years ago, and since then several iterations have been released to address the need for ever more capable and faster off-road steeds.
The flagship of the range, the Revolt Advanced Pro, has pushed the boundaries of weight while balancing compliance and capability with speed and racing geometry.
Innovations in the last few iterations include:
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– A flip-chip rear dropout that allows riders to adjust the wheelbase and fine-tune handling for different types of terrain.
– Reduced seat stay joints with thinner diameter tubes to improve rear end compliance.
– The brand’s proprietary D-Fuse seat post aimed at reducing shocks and vibrations 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 on the down tube – a growing trend on gravel bikes and something that riders rather than racers have been asking for, Giant revealed.
Incorporating storage into the down tube involves more than just cutting a hole in the carbon. There are complex design elements to consider, including designing an access door or cover, hinges and latches to ensure the compartment and contents do not interfere with internal cable routing, and of course the structural integrity of the down tube. Manufacturers have to add more material to compensate for the cutout, which means this new prototype may not be any lighter or even as light as its predecessors.
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
Internal frame routing is also new. Internal routing isn’t the easiest for home mechanics, but it creates clean—perhaps even more aerodynamic—lines and allows riders to attach accessories without cable clutter.
The D-Fuse seatpost and flip-chip are also present on this prototype, but notably missing is the addition of the UDH interface. Introduced by SRAM in 2019, the Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standardizes the derailleur mounting interface across different bike frames, aimed at improving shifting performance and increasing system robustness.
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
The new SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13-speed derailleur we spotted required a UDH interface to run, which the Trekky, despite being a SRAM-sponsored athlete, couldn’t use. While he used SRAM’s new red brake shifters, taken from the newly released SRAM Red road kit, the Trekky has to make do with a SRAM mullet design consisting of a 1x front chainring and a 12-speed mountain bike gearbox. rear derailleur and Eagle cassette. Whether this bike will include a UDH interface when commercially available is still unknown.
New SRAM Red brake shifters
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
The cockpit on the Trekky appears to be CADEX’s Aero Integrated Handlebar, a $699 upgrade that we’re guessing won’t be standard issue on commercially available bikes, or perhaps only on very high-end models.
For his scouting rides, Trekky rode CADEX AR 35 Disc Tubeless gravel wheels with carbon spokes and shod with 50mm Pirelli Cinturato tires with plenty of clearance.
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
As with the current model, the sports accessory prototype is mounted on the top and down tubes.
Again, Giant wouldn’t reveal anything about it other than what our own eyes might see, but we’re sure it will be released later this season. Stay tuned.
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)