I only care about going faster.
If it doesnt feel like my crit bike I am ok with that
The emotional side is huge. Feeling “fast” on the bike can help motivate me to keep pushing hard, but I’m a big subscriber to “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”. So, I’m feeling most motivated to push when things are smooth and deliberate (ie - fast). I’m long removed from “feeling” fast when I’m riding high tire pressure on chip seal or chunky roads/gravel. That feeling is just annoying to me and I can feel the wasted power. Lower the pressure and smooth out the ride and the watts flow much easier and it’s just motivating to push even harder.
Using another car analogy, the fastest car I ever rode in when I was young and dumb was a 427 vett with a 4 speed. The car was so violent, loud, etc. that I couldn’t imagine anything being faster. Car was a ~13 second quarter mile car and went zero to 60 in around 5 seconds (extremely fast car for it’s day). My Tesla family cruiser SUV is significantly faster and does it with zero drama. It’s absolutely still fun to get in an old muscle car and get that raw experience, but it isn’t fast. Just like it can be fun to ride chunky single track on a bike with no suspension and undersized tires. But thinking that’s faster than a smoother ride on a bike with suspension and high volume tires is not the way I see the world.
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Anyone know of any known or rumored updates / releases in 2025? I am waiting for the following personally but curious if there are others:
2025 Canyon Grizl
2025 Specialized Diverge
2025 Cannondale Supersix Evo SE
Anything else?
Hoping one of these has enough clearance for 2.2s
Ridley astr fits a 2.2 and it’s new
Rodeo trail donkey 4.2 is in stock and takes a 2.2
Santa Cruz stigmata might get updated
Crux should get updated
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The Stigmata just got updated a year and a half ago, and they released only their second color way just a couple months ago… That won’t be getting an update for a long while.
Outside of the boutique brands(Storm, Reap, BikeAhead), it’ll be a while yet. Probably the only one to really keep an eye out for in the next couple months is the updated Allied Able, which we’ve already seen is capable of taking a 2.2" tire. The new Cannondale Super X will open up options in the 50-52mm range, and have thankfully finally ditched the AI offset.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Factor launch a new Ostro Gravel this summer, as they’re one of the quicker companies to pivot, likely a result of them “owning” their own factory.
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Finally Cdale gets ride of the AI offset, hopefully the non HM isnt too expensive.
Ironically the offset AI back end is what opens up clearance for fatter tires.
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Looks very promising!
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More specs and geometry here.
Here too now!
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Based on the video, looks like it might just fit 2.1 or 2.2 tires. This would be a great option if someone wants something to do road and gravel options. I love my Supersix and definitely would have considered this if it was out a few months ago!
So much to like about that bike….but then I looked at the geo.
Lowest BB is a 69mm drop and the reach is a bit short across the board. At 5’9”, I’d need a 58 to match the reach of my 56 Crux (and I’d still be using a 120 stem).
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I was a little suprised about the reach too since many gravel bikes seem to be going longer reach and shorter stems. I’d need a 140mm stem on the 61 cm.
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Looks to me like they are still trying to use it as a “bridge” between gravel and CX since the Super X used to be their CX rig.
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Really odd spec choices, too….the only 1x option is the LAB71 $15K bike. The other two models are Shimano 2x (one Di2 and one mech).
No Force or Rival 1x options offered.
Weird.
Yeah that’s why pro tour bikes go through so many carbon layups before being finalized. Feel is absolutely part of it.
The cannondale looks amazing but its super expensive and only a 48 in the back. The ridley astr cost 3k for a frame set and is only a few watts behind on aero and has 52mm clearance.
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Agreed, the Super X is rather tight out back (James Huang says it’s rated for 47mm rear/51mm front). Probably finalized the molds a year ago and then tore their hair out when everyone started running 2.1s.
The current builds are also not my cup of tea, and no option for a non-Lab71 frame set. Maybe they’re waiting for new GRX/new Force XPLR to add additional build options.
That would be so dumb that I like to believe those builds just haven’t made the website yet for whatever reason. Maybe they will include the new (leaked) force shifters and can’t show that bike until SRAM officially releases the new Force group. Maybe a Rival change is coming also, I just can’t believe they would launch a gravel bike without the most popular groupset choices.
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That would be my guess….but that would indicate (to me, at least) that the release of that group is still a ways off, otherwise you would just hold the launch of this bike until then.
Which also makes me realize that the timing of this release is just odd, anyway….it is the middle of February. 
I would hazard a guess that Force will be officially introduced at Unbound….