Looks nice!
It seems like, based on their Lux that just launched, their prices have gone up (at least in the US) quite a bit. I’ll be curious to see where this one ends up..
In addition to the bikes, it looks like Schwalbe might have a new gravel tire coming. The “Race Pro” I believe is in this pic. Looks very similar (identical?) to the Thunderburt on the bike right next to it. Maybe just the same tire in a 45 branded for gravel? I really don’t understand the bike industry’s obsession for branding things gravel vs. MTB. Just have a line of tires (and groupsets) for off road. Conti just launched the new 50mm Dub. And they call it a MTB tire, but then the marketing makes it clear that it’s primarily going after gravel.
edit: The article mentions the tires and there is a close up that shows it’s just a branding thing and even includes “thunderburt” is small lettering after “Race Pro”. I guess if that helps them sell more tires, a labeling update is a cheap way to make that happen. I know I’ve been seeing a ton of Burts in gravel races this year, I’d say it’s become the most popular high volume tire by a decent margin.
That ridley looks pretty awesome.
It’s taken a while for bike companies to connect the dots, but nice to see some brands finally combining aero and big tire clearance. Big tires should not mandate a bunch of mounts for bags and fenders, dropper post compatibility, and tall head tubes. That thing looks like a proper aero race bike. I wonder if they did anything special on the seat post to improve compliance, typically that shape would be very stiff.
Canyon, Felt, BMC, Factor, Ridley all release new bikes for Traka. No Crux. Specialized must really have faith they can be fine with a delay (probably), but man so many new good looking bikes that are going to make people rethink waiting for a Crux. It better be groundbreaking.
Edit: Also, kind of interesting how all the new gravel bikes are basically big tire versions of the road bike.
I thought it was supposed to look like a Tarmac SL8. If it’s Venge looking I might be interested. SL8 and I’m out. That bike ugly.
If I was holding out for a new Crux right now I’d have a really hard time waiting considering some of the other new options that are coming out. There’s several options that are everything people have been looking for in the crux: Aero, big tire clearance, integrated cables..
That Ridley is aero, has clearance for 2.2’s, and has downtube storage..
The Felt option is pretty sweet with the attachment points for 3 bottles within the triangle, plus it’s crazy light.
Clearly these manufacturers have been listening, this year is a great year to be gravel bike shopping (32" conversation aside).
I don’t know, waiting another month doesn’t seem like a difficult thing to do. We don’t even know what the Ridley is yet, much less could get one. The Felt doesn’t seem available as far as I’ve seen either. You know that on day one when Specialized debuts the Crux for Unbound that it will be at shops already and will be available to order. If we get to Unbound and it doesn’t come out, then it just is never coming.
I was really surprised that the Epic 9 wasn’t shown at Sea Otter with the release just over a week later. Why just drop it without the buzz of the festival?
That’s what people were saying waiting for the new crux to arrive at unbound last year..
I would love a 50mm version so I could jam it in my Orbea that officially clears 45s
Maybe because the first world cup races are a bigger deal than Sea Otter? 
World Cup definitely bigger… but they didn’t do it there. They did it on a random Monday. 
They absolutely did do it there. Tuesday of the first race week. The riders pre-ride all week long before a WC race. Hence why everyone has now seen the new Spark being ridden for practice laps by all the Scott riders.
Because the XC World Cup races are about to kick off, that’s where it will debut in competition
They already make the thunderburt in a 2.1. And I think they run a bit small and should be under 50mm on a typical gravel wheel. I’ve seen a ton of people running them at gravel races this year.
New Factor Sarana. 
Pretty much took the new Felt and made it better in every way.
This thing does look pretty solid. It’s a little odd that it’s only compatible with 30mm forks? Why not include 40-50mm forks. Dropper compatibility is cool, but you’re certainly not going to get much drop with that curved seat tube - I’m sure you don’t need as much as on a MTB. Also, Lauf must have a patent on their thin solid carbon driveside chainstay since they’re the only company that seems to use that solution for big tires.
Do you see the weight specified? I’m not seeing it. The Felt is crazy light.. like 7.x kg..
Rob Britton, who worked on development with Factor, is in Bike Radar’s video extolling the virtues of a 40mm fork paired with the bike. It’s “optimized” for 30mm but 40-50mm would work, with greater change to the geometry.
Interesting to see more brands incorporating suspension corrected forks this year. I think racers are still figuring out gravel suspension fork utility. They seem to pop up and disappear on pro bikes from race to race, which makes sense. But many people probably don’t have the budget or time/energy to swap forks regularly. I’m hopeful we’ll get some more aero data for them this year.
New Argon 18 I guess