Yup…see the new Trek Checkmate. Pure gravel race bike and they dumped the DT storage from the Checkpoint.
Hopefully giant fixes issue and allows for SRAMs hanger.
I think when company’s make aero foil shapes like the new checkmate they lose the ability for down tune storage
No frame storage, and is steel, but otherwise the Fairlight Secan matches that description
DT storage is storage of last resort. Stuff you shouldn’t need but it’s there if all hell brakes loose (extra co2, extra tube, AXS battery, etc. ).
Why not a saddle bag or pack? Do you want to weigh down the bike for insurance?
It stores it lower and don’t have to worry about it falling out. And you can still run a saddle bag.
Not sure how a saddlebag is a better solution. The weight is higher up on the bike and gets demolished by water and mud not to mention, looks horrible.
Ya, not saying it is better. I was just wondering why not (which you answered, so I get it now). Personally I just can’t see digging into the down-tube and then picking it all back in the middle of a race. I get it for training or out in the trail, I just can’t see it of any use in a race.
Personally I carry dart and co2 in my pocket. If I’m going to the seat bag, the race more than likely has been decided.If I could put the items in the down tube it allows the stuff to stay cleaner and lower on the bike.
Yeah, if the dart and CO2 don’t do the job, either way it’s going to suck. I don’t see how pulling my saddlebag apart is any better than pulling it out of my down tube storage. And all else being equal it’s nice to keep it hidden cleanly out of sight and away from the elements. I don’t see an upside for NOT having the down tube storage.
Deleting DT storage is marginally lighter, requires less engineering and simplifies (i.e. makes cheaper) the layup as you don’t have to account for a huge hole at a key structural spot. Not sure what’s patented at this point; perhaps the simplest ways to make a locking cover are off limits and seems every brand has its own configuration.
On some frames preferred tube shape (.e.g for aero purposes) might limit utility of a DT box by making it really small. But realistically if the frame is designed to be aero with a bottle in place the downtube should be big enough for storage to be useful.
Personally I’m 100% in favor of DT storage even on road bikes. Keeping your stuff out of the elements and always on (in?) the bike makes sense. And as others have said, I keep emergency items in the DT box (mini-tube, CO2, Dynaplug) and find it no more onerous to access than a seatbag. In fact several boxes have a handy holder on the cover for a CO2/dart, which makes it much easier to grab these things in a hurry.
I’m another fan of downtube storage on my gravel and MTB race bikes. Not for the stuff you need quick (co2, plugs, etc.), but for the stuff you hope you never need during the race but still need to carry. I recently bought a new Epic and the downtube storage was a significant factor in pulling the trigger on it. Raced it at leadville and kept my rain jacket, tube, tire levers, mini pump, etc. in it. So nice not having that stuff crammed in back pockets or taped to the bike. Out of sight and out of mind. I also have it on my checkpoint and it was full of stuff at unbound that I wouldn’t race without but don’t want to carry. And I have not run a saddle bag in over a decade, hate them. There are some good bags and bad ones, but I’ve never found a perfect one and they just create other challenges (with dropper posts, lights/radar, exposure to elements, coming loose, etc.). I’m too big to be a weight weenie, so if storage adds ~100 grams to the frame, it’s a good trade off in my book.
I believe internal storage also makes the frame more aero than having a saddle pack. The Trek frame bag setup looks like a cheap knock off of Canyons bag. The paint job doesn’t even align with the pack. The gaps between bag and frame looks like it’s going to ruin aero rather than help it.
I have also had saddle packs fail, so I had to cram the saddle pack in my back pocket, and I’ve had the zipper open on rough terrain resulting in spares falling out.
I also race with CO2 and plugs in pocket/taped to the front of the bike for really fast fixing, but spares that I nearly never use like mini pump, extra CO2, tube, zip ties etc would be really nice to have hidden away in the frame. I would gladly take a 100 gram weight increase on the frame for this, instead of having to use a 80 gram saddle bag.
If Trek is doing a new Bone cyclocross bike also I think they missed the mark on this gravel bike, but if this bike is going to be used for cyclorcross I can see why they skipped the internal storage and didn’t bother with “modern” tire clearance.
Ive done it mid race twice and and it not bad, but also not great. A saddlebag is faster for sure
Are you really gonna feel the weight of a tube in a saddlebag,? Its true it does raise your canter of gravity, but like 0.5 mm. Lets be realistic people
My saddle bag is a solid 400g
2 tubes
Co2
Chain break multi tool
Tire patch
Tire lever
Quick link
Which is nothing compared to body, bike and water weight.
But if I could put in the downtube it would be easier and cleaner.
I have had a saddle bag fall off mid race when the clasp broke and have seen peoples bags fall into rear wheels in longer races.
Here in the PNW, cycles of wet grit—>drying—>opening/closing reliably kills saddle bag zippers. Nothing like being unable to open your saddle bag as air slowly leaks out of a pluggable hole in your tire. I had an Orbea Terra with DT storage that had a handy rubber strap on the underside of the cover to hold a CO2/Dynaplug. Made finding/grabbing those items in a hurry super easy, definitely faster than digging into a saddle bag.
To my original question, what are the current options for a racy gravel bike w 50mm tire clearance, UDH and (ideally) DT storage?
-Mog
-Stigmata
-New Checkpoint
Skipping storage you could add the Lauf Seigla and Felt Breed. None of these bikes pays much attention to aerodynamics though. (MOG maybe excepted.)
Agree. They’re always too big or too small or it’s hard to access items or the zipper stiffens from dirt or it swings around, etc etc.
I have a small ornot saddle bag which is okay but just for training. Long rides or racing I need a bigger one. I’d much rather have downtube storage