Two Things

Cannondale Synapse (Image courtesy of Cannondale Bikes)

Is It Road, Endurance-Road, Or Gravel?

Over the last several years there has been some major changes in bicycles which, I would like to think, have been an influence from the so-called "gravel bike" developments over the past decade or so.

While Pro level road racers have an entirely different agenda for what their perceptions of 'necessary features' are, the "everyday" road bike seems to have gone in a different direction. Quietly, what we used to accept as a "road bike" has evolved into what we would have accepted gladly as a gravel bike ten years ago.

Brands make statements and usually do so with their range-topping offerings. Paying attention to what is on offer on those models can often inform us of what is going to be accepted as "the norm" for several years to come. Think about electronic shifting, or disc brakes on road bikes. Both things found originally only on exclusive, top-end offerings, but which are now fairly commonplace throughout ranges for many brand's road bikes. 

It is with this lens which I am looking at bicycles like the Synapse shown here. Once known as an "endurance road" bike, the Synapse now could legitimately be used as a gravel bike, but looking at Cannondale's marketing, you will not find the term "gravel" mentioned at all. However; it is a bike you could ride any road on.

Gravel roads, poor dirt roads, broken up, abandoned roads, and anything paved. The Synapse has clearance for 42mm rear/47mm front tires. This isn't "shoe-horning" in something to get by on either as the marketing text indicates these tire sizes as maximum with 4mm clearance to any part of the frame or fork. So yeah, there is mud clearance, although this isn't touted as an adventure road bike.

The geometry is even 'gravel' with a 71.3° head angle in my size (58cm) with a bottom bracket drop of 70mm, which is a tick higher than I'd like, personally, but it certainly isn't as low as many road bikes these days.

Perhaps brands are coming to terms with how riders want to ride in the 'real world': Away from cars and traffic, which generally means out on gravel, dirt, and forgotten byways. Any road? All-Road? Which leads me to.... 

The Guitar Ted Podcast Episode #80:

In the newest episode of the podcast (HERE), we talk a bit about this new trend in road bikes and this brings us to an old article I wrote in 2013 called "The Open Source Naming Project".  I think the whole nomenclature surrounding "gravel cycling" is up for discussion again. Especially now with the whole road biking scene starting to evolve into gravel bike territory. The old name just isn't a great name and I think it causes perceptions to be off and not true to the spirit of what these bicycles and style of cycling was meant to be originally.

 We also get to an explainer on the gearing question I brought up in the last FN&V. In between we get into some gardening nonsense. It's weird...... I promise, we weren't drinking alcohol!

I'm hoping to hop back into some "Where We Came From" stuff in the near future for the podcast. I have a few folks in mind, I just need to do some reaching out. Stay tuned on this if it is something you enjoy to listen to on the podcast.

And as always, thanks for checking the podcast out!