First Look: 2020 Giant Revolt Advanced 2
Giant's 2020 Revolt Advanced 2 offers up a full carbon fibre frame with some cunning comfort-enhancing touches, plenty of tyre clearance and a Shimano 105 groupset for an impressive £2,099. We've got one in for test but thought we'd take a good look at it ahead of our full review.
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The Revolt range has been in gestation for a fair while before its full release earlier this year, with prototypes taking part in all manner of big gravel events. While the range starts at just over £1,000 for the aluminium framed models, this Advanced 2 bike sits firmly in the middle of the carbon fibre lineup.
As you'd hope from a gravel bike, there's loads of clearance, with the stock 700c wheels running Giant's own 38mm tyres and the frame having the ability to go up to 45mm, plus even fatter if you switch to 650b wheels.
There are a fair few neat touches aimed at improving comfort, with the heavily offset seat stays connecting to a special oval rather than round seat post that's designed to increase flex. It also prevents you from putting your saddle in at an angle, which is no bad thing.
At the front of the bike, there's a pair of Giant's own Fuse-D aluminium handlebars that feature a flattened section between the stem clamp and the drops which is once again designed to offer a bit of give to improve comfort.
This bike gets a Shimano 105 drivetrain with hydraulic disc brakes, which is a bit surprising what with Shimano's gravel-specific, clutch equipped GRX group doing the rounds on other 2020 bikes. The fairly narrow 11-34T spread at the cassette is expanded with a Praxis Alba chainset with 32/48T double - we assume that's been done with an eye on all-round road versatility as well as dirt riding.
Giant provides the S-X2 Disc wheelset too; it gives no hint as to it's tubeless compatibility and it's the same story with the tyres - we'll find out what can be done because inner tubes on gravel bikes suck, heavily.
The bike comes in five sizes from XS to XL and they're in the shops now. As ever, check back for a full review of this (and it's aluminium stablemates) soon...
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