On the back of announcing it’s all-new Defy, Trance Advanced Pro 29er, Liv Intrigue Advanced, and a host of new E-bikes all in the space of the past few weeks, the Giant month of bike releases continues with the world’s biggest bike company pulling the curtains back on the Revolt Advanced gravel bike.
Complete with a gravel-specific geometry, space for meaty rubber and a host of comfort-boosting components, read on for seven things to know about the new Revolt Advanced gravel bike.
1. Not Their First Rodeo
The Revolt Advanced isn’t Giant’s first foray into the adventure bike scene, with the company releasing the Toughroad SLR GX drop bar adventure bike in 2017 and an aluminium version of the Revolt prior to that. It is, however, the Taiwanese company’s first go at a dedicated carbon gravel bike.
The Revolt Advanced already has racing pedigree too, with Giant athletes competing in the prestigious Dirty Kanza gravel bike race, and even scoring a podium finish at the Lost and Found Gravel Grinder aboard prototype models of the new bike.
2. Gravel Specific Geometry
The geometry of the Revolt Advanced is designed for long-distance comfort and efficiency off-road. It's somewhat of a hybrid between the old Revolt and ToughRoad, arguably combinig the best of both worlds.
With a 50mm fork rake and 74mm trail figure, Giant says the front end is nimble enough for road riding, yet stable enough for off-road expeditions. Also aiding stability is a slightly lower bottom bracket (70mm), a welcomed change which comes with increasing tyre sizes.
With a shorter reach and taller headtube than Giant's TCX cyclocross range, the rider is placed in a more upright position than its racier stablemate, further enhancing comfort on those long, solo gravel grinds.
3. D-Fuse the Trail Buzz
First unveiled on the TCX back in 2014, the D-Fuse has seen a number of updates over the last four years.
The proven tech is not only seen on the seatpost of the Revolt Advanced, the gravel-grinder also scores the new D-Fuse handlebar system first seen on the 2019 Defy Advanced. The all-new D-Fuse handlebar is claimed to provide up to 12mm of movement at the end of the drops to smooth out imperfections. The gravel focussed XR version of the new D-Fuse handlebar features flared ends for increased comfort and control.
4. Space for Meaty Rubber
A defining feature of gravel bikes is their ability to swallow up larger rubber than traditional road bikes, and the Revolt Advanced is no exception.
Shipping with 700x40mm tyres as standard, Giant claim the gravel-grinder will fit up to 45c tyres with plenty of space for dirt and mud clearance. Additionally, the Revolt Advanced is ready to accept 650B wheels, providing space for even higher volume tyres. While there's no clear answer on which wheel size is best, the smaller 650B wheels have found some success due to the greater comfort and control they can offer on more rugged roads or loaded touring adventures.
5. Mounts A-Plenty
Designed with road riding and loaded gravel epics in mind, the Revolt Advanced is generously equipped with fender and bottle mounts. This includes rack mounts front and rear, fender mounts front and rear, as well as space for three bottle cages.
Also included as standard is the optional X-Defender downtube protector first seen on the Toughroad SLR GX. This plastic guard doubles as a mudguard, shielding the rider from debris and trail spray, as well as shielding the frame from rock strikes.
6. Carbon Only
The entire Revolt Advanced lineup makes use of the Taiwanese company’s own Advanced composite material for the frame with a representative from Giant telling us that there are no immediate plans for an alloy version. Giant says the composite-only move was made as a result of the increased comfort and compliance that can be engineered into the composite carbon fibre material, resulting in a smoother ride.
7. Pricing and Availability
The Revolt Advanced will be available soon with the entire range expected to hit Australian shores in October. Check out full details of the range over at Giant-Bicycles.com or search for your bike shop for local availability.
The Australian Revolt Advanced range includes;
- Revolt Advanced 0: RRP AU$4,299
Shimano Ultegra R8020 Disc groupset with Ultegra RX (clutch-equipped) rear derailleur, 32-48T Praxis Zayante crankset, D-Fuse XR handlebar, D-Fuse seatpost, Giant CXR1 Composite tubeless ready wheelset.
- Revolt Advanced 1: RRP AU$3,499
SRAM Apex 1 HRD groupset, SRAM Apex 40T crankset, D-Fuse XR handlebar, D-Fuse seatpost, Giant PX2 disc tubeless ready wheelset.
- Revolt Advanced 2: RRP AU$2,799
Shimano 105 R7000 groupset, Giant Conduct semi-hydraulic disc brakes, 32-48T Praxis Alba crankset, D-Fuse XR handlebar, D-Fuse seatpost, Giant PX2 disc tubeless ready wheelset.
Want to know more this versatile new category of bikes? We’ve covered all you need to know in our What Is a Gravel Bike article.
