The dust may have settled from the Traka and then Unbound Gravel a few weeks later, but it seems that brands aren’t quite finished launching new gravel bikes yet.
We got a look at some new prototype Giant and Liv equipment at Unbound Gravel in the form of two new bikes, and what appeared to be a new Cadex wheelset. At the time, we speculated the new Giant gravel machine could be a new Revolt Advanced bike, and it turns out that’s exactly what it was.
Giant has officially released a new race-focused Revolt Advanced SL gravel bike, a machine the brand says is the lightest, fastest gravel race bike it has ever built.
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There’s also a new Liv Devote Advanced SL series, new integrated handlebars and a new Cadex wheel and tyre system.
We’ve broken down each new launch below so you can get your head around all the new releases.
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The Revolt gets turned up to 11
First up: the Revolt. Giant has completely overhauled its gravel generalist into a far racier proposition; one designed to deal with the rigours of modern gravel competition, which is only getting quicker. In Giant’s words: ‘The Revolt is our answer to what gravel racing has become’. That should tell you enough about the direction of travel.
Giant has used what it calls a ‘total speed system’ design philosophy on the Revolt. Pretty much every component, besides the groupset, has been tested and developed together to contribute to the overall performance of the platform.
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Giant claims it is its lightest gravel bike ever. The top-line Advanced SL 0 bike is 288 grams lighter than the equivalent previous-gen bike with smaller tyres.
The Advanced SL frame weighs 839 grams, the fork 385 grams, and the total frameset weight is 1582 grams, saving 172 grams over the previous-gen frameset. The new Contact SLR XR Integrated handlebar weighs in at 295 grams, also saving weight.
Max frame clearance is 53mm, which is healthy but also slightly less than a good many gravel machines on the market now.
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The adjustable flip chip is gone, the Revolt is now racier. (Image credit: Giant)
The new bike is also said to be stiffer across the board, over a range of metrics. It really does seem to be a case of lighter, stiffer, faster for the Revolt now. Giant has also used a new single bladder in constructing the frame compared to the previous three, allowing for a one-piece front triangle.
Giant includes some wattage-saving numbers and claims the Advanced SL O saves 18.99 watts in ‘total system resistance reduction’ compared to the previous Advanced Pro 0. This overall number comes from gains in Linear drag, wheel rotating drag, and tyre rolling resistance. On rolling resistance, Giant claims the Cadex GXR 45mm tyres save just over three watts compared to the Cadex GX 40mm at equivalent pressure.
Giant says it wind tunnel tested at 30-45Km/h speeds on mixed surfaces (in line with gravel race speeds). Frameset aero drag is said to be reduced by 3.72 watts compared to the Revolt Advanced Pro.
The Revolt’s geometry, as you might expect with a big overhaul, has been revised. Now that the bike is race-oriented, the geometry is longer and lower. Five sizes will be available; for a size medium, stack height has been reduced by 29mm, and reach is 8mm longer compared to a medium Revolt Advanced 0 in the long setting.
On that note, the adjustable flip chip the outgoing Revolt had has been done away with now. The seat tube has also been steepened by 1 degree to 74.5. Wheelbase for a medium is 1033mm, chainstay length is 433, and trail is 53mm.
The Revolt Advanced SL will be available as a frameset and in four SRAM XPLR-equipped build options.
Frameset RRP is $5,000 / £3,899 / €3,900, whilst builds start at $7,300 for the Advanced SL2 bike, and rise up to $12,000 for the top-spec SL 0 model.
The Devote has also become a lot racier. (Image credit: Liv)
Next up is the new Devote SL Series from Liv, a women’s-specific brand that sits within the Giant family.
It’s a similar story to the Contend with the Devote: Liv has designed it to be faster all round and to work as an overall system. It shares lots of the same thinking, design language and features with the Contend, such as the new one-piece front triangle and updated construction method.
The updated frameset saves 185 grams compared to the previous Devote Advanced Pro, and like the Contend, the frame is said to be stiffer across a range of metrics.
The Devote is faster and more race-oriented than ever before; the bike can take a max 53mm tyre and is optimised for a 45mm. The fit is lower and longer, wheelbase too is longer, the headtube is steeper, and the trail number has been reduced to speed up handling.
The bike is also designed around a new one-piece handlebar, the Liv Contact SLR XR bar, which weighs a claimed 295 grams. Like the new bar, the Devote has been designed to work with the new Cadex Max wheelsystem.
The Devote also features two pairs of mounts on either side of the top tube to help carry things like tools and nutrition during races, events or general riding.
‘Georgia’ is Liv’s female specific test mannequin. (Image credit: Giant)
The Devote has also been to the wind tunnel, and the brand makes the point that testing female equipment with male models is undesirable. The brand uses a wind tunnel mannequin based on dimensions from Liv Alula Jayco rider Georgia Baker to provide a realistic female form for testing.
Liv quotes a total resistance reduction of 20.03 watts compared to the previous Devote Advanced Pro; this figure is a ‘total system saving’ comprised of a linear drag saving including a new rider position across a spread of yaw angles, wheel drag saving, and tyre rolling resistance.
The Devote Advances SL will be available as a frameset in selected territories and in three SRAM-equipped build options. Starting at $7,300 / €6,600 / £5,499 for the Advances SL2 model, and rising up to $12,000 / €10,000 / £9,999 for the SL 0 model.
New Cadex carbon wheels and gravel tyres
The Cadex wheel and tyre system is designed together (Image credit: Giant)
The last components in this Giant mega launch are the new CADEX CXR 0 wheels, the deep-section carbon wheels we got a look at at Unbound earlier in the year.
Developed as part of a system with the new Cadex tyres, the wheels use chunky aero carbon spokes and weigh in at 1280 grams, and 1320 with valves and tubeless tape.
Built for gravel racing, the hookless carbon wheels use a 50mm rim profile, with a 25mm internal width. The hookless rim beads are 5mm wide to improve impact resistance. The brand says the wheels provide a 4.61 watt saving compared to the Caex AR 35 wheels.
The wheels’ hubs are carbon fibre, and bonded to the carbon spokes in what Cadex calls a ‘one-piece structure’. The bearings are ceramic, and the freehub body uses a 60-tooth ratchet system the brand calls the ‘ratchet wave spring system’. Cadex logos are also integrated directly into the rim surface, saving weight and reducing the risk of wear and tear over time.
New tyres also form a part of this system; the new Cadex GXR tyres are designed to pair with the wheels.
The tyres have a fairly light tread and 170 TPI casing and are available in 45 and 50mm widths. Cadex claims a 1.52 watt reduction in rolling resistance per tyre compared to the Cadex GX 40 tyres.
The claimed weight for a 45mm tyre is 490 grams and 530 grams for a 50mm. The tyres make use of dual shield puncture protection tech and the Cadex GX-S dual compound, which is split between the middle and side sections of the tyres to balance rolling speed and grip.
Suggested pricing for the Max GXR wheelsystem is $4000 / €3799 / £3499.
Suggested pricing for the GXR tyre is GXR Tire $85 / €99 / £65.
(Image credit: Giant)