A great deal more tech raced by top athletes is still in the prototype stages or awaiting its official launch later this year.\u00a0<\/p>
From the ever-increasing importance of aero gear to a closer look at unreleased bikes, here are the key talking points from Unbound that are likely to drive wider gravel cycling in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>
Tyres \u2013 fatter is faster<\/h2>Mountain bike tyres are an increasingly common sight at races such as Unbound, although tyres in the 45 to 50mm range are more typical. – Sam Andrews \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>In gravel\u2019s formative years, tyres ranged in width from 35-38mm. Most racers began using tyres in the 40 to 42mm range as manufacturers expanded frame clearance.\u00a0<\/p>
Now, many of the top professional riders use tyres that are 45 to 50mm wide.<\/p>![\"Lachlan](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/24-06-01_lachlan-morton-wins-the-2024-unbound-gravel_racing-5-scaled.jpg\")
Morton ran a mullet tyre setup of sorts. – EF Education Easy Post<\/figcaption><\/figure>This year\u2019s Unbound 200 winner, Lachlan Morton, sped to victory on the largest Vittoria tyres he could squeeze into his Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX SE frameset. Up front, he ran a 50mm-wide Terreno Dry, which didn\u2019t leave much room for mud in the fork. Out back was a 44mm-wide Mezcal.\u00a0<\/p>
Despite the extra heft of these tyres, Morton set a new course record of 9hr, 11 min and 47secs.<\/p>
I’m sure you\u2019ve heard the tired (tyred?) joke about gravel bikes<\/a> being mountain bikes from the 1990s.\u00a0<\/p>In the case of Allied\u2019s prototype frame ridden by Payson McElveen, there\u2019s a grain of truth to it.\u00a0<\/p>
McElveen ran 2.25in Maxxis Aspen ST mountain bike tyres<\/a>. These are true cross-country race tyres. McElveen’s eighth-place finish proved the worth of wider rubber.\u00a0<\/p>![\"Rene](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/Unbound-tyre-trends-1.jpg\")
Some riders experimented with running slick tyres at Unbound. – Sam Andrews \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>There was also variation in the tread riders used for Unbound. While conventional lightly treaded gravel tyres <\/a>are most popular, some feel that, if course conditions comprise large and loose gravel, the minimal tread of most gravel tyres won\u2019t provide much traction anyway, opting for slicks to improve efficiency. <\/p>For example, former Unbound champion Ted King ran 44mm-wide Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass road slicks.<\/p>
Keegan Swenson \u2013 the 2023 men\u2019s winner and favourite heading into this year\u2019s race \u2013 teased his bike setup with plump Maxxis Re-Fuse<\/a> slick tyres ahead of the event, but swapped to conventionally treaded 700c x 45mm Maxxis Reavers for race day.\u00a0<\/p>![\"Specialized](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/Unbound-tyre-trends-2.jpg\")
The Pathfinder is a perennial favourite of the gravel racing world. – Sam Andrews \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>As for specific models, the Specialized Pathfinder<\/a> still appears to be one of the most popular gravel racing tyres.<\/p>1x is gaining momentum, but there\u2019s still a place for 2x<\/h2>![\"New](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/SRAM-collage.jpg\")
SRAM’s new 1x Red gravel groupset was seen everywhere at Unbound. – Sam Andrews \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>SRAM looks set to launch a new 1x 13-speed Red-level gravel drivetrain<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>It appears to borrow heavily from the recently launched Red AXS road bike groupset<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>As existing 1×13 groups from Rotor and Campagnolo demonstrate, adding a 13th cog makes the steps between gears more manageable for road and gravel riding<\/a>. It\u2019s likely SRAM has added an additional cog for the same reasons.\u00a0<\/p>Virtually every SRAM-sponsored athlete was running it, so consumer availability can\u2019t be too far off.\u00a0<\/p>![\"1x](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/1x-with-chainguide-1.jpg\")
There’s no real consensus on whether 1x or 2x is the right choice for Unbound. – Sam Andrews \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>At this year\u2019s Unbound, riders lucked out with weather conditions, with the course running largely dry.\u00a0<\/p>
Had it been as muddy as last year, 1x drivetrains<\/a> may have had an advantage over 2x chainrings, because there\u2019s no front derailleur to clog with mud and debris.\u00a0<\/p>While we can\u2019t attribute Morton\u2019s 2x drivetrain with standard road chainrings as the componentry that cinched his victory, it certainly didn\u2019t hold him back.\u00a0<\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/06\/Classified-hub-widget-1.jpg\")
Classified had a big presence at Unbound, racing the hub paired with SRAM and Shimano drivetrains, as well as a new TRP 1×12 drivetrain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Ridley riders, including Belgian Arno Van Den Broeck, appeared to be racing a new TRP 1×12 drivetrain with a twist \u2013 these bikes looked to be equipped with Classified\u2019s Powershift rear hub<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>This internal gear hub provides riders with a range similar to a 2x setup, without the disadvantages of a conventional double crankset.\u00a0<\/p>
Given Ridley has a racing partnership with Classified, it\u2019s highly likely this new hybrid drivetrain made its debut at Unbound.\u00a0<\/p>
Allied\u2019s Prototypes: A new ABLE or ECHO?<\/h2>
In gravel\u2019s formative years, tyres ranged in width from 35-38mm. Most racers began using tyres in the 40 to 42mm range as manufacturers expanded frame clearance.\u00a0<\/p>
Now, many of the top professional riders use tyres that are 45 to 50mm wide.<\/p> This year\u2019s Unbound 200 winner, Lachlan Morton, sped to victory on the largest Vittoria tyres he could squeeze into his Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX SE frameset. Up front, he ran a 50mm-wide Terreno Dry, which didn\u2019t leave much room for mud in the fork. Out back was a 44mm-wide Mezcal.\u00a0<\/p> Despite the extra heft of these tyres, Morton set a new course record of 9hr, 11 min and 47secs.<\/p> I’m sure you\u2019ve heard the tired (tyred?) joke about gravel bikes<\/a> being mountain bikes from the 1990s.\u00a0<\/p> In the case of Allied\u2019s prototype frame ridden by Payson McElveen, there\u2019s a grain of truth to it.\u00a0<\/p> McElveen ran 2.25in Maxxis Aspen ST mountain bike tyres<\/a>. These are true cross-country race tyres. McElveen’s eighth-place finish proved the worth of wider rubber.\u00a0<\/p> There was also variation in the tread riders used for Unbound. While conventional lightly treaded gravel tyres <\/a>are most popular, some feel that, if course conditions comprise large and loose gravel, the minimal tread of most gravel tyres won\u2019t provide much traction anyway, opting for slicks to improve efficiency. <\/p> For example, former Unbound champion Ted King ran 44mm-wide Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass road slicks.<\/p> Keegan Swenson \u2013 the 2023 men\u2019s winner and favourite heading into this year\u2019s race \u2013 teased his bike setup with plump Maxxis Re-Fuse<\/a> slick tyres ahead of the event, but swapped to conventionally treaded 700c x 45mm Maxxis Reavers for race day.\u00a0<\/p> As for specific models, the Specialized Pathfinder<\/a> still appears to be one of the most popular gravel racing tyres.<\/p> SRAM looks set to launch a new 1x 13-speed Red-level gravel drivetrain<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> It appears to borrow heavily from the recently launched Red AXS road bike groupset<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> As existing 1×13 groups from Rotor and Campagnolo demonstrate, adding a 13th cog makes the steps between gears more manageable for road and gravel riding<\/a>. It\u2019s likely SRAM has added an additional cog for the same reasons.\u00a0<\/p> Virtually every SRAM-sponsored athlete was running it, so consumer availability can\u2019t be too far off.\u00a0<\/p> At this year\u2019s Unbound, riders lucked out with weather conditions, with the course running largely dry.\u00a0<\/p> Had it been as muddy as last year, 1x drivetrains<\/a> may have had an advantage over 2x chainrings, because there\u2019s no front derailleur to clog with mud and debris.\u00a0<\/p> While we can\u2019t attribute Morton\u2019s 2x drivetrain with standard road chainrings as the componentry that cinched his victory, it certainly didn\u2019t hold him back.\u00a0<\/p> Ridley riders, including Belgian Arno Van Den Broeck, appeared to be racing a new TRP 1×12 drivetrain with a twist \u2013 these bikes looked to be equipped with Classified\u2019s Powershift rear hub<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> This internal gear hub provides riders with a range similar to a 2x setup, without the disadvantages of a conventional double crankset.\u00a0<\/p> Given Ridley has a racing partnership with Classified, it\u2019s highly likely this new hybrid drivetrain made its debut at Unbound.\u00a0<\/p>1x is gaining momentum, but there\u2019s still a place for 2x<\/h2>
Allied\u2019s Prototypes: A new ABLE or ECHO?<\/h2>