Gravel bike purchase

[fatcyclist]

Spotted a Trek I really liked at The Bike Garage in the Buy & Sell section this morning. They're 5km from my offices in Bryanston, so took a drive through. The Trek was already sold, but they had this XL Cannondale Topstone in stock. The Topstone is one of the few frames rated to take my not so small size. Seemed to fit me pretty well. Made a call or two, and paid for it an hour later. Picking it up Saturday (life and other things interfering in-between). 

[snapshot]

9 minutes ago, fatcyclist said:

Spotted a Trek I really liked at The Bike Garage in the Buy & Sell section this morning. They're 5km from my offices in Bryanston, so took a drive through. The Trek was already sold, but they had this XL Cannondale Topstone in stock. The Topstone is one of the few frames rated to take my not so small size. Seemed to fit me pretty well. Made a call or two, and paid for it an hour later. Picking it up Saturday (life and other things interfering in-between). 

Glad that you are back on the bicycle and it's a Cannondale 😉

[fatcyclist]

Just now, snapshot said:

Glad that you are back on the bicycle and it's a Cannondale 😉

Dankie.. sien jou dalk eendag weer op die pad 🫡

[Ncayi]

.

Edited December 8, 2025 by Ncayi

[Ncayi]

On 9/26/2025 at 10:26 AM, guidodg said:

Giant Revolt over any of those...

 

On 9/26/2025 at 11:05 AM, Mongoose! said:

Giant Revolt 👌

Giant Revolt 🤷‍♂️

 

On 9/26/2025 at 11:28 AM, W@nted said:

Another  +1 on the Giant Revolt. Love mine!

 

On 9/26/2025 at 2:03 PM, El Duderino said:

Was going to suggest this too. I have a Revolt Advanced 2. Can take 50mm tyres with ease. 

Hi

 

Does anyone know the biggest 2x chanring one can fit on the 2021 Giant Revolt? 

 

Also if cost and tyre clearance are not key factors...

 

Is it better to go carbon or alloy when purchasing a Giant Revolt. With the carbon being a 2021 model and alloy being a newer version 

 

Thanks.

[Zebra]

9 minutes ago, Ncayi said:

Is it better to go carbon or alloy when purchasing a Giant Revolt. With the carbon being a 2021 model and alloy being a newer version…

I have 2x on my Revolt, but am unsure how LARGE you can go? @ChrisF

What i FEEL you have wrong-way-round, it that ALLOY Revolt’s PRE-DATE full-carbon Revolts; of that i am pretty sure.

…unless you are asking if an older Carbon is a better bet than a newer Aluminium? Unsure!

Cheers

Chris

[Ncayi]

18 minutes ago, Zebra said:

I have 2x on my Revolt, but am unsure how LARGE you can go? @ChrisF

What i FEEL you have wrong-way-round, it that ALLOY Revolt’s PRE-DATE full-carbon Revolts; of that i am pretty sure.

…unless you are asking if an older Carbon is a better bet than a newer Aluminium? Unsure!

Cheers

Chris

Thanks for the reply. 

I am trying decide to between getting a 2021 Advanced 1 (Carbon) or  2022 Revolt 1 (alloy). 

The chainring bit  is crucial from a cost perspective and I will mostly ride on flat gravel, so top end speed would be ideal. Both bikes come with cranks that are too long. So I am trying to figure out if I can use my 50-34 shimano crank instead of buying a new one. I couldn't find anything online. 

Edited December 8, 2025 by Ncayi

[ChrisF]

10 minutes ago, Zebra said:

I have 2x on my Revolt, but am unsure how LARGE you can go? @ChrisF

What i FEEL you have wrong-way-round, it that ALLOY Revolt’s PRE-DATE full-carbon Revolts; of that i am pretty sure.

…unless you are asking if an older Carbon is a better bet than a newer Aluminium? Unsure!

Cheers

Chris

 

By 2024 both Aluminium and Carbon options were available.

 

The carbon models had higher spec levels, and a price tag to match.

 

The GRX on the Aluminium ticked my boxes.

 

[Super Sywurm]

I have my aluminium Revolt for about 2 weeks now and I keep wondering what I set of proper carbon wheels would do to the bike.

I asume a lot.

[thebob]

11 hours ago, Ncayi said:

Thanks for the reply. 

I am trying decide to between getting a 2021 Advanced 1 (Carbon) or  2022 Revolt 1 (alloy). 

The chainring bit  is crucial from a cost perspective and I will mostly ride on flat gravel, so top end speed would be ideal. Both bikes come with cranks that are too long. So I am trying to figure out if I can use my 50-34 shimano crank instead of buying a new one. I couldn't find anything online. 

Used a 50/34 105 crank on my 2021 carbon Revolt. Pretty sure it will work fine on the alloy as well. There was plenty of space on my bike to go bigger

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

16 hours ago, Super Sywurm said:

I have my aluminium Revolt for about 2 weeks now and I keep wondering what I set of proper carbon wheels would do to the bike.

I asume a lot.

A lot. 👍

Happy to chat through some options with you.

[Super Sywurm]

14 minutes ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

A lot. 👍

Happy to chat through some options with you.

Thanks, but at this stage.

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

12 minutes ago, Super Sywurm said:

Thanks, but at this stage.

I'm launching a new brand of wheelsets in the new year. Watch this space.

[Ncayi]

10 hours ago, thebob said:

Used a 50/34 105 crank on my 2021 carbon Revolt. Pretty sure it will work fine on the alloy as well. There was plenty of space on my bike to go bigger

It turns out I was worried about nothing. I managed to fit a 53-39 comfortably. But I will  swap it for a 50-34.

[betaboy]

5 hours ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

I'm launching a new brand of wheelsets in the new year. Watch this space.

… 🤔 interesting. Keep us posted.

[fatcyclist]

On 12/2/2025 at 2:24 PM, snapshot said:

Glad that you are back on the bicycle and it's a Cannondale 😉

The elusive @snapshot spotted in the wild with her Cube, and the farm gate I bought.. 1st ride on the Cannondale was awesome, I'm *** unfit, also, the internet lied, 45c tyres don't fit the frame at the rear, I need a 40c.. oh and a longer stem.. otherwise, I'm happy and happy to be back on a bike first time in 8 years.

Edited January 4 by fatcyclist