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Finally, it has two of my favorite things: drop-bar handlebars and a dropper seat post. I guess I should disclose here that my daily Analog ride is also a gravel bike, and that I personally like cruising on a tall, comfortable frame with my hands awkwardly spaced this way and that on comfy padded drop bars. I use dirt and gravel a lot, but I’m not a fan of super technical riding.
Also, everyone should have a dropper seat post. I took the bike out for several 15-20 mile rides over the course of a few weeks. Well, it’s not physically difficult to ride for an hour with electric assistance while listening to a podcast, but I appreciate being able to quickly move my seat at stop lights when my butt and quads decide to stop working pretty well.
Even with these additions and full MTB front and rear suspension, the bike weighs a little 40 pounds for a large frame. From riding a lot of electric bikes, I estimate that a bike with this spec weighs about 60 or 65 pounds. (I estimated my XS frame to be about 35 pounds, but that’s just by feel.)
Everywhere at once
Photo: Adrian So
There are some mixed surface roads that I drive regularly and I’m somewhat hesitant to reveal them because I’m worried some of you might see me there. One is a loop that travels around the northernmost point of Portland, Oregon, and passes through a couple of rapids; I also like the Leif Erikson Trail, a 20-mile gravel trail in Forest Park, Mount Tabor, and the loop around Pier Park, which was one of the first places anyone raced cyclocross and which is now mainly used by elementary school students on small mountain bikes.
As someone who rides a gravel bike regularly, it’s both wonderful and strange to ride a bike that is, to all appearances, a gravel bike, but then feels like a very comfortable and premium electric mountain bike once you’re on it. It’s like biting into what looks like a piece of bitter dark chocolate, only to find it filled with sweet, puffy marshmallows. And here I am, ready to roll over some rocks, but…these tires are huge! This comment is soft! What is this strange feeling? Is it comfort?