Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Hopefully 650b possibilities too? Not sure the RC520 can take em.

Dunno. We're going to be seeing a lot of these bikes around though!

From the pictures seems like it barely clears 35mm!

From March only for the gravel version.

Up to 40.
Will retail at €999

So the 520 takes up to 36, is it a new front fork only? where did you see the March release dates?

From the comments on the Insta post. More like a Q&A session. Lots of <3 for that bike already it seems.

ta Muchly

Why not? On smooth gravel it would work really well I reckon. OG randonneuses are closer to my idea of a gravel bike than a lot of the monstrosities (full sus / droppers / 2.5" tyres etc...) posted here and labelled as "gravel".

I bought the new RC 520 the other week. Hope I don't regret not waiting for the gravel version.

Nah, you got ample clearance on your existing one, and it's a cracking value for money.

Hopefully 650b possibilities too? Not sure the RC520 can take em.

Fork definitely can take them, just need a closer look at the chainstay clearance (seatstay clearance look very promising).

650b 42mm in theory.

GCN did a video on it.

IIRC they did descend faster with a dropper.

I’d love to have a gravel bike with wireless dropper controlled by the hidden ANT switches on shimano Di2 shifters.

It can be done. I was having a chat with a warranty guy at Magura once and him/couple of engineers got a Vyron to talk ANT with Shimano shifters.

You're right though, I definitely see droppers becoming more common. It was the same case for various bike tech and skeptics; till the idea caught on.
Controlling ride height depending on riding environment just seems like a no brainer, and I'm not talking about gnarly off road shit, but long days on the saddle.

sssshhhh! the luddites will get all over excited about how unnecessary dropper posts are

U wot?

Ivan Basso had a dropper post 5 years ago and that didn't go anywhere with the pros or the consumer market. The whole gravel trend has certainly given the industry a lot of opportunities to sell new shit (a lot of it let's face it a bit questionable).

a lot of it let's face it a bit questionable

Is it?
Bigger tyres?
More rack/water bosses?
Relaxed geo for long distance comfort?
The only questionable stuff I’d say would be the various suspension steerer or 30mm travel forks.
The rest I’d say is actually beneficial for most people

beneficial for most people

Hmm, I see what you mean, but we're hardly the paragon of insight into general consumer needs here are we? We're all a bunch of bike wankers who spend too much time and money on our obsession, so hardly unbiased opinion.

I'd even go as far as saying 30mm bouncy bits are more beneficial to your normal user, hence why the likes of the Specialized Sirrus sold so damned well.

@Lolo In the same way no one really needs the latest iPhone triple mega XXXS 17. Doesn't stop people buying it.
I mean, do I need expensive tan walls? Not really. Does it make my bike look the fucking bomb? Hell yeah!

We're all a bunch of bike wankers who spend too much time and money on our obsession

Speak for yourse-...

No you're right yeah
:/

I don't disagree with your points, it's just the way it's labelled, marketed and sold (I should probably have worded it better).
It's like no one could have possibly been able to ride a drop handlebar bike on a dirt road before Interbike 2015, let alone carry a packed lunch and a jacket on it.

Yeah true that.
"YOU NEED THIS BECAUSE WE SAID ITS NEW"

Do I need expensive tan walls?

You don't need them, you deserve them.

I'm just bitter because ironically no brand has made the gravel bike that I want yet.

no brand has made the gravel bike that I want need yet.

I'm just bitter because ironically no brand has made the gravel bike that I want need deserve yet