The 2-in-1 trend has now also reached the road bike sector: the new Giant Anyroad and Revolt 1 models aim to combine the look and feel of a fast road racer with the robustness and versatility of an off-road bike. The target group could be beginners for whom a purebred racing bike seems too delicate and uncomfortable, but also everyday riders or sporty cyclists who are looking for an uncomplicated, comfortable training device for quickly switching between tarmac and easy terrain.
The Anyroad costs 1,100 euros, the Revolt 1 only a little more at 1,199 euros. Both are hermaphrodites between racing and cross bikes, both are based on an elaborately crafted, high-quality aluminium frame. The equipment of both bikes is also 90 per cent identical. The only notable differences are the saddles and seatposts. Otherwise, all the important components - from the handlebars to the mechanical disc brakes and 2x10 drivetrains to the wheels and 32 mm tyres - are exactly the same. This raises the question of the differentiation between the models. Giant sees the strengths of the Anyroad more in road use, while the Revolt should swing the pendulum more towards easy terrain. However, this is not really comprehensible due to the identical equipment. Apart from the different frame designs, the main difference is that the Revolt has a 45 millimetre longer wheelbase. As a result, it runs more smoothly in a straight line and offers more space for retrofitting mudguards and pannier racks. In principle, however, the Anyroad can also be easily converted into a sporty everyday or winter racer. Corresponding threads on the fork and frame can be found on both models.
Crossing with comfort
There is a clear difference in the riding position: the Revolt is already a very comfortable bike, but the Anyroad is extremely comfortable. On the Revolt you sit like on a typical marathon racer à la Specialized Roubaix: relatively upright, but without question still like a road bike. On the Anyroad, on the other hand, the saddle and handlebars come closer together vertically and horizontally than on any other road bike to date. The riding position is even more upright than on the Revolt. This means that the Anyroad appeals not least to those riders who always grip their racing handlebars at the top. The high handlebars also make it easy to reach the lower handlebar position, which allows more control over the bike. With this design, the Anyroad largely escapes the familiar road bike categories and establishes its very own genre. If you like, it is the first comfort crosser.
Both bikes deserve praise for their high-quality overall impression and the flawless functioning of the mechanical components. The gears and cranks are not labelled as groupsets, but technically correspond to the Tiagra road bike groupset, which ranks fourth in the Shimano hierarchy below the 105. Despite its lack of image, the shifting system impresses with the precision that we know from Shimano. The operating concept of the shift brake levers with the shift cables emerging from the side corresponds to the design that was standard on the top Dura Ace groupset until 2007. The look is therefore no longer completely up-to-date, but ergonomically there is not much to criticise. The difference to modern top groupsets is a matter of nuances.
Really well done
The mechanical disc brakes from Avid harmonise well with the brake levers. However, they have the typical shortcoming of this type of brake, namely that the pads first have to be intensively braked until the full braking force is available. The small 140-millimetre brake discs on the front wheel are fine for use on flat routes; if you also want to ride longer or steeper descents with the bikes, you should ideally retrofit discs with a diameter of at least 160 millimetres in order to have more braking power and minimise the risk of heat-related brake failures (see test report in TOUR 11/2013->).
In addition, both bikes feature individual details that would also look good on significantly more expensive models. On the Anyroad, we like the additional brake levers on the upper link, which are well matched to the transmission ratio of the brakes. The T-shaped ends of the levers are also interesting. This allows you to brake from almost any position on the top link without having to change your grip. The Revolt has a well-made plastic mudguard on the down tube, which protects the bike and rider, covers the cables and tidies up the look.
Both models impress with their high level of riding comfort. This is mainly due to the well-damped 32 millimetre tyres, which roll easily on asphalt and grip well on forest tracks and gravel roads thanks to the shoulder lugs. Comfortable saddles and excellently flexing carbon seat posts also contribute to the pleasant damping. Above all, we found the slightly wider saddle on the Anyroad to be a real blessing, even after a 90-kilometre ride.
At the end of the comparison, we realised that even bikes in this price range can be really fun if they are well made. The comparatively high weight - just under eleven kilos each with pedals - cannot be argued away. But competitions are unlikely to be on the agenda for these bikes. For all other uses, other qualities count. Here, both models leave little to be desired.
GIANT ANYROAD
Price complete wheel 1,099 Euro
Weight 10.5 kilos
Reference/Info www.giant-bicycles.de
Frame sizes** S, M, ML, L, XL
Seat/steering angle 73,5°/72,5°
Seat/top tube/head tube 515/545/199 mm plus 15 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 1,025/58 mm
Stack/Reach/STR*** 612/364 mm/1.68
EQUIPMENT
Steering bearing FSA, top 1-1/8, bottom 1-1/4 inch
Brakes Avid BB7
Gearshift/bottom bracket Shimano (48/34 t., BSA)
Wheels/tyres Giant S-X2/Giant PR-X2 32C
Handlebar/stem Giant Connect
Saddle/post Giant/Giant Carbon (30.9 mm)
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Weight of complete wheel 10.5 kg (without pedals)
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing**** 1.658/685/73 g
Standardised weight frame set***** 2.512 g: 5,0
Steering head stiffness 95 Nm/°: 1.3
Lateral stiffness fork 52 N/mm: 1.3
Bottom bracket stiffness 70 N/mm: 1.0
Comfort frame 126 N/mm: 1.3
Comfort fork 89 N/mm: 4.0
GIANT REVOLT 1
Price complete wheel 1,199 Euro
Weight 10.6 kilos
Reference/Info www.giant-bicycles.de
Frame sizes** S, M, L, XL
Seat/steering angle 73,5°/71°
Seat/top tube/head tube 490/565/170 mm plus 15 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 1,070/68 mm
Stack/Reach/STR*** 604/390 mm/1.55
EQUIPMENT
Steering bearing FSA, top 1-1/8, bottom 1-1/4 inch
Brakes Avid BB7
Gearshift/bottom bracket Shimano (48/34 t., BSA)
Wheels/tyres Giant S-X2/Giant PR-X2 32C
Handlebar/stem Giant Connect
Saddle/post Giant/Giant Carbon (27.2 mm)
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Weight of complete wheel 10.6 kg (without pedals)
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing**** 1.606/640/73 g
Standardised weight frame set***** 2.370 g: 4,7
Steering head stiffness 79 Nm/°: 3.0
Lateral stiffness fork 51 N/mm: 1.3
Bottom bracket stiffness 56 N/mm: 1.7
Comfort frame 87 N/mm: 1.0
Comfort fork 89 N/mm: 4.0
* The frame set accounts for 40 per cent of the overall score and the features for 60 per cent. Individual grades are included in this evaluation, only some of which are printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated up to the final grade with all decimal places; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are given with rounded decimal places.
** Manufacturer's data; test size bold.
*** Stack/reach: projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach): 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position.
**** Weighed weights.
***** Adjusted weight for frame size 57 cm and fork steerer length 225 mm.
