What is it?
Gravel bikes are all the rage at the moment - they're the biggest-selling type of bike right now, eclipsing road bikes and mountain bike sales. And it's easy to see why - while you're only sacrificing a bit of speed over a more traditional road bike, the extra clearance the frame provides means you can fit chunkier tyres, meaning you can take a gravel bike on routes that are off-limits to a road bike. Gravel bikes really do open up a whole new world of trails and routes, while there's a growing number of gravel-specific Sportives appearing for you to sign up to.
So where does the Giant Revolt 0 fit into all of this? The burgeoning gravel bike market offers models to suit all budgets, from sub-£1000 bikes like the Boardman ADV 8.6 all the way up to pricey carbon options dripping with kit that would even have serious road bike riders looking on in envy.
The Giant Revolt 0 is an aluminium-framed gravel bike targeted at those looking for an affordable but well-spec'd model - beyond that and you'll be looking at Giant's range of Revolt Advanced gravel bikes with carbon frames.
Priced at £1,799, the Giant Revolt 0 sits at the top of Giant's aluminium range of gravel bikes - the range starts at £1,299 for the Revolt 2, which is followed by the Revolt 1 at £1,499. While the frame remains the same between the three, it's the other components used that make the difference.
While a lot of more affordable gravel bikes come with road-going gearing, the Giant Revolt 0 enjoys Shimano's latest gravel-focused GRX mechanical 12-speed kit. This sees premium GRX RX-820 components (if you're used to road bikes, think Ultegra) used for the front and rear derailleur, while the shifters are more mid-tier RX-610 (think 105). Speaking of 105, the Revolt 0 uses a 105 cassette (11-34), Tigra-equivalent RX410 brakes and a FSA Omega Modular AGX+ crank.
The Revolt 0 uses Giant's own S-X2 disc wheelset, and these are fitted with Maxxis Rambler tyres with a 42mm width. If you want to run something wider, the Revolt 0 has a clearance of up to 53mm in its 'long' flip chip position, or 45mm in its short position (more on that in a bit).
What's it like?
You can order the Revolt 0 online, with the bike built-in and supplied by a local Giant store - you can then choose to either collect it in person, have have it delivered. If you want to have a closer look, you can try it out at one of their many stores dotted round the country (which is what we did with our test bike). You'll also find Giant bikes at a wide range of bike shops - handy if you've got a specific Cycle To Work scheme voucher to spend.
If you're buying a bike like this for the first time, you might be surprised to see that it comes without pedals. This isn't a cost-cutting exercise on Giant's part, but with a variety of different clipless pedal systems available, you can add the specific pedals to suit your needs (and you can even pop on some flat pedals to get you started if you prefer).
First impressions are very good, especially in the Gloss Blue Dragon colouway it's finished in. Looking closer and the frame has some nicely sculptured tubing, while the top tube has a defined downward slope that is complemented by some dropped seatstays (all in the name of rider comfort). And thanks to internal routing, lots of the cabling has been tucked out of the way.
As this is a gravel bike and not a road bike however, the Revolt 0 is dotted with various mounts - you can easily mount some proper mudguards if you wish, while there a mounts on the front forks for bags, as well as mounts on the top tube for accessories. That's not forgetting mounts for a couple of bottle cages as well.
But what's it like on the gravel/road/commute? If you're used to the geometry of a typical road bike, then you'll notice the difference on the Revolt 0. While the reach is relatively long, the short stem and moderately tall stack make for a relaxed riding position.
With the chunky(ish) tyres, carbon fork and Giant's D-Fuse seat post, the Revolt 0 is a properly comfy ride - the various pitted and potholed country lanes on our various test routes didn't bother the Revolt 0. It's quite a contrast if you're used to a carbon road bike. It's not just the way it glides over uneven surfaces either, but the geometry of the Revolt 0 means you're not left with any unwanted aches or pains - even after a hilly 50 mile loop, it didn't result in any stiffness.
Speaking of hills, the combination of a 11-34 cassette and 48/32 chainset offers plenty of versatility on an array of climbs, while the 12 speed configuration means smooth transitions between gears.
We tested the Revolt 0 in the 'short' flip chip position - the Revolt 0 has a clever two-position adjustment on the rear dropout that means you can fit wider tyres if you wish (while also extending the distance between the two wheels). That puts it in a 'long' configuration and alters the geometry of the bike a touch.
We found the Maxxis Rambler tyres to be a solid all-rounder - they roll fine on tarmac, while providing a reasonable amount of grip on the trails. If you're planning on doing a bit more off-road riding though, you might want something with a bit more tread.
The handling of the Giant Revolt 0 is really good - steering is precise and delivers plenty of confidence on a descent or flowing gravel track, and all in all, it's a real pleasure to ride.
Should I buy one?
Just because it falls into the gravel bike category doesn't mean that it's only suited to off-road riding. The Revolt 0 is a bike you can happily munch miles on on the road - it's fast enough to help you keep up with your friends on road bikes (and much comfier), delivers better grip for those winder rides, while it'll be just at home decked out in bags on the commute to work.
There's a huge array of choice at this price point, but the Giant Revolt 0 is a very capable all-rounder that's well spec'd for the price and would be a great choice for someone looking for their first gravel bike.
