Advanced eGravel review

So, before we start lets get one thing straight. I’m not really a cyclist. I have an £80 single speed that I potter about on but I’m not a ‘roadie’ or a bike packer nor a jump monkey or a singletracker. I love bikes and I spend a lot of time riding them, but I’m not a die hard enthusiast. So why am I reviewing one?

This isn’t any ordinary old bike, this is Advanced’s new ‘Egravel’. Advanced has been churning out German precision engineered bicycles for the past decade or so and their Gravel bike is the latest offering. The example we’re testing here is the middle of the road Dropbar/ Sram Apex Tap AXS. Catchy! 

Off the bat I’d say the electronic groupset, whilst deeply impressive, is not my cup of tea. It feels slightly artificial and it brings the bike to over five grand, which if you love your bikes is worth it, but for the average joe is a bit punchy. A mechanical groupset is available, but for now, only on the flat bar model. 

Other tech specs that are consistent across all models are a Bosch performance 55nm motor and a Bosch power tube 400 Wh battery. Whilst that may seem like a small battery and motor for a bike of this calibre, coupled with carbon frameset, it makes this bike light, really light. 

At just 13kg (for a size small) it wouldn’t be heavy for an acoustic, let alone an e-bike; which brings me on the this bike’s USP; it’s an e-bike on the hills and against the wind, but you don’t need the motor all the time.

Advanced are following the old Colin Chaplin, the man behind lotus racing cars, mantra of “simplify and add lightness”, and in this case it really works.

Now, I’ve ridden this bike around since it was delivered as a demo bike to our PZ store earlier this Summer, but the day I decided to take it for a proper run, and the day this review is based upon was a cold September day with a howling Northerly wind. The beaches were red-flagged, the fire was lit and everything felt very wintery. The sort of day I find immensely boring. To add to the difficulty I was riding a size medium when I should have been riding a large and I just wore my trainers and board shorts. No lycra and clip ins here!

I took the bike up to the North Coast to see how it would handle the strong headwind and big hills. Due to the small motor, the bike doesn’t glide up hills like the 85nm models elsewhere in Advanced’s lineup but it cruises up with ease, and, because of the clever packaging it’s not immediately obvious that it is an e-bike, meaning passers-by watch in disbelief as you waft up 30% inclines in your trainers without breaking a sweat. The headwind are also made light work of, just click up to turbo mode and even the strongest gusts won’t slow you down.

All in all, riding this bike is a hugely gratifying experience. Sure, you could go as fast on a road bike but not without a full set of lycra and a training regime and the fact is, unless you’re a really keen cyclist, you wouldn’t. Even the most hardcore pedallers I know shy away from strong winds because it’s hard work, and though the egravel doesn’t give you an easy ride like a larger motored models it turns sub par conditions into fun. 

Furthermore the extra drag from the larger tyres is inconsequential on an e-bike so if you fancy a jaunt down an off-road track its more than capable. The flex in the carbon gives you a bit of suspension and the wide bars inspire confidence.

After spending some time with it, I feel this is more significant than a bicycle, it got me out on a day I would usually spend inside. Giving me some exercise, vitamin D and big smile on my face. It doesn’t rely on favourable conditions and location like many lifestyle products and it means you can spend more time outside wherever you are. 

For me, it’s the perfect blend between analogue bike exercise and e-bike ease, but don’t take my word for it, take it for a spin from our PZ store and let me know what you think. It might just change your life.