I understand the appeal of drop bars but I just never feel as comfortable or confident with them. I hadn’t considered that drop bars are easier on the back. It makes sense because your arms take some of the weight. When I hit a headwind on my flat bar bike, my chest is a sail.
This is a win for those who prize a clean-looking bike or want to strap bike bags to the frame. More road-friendly than upright, the geometry isn’t revolutionary. It’s a comfortable bike that doesn’t break the bank.
The result is two very different trail values, and thus two bikes that ride rather differently. Spoiler, the small bike won’t ride as well as the bigger bike. This is why small riders giant KIDS BIKES are often best served going with bikes made by custom builders who can build them custom forks in the rakes required. Yes, they are heavier, but handling should trump weight.
The frame is nicely finished with neat internal routing, vibration dampening seatpost and three bottle cage mounts to allow plenty of water or some storage for essentials items. Basso offers the Palta in three colorways as well as an optional ‘Palta Endurance Pack’ or ‘Palta Mudfest Kit’ . The Palta’s road inspirations are obvious with its sleek racy lines and giant KIDS BIKES aggressive geometry; with this comes its ride qualities. Comfort has been sacrificed for speed and the Palta seeks to cover all terrain types at a fast pace, whether that’s open gravel roads, technical tracks or tarmac. With a similar price and component group (Shimano’s budget-focused Claris) as the Kona Rove above, the two bikes are natural competitors.
You always want to leave room between the tire and frame, especially if you ride in muddy conditions, where muck can collect and cement between the wheel and frame. To bridge the gap, brands have built out a corner of the market with varied geometry, tires, and gearing. Some bikes veer toward smoother gravel, while other designs are capable of maneuvering singletrack with ease.
– We tossed gravel geometry “status quo” out the window. The new Diverge has the most progressive geometry we’ve ever created for a drop bar bike, giving riders a capable and stable bike in the dirt, that still feels responsive and nimble on the road. We’ve increased the frame’s reach and introduced a slacker head tube and a longer offset fork. All this creates incredible confidence with a planted feeling in the dirt, while spec’ing shorter stems keeps the overall cockpit length the same and the steering lively. We’ve kept the bike’s BB low to increase stability, but high enough to utilize with 650b wheels if that’s your jam.
For a complete list of options, see our article on the best mountain bike shoes. In general, 700c wheels and tires offer the best overall performance for mixed-terrain riding, and they continue to be the most common option for s. 700c tires are narrower than 650b options, usually weigh less, and roll faster on tarmac and most gravel paths.