At the "garnotte" of Spring

March 23, 2021

It's springtime. The sun's rays are finally warming the forest of your sporting ambitions. The birds are chirping, the snow is melting and trickling. The "cycling bear " that hibernated within you is awakening. Without a doubt, it's on the horizon: the best cycling season ever !

If, like me, you're itching to get back on your gravel bike as soon as possible, a rather annoying question arises: how do you deal with the less-than-certain conditions that spring brings?

Two strategies. First: as long as the trails and dirt roads are—at best—soggy, as long as there's a risk that the ice under your wheels will unexpectedly turn to slush and vice versa, it might seem reasonable to stick to the tarmac. It's generally safer (though watch out for gaping potholes and forgotten patches of salt). Let's call it choosing to ride gravel cautiously. There's nothing wrong with that.

Alternatively, it might be more about adapting one's driving and equipment to uneven surfaces, remnants of snowbanks, and dust-blackened patches of ice that dot the edges of the trails. Adapting to trails that are half-flooded, muddy, or crusted over... In short: to the " gnar notte" of spring.

Is it possible to convey the importance of tires in gravel biking and adventure cycling more broadly without dedicating an entire article to it? No. But to put it simply: choosing the right tires guarantees maximum performance in adapting to these challenging conditions. It's that simple. Now, while in a previous article I praised suppleness , it was a completely different logic that guided my tire choice this spring.

It was the mention, by other reviewers, of the exceptional grip of the Cinturato Gravel M (for " Mixed terrain "), by Pirelli, that first piqued my curiosity. After testing it in a variety of conditions, I can confirm that its equally exceptional grip is ideal for tackling the less-than-certain conditions of spring gravel and mud (as well as those of late autumn).

Riding a 45mm Gravel M is like feeling every pedal stroke bite into the soft ground like a tractor tire pulling you along. It's leaning the bike over, even on soft surfaces. Then it's leaning it over a little more, searching for the point where it loses traction. It's not finding it. It's expecting, with this kind of grip, that it will roll a little slower on the road. With its almost continuous center tread, I was pleasantly surprised.

Its properties result from its shape, but also from its rubber compound and casing, which also contribute to the tire's remarkable robustness. Much like mountain biking, if you don't approach uneven surfaces and obstacles with flexibility and deformation, another approach is to tackle them with robustness and confidence! The tread pattern of the Gravel M is reminiscent of mountain bike tires from the 1990s.

For this spring, I highly recommend it to daring gravel riders. Those who will at least consider jumping over hardened snowbanks without worrying too much about what might be hidden underneath. The verdict is therefore: grip and robustness, ideal for a fun and carefree spring!

Hey there, real ones. A blog by Pierre Gravel.

The author has been passionate about cycling since childhood. A former bike shop worker, he is now finishing his studies in communications. This blog reflects his independent opinion.

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