Giant Revive - riding off pavement

Hello, I have taken my Revive DX off road a couple of times, but not on any real MB trails. As far
as having enough gear I would say "Yes" I ride up some pretty steep hills some times. But, the
Revive is not really made for heavy off road, more trail riding and roads. I would be cool to see
you try, more power to you! Who knows you may be on to something. take care. Derek
revivedx.comrevivedx.comOpen ↗ Join the reviveolution

Rails to Trails are almost always less than 2% grade because they were originally railroads. Paved hills are the probably worse.

You've been off road with the std tires or do you have seperate wheels with different tires mounted?

We had some issues with the low end of the DX gear set... i.e. it's not really low enough
to suit us.

So we had our shop R&R the standard 16 tooth rear sprocket with a 20 tooth unit on one of the two
DXs we bought last month.

This allows off pavement riding, even with std tires... relatively easy to ride up grassy knolls,
etc, but the suspension may not be quite what you need for serious road roughness. Our other bike is
a modified Raven 3000 with some up grades, so we know what can be... and the DXs aren't that... but
they're also about 1/6 the cost too... 🙂

I plan to try a 22 tooth rear sprocket just to see.... and we're looking at maybe a Rohloff mod for
the other bike (wife's) which will give a pretty wide range w/o having to expose the chain (which is
what happens when using a larger rear sprocket).

BTW, we have ID'd a quality bike rack that seems to work for both bikes and is cheaper than
some alternatives: Sportworks Transport 2 bike carrier 2"... needs a couple tweaks but seems to
be a good fit.

guardrail said:

I have been riding a 99 GT XCR3000 I-drive for four years, off pavement on a lot rails to trails
projects and mountain bike trails.

My old knee and old back are starting to tell me this is really silly on my part, and the Giant
Revive is very intriguing. I have test ridden it twice.

My thought is to modify the Revive with some more aggressive tires (more grip) and try it on the
rails to trails routes and give up the trails for the most part.

We don't get the 21 speed version in the US - I'm concerned that 8 speeds is enough and that low
gear is low enough.

Anyone ventured into this yet?

--

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

Have you given any thought to converting to the SRAM DualDrive system used on the Revive in Europe? I've actually contacted a couple of shops to see about having one sent over here but I don't like to color.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jd Ami
[B]We had some issues with the low end of the DX gear set... i.e. it's not really low enough
to suit us.

So we had our shop R&R the standard 16 tooth rear sprocket with a 20 tooth unit on one of the two
DXs we bought last month.

This allows off pavement riding, even with std tires... relatively easy to ride up grassy knolls,
etc, but the suspension may not be quite what you need for serious road roughness. Our other bike is
a modified Raven 3000 with some up grades, so we know what can be... and the DXs aren't that... but
they're also about 1/6 the cost too... 🙂

I plan to try a 22 tooth rear sprocket just to see.... and we're looking at maybe a Rohloff mod for
the other bike (wife's) which will give a pretty wide range w/o having to expose the chain (which is
what happens when using a larger rear sprocket).

BTW, we have ID'd a quality bike rack that seems to work for both bikes and is cheaper than
some alternatives: Sportworks Transport 2 bike carrier 2"... needs a couple tweaks but seems to
be a good fit.

guardrail said:

I have been riding a 99 GT XCR3000 I-drive for four years, off pavement on a lot rails to trails
projects and mountain bike trails.

My old knee and old back are starting to tell me this is really silly on my part, and the Giant
Revive is very intriguing. I have test ridden it twice.

My thought is to modify the Revive with some more aggressive tires (more grip) and try it on the
rails to trails routes and give up the trails for the most part.

We don't get the 21 speed version in the US - I'm concerned that 8 speeds is enough and that low
gear is low enough.

Anyone ventured into this yet?

--

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗ [/B]

Quoted message said:

Have you given any thought to converting to the SRAM DualDrive system used on the Revive in
Europe? I've actually contacted a couple of shops to see about having one sent over here but I
don't like to color.

Yeah, I am in the process of doing just that. It looks like installing 24-speed DualDrive on basic
Revive model is MUCH cheaper alternative than importing 21-speed European version (and you get 3
more speeds 🙂 My bike shop quoted something like $180 for 24-speed DD + about $30 for labor. So,
it looks like I can get a 24-speed DD Revive for about the same price as Revive DX. I think it's a
good deal.

Wesley

Now that starts to make sense.

The 21 spped is nearly 600 pounds in the UK which is $1000.

Post some pics when you get it done - I'm very interested

almost forgot, $30 labor seems low - don't they have to respoke the rear wheel with the new hub in it???

also - are you changing tires?

Sorry for not replying right away, I've been a bit busy lately. To answer both of your questions:

1. $30 labor for installing a hub might be a bit low, but not by much. My bike shop gave me this
price 'cause I've already donated enough money to them 🙂) Otherwise, it would have been
something like $50 at the most, I think.

2. Changing tires - yes, but not right now. I am thinking about installing front suspension hub
(made by Pantour, about $150 + labor - pantourhub.compantourhub.comOpen ↗) as a second step, and I am
planning on putting some high-psi tires at that time. From what I've heard, Schwalbe City
Marathon (rated to 100 psi) would be a decent and dependable choice.

guardrail <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

also - are you changing tires?

--

here is what SRAM told me for parts:

Hub, 32h or 36h: 195.00
Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 27 speed: 190.00
Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 24 Speed: 120.00

I have my mtn bike on eBay now.

Since I was thinking about Rails to Trails riding I was going to look for some kind of knobbed or treaded tire - probably something the BMX guys might use.

That suspension hub thing is strange. Do you really see it as needed with most of the weight rearward on these bikes.

Where are you located - I'd like to see the bike when you get it converted.

Hi,

I am in Northern California, about 30 miles south from San Francisco. Regarding SRAM DD cost:

One alternative is gaerlan.comgaerlan.comOpen ↗ (in San Francisco):

Hub: $140 Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 24 Speed: $85

URL: gaerlan.comhubs.htmlOpen ↗

It's about $225 total. 9-speed is $45 more.

I've got mine even cheaper from another local shop, but I do have a "special relationship"
with them 🙂

Ok, now about front suspension.

Short answer - yes, you do need it.

Long answer - Giant marketed Revive LX N7 model with full-blown front suspension fork in Europe in
2003. Here is one sample URL:

waller-online.chEZB7.htmlOpen ↗

I do not know if they still have this model in 2004, but if they don't, it must be primarily for
"price reduction" purposes - not because of any technical merits.

Now, from my personal experience - I took a standard Revive for a rather extensive test ride 🙂 ,
which included going downhill on a not-so-smooth pavement at considerable speed. I clearly felt at
that point that a bit of a front suspension would be a good thing to have. Perhaps not as much as
2-inch travel front fork - but something exactly like 1/2" travel Pantour hub. It would have made it
PERFECT. Add hi-psi tires to this equation, and you need it even more.

This is a COMFORT bike, after all 🙂))

Wesley

guardrail <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

here is what SRAM told me for parts:

Hub, 32h or 36h: 195.00 Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 27 speed:
190.00 Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 24 Speed: 120.00

I have my mtn bike on eBay now.

Since I was thinking about Rails to Trails riding I was going to look for some kind of knobbed or
treaded tire - probably something the BMX guys might use.

That suspension hub thing is strange. Do you really see it as needed with most of the weight
rearward on these bikes.

Where are you located - I'd like to see the bike when you get it converted.

--

Oh, and I almost forgot:

In case if anyone decides to get a Revive DX model (the one with enclosed chain and Nexus hub) and
wants to extend gearing range, one option would be "Schlumpf Mountain Drive and Speed Drive" :

sheldonbrown.comschlumpf.htmlOpen ↗

But it's about $370 and doesn't make much sense, compare to standard Revive + DD, in my opinion.
Unless you REALLY want to have a totally derauler-free bicycle 🙂)

guardrail <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

here is what SRAM told me for parts:

Hub, 32h or 36h: 195.00 Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 27 speed:
190.00 Shifter, Derailleur, Cassette, Cables 24 Speed: 120.00

I have my mtn bike on eBay now.

Since I was thinking about Rails to Trails riding I was going to look for some kind of knobbed or
treaded tire - probably something the BMX guys might use.

That suspension hub thing is strange. Do you really see it as needed with most of the weight
rearward on these bikes.

Where are you located - I'd like to see the bike when you get it converted.

--

Well since I'm in SC I'm likely going to have to settle for pics.

Had not thought about downhill. If you are in the Frisco area hills are certainly a consideration for you.

Keep me posted - my mtn bike is on eBay now.

Well - how is the conversion coming along.

I think I have my mtn bike sold so I may be in the business sooner than I'd hoped.

I picked up my Revive today. Got the red one.

I have a question. According to SRAM and the shop you put me in touch with, the DD rear hub comes in 32 and 36 spoke flanges.

The back rim on the Revive has 28 spokes. How did your shop work thru that?