00:00Let's face it, gravel bikes are everywhere. Standing out in the mixed surface space is tough,
00:06but I think I've found a bike that cuts through the noise. And no, it's not from a brand that you
00:12might expect. I'm talking about the Cube New Road C62 SLT. And on the surface, it has all the right
00:20tools. It has a lightweight carbon frame, top-tier components, all-terrain capability, yet it manages
00:26to undercut the Trek Checkmate by a staggering £4,000 for a similar spec. So what's the catch?
00:35Well, let's find out.
00:46Like with any bike, it makes sense to start out by taking a look at the beating heart of this
00:51two-wheeled machine, the frame set. Two-thirds of the new Road C62 SLT's list price is made up by the
00:59group set alone. So what exactly do you get when it comes to the frame? Cube hasn't just slapped
01:05together any old carbon frame here. The C62 SLT is built using the brand's range-topping C62 carbon
01:13layup designed to be ridiculously light while still soaking up vibrations for all-day comfort.
01:20But here is where it gets interesting. Cube has gone a step further. The resin in this layup is
01:26reinforced with nanoparticles bonding with high-modulus fibres to create a frame that's not just lighter,
01:33but also stronger and more durable than before. Cube's advanced twin mould process ensures every fibre
01:41is exactly where it should be. The first mould is said to guarantee a perfectly precise layup,
01:47while a secondary inner mould locks everything in place during the curing.
01:51The result is a tighter tolerance and frames that are stiffer,
01:55tougher and impressively refined, all without the eye-watering price tag of big-name competitors.
02:02But even the best carbon layups can be ruined by bad geometry or a lack of features. So how does the
02:09new road stack up? As far as geometry goes, Cube has given its new road gravel endurance geometry.
02:15It's designed to keep you comfortable on those all-day adventures while still feeling sharp and
02:20responsive when you put the power down or dive down some more technical single track. And it will
02:26handle single track. The new road clears up to 50mm tyres or 45mm tyres with mud guards.
02:34When we put that into numbers, we are looking at a middle of the road 71.5 degree head tube angle
02:40paired with longer 440mm chainstays for a size medium. This combination keeps things stable on
02:47tough terrain yet shouldn't feel sluggish when you want to throw the bike around a little bit more.
02:52Speaking of fit, Cube has done a very good job of keeping things inclusive with sizes from extra small
02:59to extra large. Every brand, small or medium, is slightly different, but Cube covers everything
03:05from a 50cm frame to a 61cm frame for taller riders, allowing pretty much every single rider to get
03:13comfortable on a capable gravel geometry. Cube has also included a whole host of features you would
03:20expect to see from any high-end gravel bike, once again sticking it to the likes of Canyon and Giant.
03:27First up, the drop seat stays. Borrowed from Cube's road and cyclocross bikes,
03:32they let the seat post flex just that little bit more, giving you extra comfort on rough terrain
03:37without killing efficiency.
03:39For those who like to venture deep into the unknown, Cube has loaded the new road with mounting points
03:45in all the usual areas, making it as adventure ready as you need it to be.
03:50The C62 comes with two carrier mounts and even a hidden top tube mount for Cube's in-house acid
03:57top tube bag range, tucked neatly under a rubber grommet to keep things looking sleek when not in use.
04:03The frame itself can also hold three bottles, with a third mount under the downtube, leaving room for
04:09a frame bag if you're heading off-grid. The new road has been around for a fair few years now,
04:15and generally speaking, there has always been a fully equipped bike in the range for commuters.
04:21Arguably then, the mounting points for full-length mudguards and rear rack is almost trickle up
04:27technology. Either way, coupled with clearance for 45mm tyres, the new road should keep you rubber side
04:34down and dry too. There's an integrated seat clamp at the top of the bike, which not only makes the bike
04:40look sharper, but it also shaves off a few grams. And let's not forget the fully integrated headset
04:47cable routing. Love it or loathe it, there's no denying it makes for a cleaner, more aero cockpit,
04:53something you certainly won't find on every gravel bike at this price point.
04:58Oh, and in a move that will split opinions, Cube has even included a kickstand mount.
05:06Is it necessary? Maybe not, but if you ever need it, then it's there. And that sums up the new road
05:12C62 SLT, designed for adventure with the details to match.
05:22However, we really need to address the star of the show, or at least put it into context,
05:28the SRAM Red Explore Axis groupset. The new road C62 SLT has been paired with
05:35SRAM's range-topping gravel groupset, complete with the American brand's UDH technology,
05:41improving longevity as well as shifting performance. If you tally up the cost of SRAM's Red Explore
05:48Axis groupset, you'll quickly realise that the list price of the groupset comes in a shade under £4,000.
05:57How then has Cube managed to build the bike, complete with all carbon finishing kit, for just six?
06:04Well, Cube has kept things in-house, but that doesn't mean poor quality. Not by a long shot.
06:11Rolling duties are handled by the Neumann Advanced SL XR36 Vinoa wheelset, which come tubeless ready,
06:19and feature a 24mm internal rim width. Thanks to the carbon spokes and lightweight hubs,
06:26the wheelset weighs just 1245g. That's seriously impressive. And if you were in any doubt of the
06:35wheels being good quality, then do remember that Neumann wheels are Tour de France proven. You only need
06:41to look at Binium Gourmet's green jersey to see that. Tyres can often be a common cost saving area when
06:48brands are speccing up a new bike, but Cube, once again, has gone all out. The new Road C62 SLT is
06:56finished with Schwalb G1 Kevlar tyres as standard, which can be set up tubeless thanks to the tubeless
07:02ready wheels. Both handlebar and seatposts are carbon fibre, once again thanks to Cube's in-house
07:09component manufacturer Neumann. A carbon seatpost aids not only weight saving, but comfort too,
07:15allowing for a little more fore-aft movement at the rear of the bike.
07:20And the advanced G318 gravel handlebar tops things off, weighing a scant 200g. The bar comes with
07:2912.5 degrees of flare, allowing for maximum control while you're in the drops, while not slowing you
07:34down when you're on the hoods. When you add all of this together, you are left with a high-end gravel
07:42frame set, which has stood the test of time. SRAM's latest and greatest groupset and a 1245g
07:50carbon wheelset. That's all very impressive indeed, and it boasts a total weight of just 7.5kg.
07:56But to understand how good this really is, I need to bring in some spec sheets from some rival brands.
08:03Take the Trek Checkmate SLR 9.0 for example. The Trek boasts the same SRAM Red Explore Axis groupset,
08:09in-house carbon wheels, internal cable routing and carbon finishing kit. The only obvious difference
08:15is a one-piece handlebar over the Cube's two-piece affair, which is arguably
08:19more user-friendly. You might think then that both bikes have a similar price, but you'd be wrong.
08:25The Trek costs £10,000. That is 165% more than the Cube. Even Canyon, king of the great value
08:35performance space, cannot keep up. The Grail CFR Explore features a similar spec sheet, even down to
08:42the 7.5kg weight, yet still costs £7,899. So, what's the takeaway?
08:50Well, first off is that the Cube New Road C62 boasts incredible value for money. When comparing it to
08:57competitors, the build offers all the same key components in the right material, leaving you
09:03wanting for very little. The geometry and mounting options mean it can work for riders who want to
09:08travel far and wide, while the stripped back lightweight spec will also serve those who are
09:13wanting to push the pace. The word versatile is often thrown around. However, in this case,
09:19it's clearly very applicable. If you want top spec components and a bike that can seemingly do it all,
09:25then be sure to check out the Cube New Road C62 SLT.
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