Devinci

Hatchet Carbon Rival1 Allroad Bike

We've been pretty confident that gravel riding is here to stay, and confirming these suspicions is DeVinci's second-iteration of its Hatchet Carbon Rival1 Allroad Bike. Gravel, allroad, call it what you like, what we'll call it is damn capable. That's because the crew putting their heads together up in the brand's Chicoutimi, Quebec facilities for over 25 years, and with its second iteration, the Hatchet is ready for even more adventures. It comes to us with eager geometry that's ready for lofty tires, and long rides in rough conditions. It features a similar over-all shape to its 2016 predecessor, but with a slightly longer head tube, and shorter seat tube. Its seat tube is designed for a dedicated zero-offset post, and with its lower height this means two things — firstly, it accommodates shorter riders than before, and secondly, you can add in a dropper post of enhanced comfort on rides that take you down singletrack adventures.

This Hatchet is happy adventuring on seldom-used forest service roads, flying down fresh tarmac, or even mixing it up on some buff singletrack, maybe all while on the same ride. Its DMC R-HR, or DeVinci Carbon Monocoque Road-High Resistance technology, uses multidirectional layers of carbon fiber that are laid up in a specific schedule. DeVinci then fortifies the carbon with Nano Powder that reinforces the resin with microscopic carbon tubes. This carbon recipe is completely exclusive to DeVinci allowing it to offer high modulus monocoque frames that are extremely lightweight and impressively durable.

Other standout frame features include the BB86 bottom bracket for efficient power transmission, a tapered head tube for maximum responsiveness, and a slight bow to the toptube and lowered seat stays for improved compliance. Sleek internal cable routing via a port behind the headtube, including dropper post compatibility for getting really rowdy, accommodates mechanical and electronic drivetrains and keeps things looking tidy and out of harm's way. Lastly, the hidden fender mounts allow you to find the bike comfortably year around keeping mud and road spray from dampening spirits.

We would best describe the Hatchet's ride as mountain bike-esque with the speed and multiple hand positions afforded by drop bars. A quick peek at the geo chart confirms why this is. Headtube angles encroach on hardtail 29er numbers, while the longer reach encourages the use of a shorter stem and wide bars. The chainstays and subsequent wheelbase are quite longer than the average cyclocross bike, and to that, the Hatchet is stable when the going gets fast and rough, yet it still manages to be very responsive and quick to change lines on washboard descents. This frameset will accommodate tires up to 45mm wide and DeVinci specs 40mm Maxxis Ramblers that are eager for any ride. Its 12mm thru-axles at the front and rear keep things stiff and tracking nicely and seem to have become the industry standard on drop bar disc bikes, as have the flat-mount disc brakes.

A frameset this nice is worthy of a build kit that can keep up so we're glad to see SRAM's excellent Rival 1x group on this frame. Its wide-ranging 11-42t cassette offers plenty of gearing for long, steep, extended climbs while its clutch-equipped rear derailleur provides chain security over the roughest gravel. Its V2 Pro rims are tubeless ready allowing you to drop the pressure for better traction and comfort and running some sealant helps ward off punctures. The last component to mention and one that proves DeVinci paid attention to all the details is its Easton EA50 handlebar with 16 degrees of flare for better comfort and control while in the drops.