Product news: Commencal 365 – not just another gravel bike?!
This is the 365. A Commencal gravel bike engineered for every adventure imaginable, for each of the 365 days of the year. Whether you're heading out for an hour-long lunch ride or a full day of pedaling, this bike is fun, the makers say. The Commencal 365 claims to have true MTB DNA, but everything has been designed to offer more comfort and agility. Just the way the Commencal people like it.
Commencal says: “The frame is triple butted 6069 T4/T6 aluminum to provide a comfortable gravel bike that is very responsive to every step. The geometry is versatile, but the components have been designed and selected to adapt to the most demanding terrain. The 365 is designed for off-road gravel courses and fun trails. Rider control, handling and comfort are paramount because before it’s just a gravel bike, it’s a commencal bike.”
“With comfort and handling in mind, the geometry of the 365 was designed to handle any type of adventure, bikepacking, lunchtime rides, training or just commuting. Thanks to the stack/reach ratio (12/11) and the 74° steering head angle, the 365 offers a first-class riding position, especially for longer day trips. The 70mm stem allows for flawless maneuverability when the trail gets tight or twisty. A 55mm fork offset provides precise steering response that filters the terrain.”
“In terms of liveliness, the secret is in the down tube. It is specially designed and wraps around the bottom bracket to contribute to the bike's lateral stiffness. The result is a light bike that handles well at speed and responds to the slightest acceleration when needed.”
“Since carbon fiber is nothing more than a plastic composite, Commencal does not intend to use this material under any circumstances. It has been "banned" at Commencal for 10 years now as they want to focus on aluminum processing. We therefore have extensive experience in dealing with alloys. The technical solutions and the tubes used allow the production of a frame that is light, dynamic and comfortable at the same time.”
The Commencal 365 is offered in three different versions to suit customers' needs, budgets and driving styles:
365 ride The 365 Ride offers everything you need to start your first drop bar adventure. It is equipped with a Shimano GRX RX600 drive and a 40-tooth chainring. The XXL cassette range enables high-speed riding and handles everything from long climbs to rough and bumpy surfaces. The Shimano RX812 rear derailleur guarantees responsive and silent gear changes, while the Shimano Grx Rx400 brakes with 180mm rotors bring the ride to an immediate halt. The wheels are fitted with DT Swiss aluminum rims and mated to Maxxis 45mm tires (650bx47c in size XS). The 70 mm RideAlpha stem offers agile handling, while the wide Spank Flare 25 handlebar offers excellent grip thanks to its teardrop shape. Entry into the 365 world is advertised at around €1667.
365 Race The 365 Race is equipped with a lowerable KS Lev Si seat post, which should allow a lower center of gravity and more safety on descents. In addition, the 365 Race benefits from the most renowned gravel-oriented Shimano GRX RX8100 groupset, Hollowtech technology, RX812 rear derailleur and powerful RX810 brakes. For wheel strength and reliability, the DT Swiss G1800 Spline gravel-specific rims are combined with the Swiss manufacturer's hubs. With 3mm thick bar tape and the extremely comfortable (we've already tested it) Fizik Terra Alpaca X5 saddle, the Commencal 365 Race offers the best balance between components, comfort and budget to suit all types of off-road riding. It is available in two colors for €2500.
365 signatures The all-white 365 Signature is a wheel designed for racing or adventure riding. The Sram Force XPLR eTap AXS 12-speed group offers the latest technology and precise gear changes. Stopping power comes from Sram Force eTap AXS HRD brakes with lightweight 180mm Centerline X discs. The wireless setup is extremely fast and efficient thanks to the lowerable RockShox Reverb AXS XPLR seat post. The top model rolls on DT Swiss GR 1600 Spline aluminum rims in conjunction with 700x45c (650bx47c in size XS) Maxxis Rambler tires. "Like the 365 Race and 365 Ride, the handling experience is second to none thanks to the short stem and MTB-like wide handlebars," promises Commencal. On the homepage, €3750 is called for.