{"id":49409,"date":"2026-07-20T10:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T09:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/?p=49409"},"modified":"2026-07-20T10:37:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T09:37:40","slug":"six-weeks-with-the-ventum-gs1-gravel-bike-why-im-enjoying-every-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/six-weeks-with-the-ventum-gs1-gravel-bike-why-im-enjoying-every-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Weeks with the Ventum GS1 Gravel Bike \u2013 Why I’m Enjoying Every Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It’s hard to believe I’ve already had the Ventum GS1<\/a> for six weeks. In that time I’ve ridden it on everything from local gravel loops to long mixed-surface rides, and I can honestly say it’s a bike I’ve looked forward to riding every chance I’ve had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming from a steel gravel bike, I wasn’t sure what to expect from carbon. I’d heard all the usual comments about it being lighter and stiffer, but what surprised me most was how much fun it is. The GS1 just feels playful. It responds instantly when you put the power down, changes direction effortlessly and seems to encourage you to ride a little faster and take on every trail you come across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Real World Capability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been running 50mm Schwalbe tyres<\/a>, and they’ve been brilliant. On loose gravel there’s loads of grip, giving me the confidence to stay off the brakes and carry speed through corners. Even on rougher tracks and chunky sections, the bike feels composed and predictable, making every ride feel that little bit easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One thing that’s really stood out is how fast the GS1 is on the road too. Here in the UK, most gravel rides involve linking together bridleways, byways and gravel tracks with stretches of tarmac. Some gravel bikes can feel sluggish on those connecting roads, but that’s definitely not the case here. The GS1 holds its speed really well, making those road sections enjoyable rather than something you just have to get through before the next gravel track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That road performance was really highlighted when I took the bike with me on holiday to Cornwall<\/a>. I ended up riding exclusively on the road, tackling Cornwall’s famously steep climbs and rolling lanes, and at no point did I wish I’d brought a dedicated road bike instead. Even with the 50mm tyres, the GS1 felt quick, efficient and eager to cover the miles. Knowing I also had those wider tyres meant I could confidently explore any gravel lane, bridleway or rough track that caught my eye without worrying whether the bike could handle it. That versatility is one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about owning it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Perfect for the Commute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It’s also become my go-to bike for commuting. Fitted with an Apidura<\/a> frame bag, it’s perfect for carrying my daily essentials without affecting the ride. Having a gravel bike for the daily commute means I can ditch the busy roads, mix in bridleways, canal paths and woodland trails, and turn an ordinary ride to work into something I genuinely look forward to. It’s amazing how much difference it makes to start and finish the day with a bit of adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Change to SRAM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Another big change for me was moving from Shimano to SRAM<\/a>. I’ll admit I was slightly apprehensive at first because I’d always ridden Shimano, but after the first couple of rides it all felt completely natural. The shifting is really positive, with a reassuring click every time you change gear, and the brakes have been faultless. They’ve got plenty of power when you need it, but just as importantly, loads of control. SRAM’s simple, one-paddle shifting system is something I’ve quickly become a fan of\u2014it’s intuitive, uncluttered and just works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back over the last six weeks, the biggest compliment I can give the Ventum GS1<\/a> is that it’s made me want to ride more. Whether it’s a quick evening blast, the daily commute or an all-day adventure, it’s the kind of bike that puts a smile on your face. It’s quick on the gravel, surprisingly rapid on the road and versatile enough to handle whatever route I decide to take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m looking forward to seeing where the next few months take us, but if these first six weeks are anything to go by, the Ventum GS1<\/a> is going to be a bike I’ll enjoy riding for a long time to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to believe I’ve already had the Ventum GS1 for six weeks. In that time I’ve ridden it on everything from local gravel loops to long mixed-surface rides, and I can honestly say it’s a bike I’ve looked forward to riding every chance I’ve had. Coming from a steel gravel bike, I wasn’t sure […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":49425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[74,1817],"ppma_author":[4660],"class_list":["post-49409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-buyers-guide","tag-gravel-bike","author-andrewmcateer"],"yoast_head":"\nSix Weeks with the Ventum GS1 Gravel Bike \u2013 Why I'm Enjoying Every Ride - Merlin Cycles Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A real world review of the Ventum GS1 Carbon Gravel Bike - Initial thoughts after the first 6 weeks of riding.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/six-weeks-with-the-ventum-gs1-gravel-bike-why-im-enjoying-every-ride\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Six Weeks with the Ventum GS1 Gravel Bike \u2013 Why I'm Enjoying Every Ride\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It's hard to believe I've already had the Ventum GS1 for six weeks. 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