Standert Kettensage

Over the last few years I’ve struggled with the catch all phrase “gravel bike”. Take that a step further I’ve also assumed that all the sub niches are some marketing execs way of selling us more bikes and rinsing us of our hard earned money. I kind of still feel that way but maybe after my relationship with Standert I’m not quite as cynical. It reminds me of back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when we had a similar thing with mountain bikes. Freeride, XC, DH, Trail, Enduro and so on. I rolled my eyes just as hard back then.

I’ve now owned or had three of their bikes, the Erdgeschoss, Pfadfinder and now the Kettensage. I wrote about the Pfadfinder HERE. The Pfadfinder is the Swiss Army knife of the range, “All Road”. It has it’s limits off road but as I said previously it’s super versatile and matched perfectly to where and how I ride. The Erdgeschoss is more “Adventure” focussed, it’ll take 650b tyres, massive clearance and has has a tonne of mounting points for bike packing bags and mud guards, it’s also light and being stainless steel lively and comfortable, like the Pfadfinder it makes for a great winter road bike as well.

So finally the Kettensage, a race gravel bike. What can I say, it rips. It shares similar DNA to the crit bike the Kriessage, it’s aluminium as opposed to steel. This one’s set up with SRAM Force XPLR 1X and DT Swiss GRC 1400 wheels shod with Challenge 40 mm tyres. It’s stiff, light and somewhat aggressive, bear in mind i’m not a whippet these days and my back’s not quite as flexible as it once was, so when I say aggressive I was fine and rode 100 km with no issues but this bike’s for racers. It’s handling is snappy and agile, it begs to be ridden hard and on the current dry trails it rails corners. I’ve come off a couple of rides laughing and smiling, picked up a few pb’s as well.

If I had space and the money could I find a need for this bike alongside my others, I’m not sure. As cyclists do we ever “need” more bikes, no, but would I WANT one of these, hell yes.

Two things to add before I sign off for the sake of transparency. One, Standert support me and loaned me two of the three bikes, I bought the Erdgeschoss. Two, I am also your friendly (questionable) bike shop manager who can sell you one of these bikes in the UK and can spec one up at VIA Atelier.

If you’re interested drop me a line nick@via-atelier.cc. You can view the range HERE.