I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to visit Ena City in Gifu Prefecture. In order to explore the old Nakasendo trail, which was also the stage for RIDEALIVE – Boku No Hosomichi –, I hopped on a Cannondale bike called the Slate, built around the concept of pure enjoyment, and rode along the ancient road covered in fallen leaves.
While this Slate has geometry leaning towards a road bike, it’s an interesting build that includes a Lefty fork (the 30mm stroke is the key) and the ability to swallow fat 650b tires. With an aluminum frame that responds honestly when you pedal and a slightly tighter rear center, it’s comfortable on paved roads, and the moment you hit an unpaved path, it moves like a fish in water.
When I was offered the chance to borrow this bike, I made one selfish request: "Would you mind if I rode it with Homage tires?"
I am grateful to the Cannondale team for answering that request with an immediate "yes." The result was a ride equipped with 650x43B Homage tires, which likely sit at the limit of the frame's clearance.
By the way, there are two versions of this Slate available: one fitted with slick tires based on Panaracer's GravelKing, and another fitted with the newly released Resolute from WTB. I made a point of going for this ride with the Homage tires specifically.
During the ride, connecting the scattered unpaved sections of the old road with paved stretches, the low knobs rolled along nicely on pavement, and the side knobs did their job well on the rougher sections. Personally, if you want to use the Slate for everything, I highly recommend the Homage.
Of course, other tires have their own merits. There is no doubt that the WTB Resolute is a reassuring tire for those who want to focus more on the joy of riding off-road. Plus, the tan walls completely change the impression of your bike.
As you can see, you can enjoy various types of rides on the same bike just by changing the tires. The world of tire selection runs deep, which is especially true for gravel riding. Naturally, as this is a type of riding I personally love, we offer a wide variety of tires at Circles to suit many different bikes.
Circles Recommendation: What is the Best Gravel Tire?
This is the time of year when you can enjoy riding over paths covered in fallen leaves like a carpet, listening to the sound of them crunching beneath your tires. Why not head out with a new set of tires? Discovering a road where you didn't know one existed, or realizing where a trail leads—that is the real thrill of gravel riding.
