Gravel with 100 mm of suspension? The Pivot LES SL, a drop-bar MTB to go further

If you've ever ridden down a rough trail on your gravel bike gritting your teeth and thinking you were missing some suspension, this bike is talking to you. The drop-bar MTB is no longer a garage experiment: according to Velo, the Pivot LES SL, a carbon hardtail, has a road handlebar and 100 mm of travel, and their review presents it as a way of taking gravel to the extreme.

A carbon hardtail with a gravel soul

At first glance it might look like a mix of spare parts: a carbon mountain bike frame that someone has fitted with a drop handlebar. The review's conclusion goes the other way. For ultra-distance routes and steep trails, those 100 mm of travel make perfect sense.

The idea is simple. The drop handlebar gives you several hand positions, something you appreciate when you've spent many hours on the bike. The hardtail base with a suspension fork gives you control and confidence when the terrain gets serious, just where a conventional gravel bike starts to struggle.

Who a drop-bar MTB makes sense for

It's not the bike for everyone, and that's fine. It fits these profiles above all:

• Ultra-distance and bikepacking: long routes that mix fast tracks with technical sections, where changing hand position relieves wrists, shoulders and back.
• Very technical gravel: if your rides always end up on trails that call for an MTB, the fork lets you descend with more margin.
• Riders coming from the road: if you feel at home on a drop handlebar, you gain terrain without giving up your usual position.

If, on the other hand, you ride mostly on hard-packed tracks and broken tarmac, a rigid gravel bike will probably still give you more speed with less weight and maintenance.

What to consider if the idea tempts you

Before you take the plunge, whether with a bike like this off the shelf or building your own version on a hardtail, it's worth going over a few general points:

• Geometry: MTB frames are designed for flat handlebars. When switching to drops, the reach changes and the stem and size are key so you're not stretched out.
• Shifter compatibility: road or gravel levers have to work with your gears and brakes. Not everything works with everything.
• The fork: suspension needs maintenance. Factor it into your budget if you're coming from a rigid gravel bike.
• Your real terrain: be honest about where you ride most days, not just about the epic route of the year.

If you're looking for a base to experiment with, among the second-hand mountain bikes there are carbon hardtails that can be a good starting point, and in the gravel bikes category you'll see everything on the other side of the border.

The line between gravel and mountain biking is blurring

The Pivot LES SL drop bar confirms a trend already visible on the trails: more and more cyclists want a single bike capable of linking long kilometres and demanding trails. Some brands solve it with more capable gravel bikes and others, as in this case, by starting directly from the mountain bike.

For you, the message is positive: there are more options than ever to find the bike that fits the way you ride, without having to choose between comfort and control.

And if this change of direction encourages you to upgrade, you can list your current bike for free and make room in the garage for your next adventure.