Gravel Biking in the Cascades: My 500-Mile Canyon Grizl Review

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There’s a well-known saying in biking: the perfect number of bikes to own is always n+1.

In search of a true, do-it-all adventure bike that would finally free me from the shackles of pavement, I put the long-standing expression to the test and picked up a Canyon Grizl CF 6, one of the better bang-for-your-buck carbon gravel bikes currently on the market. Despite already owning two road bikes—bear with me here—I actually needed this one.

Now that the glory of new bike day has mostly subsided, here are my impressions after logging 500 miles on my Canyon Grizl.

The Canyon Grizl CF 6 Build
Let’s get the baseline bike details out of the way—the Grizl CF 6 comes loaded with a carbon frame + fork (with generous 54mm tire clearance), SRAM Apex hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless-ready DT Swiss Gravel LN aluminum wheels, 45mm Schwalbe G-One RX Performance tires and more cargo mounts than I can handle. The bike comes stock with a SRAM Apex XPLR 1×12 drivetrain, which consists of a 40T front chainring and a 11-44T rear cassette that offers plenty of spin for uphill travel.

Being a hair under 6’0 with a 32” inseam, the size Medium is a near-perfect fit. Fresh out of the box, the Medium weighs 22.01lbs.

Not wanting to nerd out too hard on stack, reach and other geometric considerations, I will say this—the Canyon Grizl delivers an ultra-stable ride that doesn’t shy away from chunky terrain. Let’s talk more about that.

This Bike Is Hungry
“Let ‘er eat!” is a joke I stole from my bike guy that perfectly encapsulates the Grizl riding experience. Rather than scoot around rocks, roots and ruts, this bike wants to mow them right over; the longer wheelbase, combined with carbon’s compliance, comfortably “eats” the rugged and, at times, aggressive gravel roads native to the Cascades. Leaning distinctly into the MTB end of the gravel bike spectrum, the Grizl delivers all-terrain stability at the expense of some pavement agility and zip. This is a trade-off I can live with. I’ve kept up well enough on roadie rides, and the knobby, 45mm tires (not to mention reliable braking) are welcomed when riding in the not-so-glamourous conditions common to Seattle. Admittedly, I’ve found that the limiting factor is my biking ability—if there’s a will, there’s definitely a way on this bike.

Mullet drivetrains are becoming the norm in gravel biking, and opting for a 1x setup was an intentional decision. This means one less derailleur to fiddle with, one less component to break down, and yes, fewer gears. Don’t get me wrong, the 40/44 gear ratio is pretty dang good… but not perfect. When chugging up 15%+ grades, I find myself searching for that hidden gear that would unlock the secret to climbing steep hills. With fully-loaded bikepacking weight, I have more doubts. But, similar n+1, proper gearing for a hefty climb is a moving goalpost—I’ll always want a lower gear. A smaller chainring might be in my future, but, at least the 1x setup looks damn clean. That counts for something.

Getting Out There
I come from a background of trail running and road biking. Gravel biking—the natural lovechild—is a new way to touch grass with an added sprinkle of adrenaline. Far beyond the reaches of the tarmac, I can cover more ground than trail running typically allows, and the gripping descents add just enough spice to satisfy my need for real Type 1 fun.

Furthermore, the map-loving child within me is having a field day. Looking at the sprawling logging roads of North Bend, Snoqualmie Pass, Cle Elum and beyond scratches an itch in my brain that hits like any proper drug should. Searching for new sights, new challenges and new ways to push my limits is all part of the game, and for me, researching the terrain, scouting trip reports and building new routes are key components of the fun.

Conclusion
I can go on about this bike and gravel biking writ large, but I’ll leave it at this—gravel biking is all the rage, and with good reason. If you’re a Type 2 fun addict with a penchant for adventure, this is your sign to put n+1 into practice.

Time to start looking at mountain bikes.