New Decathlon gravel bike: Riverside Touring 920 - made for bikepacking and long tours

There are already various gravel bikes available from the different bike brands of the French outdoor retailer Decathlon. We already had the Riverside GCR and the Tribal GRVL 900 in the test and have the E-gravel bike Van Rysel E-GRVL AF presented. Now Riverside is launching a gravel bike designed specifically for bikepacking, the Touring 920. Wide tyres, wide handlebars - big grins on long tours? The price of 1699 euros is quite an announcement!

Riverside Touring 920: Frame with 33 attachment points for bikepacking bags etc.

The Riverside Touring 920 has a triple-butted aluminium frame in combination with a carbon fork. The aluminium tube has different thicknesses in three places to achieve a balance between weight and stability. The frame should also be stable, as a total of 33 mounting points offer numerous options for attaching pannier racks, mudguards and various bikepacking bags, transforming the gravel bike into a bikepacking bike. The internal cable routing provides space on the frame and a clean look, but is more difficult to maintain and repair on tour if the worst comes to the worst.

Also designed for long tours and hours in the saddle is the particularly wide and, above all, widely flared handlebar (Flare 24°).

• Size S: 580 mm width // Reach: 52.6 mm // Flare: 24° // Sweep: 4°// Drop: 115.5 mm
• Size M, L, XL: 620 mm width // Reach: 52.6 mm // Flare: 24° // Sweep: 4° // Drop: 124 mm

The second, extremely important contact point - the saddle - is a Brooks Cambium C15 Carved made of natural rubber and nylon cover and with a large cut-out for central relief.

Sram Rival on groupset and brakes

The Riverside Touring 920 is equipped with a Sram Rival groupset with 1x11 gearing, which has a 32 chainring (can be converted to 40) and covers a wide gear range with an 11-42 cassette. This means that even steep climbs should be conquerable. The crank length varies: 170 mm (S/M) or 175 mm (L/XL). The hydraulic Sram Rival disc brakes are tried and tested and offer reliable braking in rain or sunshine.

The 29-inch Vittoria Terreno tyres have also proved their worth, with a generous width of 2.25 inches/57 mm to guarantee optimum grip and riding comfort on both asphalt and unpaved roads.

Practical features for bikepacking tours and cycle holidays

The integrated Shimano Deore XT hub dynamo, which, together with the Cycle2Charge USB charger, makes it possible to charge smartphones, GPS devices or power banks while riding, is really practical for us. The extra weight is perhaps worth taking with you on your journey. Even though, according to Decathlon, the Riverside Touring 920 already weighs in at a hefty 11.8 kg. This certainly doesn't make it a racer, but it is designed primarily for long tours. And it has already demonstrated this on over 500,000 test kilometres on all continents and in all weathers.

The Riverside Touring 920: facts & figures

• Price: 1699 Euro >> e.g. available here
• Weight: 11.8 kg (without pedals)
• Frame: Triple-butted aluminium frame
• groupset: Sram Rival
• Crankset: 1-speed Sram DUB 32T chainring
• Cassette: Sram 11-speed (11-42)
• Rear derailleur: Sram Rival with long cage
• Chain: Sram PC1130
• Pedals: Riverside
• Hydraulic brakes: Sram Rival
• Handlebars: Riverside
• Saddle: Brooks Cambium C15 Carved
• Rims: Rodi, width 27c, 32 spokes
• Thru axles 100/142 × 12 mm with quick release.
• Tyres: Vittoria Terreno for dry surfaces (tubeless valves included)
• Touring bike components: Shimano Deore XT hub dynamo for charging batteries and the GPS while riding (6 V - 0.5 A, 3 W) // Cycle2Charge USB port is integrated into the stem.
• Warranty: Lifetime warranty on frame, fork, stem, handlebars // Attachments: 2 years

Additional accessories for the Riverside Touring 920

Of course, Decathlon also equips its customers with the right equipment: The Riverside Touring 920 can be equipped with various bikepacking bags from Decathlon.

The new, more affordable ADVT 500 bikepacking bag series

For bikepacking tours in the warm and dry season, there is the new ADVT 500 series of bike bags from Decathlon. They are therefore not weatherproof or waterproof.

• Depending on the model, the bags are attached to the frame with Velcro straps, straps and tension belts, so they are not tied to specific screw-on points.
• The series is made of hard-wearing ripstop fabric as the main material and is protected against abrasion and damage from sticks and stones.
• All bikepacking bags in the ADVT 500 series are fitted with reflectors.
• The models all have openings for cables and drinking tubes.

The new Bikepacking series consists of 2 Top Tube frame bags (1 or 1.4 litre volume) with enough space for essentials such as a wallet, a small first aid kit or a multitool. Prices: 24.99 or 29.99 euros. Plus 2 Half frame frame bags with a volume of 2 or 2.5 litres, both 29.99 euros, which can be attached in several places. And one Full frame bag with 5 litres for 34.99 euros.

The weatherproof ADVT 900 bikepacking bags

For demanding bikepacking tours that can also take place in the rain, Decathlon offers the ADVT 900 bike bags. These are explicitly waterproof bags that are also characterised by their robust construction.

• All bags are made from hardwearing 420D or 600D polyester. The thermoformed shells provide additional stability, even in rough terrain.
• The ADVT 900 bags are waterproof to IPX6: the contents are reliably protected even in heavy rain.
• The panniers have coated straps, TPU spacers and robust aluminium hooks with a locking system.
• The weatherproof bikepacking bags are also equipped with reflectors and have openings for cables and drinking tubes.

The "Harness Bikepacking" saddlebag attachment offers a stable holder for saddlebags with 6 to 15 litres (price: 54.99 euros >> available here). The waterproof roll closure of the saddle bag itself and the waterproof material make it ideal for storing clothing and equipment. Its price, on the other hand, is just 19.99 euros >> available here.

The robust and also waterproof handlebar bag, which has a flexible volume of 5 to 15 litres, can be attached to the handlebars. The separately available holder costs a little more at 49.99 euros, while the handlebar bag costs only 19.99 euros.

The Bikepacking Top Tube bag with 1 litre volume is compact and ideal for everything that needs to be easily accessible. The bag can be opened with the Fidlock magnetic fastener. Price: 34,99 Euro >> available here.