PRO Discovers gravel & adventure riding with flared dropbars, frame bags, & more

Written by Zach Overholt Jul 31, 2018 1:00 p.m. ET

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Joining in on the gravel wave, PRO has a few new products that should cover a few genres. Call it gravel, adventure, all road, whatever, PRO’s new bars and even a dropper seat post should offer more control while a line of Discover bags will let you take it with you.

We already had the chance to check out the PRO 70mm short travel dropper for 27.2mm seat tubes with the other new PRO dropper posts, but there are a few new handlebars as well. Split into two fits, riders will have the option of the PRO Discover Medium or PRO Discover Jumbo Flare dropbar.

The medium bar will be available in 40, 42, and 44mm widths and includes a 12°/2.35cm flare on each side, while the Jumbo only comes in 42 and 44cm widths with 30°/6.7cm flare per side. Weights claimed are 270g and 280g respectively. Both bars are designed to work with the Shimano EW-RS910 Di2 bar end junction box which removes the need for one at the stem.

To help you pack for that next adventure, the Discover line of bags offer a clean look and include a 15L seat pack, 5.5L frame bag, 0.75L top tube bag, and 8L handlebar bag.

The bags all feature high quality velcro straps and shock blocks for the mounting points where applicable. Ample pockets, dividers, and toggle cords on the outside should make gear storage a bit easier. Pricing, availability, and weights are all TBA.

pro-bikegear.com

Zach Overholt

5,633 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Bmx

5 years ago

Its real useful to have a lantern swinging around the front of your bike. Why not go the full hog and just have a tiffany lamp shade up there aswell.

Rich Mahogany

5 years ago

Why do bikepackers want giant seat bags instead of panniers?

ken

5 years ago

Reply to Rich Mahogany

Seat bags and frame bags help keep weight distribution being in the center of the bike. particularly useful when riding off road.

Rich Mahogany

5 years ago

Reply to ken

frame bags I get, but the seat bag raises the center of mass relative to panniers, which is a negative for off road. It also keeps the weight of the contents roughly in line with the rear axle, just like panniers.

Johnny Twocleats

5 years ago

Reply to Rich Mahogany

Having ridden both options pretty extensively, seat bags affect the handling of the bike significantly less than panniers do. They also weigh a lot less, can be fit to a wider range of bikes and don’t have the same issues with foot clippage on shorter chainstay bikes that I have experienced with panniers.
The important thing is the handling though. Yes, the weight is up higher and you can feel that, but it’s the lesser of two evils. Panniers can handle great on a bike specifically made to be loaded heavy with them, but those same bikes aren’t as practical or fun to ride unless you’re doing months-long treks on mainly road.

tom

5 years ago

Reply to Johnny Twocleats

Completely agree.
A bike with rear panniers feels waggly and sluggish, even when they are designed to take such significant loads. A bike with a saddlepack handles much more like a normal, balanced road bike.

Beau

5 years ago

Reply to Rich Mahogany

I’m pretty sure its so your stuff doesn’t get snagged by stuff growing/sticking out on the side of the single track trail you’re riding at the time. Having done single track with panniers, I can say it can be dicey because of that.

Donna Mackey

5 years ago

big back bags has their own Pro’s & Cons but still i would prefer Pannier Bag for easy commuting.

satanas

5 years ago

If you’re doing exploratory rides walking/pushing/carrying is sometimes necessary, and is a lot easier when you don’t have panniers in the way.

Now that PRO (owned by Shimano) has all this stuff we’re just waiting on Shimano themselves to make a suitable subcompact road crankset; chainrings down to 26 or 28T would be useful, with say 46×30 as standard. I won’t hold my breath…

Max

2 years ago

I have tried both, panniers and bikepacking bags. But I ended up with something in between, a 500 gram lightweight rear rack on which I place a rolled 200 gram 30 Liter drybag lengthwise. Much more stable than both the other solutions. Another rolled drybag goes under the handlebars with a pair of straps. Simple and efficient. Sorry I don’t use fakebook