£7,300 | 9.34kg
Pearson lays claim to being the oldest bike business in the world, but considering the depth and breadth of its gravel range, it is certainly keeping up with the times. The Summon The Blood is a titanium build that leans towards more nimble riding and less-heavily laden bike-packing. There are four other models to choose from, built from steel, carbon, and more titanium.
Frame
Starting with the tubing, Pearson uses 3A1 2.5V triple-butted titanium to save weight while maintaining strength.
The 72.8° head angle is notably steep for a gravel bike. Although there still are some frames out there that hover around the 72° mark, many more have been going significantly slacker.
A slacker head angle typically makes the front end feel more controlled and less twitchy. To stop the handling tipping over into feeling slow and lazy, many brands will increase the length of the top tube and shorten the length of the stem to compensate. With a shorter stem, the steering axis is reduced, and that generally has the effect of making the bike feel a bit more responsive.
The Summon The Blood's chainstays come in at 425mm, which is quite short for a gravel bike - but generally this is a good thing as it tends to make a bike feel more responsive in the corners. You would want a longer rear end if you were planning on really heavily loading up the bike and weren't so fussed about sharp cornering, though.
In a size medium, the stack and reach are 604mm and 376mm - on the high and short side, respectively making for a more relaxed position than some other racier gravel bikes.
Components
This story is from the May 26, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 26, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Claud Butler Criterium
A classic British brand ridden by beginners and Olympians alike
Dr Hutch
At what point does a bold show of strength become brazen showboating? The Doc ponders the etiquette of the long solo break
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...CBD
From reducing pain to promoting relaxation and sleep, myriad are the claims made for cannabidiol but do they stack up? Rob Kemp finds out
Van Rysel D900
Andy Turner discovers whether Decathlon's high-spec, low-price smart trainer can compete with the likes of Wahoo, Tacx and Elite
What prep does my bike need for summer?
Pro bike mechanic Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
2024 GIRO D'ITALIA
Attention turns to Italy and 21 days of Grand Tour action
Pogačar's dominance at the Giro could be dull
While I may have been a little young to understand the full romance of the Tour de France during the Armstrong era, I never understood the sentiment that it was boring just because of Lance's dominance.
Team GB's Paris Olympics track bike launched
BC reveals the bike that it hopes will power riders to medals in Paris this summer
Romandie victory marks Ineos return to stage race success
Carlos Rodríguez wins British team's first WorldTour stage race since 2022, writes Adam Becket
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.