Video: Yoann Barelli Puts Guerrilla Gravity's Newest Hardtail to The Test

Oct 19, 2021 at 13:29
by Guerrilla Gravity  

We thought it might be a good idea to introduce the new Pedalhead to Yoann Barelli. Who better to push the limits of our adventure hardtail and uncover its capabilities?

From steep slabs to big drops, Yoann showed the Pedalhead lines a hardtail only dreams of. Based on the video, it seems the two got along quite well.


Photo Credit Yoann Barelli

Here’s the bike as-ridden in the video. It wouldn’t be a true Barelli bike without some signature style, but the frame itself was standard production-issue.

photo

photo

Like all GG bikes, every Pedalhead is handcrafted right here in Denver, Colorado. Shown here is John, our lead welder with over three decades of experience fabricating frames. We love how the Pedalhead juxtaposes our high-tech Revved frames, providing a link to our roots of hand-welded frames.

photo

For Yoann’s frame, he opted for the new geared dropouts. Building on GG’s signature modular approach, the Pedalhead incorporated this purpose-driven design with the Pedalhead’s Modular Dropouts to empower your ability to seamlessly convert your geared setup into a single-speed rig or vice-versa.

photo

Helping Yoann keep it controlled on the steep run ins is the custom square tubeset. Further updated for the V2 Pedalhead, the tubeset adds even more lateral stiffness, improving cornering and pedal performance, while adding vertical compliance for a smoother overall ride feel.

This is an American-made hardtail, but the Pedalhead's modern geometry is built for having fun and goin’ fast no matter where you find yourself.

Custom Builds are available now at RideGG.com

Author Info:
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Member since Aug 26, 2010
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112 Comments
  • 106 8
 GG - the pride of Colorado! Will Montague the CEO over there is doing great stuff! Be safe be well, Incognito Robin
  • 13 3
 Better on a gravel bike.
  • 9 1
 so reeb is not a contributor to the notoutsideceo superpac?
  • 55 2
 @adrennan: Dale and I have been feuding ever since Oskar Blues decided to make a hard seltzer

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 2 1
 @notoutsideceo: Hard Seltzer is a key advertising demographic with high growth forecasted. You are becoming more of a company issue than Aspen traffic.
  • 5 1
 @Randy-Verified: Still trying to figure out if @notoutsideceo is a troll account lol
  • 58 0
 @Randy-Verified: Thanks for the note, Randy. The ethnography and market analysis we've done would indicate otherwise. We've found that outdoor enthusiasts like you are more drawn to non-alcoholic beverages like Athletic Beers, Wine Proxies, etc. rather than hard seltzer. Nothing quite like pulling a non-alcoholic IPA out of your Yeti cooler sitting in the backseat of your Telsa after a 100 mile e-gravel ride!

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 10 0
 @notoutsideceo: "Athletic beers, wine proxies"...amazing
  • 5 0
 @notoutsideceo: I guess Kombucha would be a wine proxie. You sure your not the CEO?
  • 14 2
 @Randy-Verified: He was until a few days ago. He still is the best thing that's happened to this site in ages. I'd almost consider paying to read some of his comments.
  • 17 0
 @Dadd: Give the Athletic Beers a chance - Whole Foods has them in the beer isle here in Boulder. The Hazy IPA is my favorite!

Be safe STAY SOBER be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 19 0
 @Randy-Verified: Please don't blow my cover my friend. IT and the CTO are all over me lately for making them integrate PB into our other properties and will shut me down again if they catch wind of me commenting here...I keep telling them 'boys...if you kill the comment section, you'll never work in the outdoor enthusiast media industry again!'

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 6 0
 @notoutsideceo: This cements parody account status lol:

"... non-alcoholic beverages like Athletic Beers, Wine Proxies, etc. rather than hard seltzer. Nothing quite like pulling a non-alcoholic IPA out of your Yeti cooler sitting in the backseat of your Telsa after a 100 mile e-gravel ride!"
  • 5 0
 @notoutsideceo: I feel attacked by this description...
  • 3 0
 @notoutsideceo: I picked up a six pack of the Athletic Hazy IPA. It was the best non-alcoholic IPA I have tasted to date, however, it still had that weird after taste (a little bit of a wort taste). Overall a 3 out of 5 compared to other low cal hazy IPA's I have had. At $13 for a six pack, I would rather have a standard seltzer like La Croix, Waterloo, or a Spindrift if I am not "Drinking."
  • 4 0
 @dmackyaheard: Glad you enjoyed it, I'm a big fan! Their seasonal rotators are good as well - Bill Shufelt the CEO over there gave me a sneak peak of the Winter Porter coming up and there may or may not be a special deal for Outside+ members!

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 2 0
 @notoutsideceo: Good to know. I am a + member... always down for a deal Smile
  • 70 4
 LMAO First Santa Cruz with 3k'ish Chameleon, next GG with a 5k hardtail. Love me some trail hardtails but these prices are fucked.
  • 16 38
flag trollhunter (Oct 20, 2021 at 7:09) (Below Threshold)
 GG made in USA…
  • 49 1
 $6100 CAD for a steel hardtail with a meh build. I thought one of GG’s selling points was value?
  • 35 3
 @trollhunter: and they have a $3500 build. If anyone’s looking for a value build then a US made steel hard tail from a small company probably ain’t gonna be it
  • 31 5
 @trollhunter: Things made in the US don't get held up in shipping containers.
  • 14 4
 Nukeproof Scout got ya back
  • 7 1
 80 percent of cost is component specs, which GG and/or any vendor don't control. I am assuming they don't get the same cost for component, since they buy in less bulk for being a smaller boutique customer base, when compared to major brands.
  • 5 0
 @racecase: true but the raw materials needed to make products do.
  • 34 4
 I feel like the pandemic is now just an excuse to jack up prices. Companies see they're still selling out so they'll continue to jack up prices until people stop buying.
  • 3 0
 @stumphumper92: Maybe to some extent. However, shipping anything these days is more costly, and takes more time, which affects pretty much every business' bottom line. The same for material costs, which would definitely affect GG. Believe me, business costs have been driven up quite a bit in the past 2 years.
  • 3 1
 @stumphumper92: yes and no. that's one factor for sure, but definitely not the only. another factor is interest rates being held at low levels for a long time, making us think things are cheap but really just fueling inflation. globally there's a demand for better working conditions, better handling of resources in the face of impacts of climate change, undermining of traditionally sound institutions which can shake up markets. i think as humans we want to find an answer, in this case a cause for these rising prices, we're reductionists. as american's we probably want to declare a war on that single cause, no matter how misguided that might be, "war on the pandemic". i think it's important to take a very high level, and historical, perspective to these things. Yes, the pandemic has increased the rate at which we're seeing these price increases, but we likely would've seen these kinds of prices eventually, just maybe it would've been ~2025 or 2026 instead of today. *note i'm no economist and i'm not trying to offer a solution, just tired of everything being blamed on the pandemic when we were already on that path. A plumber friend recently responded when asked why his labor and materials prices have gone up so much and he said "when the sun is shining, make hay", ie: there's people with the money and ability to buy, and the demand for the work is high, so why wouldn't he increase his rates
  • 9 0
 I thought it was premium at 1100 USD frame-only a few years ago. Now you can, literally, get a ti frame for the same price as a PH, and for another buckfifty semi-custom. Wait, you can't get a PH frame, decision made.
  • 4 5
 @rickybobby18: Nukeproof scout will break ya back
  • 2 1
 Knolly Tyaughton Steel hardtail - knollybikes.com/products/tyaughton-steel#build-kits?variant=39419854585954
  • 2 1
 @stumphumper92: that’s called economics.
  • 2 0
 I guess they couldn't figure out how to teach the thermoplastic carbon fibre robots how to weld.
  • 2 0
 @stumphumper92: Steel prices are up by a lot and show no signs of dropping. I work in manufacturing and raw materials are for sure an issue at the moment.

www.wsj.com/articles/high-steel-prices-have-manufacturers-scrounging-for-supplies-11631698202
  • 2 1
 That's what Vitus is for. This is an n+1 bike for those with cash to burn, not one's daily driver.
  • 3 0
 @Spark24: Yeah but the thing is you can pre order a Canfield Screamy Yelli with the same as the top specs as this/the SC for 3k...
  • 1 3
 @pbfan08: That Canfield has an aluminum frame, and there are no indications that it is made in North America. Not really a good comparison.
  • 1 3
 @mammal: lmao you know the GG bike this article about is Alu too?
  • 1 0
 @pbfan08: Straight from the bike specs on their website, from the link posted in this article: "Custom Steel Tubeset creates a frame that is laterally and torsionally stiff, yet vertically compliant for trail chatter".
  • 1 0
 @pbfan08: So yeah, maybe do your homework before breaking off.
  • 42 7
 Imho they still need to up their design game. Frames look cheap AF with those decals...just like Cube.
  • 12 1
 Been saying this one for awhile. They’re looking better than they used to, but I still think the design over there needs a revamp, both from a graphic and industrial design perspective.
  • 7 2
 Yep, for me it's just the tube set. It's not hard to make a nice looking hardtail, but those box tubes look terrible. Not the way to differentiate yourself.
  • 7 2
 I'm in the opposite camp. I like understated, even outdated/unsnazzy looking kit. Guerrilla Gravity's current decals make me think of homebuilt frames, bands before they sell out, and non-corpo marketing.
  • 2 0
 @chrod: but 99% of homebuilt frames use round tubes.
  • 1 0
 so you're telling me there's a chance...
i.makeagif.com/media/4-12-2017/P2_czr.gif

the product should be awesome. I don't care if the stickers are.
  • 4 0
 @chrod: If a pay this amount of money for a hardtail with mediocre parts, it better be looking awesome.

I mean you could get a titanium stanton switchback with similar or even better specs for almost the same price.
  • 2 0
 @ThrillPhil46: Not arguing the value, just preferences on graphics.
  • 3 0
 @chrod: Yeah and everybody according to his preference! I also like that homebuilt look (which i.e. Stanton somehow has). However the GG bikes don't convey that impression to me...more like the exackt opposite. They kind of look like all these cheap interchangable big corporate entry models.

For me value and looks go hand in hand...As i'd probably be willing to pay up for an awesome product that also looks awesome. And as has been said above, it's not only graphics but also overall design.
  • 2 0
 @ThrillPhil46: 100%!
That Stanton Switchback is a pretty and fun looking bike. Homebuilt and classy at the same time. (wie sagt man "artisinal"?)
  • 3 0
 @chrod: You'd say "gutes Handwerk!" Wink
  • 22 0
 I ran into Yoann and Kelsey as they were hiking back out of In and Out Burger on the day they were filming for this and they were nice enough to stop and say hi. So cool to meet them.

I noticed his hardtail and Yoann said "we're hunting for good stuff!". As I was checking out the lower section of the slab, I saw tire tracks on the gap run in, and the muddy track starting back on the landing. I put the pieces together that Yoann must have just hit the gap. Couldn't believe it. The lower slab section was so wet that day, and it was challenging enough to ride it starting at a crawl, let alone the speed you get from gapping into it.

So excited to see what they were up to!
  • 1 0
 I recently had a chance to visit the area and ride these trails for the first time. It always looked bonkers, but now after seeing it, it looks extra bonkers.
  • 21 0
 It's easy to ride hardtail, when you don't use the back wheel!
  • 36 0
 He barelli even used his brakes
  • 2 0
 Had exactly the same thought- he only uses it for the wheelie in the very last seconds.
  • 2 0
 I mostly ride my steel hardtail 'cos that's what I prefer... but I'm getting old (47), I keep on using both wheels... and I'm not Yoann Barelli Smile
  • 18 0
 My knees, my back, atleast my frame did not crack...
  • 17 0
 Barelli is a damn beast
  • 7 0
 Just like the product launch for this, I was excited and went to their website only to remember that it's not available as frame only. As an aside, I'd love to see a Revved carbon Pedalhead.
  • 1 0
 Yeah I was all fired up thinking about a parts bin single speed hardtail for this winter. I'm just a frame and a fork away, but it won't be this frame I guess.
  • 6 0
 I had the previous version and I can testify that it was the most bone-rattling ride of any bike I've ever ridden due to the square tubes for the CStays and SStays. It's nice to see the redesign address a few of the shortcomings of the last design and the adjustable dropouts are a fantastic idea for this bike. Still, Yoanns wrists and ankles must be Revved.
  • 2 0
 Interesting! I'm on a previous-gen Pedalhead at the moment, but it's my first hardtail. Did you switch to a different bike and notice a softer ride?
  • 1 0
 I ride GG and also had a previous generation Pedalhead, it was bone jarring!

Maybe it’s been improved? Not sure I’d go there again, going on sixty, my bones get jarred earring toast Wink
  • 1 0
 @dralbright: I have a few hardtails in the quiver and all are offer a more comfortable ride (including the aluminum road bike) over the PH. The reason I sold it way my spleen hurt if I came up short on any gap.
  • 5 0
 That was insane. Specifically the gap on In and Out that Steve got hurt on since he lost rear tire traction. Yoann made it look easy to keep traction with no rear shock.
  • 7 0
 he makes that gnarly remy line on entrails look so smooth it's ridiculous
  • 3 0
 I've enjoyed the "long Low Slack" cool-aid for the last couple years; preferring more maneuverable undersized frames before my first GG bike. The geometry on the Gnarvana is very similar to my current beast a Scott Gambler. XL. I bought a size Large (gen 1) Pedalhead this year, and it feels quite similar to the Trail Pistol I rode for most of 2018. Plenty capable, but I haven't tried the new crop of long forked hard-tails yet.
Great edit, Boys! Full send mode.
  • 2 0
 You want to make everything easy, get a full-squish enduro sled. You want to make everything fun, get a hardtail. I lived about a mile from GG's original shop a few years ago and demo'd every model they had to find the perfect bike for me. I was fastest on The Smash and most comfortable on The Pedalhead, but by far had the most fun and biggest smile riding The Pedalhead. I haven't regretted that decision one bit.

Nice video. The V2 Pedalhead looks killer, fixed the few annoyances I had with the V1. Way to go. Also, 65deg HA may sound steep, but that's spec'd with a 130mm fork. So right on par with the Honzo ESD at 150mm fork (1deg for every 20mm).
  • 4 0
 Adventure hardtail? Not sure everyone has this kind of adventure in mind! You looks like a send it hardtail. Or it has something to be with the rider...
  • 2 0
 It's a common misconception that Yoann Barelli has standard ankles...the truth is that he had 2x2 solid steel inserted into his legs during his previous knee surgery in anticipation of making this video...
  • 4 0
 Ahh the butt puckering sound of sliding on a rock face on a hardtail
  • 2 0
 Ooo! Well I’m never touching most of those drops. But those rock rolls look frikkin amazing. I’m sure they’d still be fun at 1/4 the speed, right...?
  • 4 0
 Atleast the frame is recyclable! Trolololololol. Smile
  • 2 1
 Yoann is such a beast, and of course he rips on an HT...don't need suspension when you know how to handle a bike. Also makes me sad for any rider who started out on a FS and didn't feel the love of a good HT from the start.
  • 2 0
 My 1992 trek antelope 850 is still at me patents. Gonna have to get it out and see what I can do as I learner on that good HT from the start... Still got a flex stem there too that was a Christmas and Birthday present.
  • 2 0
 Nice! I wish I still had my 92 GT Timberline that I started on.
  • 1 0
 @pnwgnarnivore: I think it would be pretty fun and scary to take them out these day. My bike bike has made me soft. Skills compensator.
  • 3 1
 I started mtb on a full sus and have always wanted to buy a HT for fun, but not sure my ankles could handle the beating.
  • 3 0
 Bike aside - the guy is an incredible rider.
  • 1 0
 Holy crap storms down Penthouse and does the drop at speed. On a hard tail. Sweet looking build. The slab landing after the drop is steep A F. !
  • 1 0
 That was some pretty gnarly riding on a hardtail…actually thinking g of it I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone go that big/tech without rear suspension? Ridiculous.
  • 1 0
 I want a hardtail so bad, but seems like even a DIY build with a decent frame is going to run me equal to or more than my Ripmo AF did
  • 3 0
 Those graphics........bargain looks for massive bucks Nah
  • 2 0
 $5,750.00 US for a hardtail
or
$7,115.00 Canadian for a hardtail

Stop this insanity the bike is worth 2K
  • 4 2
 Dear GG what is you opinion on notOutsideCEO.
  • 16 5
 Coloradans stick together, Pink505! Be safe be well, Incognito Robin
  • 2 1
 Looks great. I've been waiting on an updated Pedalhead to go with my GG Smash.
  • 2 0
 Yeah the bike was fine - how did the rear wheel fare?
  • 3 5
 The Pedalhead is a nice bike/frame. My issue with it that the geometry already seems dated when one considers new school hardtails like the Honzo ESD, Chromag Doctahawk, Norco Torrent, Marin El Roy and a bunch of others from British builders.
  • 2 1
 Honzo ESD is an amazing bike!
  • 1 1
 I have both the Pedalhead (V1) and Honzo ESD. They both charge, and a 140mm fork on either bike results in a very similar ride feel.
  • 2 0
 That video was sick! Nice work Kelsey!!
  • 1 0
 Really nice vid and WTF! He rides 5 times better than most people on a hardtail! Crazy and inspiring!
  • 2 0
 "Juxtaposes" that's a big word for a headbanger.
Sweet bike though.
  • 3 1
 sick riding and love Yoann but that bike is FUGLY
  • 2 0
 One size and pricey, love yoann though!
  • 1 0
 I bet this would be an epic bike for a wet Whistler enduro race.. oh wait Wink
  • 2 0
 That Yoann is so smooth its like nothing shocks him! Magnifique!
  • 1 0
 Come pink bike commenters … sure you scan find something to botch and complain about ?? Anything ? Come on !
  • 1 0
 sooo good, im going to go ride now. thanks
  • 1 0
 Yoann could ride a broom with some wheels attached and make it look good
  • 2 0
 Thank you Yoann
  • 1 0
 Fully expected to hear Yoann yelps after initial violins... Well done!
  • 1 0
 Yoann, that was awesome! You're making hardtail riding great again!
  • 1 0
 Cool video with cool music
  • 1 0
 Cool video, excellent riding. Batteries don't belong on hardtails.
  • 1 0
 Zero pedal strokes in a video ad for a bike called the Pedalhead!
  • 1 0
 is it hard?
  • 1 3
 Man he is skilled on a bike! but gawd his riding style is just down right fugly
  • 1 1
 It's a nice bike.
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