Gravel Bike Showdown: Enve MOG vs. Drop Bar World Cup

Posted on 7 May 2024
By Jesse Smith and Trey Shepard
Posted in Best Gravel Bike, Drop Bar World Cup, Enve Mog, Gravel Bike
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Trey and Jesse are out here at Wallow Hollow on a gravel road. What are they doing? They’re about to settle one of the most anticipated debates of the year: Enve MOG vs. Drop Bar World Cup. It's like a mountain bike, but for gravel!

There are the same tires on both bikes, Schwalbe Thunder Burts, but the World Cup has slightly larger tires since those won’t fit on the MOG. Will it make a difference? Let's find out!

The Setup

Before they get into it, let's talk about the road. It's gravel, with a nice flat segment transitioning into a rougher, more jagged climb. There are three different climbing sections, each with its own flavor.

The plan is simple. Trey will time Jesse riding each bike over the same course and see which one comes out on top. But first, we have to make a prediction. Jesse's putting his money on the World Cup.

The Ride

Jesse hits the road on the Drop Bar World Cup, giving it everything he's got. The plan is to try and hold 300 watts. After a four, 2-mile runs, it's time to switch bikes and see how the MOG performs.

After riding first on the World Cup, Jesse thinks that the Mog is going to be faster. This is due to the gravel road conditions since he anticipated there being more break bumps which would favor speed for the World Cup.

The Results

After crunching the numbers, here's what we found:

Flat Segment:

- World Cup: 436.37 watts, 8 seconds slower than MOG

- MOG: 428 watts

Climb:

- World Cup: 559 watts, 12 seconds slower than MOG

- MOG: 547 watts

Overall:

- MOG wins by 14 seconds over the 10-minute course

The Verdict

So, which bike is faster? The data says it's the MOG, but there's more to consider. The World Cup may have lost this battle, but it's not out of the race just yet.

The World Cup might be faster downhill, thanks to its dropper and suspension. Plus, it's not far behind the MOG on the flats and climbs.

Analyzing the Results

Let's dive deeper into the data and analyze what it means for each bike.

Flat Segment:

The World Cup put up a good fight, but the MOG edged it out by 8 seconds on the flat segment. While the World Cup had a higher average wattage, the MOG's smaller tires might have given it the extra edge it needed.

Climb:

The MOG continued its winning streak on the climb, beating the World Cup by 12 seconds. Even with Jesse pushing harder on the World Cup, the MOG maintained a steady lead.

Overall:

With a 14-second lead over the 10-minute course, the MOG emerged as the winner. It was faster on both the flat and climb, proving to be the superior bike in this test.

Exploring the Advantages

But what factors contributed to the MOG's victory? Let's break it down.

Tire Size:

The MOG's smaller tires may have given it an advantage on the gravel road. While the World Cup had a higher average wattage, the MOG's tires provided more speed, allowing Jesse to maintain a faster pace.

Acceleration:

Another factor to consider is the MOG's quick acceleration. While the World Cup is no slouch, the MOG provided a quick acceleration up to speed. This may have allowed Jesse to maintain a more consistent pace and conserve energy. The easy and quick acceleration is also a big factor in big gravel races with lots of turns, or for a neutral roll-out!

Weight:

Weight could also have played a role in the MOG's victory. While both bikes are relatively lightweight, the MOG's slightly lighter frame helped Jesse climb faster than he would on the World Cup due to weight.

Additional Thoughts:

We've talked about the numbers, but what about the rider experience? Jesse shares his thoughts on riding both bikes back-to-back.

Jesse's Experience:

Riding the World Cup and MOG back-to-back was an eye-opening experience. While the MOG emerged as the faster bike in our test, it wasn't without its challenges.

On the flat segment, the MOG's ability to accelerate quickly allowed me to get up to a faster pace. However, I found it challenging to maintain a consistent wattage on the gravel road.

The World Cup, on the other hand, felt more responsive and nimble, especially on the downhill sections of the course

Looking Ahead

So, what's next for the World Cup? While it may have lost this battle, it's not out of the race just yet. With its dropper and suspension, it may have an advantage on more technical courses.

Jesse might have won the test on the MOG, but he's not ruling out the World Cup for future races. After all, it's all about finding the right bike for the right course.

Final Thoughts

In the end, it comes down to personal preference. The MOG may have won this round, but both bikes have their strengths and weaknesses.

This was a fun test, and we're looking forward to more showdowns in the future. Stay tuned for our next gravel bike comparison!

And remember, it's all just for fun... even if it does cause a little bit of a ruckus!

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