Niner Bikes, often affectionately known as 9er Bikes, hails from Colorado and is a respected name in mountain biking. Building on this legacy of off-road expertise, the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO gravel bike emerges as a robust and versatile machine, expanding the horizons of what’s achievable on a drop-bar bicycle.
9er Bikes RLT 9 RDO Gravel Bike Profile on Trail
Before winter’s grip took hold, I had ample opportunity to explore trails with Niner’s carbon gravel marvel, the RLT9 RDO. Now that the snow has receded and off-road adventures beckon once more, it’s an opportune moment to share my initial experiences with the RLT9 RDO from 9er Bikes.
As is customary when discussing bike impressions, it’s essential to establish context by outlining my riding style and typical terrains. My experience with the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO has been anything but gentle. Based in Kelowna, I’ve had immediate access to the Wilden trail network, a genuine MTB trail system unlike the tame gravel farm roads I was accustomed to in Niagara. This is certainly not your average, leisurely gravel rail trail.
Conquering fire road climbs in early winter conditions on the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO.
The Wilden network presents serious elevation challenges. Directly from my doorstep, the trails ascend at gradients of 10-15% for 200 meters of elevation gain on mixed gravel and dirt surfaces. The network further unfolds into a blend of demanding technical descents and trails (while not excessively rooty or rocky), interspersed with more climbs on fire roads, often exceeding 10% incline. Certain technical descents even plunge at gradients surpassing 20%.
Spectacular views of Lake Okanagan serve as a worthy reward for challenging climbs on the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO.
Prior to the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO, my regular ride on the Wilden trails was my custom titanium CX bike. I’ve also participated in numerous gravel rides and events like the Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnée on the Ti bike. Designed with a CX bias within the off-road drop bar spectrum, my Ti bike provides a valuable benchmark for comparing how geometry and setup differences translate into ride feel against the 9er Bikes gravel offering.
Frame Stiffness and Design of 9er Bikes RLT 9 RDO
The 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO features a tapered head tube, widening from 1 1/8″ at the top to 1 ½” at the bottom. This design choice significantly enhances fork stiffness, contributing to precise steering and confident handling.
The top tube of the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO is notably flat in its vertical profile, broadening as it approaches both the head tube and the seatpost. This design element likely aids in vertical compliance, offering a degree of comfort without sacrificing lateral stiffness.
The robust downtube is a key component in the frame’s overall stiffness, ensuring efficient power transfer and responsive handling, crucial for both climbing and navigating technical terrain.
Complementing the downtube, the beefy chainstays further enhance the frame’s stiffness at its core. This combination of downtube and chainstay design provides a solid platform for efficient pedaling and predictable handling, especially when tackling challenging surfaces.
Descending on gravel roads with sweeping corners often presented challenges with my previous bike. Ruts and uneven surfaces would frequently throw me off my intended line. However, despite similar jarring encounters on the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO, the bike consistently maintained predictable tracking. Correcting course away from trail edges felt controlled, without excessive top tube flex or the need to wrestle the bike back into line. The frame’s overall stiffness proved invaluable, especially when braking under pressure to regain composure and trajectory.
Tire Performance and Upgrade on the 9er Bikes Gravel Bike
The 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO arrived equipped with Schwalbe G-One 38mm tires. Recognized as excellent all-around gravel tires suited to diverse conditions, I’ve previously used them throughout winter on my Ti bike. However, given the local trails’ bias towards dirt over gravel, I opted to swap to Compass tires’ 38mm Steilacoom rubber.
Having primarily ridden 33mm tubeless CX tires for gravel, the difference tire choice makes is undeniable. Regardless of construction or tread, the ride quality of 38mm tires at 32-35 psi is in a different league compared to 33mm tires inflated to 40+ psi.
Niner Bikes specifies a 40mm tire clearance for the RLT9 RDO, but the substantial tread of the 38mm Steilacoom tires suggests even wider options might be viable.
The Steilacooms represent a significant upgrade beyond just size and volume. Their remarkably supple casing allows for lower pressures – down to 32 psi for my 64 kg weight – without pinch flat concerns. During one climb, I accidentally pinched the rear sidewall against a sharp root with no ill effects. A particularly rutted and dry descent subjected the tires to numerous hard, sharp impacts, yet they performed flawlessly.
Furthermore, the Steilacoom’s tread is both substantial and grippy, providing excellent traction without excessive rolling resistance or noise on paved surfaces. It truly excels in softer trail conditions, allowing the tread to effectively bite and grip.
Braking and Gearing of 9er Bikes RLT 9 RDO for Gravel Adventures
My 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO test bike featured a complete Ultegra mechanical groupset paired with hydraulic disc brakes, utilizing flat mount calipers and 140mm rotors.
Transitioning from 160mm rotors on my Ti CX bike, I initially harbored concerns about the 140mm rotors’ performance on steep descents.
These worries proved unfounded. Modern hydraulic disc brakes are exceptionally capable. Whether riding in soft, near-muddy fall conditions or on hard, dry trails, braking performance has been consistently impressive. Even on extended technical descents, one-finger braking provided ample control and modulation.
It will be interesting to assess the 140mm rotors’ performance during bikepacking trips later in the summer, considering the added weight and altered load distribution.
Gearing is another significant differentiator between CX and gravel setups. My 1x CX setup features a 42×32 low gear, often necessitating standing or seated grinding during gravel races. In contrast, the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO’s 50/34 chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette offers significantly more climbing ease. This combination has prevented me from feeling bogged down, even on extended climbs reaching 15-20% grades. This wider gear range will be a major advantage in conserving energy in legs and back during longer gravel events.
Handlebar Flare and Bottom Bracket Drop Enhance Stability
Even wrestling legend Ric Flair would appreciate the 50cm center-to-center flare at the handlebar ends of the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO…
Another gravel-specific feature distinguishing the RLT9 RDO from CX bikes is the Easton flared handlebar. Measuring 42cm at the brake hoods’ midline, the drops flare dramatically outwards to 50cm at the bar ends. Beyond accommodating handlebar bags, this wide flare significantly enhances stability on steep, technical descents compared to non-flared bars, fostering a much more planted feel.
The enhanced stability of the RLT9 RDO on descents, compared to my Ti CX bike, is also attributable to a lower bottom bracket. Comparing 53cm frame geometries, the RLT9 RDO’s BB drop is 75mm versus 68mm for Niner’s CX-specific BSB9RDO.
CX bikes are designed to maximize crank and pedal clearance, but this trade-off results in a higher center of gravity that can impact handling, particularly at speed. The improved stability and high-speed descending prowess of the 9er Bikes RLT9 RDO was immediately apparent from the first ride.
A bike like Niner’s RLT9 RDO truly broadens perspectives on the capabilities of a gravel bike. Beyond traditional gravel roads, it has unlocked a new realm of trail exploration for me. While my hardtail MTB is also trail-capable, tackling these networks with drop bars and without suspension amplifies the challenge and refines bike handling skills. And isn’t pushing personal limits part of the fun?
Explore the full range of 9er Bikes.
Further Gravel Riding Resources:
- Pez Goes Gravel Intro
- Duke’s Weekender Preview
Pez Goes Gravel Partners:
- SBT GRVL Race
- Xert Software
- Pioneer Powermeters
About the Author:
Stephen Cheung is a Professor at Brock University, with over 110 publications in scientific articles and book chapters focusing on the impact of thermal and hypoxic stress on human physiology and performance. His recent book, “Cycling Science,” co-authored with Dr. Mikel Zabala of Movistar Pro Cycling Team, follows his earlier work, “Cutting-Edge Cycling,” with Hunter Allen.
For comments, Stephen can be contacted at [email protected] .
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