Officine Mattio Santiago AL Gravel Review

Despite its relaxed and easy-going appearance, if there’s one type of bike that’s trending right now, it’s Gravel. So, is it a passing fad? Something new and in tune with the times? The multi-option solution? Or is it just one bike too many, one that won’t be used – because it’s not as good as a svelte road bike on asphalt, and not as good as an MTB on rocky slopes? I quickly stopped racking my brain for the answer and seized the opportunity offered by Officine Mattio and the Parisian bike shop Drop Bar in Meudon to ride this third bike for a few weeks to see what it was all about…

By Jean-François Tatard – Photos: All rights reserved

First of all, the least we can say is that searching all over the internet, this new cycling practice struggles to find a single definition. And while we all agree that Gravel is about adventure and exploring new territories with the freedom to do whatever you want without too many questions, everyone will have their own opinion based on their desires, preferences, experiences, and origins. Nevertheless, one point is indisputable: the term Gravel comes from English and means gravier (gravel), and the appearance of the “Gravel phenomenon” dates back about fifteen years, originating in the Midwest of the United States, between the Great Lakes and the Great Plains region. Moreover, the goal of the first practitioners was to broaden their cycling practice and not stop riding if the road turned into paths or trails, as is often the case in the mountains of Colorado.

Halfway between traditional cycling and mountain biking, as is always the case when navigating between two waters, it’s never easy to make clearly defined connections. Everyone has their own truth. This often depends on their own expectations, predilections, and favorite playgrounds, but also on their worldview. So – and this is good – open-mindedness and freedom will be the cement of this practice.

Having picked up the bike at lunchtime from Drop Bar, a friendly bike shop run by Xavier on the banks of the Seine, it was on a whim at the end of the day, after working on a presentation, that I slammed my laptop shut and headed for the nearest forest. Then I rode a good straight line of over 10 km on a towpath along the Oise to climb to the highest point of the Carnel forest. I thus discovered a cobbled path of over 3 km with an average gradient of 6%, leading directly to the highest point of Val d’Oise with a breathtaking view of all of Paris. A whim that cost me two or three portages and, above all, meant I got home after sunset. The return trails having sometimes almost disappeared, I alternated between roads, fields, forest paths, and forests. And all this in the light of the full moon.

Gravel indeed has several faces. We often hear that Gravel doesn’t rhyme with competition. Yet, we had world championships last year, won by cycling stars no less… But discovering this recent discipline makes me think that it will never be televisual enough to be consumed in this way. Consumers need things to go faster and faster. They need action. They need spectacle. It’s not cyclocross or mountain biking. The rides are often very (too) long. Moreover, while hipsters have best managed to modernize the practice, multi-day events are indeed very fashionable today. And in reality, riding without asking questions, on varied terrains and on short or long rides, remains the most widespread practice. Thus, performance fans opt for very sporty bikes, some seek versatility, and others use more radical Gravel bikes. For our test, we were seduced by an intermediate model…

Officine Mattio Santiago AL, a versatile and high-end aluminum Gravel bike

Officine Mattio, Made In Italy – the brand is still not very widespread in France. But it is starting to make a name for itself on the other side of the Alps. And with the Santiago AL, created like the other bikes in the range by Giovanni Monge Roffarello, Officine Mattio highlights Italian craftsmanship. It’s rare enough to be emphasized in bold, but the design and assembly of the bikes in the range are carried out in Italy using carefully selected materials and components. When Xavier, the owner of the bike shop that distributes the brand in Meudon, briefed me on the storytelling on this first day of spring 2023, his eyes sparkled and his hair stood on end. And when Officine Mattio launched a Gravel range to complement its road bike offering in 2020, the Italian firm maintained its operational mode, dear to the brand’s values, even if it meant cutting into more substantial margins. And that’s what interests us today, as we’re going to talk about the Santiago AL Gravel, a bike designed to be versatile…

It was in 2016 that Officine Mattio conceived the first prototype of its Santiago range. In 2020, the first bikes arrived on the market. Today, the brand offers four different Gravel bikes: the Santiago C, with its carbon frame, the Santiago AX in stainless steel, the Santiago AC in steel, the Santiago AL with its aluminum frame, and thus the one we were able to test for several weeks since that first nocturnal journey in the Carnel forest.

The design of the Santiago AL was born from the ambition to offer a bike that can be classified as versatile, as reliable off-road as on rocky roads made technical by very pronounced tree roots, sometimes on steep climbs. And why this name? Xavier explains to me that this Gravel range takes its name from the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), where the prototype was actually first tested.

I was therefore able to test the bike in different environments. On the road, on towpaths, in fields, in the forest, on gravel, on sand, in mud, uphill, downhill, on cobblestones, on rocky paths, sometimes very rooty paths too, and even sometimes almost in the water or at least with half the rim submerged. That’s a cumulative total of a little over 800 km.

Officine Mattio’s aesthetic

It must be admitted, the object is very, very beautiful. It’s Italian class. Like a Vespa that became an icon of freedom and emancipation for young people around the world after its appearance in the post-war years, Officine Mattio’s Gravel also combines a distinctive, vintage Made in Italy style with cutting-edge technology. The frame geometry is reminiscent of a road bike, but not enough to fool us into thinking it’s not a Gravel. The paintwork is understated but reflects the style the brand tries to give its bike. On this test Gravel, the grey and green blend perfectly. It’s a successful combination. Another thing we liked: The cables are routed internally, giving a minimalist feel that doesn’t leave us indifferent.

Handcrafted manufacturing

Officine Mattio offers high-end bikes whose manufacturing and assembly are done by hand in Italy, as Xavier reminds us. This means that the carbon frames are not monocoques imported from Asia and that the components are selected for the quality they bring to the bike. This is exemplified by the Santiago AL, whose frame and components have been carefully chosen.

The Santiago AL Gravel frame uses Dedacciai Force 7005 tubes. And when we look at the choice of material, it was based on the resistance offered and the lightness that the tubes provide. Officine Mattio chose AEGIS class frames to ensure optimal quality for the manufacture of its frames. Naturally, the choice fell on Deddacciai, whose reputation is well established, and the frame is announced at 1600 g in size 52.

The fork

The fork is distinctive. Not just because it has rivets that allow you to add bags for bikepacking. But also because it has a particular look and it absorbs bumps and obstacles, making the bike even more pleasant whatever the surface.

The equipment

With a handcrafted frame, we could only expect peripherals of the same level. Thus, it is fitted with a rather wide Deda Elementi Gravel handlebar and a stem of the same range, as is the seatpost. For the saddle, it will be – guess what? Selle Italia, Recesso… And the highlight: the famous Campagnolo Ekar drivetrain (naturally, I would say for an Italian bike…) which is often found on high-end Gravel bikes. And the least we can say is that the Campagnolo group specially designed for Gravel with 13 speeds is not a Gravel group like any other… Ekar is the lightest complete Gravel group in the world: reliable and high-performance. With a 13-speed rear derailleur and no compromises. It has been designed to offer optimal performance, the best riding experience, and maximum reliability on all Gravel, off-road, and endurance routes, on the most difficult terrains to tackle. In short, the Gravel group for all challenges…

Compared to my usual equipment, the group offers better braking performance with its hydraulic system and benefits from Ergopower lever technology, two solutions that have been optimized for Gravel use. Thanks to the meticulous choice of materials, which has achieved an optimal balance between the strength, durability, and lightness required by the discipline. The Ekar group ensures precise control and reliable performance. I loved this group. With the differentiated action levers, you never miss a gear change. The Ergopower hoods have been specifically adapted for gravel while retaining all the system’s advantages: the famous precision and maximum comfort guaranteed by the Vari-Cushion hand rests. Truly, the technology ensures perfect control.

As for the crankset, it forms the heart of the new 1x Ekar system. The single chainring is obviously easy to use: no front derailleur, significantly reduced weight, fewer moving components that collect dirt and can cause blockages, and excellent chain retention. The two crank arms, made of UD carbon fiber, feature AISI 630 steel half-axles: as with the entire Ekar group, the ingenious combination of materials results in lightweight components with maximum efficiency and resistance.

Tires and wheels

The brand chose to equip this bike with Officine Mattio aluminum tubeless-ready wheels, fitted with Vittoria Terreno Mix Tubeless Ready 38mm tires with inner tubes. Perfectly suited to the topography and surface of my favorite playgrounds. As for the tires, they offer perfect grip on the sandiest or gravelly sections. At a pressure of 2 bar, you feel safe!

How did it feel?

On the bike, the sensation is pleasant. The frame is a bit heavy compared to my Sworks Epic for MTB or my Factor VAM Ostro for road, but it provides noticeable comfort. In fact, whatever the environment, I found the bike very pleasant to ride. Even on the road at over 40 km/h, I was able to enjoy the comfort without being penalized by its lack of aerodynamics. Nevertheless, the frame geometry provides responsiveness. You can feel it when accelerating on climbs and even on the road with 38mm tires inflated to 2 bar. Also, I haven’t tried it, but the chainstay clearance seems to be able to accommodate tire widths up to 50mm, which could be very interesting on more demanding routes.

Our opinion on the Officine Mattio Santiago AL

I knew performance cycling, I knew committed mountain biking, but this first experience with Gravel made me discover a certain lightness and another carefree attitude, even more welcome at a time when I am moving further and further away from the spirit of competition. And this, even if the tool is a little heavier than my two other traditional bikes. The Santiago AL from Officine Mattio is ultimately even more versatile than Xavier had sold it to me. Finally, during my test sessions, I was very impressed by its responsiveness on the most demanding terrains.

In short, this experience with Officine Mattio, and more precisely with the Santiago AL, has given me a different perspective on cycling – less competitive and more open to nature and its grandeur. And now, without wanting to be reckless, I can well imagine traveling with it in the hold and tackling the rocks and muddy paths of Michigan or Kansas…

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