Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The Lee Cougan Innova Supergravel is an aggressive new model from the Italian-American company set to further blur the lines between mountain and gravel bikes. With 100mm of suspension at the front and 30mm of inner-frame suspension at the rear, this ultra-ready bike has more than a few tricks up its sleeve…
The Lee Cougan Innova Supergravel is a new offering from the Italian-American brand that looks to redefine the nature of gravel bikes. With 100mm of travel in the fork and 30mm in the rear through a unique damper-style system, this distinctive modern gravel bike promises the kind of versatility to conquer everything from technical trails to multi-day exploration.
The most interesting part of the Lee Cougan Innova Supergravel is the rear damper “suspension” design. Dubbed the “ISS” or “Innova Structural Suspension,” the frame itself is said to flex in response to the terrain. Through tapered carbon chainstays designed to absorb shocks and chatter, this rear “suspension” system provides 30mm of travel, and a suspension-like mechanism within the frame works to dampen frame vibration. In their own words, “This system provides great traction and reduces energy loss during the thrust phase, creating a perfect blend of vertical flexion and torsional rigidity. And it’s all accomplished without the weight of a traditional shock absorber.”
I’ll always have some hesitation about suspension on gravel bikes, particularly when it’s built into the frame like on the Lee Cougan Innova Supergravel. Questions over reliability and serviceability always sit above performance, but I suppose with riders like Mattia De Marchi pushing the limits of what’s possible, there’s evidence to suggest I’m being overly cautious. Either way, it’s an intriguing design that seems in-line with where some extreme “fast-gravel” bikes are going.
The Lee Cougan Innova Supergravel starts at $3,299 USD for a frame kit, which includes the carbon fiber frame, integrated cable routing, a press fit BB, headset, and a stem. Full builds featuring SRAM Eagle AXS with Rival shifters, Microtech RK25, and an aggressive carbon accessory kit start at $5,899 USD.
The very concept of this bike is an interesting one. It presents as a mountain bike and effectively, when considering the 100mm fork and limited travel in the rear, is a mountain bike in the eyes of many. Yet it’s significantly more aggressive and arguably less capable in the hands and legs of most than a solid hardtail. So, while the target demographic is arguably quite small, it might be interesting to see what could be accomplished in the hands of those demi-gods who sit around or near the fitness and handling level of a WorldTour pro. As for us mere mortals, I’m not sure it has a ton of applicable uses, but I’ve been wrong before.
For more on the Lee Cougan Innova Supergravel, visit LeeCougan.com.
Further Reading
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