Founded in 2014, Poseidon bikes aims to deliver affordable quality to cyclists on a tight budget. New to market is the extremely affordable model X cyclocross and gravel bike.
At $599 retail, the Poseidon X might be the perfect starter cross or gravel bike for anyone who doesn’t want to make a major investment out the gate. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
At $599 retail, the X is the perfect bike for anyone who is cross or gravel curious, but doesn’t want to make a major investment out the gate. The Poseidon X comes in matte black for sizes S, M, L and XL and will be available late October 2018.
A fairly standard 6061 hydroformed aluminum frame provides the platform for many compelling modern features: flat mount mechanical TRP disc brakes, a carbon fork with tapered alloy steerer, internal cable routing and enough clearance front and back for 40mm tires.
The Poseidon X’s tapered carbon fork provides plenty of clearance for wider rubber. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
Flat mount disc brakes juxtaposed with quick release dropouts show how fast things can change in bike standards. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
A Shimano Claris 8-speed drivetrain might seem somewhat limiting, but it’s a $599 bike, and the 46/32t crankset and 11-34t cassette at least provide the high and low gears needed to compete against more expensive 1x drivetrains and give you smaller jumps to save your legs on a long gravel grinder.
The 2x Claris drivetrain offers 16 gears for your cyclocross and gravel adventures. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
Other smaller details, like the threaded BSA bottom bracket, rack and fender eyelets and four (three for size Small) water bottle bosses make the Poseidon X even more versatile and compelling.
Internal cabling is here to stay while BSA threaded bottom brackets are staging a comeback. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
Short and shallow drop bars and internal cable routing are other nice, modern touches.
The Poseidon X comes with short and shallow bars to tackle the tape or gravel. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
The Poseidon X has a thoughtful design to keep things clean and serviceable. Poseidon’s affordable cyclocross/gravel bike. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
Want to get away, or haul some gear? The Poseidon X has rack mounts.
You need racks? The Poseidon X can do that. 2018 Interbike. © E. Takayama / Cyclocross Magazine
Where the model X might fall flat with a budding rider is in its wheel system. The Poseidon X comes with an unbranded alloy, clincher disc wheelset and Kenda’s popular Small Block Eight 700c x 35mm tires. The generic wheelset isn’t tubeless compatible, and the frameset’s quick release dropouts might make it more difficult to find a tubeless compatible disc wheelset for upgrading (although many aftermarket wheelsets have QR caps).
It’s not a deal breaker by any means, just a limiting factor on a bike that was clearly designed to give raucous fun to the uninitiated. We often say wheels are the first upgrade to make, and owners of Poseidon X might find themselves following such advice down the road.
With an abundance of high-end options available for cyclocross and gravel bikes, it’s nice to see a company lower the barrier to owning a dedicated bike. Stay tuned for a test.
More info: poseidonbike.com (the X is not yet on the website)
We’re digging out from a mountain of content from Interbike, RenoCross and World Cup Waterloo. See our ever-growing archive of new products from Interbike 2018 here.
