Most of us will by now acknowledge the point that the term 'gravel cycling' encompasses a wide range of different riding. Whether that be testing drop bar bikes on mtb trails, or riding manicured gravel surfaces over easy terrain. Gravel racing is also booming, and like any race scenario competitors will want the fastest most capable bikes to gain a competitive edge and travel as swiftly as possible. Wheel and tyre choices to suit the terrain also play a part and the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best gravel wheels will help extract more speed from🦩 a 🧸particular setup.
The bikes in this guide are our pick of the swiftest gravel bikes on the market. These bikes will have comparable stiffness and geometry to road bikes and will really move off-road. Sometimes forsaking comfort in the pursuit of stiffness and speed. That's what we are looking at here, very capable bikes but ones that focus on speed off-road. Check out our澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果: best budget gravel bikes too if you want to look at a wider range of options. 🦩
The Vitus Venon Evo-GR took home the best racer gong from our recent Cyclingnews Awards tes🔥ting. It's a fast ꧒and racy bike that made the whole CN test team grim and our riding changed immediately when we swung a leg over the Evo. It urges you to spring, attack sections and carry speed everywhere.
The Factor Ostro Gravel has a monster spec and is the s🌺ame weight as a lot of road bikes now. It's rapid on more groomedꦆ terrain off-road but is a little unforgiving on certain terrain.
The Specialized Diverge STR is a futuristic machine designed specifically for racers around 47c tyre clearance and a frame with front and rear suspension. It offers a well-damped ride in a lightweight frame paired 🦩with SRAM Rival eTap wireless shifting and powerful hydraulic brakes.
The✨ Basso Palta II is another seriously fast-riding bike from the Italian brand. We really valued its pinpoint handling and stylish looks. Basso a🐷lso increased the max tyre clearance for this model to boost comfort if needed on rougher terrain.
The Specialized S Works Crux is another flying machine and is a seriously lightweight gravel bike. As well as being a very capable race bike in its own𒊎 right. The black and white S Works branding a🐭nd paint scheme look really purposeful too.
The Grevil is Pinarello's race bik✅e. We found it real♊ly felt good accelerating out of corners and when putting the power down and liked its aggressive aero frame profiles.
The Vitus Venon is a real racer and took home the best racer award from our group test. Since it's amongst a host of racy company here, it takes the🔯 best overall spot. The bike looks aggressive and fast standing still ꦯwith its deep carbon wheels and wide Michelin tyres.
In use the Venon ꦿEvo urges you on at every turn, our whole test team found themselves riding more aggressively and putting in digs on every little rise in the road and when accelerating out of corners. It's a really fun bike to ride; you could race cyclocross very easily on it or fit some road tyres and not lose out much there either. If you require a fast bike to race on and really push the Venon would fit the bill really nicely.
SRAM electronic shifting takes gear of the groupset duties, the only point we raised in this department is that the 42T chainring is possibly a little on the large side for some gravel applications, but fits in well with the fast nature of the bike. You could also race this bike on the road with different tyres and a few tweaks increaཧsing its usefulness.
The Factor Ostro Gravel is a pure aero gravel race bike - in fact the UCI would let you use it in its sanctioned road races alongside the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best aero road bikes. It's light too, with a 900g claimed frame weight and 7.9kg total weℱight for the review bike with pedals and extra🐷s included.
The ride on smoother gravel is sensationally fast and responsive and encourages you to get down and aero to up your speed, while the Ostro Gravel even copes well with mud thanks to the tyres' side lugᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚs. Things aren't so great once it gets rough though, with a jarring ride that makes putting the power down difficult and made landing back on the tarmac a relief. So the Ostro is perhaps best suited to smoother, faster gravel racing where the terrain isn't too challenging. Al🐼though that depends on the rider.
We rated the Black Inc integrat🐠ed cockpit and wheels, as well as the fast-rolling Goodyear Connector tyres. Although you could build up the frameset 2x, complete builds are only available 1x with SRAM XPLR.
While the Diverge STR might come with a polarising aesthetic and added complexity because of the dual 'Future Shock' suspension, it's a feature that boosts ride quality and really improves the compliance at the bike's two main touchpoints; bars and saddle. Flipping the rear suspension into its 'Open' setting, you can look down and watch how much🔴 the small stanchion moves, and how much added compliance it's offཧering.
While some might argue this feature takes away from its raciness, we'd suggest it is fundamental to what makes it one of the best gravel race bikes out there; making it suited to racing over rougher terrain, or over long distances where improved compliance adds up to a si♒gnifꦍicant performance gain over time.
Our tested model was the Expert, comꦏplete with SRAM Rival eTap groupset. We've also ridden th🐲e S-Works model and while that was naturally had a lighter, racier feel, we'd put the more affordable one on our shopping list.
Plenty of range and faultless shifting from the SRAM RIVAL XPLR groupset
Reasons to avoid
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45mm tyre clearance is below the 50mm status quo
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Wavering composure on really rough gravel
If speed is your No.1 concern then the Basso Palta II is where you want to set your sights. 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Its predecessor was already one of the raciest bikes on the market but Basso set out to address ꦚits only real downside – a lack of comfort – and they didn't disappoint.
The new Palta still retains the same outright pace, confident handling and agility but small tweaks to the geometry have resulted in a more compliant rid♛e. The seat stays have been curved and further flex is provided by dropping their meeting point with the top tube to expose more seat post. Basso’s 3B seat post clamp system helps to absorb vibrations and the tyre clearance is now up to 45mm from the previous 42mm.
But Basso recognise that speed is the Palta's raison d'etre and have not taken their eye off the ball on that front, adding aero gains with internal cable routing and Kammtail shaping for the fork, head tube and down tube. These changes are not🐭 dramatic – it is not as🦋 aero-focused as the 3T Exploro or the Pinarello Grevil below – but ensure the Palta remains the type of bike that would be supremely comfortable on the road with a simple switch of wheels.
The trade-off, we found, was that its short wheelbase and higher bot🐲tom bracket compared to, say, the Specialized S-Works Diverge, meant the Basso Palta II does lose its composure somewhat on more extreme sections of gravel.
The Specialized S-Works Crux is rapid over light gravel but lac𝓰ks the built-in complian🥂ce for more severe off-road terrain (Image credit: Etienne Schoeman)
The feeling of being 'under-biked' comes early, though maximising the 47c tyre clearance would no doubt help
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Cockpit integration would have been a nice finishing touch
The Specializ🌟ed S-Works Crux may appear a little bit of a left-field option but will suit those looking for a lighte𓃲r-weight, lighter-gravel ride.
The Crux model, once a purely cyclocross bike in the Specialized stable, has been adapted to take advantage of the growing interest in gravel bikes. Why, you might ask, would Spec🔯ialized need this in its line-up when it already has the S-Works Diverge?
The simple response is that the Crux offers something different. It comes with same impressive 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Roval Terra CLX wheelset as the Diverge but other🥀wise has more road-bike characteristics such as narrower handlebars and – perhaps most significantly – an ultra-light 725kg frameset. Our test bike came in at an overall weight of 7.25kg, which is more than a kilogram-and-a-half saving on the Diverge.
Much of that saving will be accounted for by the absence of th🧸e Future Shock front suspension assembly that features on the Diverge. So while we were impressed with the levels of small-bump compliance from the Crux frame to handle the high-frequency vibrations on the gravel surfaces we took in on, there's nothing else to add the large-bump compliance its sister bike possesses.
In terms of performance, it is therefore more closely related to the likes of the Factor LS featured below. We found it an absolute rocket over the smoother gravel surfaces that suit it and – proving it🥀 has moved away from its cyclocross roots – we were comfortable taking it on multiple-hour rides.
Pinarello's racing DNA shines through in the construction of the Grevil 🍸and it is perhaps the most distinct example of speed triumphing over comfort in this guide to the best gravel r🍎ace bikes.
The swoopy, fluctuating aero tubing is unmistakably Pinarello and certainly won't be to everyone's taste. Initially it wasn't to ours but, once we got riding, we began to be won over by its taut, communicative frame eating up the flats and descending with dynamic grace. 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果﷽:Campagnolo's 13-speed Ekar 1x groupset perfectly complemented the bike's speedജ and efficiency with smooth, reliౠable shifting and excellent braking performance to boot.
However, it is the Grevil that made us realise, while versatility is admirable quality, some of the best gravel race 🐠bikes are best being just that ♚- racing bikes.
The Grevil began to show its insecurities when the going got rough. As we left the light gravel and found corrugated roads and singletrack, the stiffness that at first translated to responsiveness and accelerati𒊎on began to transfer the impacts from all the lumps and bumps through our hands and the intuitive handling became nervous.
Some of the worst chatter would have been offset by the Grevil's 650b wheels with 47mm tyres – which actually did little to stifle its speed on the flatter, smoother surfaces – but the aluminium Fulcrum Rapid Red 300 wheelset, while functional, was a l🐽ittle unremarkable for a bike of such lofty ambition (and price) and we found the rims filled with water easily.
This is a bike that won't reward you for pushing its boundaries and is best sticking to what it does best. But that best – an aggr✅essive all-out racing bike – is pretty spectacular.
The Canyon Grail CF SL 7 🌼eTap has distinctive 'hoverbar' handlebars that makes it unique among the b♎est gravel race bikes (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
Straight out of the box, the Canyon Grail CF SL 7 eTap delivers frightening pace on road and trail. It is relatively lightweight, the shifting with 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:SRAM's Rival eTap AXS XPLR is res🍨ponsive and reliable, its braking is precise and it climbs and descends equally proficiently on technical sections.
There is very little to fault it and, when considering you can pick it up for a third of the price of a Specialized S-Works Diverge, it has to warrant a place among t👍he best grave♔l race bikes that we have tested.
Yes, when the roaಞd gets really rough it starts to bump𝕴 you around but a combination of the chunky frame, 40mm tyres, S15 VCLS 2.0 CF suspension seat post and 'hoverbar' do a great job of ironing out buzz.
That hoverbar – the Canyon CP07 Gravel Cockpit – is the bike's most defining feature and, perhaps – along with the bland paint schemes on offer – the most likely to turn off potential buyers. Featuring two parallel bars between the drops, it soaks up the chatter with the 'fle♎x area' in its upper section and offers up a multitude of potential hand positions. The frame is built around the CP07, however, so fitting regular-style drop bars is not really an option as it is likely to r♌uin the handling dynamics and comfort.
The 3T Exploro thumbs its nose at the suggestion there are no aerodynamic advantages to be gained in gravel racing. 3T claims its tubing shows aero savings at speeds as low as 20mph/32kph in testing and, in real life, we found it to result in a racey-yet-playful ride🐓.
But don't get hung up on its aero tagline, this bike ticks so many boxes for us and will be the versatile friend many will be looking for in a gravel bike. Slap on a pair of trainers – in this case 700c wheels w💟ith road tyres – and it's time to hit the tarmac; pull on the hiking boots (650b with 2.1in rubber) and you're ready for the trails. And for those who aren't a fan of faffing about with wheel switches, we found that really made this process easier.
There's the option for a 1x setup if you've decided you sit on that side of the fence in the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:great gravel bike debate and a fun, flickable nature to the Exploro's ride peꦉrformance.
As with any purchase, the best f🅠irst step to choosing a gravel race bike is to consider what sort of gravel racing you're going to do. That might sound confusing alre🦂ady, but consider the terrain in which you live; is it hardpacked gravel that could be mistaken for a badly-surfaced road? Or is it the sort of terrain that would have some mountain bikers feeling challenged?
Our esteemed colleague Will handily put together a guide that may help you answer this, simply titled "澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:what is gravel?"
Once you know this, you'll know whether you want a gravel bike with big tyres and perhaps even suspension for rough terrain, or perhaps something that more resembles a road bike, like 𒅌the Specialized Crux.
After this, consider your budget, and weigh this up against the spec choices on offer. Our rundown of 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:road bike groupsets should help you decide which you want, and our guide explaining 1x vs 2x should also be useful.
Yes, definitely. Gravel racing is alive and well. As this guide has shown, there are plenty of gravel bikes out there that have been designed with speed in mind. The type of racing is the most significant factor here. While many gravel bikes will behave much like a road bike when fitted with road tyres, an equivalent road bike will simply be more suited to racing on the tarmac. The geometry of the frame – with a shorter stack height and head ꦯtube, and longer reach – will facilitate a more aero position. The frame will not need as much built-in compliance to handle off-road lumps and bumps so can be made lighter and stiffer for better responsivity and efficiency.
Gravel bikes are typically more upright, with aerodynamics less of a concern, and with longer wheelbases to improve handling and stability, as well as that all-important clearance to handle thicker tyres. The best gravel race bikes will sit between the two extremes, trying utilise the attributes of the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best road bikes🍸 while also givജing the compliance needed to make riding off-road comfortable for the rider.
Can a gravel bike go as fast as a road bike?
In essence, no. A road bike is always going to be faster than an equivalent gravel bike because it can🅘 be built purely to handle smooth road conditions underneath. Although there's probably less in it than you think, especially with the fastest gravel bikes. Bike designꦿ is often a balance between stiffness (which will essentially translate to speed) and comfort, and the further you venture from the tarmac, the more comfort has to be taken into consideration.
These adaptations to make the ri♌de more comfortable off the road can come in many different ways but ar🎀e always likely to lead to a trade-off in either aerodynamics, weight, stiffness or rolling resistance that will make the gravel bike essentially slower – until, of course, it ventures off the road.
What groupset is best for a gravel bike?
The 'big three' manufacturers all now supply groupsets to suit the best gravel race bikes, with single-chainring – or 1x – systems becoming ever more popular for the discipline, taking its cue from cyclocross. Campagnolo arguably leads the way with its 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:13-speed Ekar, while Shima🃏no have several groupsets under ♒the GRX moniker. SRAM lumps its road and gravel groupsets in together, but its is particularly gravel♉-oriented.
Essentially, though, it comes down to what suits your riding style and also the type of gravel riding you will be undertaking. If you aren't intending on getting too muddy and will be mixing light gravel with tarmac, a traditional road groupset could suit your needs. But if you are hitting undulating singletrack terrain, you'll need smaller chainrings at the front and a larger cassette at the back, more ak🤪in to mountain-biking gearing.
Ben has been a sports journalist for 16 years, covering everything from park football to the Olympic Games. As well as cycling, his passions include podcasts, tennis and speaking enough Italian to get by on his snowboarding trips to the Dolomites. A DIY rider who is almost as happy in the toolbox as he is in the saddle, he is still trying to emulate the feelings he experienced as a nine-year-old on his first Peugeot racer – he couldn’t fathom the down-tube friction shifters then and he’s still wrestling with groupsets now. When he is꧒n’t making a beeline for the nearest Chiltern hill, he is probably tinkering or teaching his k🐽ids how to clean a bike properly. He rides a heavily modified 1980 Peugeot PVN10 Super Competition (steel is real) when the road is smooth and dry, and a BMC Alpenchallenge when it’s not.
