Cycling
8 great gravel bikes for epic adventures
Have you been bitten by the gravel bug yet? Find out why people are buying the all-road adventure bikes and check out these top picks for 2021.
Gravel, adventure, all-road, multi-media... Whatever you want to call them, these bikes are here to stay, and for good reasons, too. Slotted somewhere between the historic discipline of road cycling and it’s younger, more extreme cousin mountain biking, gravel is the name given to a whole host of bikes and riding styles, from fast and furious racing to multi-day bikepacking tours.
Mountain biking as we know it today has evolved far from its simple roots, and many claim that gravel bikes are close relations to the ‘80s MTBs used by the likes of John Tomac. They share a few things in common – rigid frame and narrow knobbly tyres – but beyond that, technological advances have stepped in to enable a whole new breed of bike. The combination of powerful disc brakes, drop handlebars, 700c or 650b wheels and tubeless tyre setups with 21st-century componentry have produced machines that are not only bombproof, but are a lot of fun, too.
What makes gravel bikes different?
1. Clearance
Perhaps the defining feature that sets gravel bikes apart from road bikes, and some cyclocross bikes, is the amount of clearance in the fork and rear triangle, which accommodates much wider gravel tyres for hitting the trails and dirt roads.
The width and tread on these tyres will depend on the conditions and the type of terrain you’ll be tackling. Wider tyres give more grip on more technical terrain, and more aggressive tread patterns help in the wet with mud, although will slow you down a little on smoother sections.
Unlike cyclocross’s 33mm limit, gravel doesn’t have this restriction, so clearance is usually the only issue. And the introduction of smaller 650b wheels means that even mountain bike tyres can be used with some gravel bikes.
2. Geometry
Typically gravel bikes are more slack than road bikes – meaning their headtube angle is less aggressive. Just like the range available in mountain bikes, slacker designs are more suitable for steeper and more technical riding, giving more stability when it gets rough.
A longer wheelbase refers to the overall bike length: gravel bikes are longer than their more compact road bike cousins, giving better tracking over loose and unpredictable surfaces.
Wider bars are also usually offered for the same benefit of improved stability, and flared bars are very popular in gravel riding. These give you the same position on the hoods, yet a wider stance when in the drops for more control when descending tricky trails.
3. Gearing
Just like tyre choice, gearing for gravel riding is another area where you’ll need to select based on your chosen terrain. Fast, flat-ish gravel races can lend themselves to gearing that’s not too dissimilar to a compact road drivetrain, but more mountainous riding requires a much greater gear range, especially when taking technical or loose trails into account. If you want to add further weight with luggage for bikepacking, consider even lower gears still.
Single chainring setups (also known as 1X) are incredibly popular among gravel riders for their simplicity.
Best gravel bikes you can buy in 2021
1. Trek Checkpoint
The Checkpoint comes with either an aluminium or carbon fibre frameset
© Trek
Price: from £1,700
Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
Frame material: Aluminium or carbon fibre
Wheel size: 700c
Maximum tyre clearance: 45c (700c)
The Checkpoint is Trek’s gravel offering, and adds an off-road edge to its endurance-orientated Domane road bike. The range covers both aluminium and carbon fibre frames, although it’s the latter that have some extra features that are particularly exciting. Trek has employed its signature IsoSpeed technology here at the junction of the seat and top tubes, detaching the former from the latter to provide extra flex that absorbs some of the harsh bumps along the trail.
Despite its racy appearance, the Checkpoint still features many mounts for bottles, racks and mudguards and positions itself as a very versatile steed – and that’s before you get to the Stranglehold Dropout. This design of the sliding dropout gives the option either to convert to a singlespeed or gives some flexibility in ride feel with geometry adjustments – making it the ideal companion whether you're doing a cyclocross race or a long-distance kit-hauling trip.
2. Kona Sutra LTD
The Sutra LTD's gold paintwork will turn heads for all the right reasons
© Kona
Price: £2,059
Sizes: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c
Maximum tyre clearance: 50c (700c)
If a mountain biker came up with their idea of a great drop bar bike, you’d probably end up with something like the Kona Sutra LTD – the only completely steel frameset in our list. The wide, 16-degree flared bars, MTB-standard 73mm bottom bracket shell, single chainring design and massive 50mm clearance on wide 700c rims all make this the perfect bike for getting rowdy off-road!
As you might expect for a gravel bike of this character, there are plenty of bottle mounts, including triple mounts on the forks, and of course rack and mudguard mounts. Steel is a robust material for heavy use and long-distance escapades, which is probably why Kona has backed it up with a lifetime warranty on the frameset.
3. Bombtrack Hook EXT
The Hook EXT can handle the extreme end of gravel grinding
© Bombtrack
Price: £2,199
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 650b
Maximum tyre clearance: 45c front, 40c rear (700c)/52c (650b)
German brand Bombtrack might have started out creating beautiful track and city bikes, but over the last few years, it has really broken into the off-road scene with its gravel offering, the Hook EXT. The 650b wheels fitted with 2” WTB Ranger TCS Light tyres really put this build at the MTB-end of the gravel spectrum, and together with the plentiful mounts (three bottle cage, top tube, rack and mudguard mounts on the frame and triple mounts on the carbon forks) make it the perfect choice for multi-day bikepacking adventures.
The frame itself is quality Columbus steel tubing, and has a 86.5mm T47 bottom bracket shell, giving a wider Q-factor (distance between pedals). This allows room for wider chainstays and bigger tyres, plus more room for frame bags, too. Win win!
4. Ribble CGR Ti GRX
A titanium bike for less than £3,000? Your eyes aren't mistaken...
© Andrew Grant
Price: from £2,899
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 650b
Maximum tyre clearance: 47c (650b)
Ribble’s CGR Ti (cross, gravel, road) is a highly versatile titanium frameset that can be specced for everything from road racing to randonneuring. Or, in this particular case, no-holds-barred off-road mayhem. Whopping tyre clearance, a state-of-the-art Shimano GRX810 groupset and Mavic’s Allroad SL 650b wheelset transforms the CGR into an all-out gravel grinder that screams fun the minute you hop into the saddle.
Light and just the right amount of forgiving, the titanium frame is absorbent enough to take the sting out of rocky, rutted sections, but stiff enough to provide plenty of feedback and minimal power loss on the road. Generously flared drops ensure the bike stays firm and planted when tackling rough ground at speed and bolster the overall confidence-inspiring stability. It’s also very reasonably priced for a titanium gravel build, with prices starting under the £3k mark.
It's a winner in the looks department, too. The raw, brushed titanium frame is simple, classic and timeless, but the dropped seat stays lend it a subtle, contemporary edge. When the current crop of ultra-trendy, matte-black machines begin to feel dated, the CGR Ti won't have aged one bit. It's also highly scratch and abrasion resistant when compared to a gloss or matte finish. Which is exactly what you want from a drop-bar bike this hellbent on encouraging you to unleash your inner Rachel Atherton on every rock-riddled downhill section.
5. Genesis Fugio 30
The Fugio 30 experience will take a while to fade from your memory
© Genesis
Price: £2,999.99
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 650b
Maximum tyre clearance: 40c (700c)/47c (650b)
Steel is certainly still real when it comes to gravel bikes. The frame material is renowned for its ability to take the sting out of bumps in the road, absorbing the impact from potholes, gravel, rocks and roots to leave you with a (relatively) smooth ride. UK brand Genesis has a heritage of crafting machines of all shapes and sizes out of the material, and its Fugio line is on the extreme end of its gravel bike offering (which also includes the CDA, Croix De Fer and Vagabond ranges).
Constructed from heat-treated Reynolds 725 tubing, the frame manages to pair steel’s strength profile with a weight usually reserved for aluminium or carbon fibre builds. This makes it nimble and responsive when hitting the trails, while being able to keep up with racier rigs on the road. A carbon fibre fork adds compliance up front and 47c WTB Ventures tyres set up tubeless on 650b wheels smooth out anything you throw at it.
While it’s gravel credentials are clear (50mm dropper post, flared bars, Shimano’s 1x GRX groupset), the Fugio is something of a do-it-all rig. Mounting points on the fork, top tube and underside of the downtube mean it’s ready for a bikepacking jaunt, while mudguard and rack mounts mean it could even be converted into an all-year all-road commuting machine with some slightly less chunky tyres. Oh, and that’s before you get to the paint work. Something of a Marmite finish, it definitely turns heads and is guaranteed to get the seal of approval from fellow gravel grinders.
6. Allied Able
The Able is a pure gravel-racing machine
© Allied
Price: from £3,000 (frameset only)
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 650b
Maximum tyre clearance: 47c front, 43c rear (700c)/55c front, 47c rear (650b)
The first thing you’ll notice is the asymmetric chainstays. As a 1x-dedicated design, Allied has been able to shorten the wheelbase for a more responsive ride while maintaining great tyre clearance. Compared to Allied’s racing-focussed Alfa Allroad model, the Able is adapted for rockier, more challenging singletrack and trails, and can take both 700c and 650b wheels to accommodate different tyre widths.
The Able is certainly a performance-orientated ride rather than an expedition one – you won’t find any rack or mudguard mounts on this clean looking build – but three bottle mounts and a top-tube mount mean you’ll be able to carry plenty of water for big days in the saddle.
7. Mason Bokeh GRX
Independent frame builder Mason knows how to put out off-road-ready rigs
© Mason`
Price: £3,175
Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62
Frame material: Aluminium
Wheel size: 700c/650b
Maximum tyre clearance: 45c (700c)/2.1” (650b)
For those looking to turn their gravel outings into multi-day bikepacking epics, without sacrificing form and feel for function, the Mason Bokeh provides an attractive option. Its many mounting points, robust build and nimble handling means this aluminium workhorse carries weight like a Himalayan Sherpa’s donkey yet charges through rough terrain more like a wild stallion.
For a bike that feels so sturdy and robust, the Bokeh offers a surprisingly sporty ride. It’s fast. Like, really fast. Steering is sharp and responsive without ever feeling too twitchy and manages to remain planted and reassuring on even the most rutted of woodland descents. Clearance-wise, there’s room for up to 45mm tyres with 700c rims and up to 50mm on 650b rims. In other words, more than enough to take you far from the beaten path in absolute comfort and have a whole heap of fun getting there.
Admittedly, it isn’t cheap for an aluminium frame. But this isn’t any old lump of non-ferrous metal. The Bokeh frameset is Italian-made, beautifully finished and boasts all the attention to detail of a luxury timepiece. When you take all of that into account, the price feels entirely justified. In summary, if you want a highly versatile bike, beautifully built, with adventure and speed at the fore, Mason Bokeh are two words to swear by.
8. S-Works Diverge
Can you put a price on perfection?
© Andrew Grant
Price: £10,850
Sizes: 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 700c
Maximum tyre clearance: 47c (700c)/2.1” (650b)
If money is no object, then the S-Works Diverge is the gravel bike for you (and if it is, then you're in luck as the standard Specialized range starts at just £1,099). Blending the beauty of a purebred racer with the unbridled brawn of a MTB, it combines a streamlined, sporty silhouette with hefty tyre clearance and integrated suspension. The result is a bike that can glide over gnarled, root-riddled and bone-rattling terrain with unparalleled speed and grace, but that won’t leave you lagging when the trail turns to tarmac.
Looks-wise, it’s a real heartbreaker. That aggressive, racy profile is finished with an unconventional matte-copper paint job, making for a seriously stylish end product. The glossy, tonal S-Works branding is subtle enough to go unnoticed but really pops when the sunlight hits it just right.
It’s packed with trail-friendly features, too. Specialized’s Future Shock suspension up front provides 20mm travel, allowing the bike to cut through technical sections like a very hot, very light (8.95kg to be precise), very expensive knife through butter. It also features hydraulic damping for making tweaks on the fly. There’s clearance for up to 47mm tyres on 700c rims and 53mm (2.1”) on 650bs, which, combined with a 50mm dropper post, SRAM’s RED eTap AXS groupset and some rather girthy frame tubes, allows the Diverge to blast through places lesser machines would fear to tread.
