The 7 Best Gravel Bikes

“The perfect gravel bike is the one that matches correctly,” says Bruce Lin, a tech author for The Pro’s Closet, a Colorado-based licensed bike reselling web site.

So, connecting together with your native bike store or bike fitter will assist you decide what the perfect general gravel bike is on your particular wants.

Though there are a lot of fashions Lin considers among the many finest general gravel bikes of 2024, he recommends the Trek Checkpoint sequence.

“I think about Trek Checkpoints to be benchmark gravel bikes,” Lin says. “The carbon model of the Checkpoint provides additional consolation on the rear with its IsoSpeed Decoupler, and there may be additionally an reasonably priced aluminum Checkpoint choice, too.”

You’ll be able to personal a Checkpoint for as little as $1,800 with an aluminum body, a SRAM Apex 11-speed single drivetrain, and mechanical disc brakes.

Should you’re seeking to spend a bit extra, for $3,300 and up, you may have a completely carbon Checkpoint full with inner storage (that means inside the body), a number of gear and water bottle mounts and a 2x drivetrain (which suggests there are two chainrings within the entrance).

With 11 fashions of various worth, supplies, and sizes within the Checkpoint household, Trek has actually constructed a gravel bike for everybody.

Julie Dunkle, an elite triathlete, skilled gravel bicycle owner, and triathlon coach, recommends the Cannondale Topstone 4 as the perfect gravel bike for novices.

This bike is a “stable alloy gravel bike with a full carbon fork, a 1x drivetrain, and ample gear mounting factors,” she says.

At $1,325 the Topstone 4 isn’t an intimidating gravel bike from a funds or fashion standpoint. An alloy body means the bike is made by combining two completely different metals collectively—normally aluminum and one other aspect—to create a sturdy, sturdy body.

The Topstone 4 additionally has a 1x drivetrain, which means there’s just one entrance chainring. This implies riders who’re new to gravel biking received’t have to fret about transitioning between entrance chainrings—solely shifting between simpler and tougher gears situated on the rear wheel of the bike.

This bike additionally has the power to mount entrance and rear fenders for moist or muddy rides, and it has loads of spots to mount a water bottle holder.

For below $1,000, the Polygon Tambora G4 provides riders an alloy body and carbon entrance fork, with none sophisticated configurations, Dunkle says.

The entrance fork even gives two configurations for the via axle—a gravel-specific slot-in for the axle, and a road-specific slot-in for the times you’d moderately persist with the pavement. The 2 slot-ins change the angle of the entrance setup ever-so-slightly to accommodate for upright, steady gravel wants and a extra angled street place.

The Tambora G4 additionally options tire clearance as much as 45c tires, that means you may put some massive, steady tires on the bike if desired. A 40-tooth chainring accommodates even essentially the most numerous driving wants and a 1x drivetrain makes this bike uncomplicated for brand new riders or those that merely don’t need the fuss of a couple of chainring.

Should you plan on racing —and being aggressive—in gravel biking, it’s possible you’ll wish to put money into a carbon gravel bike.

Carbon frames are typically lighter and extra nimble than frames made from alloy or metal, permitting a rider to hold much less weight from their bike as they traverse already troublesome terrain.

The Specialised Diverge sequence ranges from $1,300 all the best way as much as $12,500, however the Diverge Skilled Carbon ($5,000) is a good starter racing bike that received’t set you again so far as different racing bikes budget-wise.

The Skilled Carbon is a fully-carbon bike full with inner cable routing and disc brakes for correct cease time and distance. The bike additionally accommodates a entrance fork suspension to deal with rougher terrain.

This bike additionally comes with nicer wheels than a less expensive, non-racing gravel bike: Roval 32mm depth carbon wheels and 42c tires, each of which are perfect for protecting off-road terrain whereas maximizing weight and aerodynamics.

Lin notes there possible “isn’t an awesome reply to the query of the perfect gravel bike for males” as a result of the perfect bike is “the one that matches correctly.” Actually, many bike producers are shifting away from the normal mannequin of getting men- or women-specific fashions and are trending towards providing extra expansive sizing to accommodate a wide range of physique measurements, he says.

That being stated, the Large Revolt line gives frames that are supposed to accommodate riders as tall as 6’7″ and 330 kilos, which may work properly for individuals who are taller and naturally have extra weight to their physique.

The Revolt line spans reasonably priced alloy frames all the best way to elite carbon composite frames and options disc brakes on all its fashions in addition to carbon entrance forks on all its fashions.

“Even a correctly sized bike may not match excellent out of the field,” Lin says. You ought to chat with an area bike store or bike fitter to find out should you want an extended stem, wider handlebars, or a special saddle to accommodate your particular measurements and to discover a snug setup on your physique measurement and driving wants.

Whereas it may be comforting to see women-specific bikes—and to help female-owned bike manufacturers—it’s usually not vital for a girl to hunt out a female-specific bike, in accordance with Marni and Karel Sumbal, elite triathletes, gravel cyclists, and endurance sports activities coaches.

As an alternative, the Sumbals suggest discovering a motorbike that can suit your distinctive measurements. Marni notes that as a result of she’s 5’0″, she typically feels restricted in her bike decisions. She shares how necessary it’s for her— and for others who could also be shorter and smaller in stature—to completely perceive her measurements and the way they are going to apply, or not, to no matter gravel bike she’s .

Working with an skilled bike fitter may also help any bicycle owner perceive key measurements that’ll make deciding on a motorbike simpler.

Marni recommends the Juliana Quincy, which she at the moment rides, as a result of it is available in each 700- and 650-sized wheels and will be configured from a 1x drivetrain to a 2x drivetrain, if desired.

The Juliana Quincy additionally has a extra sloped high tube (the tube between the seat and the handlebars), which may make it simpler for individuals who could also be shorter to get on and off the bike.

Marni says that general, the bike is steady and responsive for her measurement and wishes on the bike. She additionally notes that as a result of an individual’s distinctive measurements, any bike could require a little bit of finessing after buying, comparable to new handlebars for smaller shoulder widths or shorter crank arms for shorter legs. All of this ought to be thought of when any gravel bike, female-specific or in any other case.

Lin notes he’s a serious fan of the Specialised Turbo Creo SL Skilled EVO gravel bike.

“The Turbo Creo is smooth and light-weight, and the low torque motor feels very pure to journey,” Lin says. “[The bike] blends in properly with ‘common’ bikes, too.”

Lin notes that the Turbo Creo may not be proper for everybody, although—and that different gravel bikes, just like the Cannondale Topstone Neo, present much more help with a extra highly effective motor.

The Turbo Creo SL EVO weighs in at simply over 28 kilos, which is surprising for an e-bike—most clock in properly over 35 kilos. The bike’s battery has a variety of about 80 miles when totally charged (and has the choice to buy an aftermarket 40-mile vary extender) and assists as much as 240 watts.

This bike is expensive, however should you’re searching for a gravel e-bike that can idiot even your most gravel-educated associates into considering it’s analog, this award-winning bike is the transfer.