What are gravel bikes?

Gravel bikes are drop-bar bikes that allow you to veer off paved roads and onto more exciting terrain. From racing to bikepacking, there'll be a best gravel bike for you, built ready to cope with the demands of tricky terrain and longer, multi-day off-road rides. As with all bikes, it's vital that you get the best bike to fit you, and it doesn't need to be gender specified. But if you are after a women's specific model, which often includes smaller sizes and different touchpoints like a wider saddle and narrower bars, you might want to check out best women's gravel bikes for off-road adventures page. If you're juggling a tighter budget, but still want the best, our page dedicated to the best budget gravel bikes: gravel bikes under £1,000/$1500 is ideal for getting the best value for money adventures on two wheels. Born with the spirit of adventure, the best gravel bikes sit somewhere between the best endurance and sportive bikes and the best cyclocross bikes , with a blend of the best hardtail mountain bikes . They're nimble on paved sections of road compared to fat-tyred MTB steeds, but confidence-inspiring when it comes to tackling rough surfaces when compared to their slick-tired road-going siblings. These bikes are ideal for mixed-terrain adventures; gravel paths, broken tarmac, fire roads, and of course unpaved dirt tracks. Taking cues from their cyclocross cousins and MTB siblings, don't let the drop bars fool you, these bikes can tackle some pretty technical terrain, including flowy mountain bike trails. This crossover discipline can add a slight confusion in the cycling gear department too, e.g to Lycra or not to Lycra. Thankfully our guide on the best gravel bike clothing: cycling kit for your gravel ride should sort out any kit woes. The best gravel bikes will come with wide tyres, with room for extra mud clearance, and disc brakes as standard. Expect anything up to 47c or more on either 700c or 650b wheels. Mounts for pannier racks and extra storage will often feature on the best gravel bikes, as will the option for fitting mudguards. In fact, that's probably the biggest difference between gravel and cyclocross bikes, along with bottle cage mounts.

Are gravel bikes any good on the road?

Compared to road bikes, you'll also find wider and lower gear ratios on the best gravel bikes, which will help you ride over loose or hilly terrain especially when carrying bikepacking bags if you're gearing up for multi-day expeditions. In general, the best gravel bikes will also have a lower bottom bracket than a cyclocross bike, helping to provide enhanced stability on rocky, rooty and rough terrain. For more details on exactly what the differences are, you might find our gravel vs cyclocross bikes: what is the difference page really helpful. For those wanting to head off the beaten track, but worried about keeping up, you might want to consider an electric version. Electric gravel bikes give you all-terrain capability and confidence-inspiring stability, but with some additional assistance.

Why are gravel and adventure bikes so popular?

If you’ve ever gone out on a ride on your best road bike and noticed unpaved roads, fire trails or alluring singletrack as you passed, wondering where they lead but hesitating to head off the tarmac, then a gravel bike or adventure road bike may be for you. These bikes aim to meld on-road efficiency with off-road capability, so you'll find overlaps in design features with both road and cyclocross bikes, as well as incorporating elements from mountain bike technology. When you're shopping for your first gravel bike , as standard you should expect disc brakes and clearance for wider tyres. Whereas cyclocross bikes are designed with short, muddy races in mind, gravel and adventure bikes take longer unpaved rides into account. You'll still find race-orientated builds in the gravel category for gravel racing, alongside adventure bikes that feature additional clearance and mounts to accommodate luggage and often even wider tyres for more remote journeys.

Does the frame and fork material matter on a gravel bike?

As with road bikes, gravel bikes can be made from carbon, aluminium, titanium or steel. Carbon and aluminium are the two most commonly used frame materials, and all the bikes in this guide are made from one or other of these two options. Carbon tends to be more expensive and lighter whilst aluminium frames are heavier but cheaper. This means that for a similar price, you can expect better components on an aluminium-framed bike than on one with a carbon frame so you might have to decide where your priorities lie when choosing between the two. The big advantage of using carbon as a frame material is that it can be added exactly where it is needed for strength and stiffness or removed where it is not needed to lower weight and fine-tune compliance. Titanium gravel bikes are less widely available, with aficionados often describing the ride quality as being more ‘lively’ than carbon or aluminium whilst also offering low weight and high strength as being amongst its qualities. High-end steel frames offer an almost titanium-like ride, albeit with a bit of a weight penalty whilst at the lower end some manufacturers offer steel bikes as a potentially more durable and repairable option to aluminium. Regardless of frame material, most gravel bikes have carbon forks as the carbon layup can be tuned to provide some degree of protection against trail vibrations which is important at the front end of an off-road bike.

How does gravel bike geometry differ from road bikes?

Stability and handling are key when it comes to riding off-road. Expect to see a lengthened wheelbase, slack headtube angle and lower bottom bracket compared to road bikes, all of which aid with technical terrain and steeper descents. The rider position is typically more upright than on road bikes, both for comfort over long rides and to allow the rider to move their weight around more easily when negotiating off-road obstacles.

Do gravel bikes have other specialised features?

Thru-axles and disc brakes have quickly become standard on gravel (and many road) bikes, technologies borrowed from mountain biking. You can also find front and rear suspension, although these aren't commonplace yet. The norm is 12mm thru-axles, which make for easier disc brake alignment and rigidity. Rear-axle spacing for disc brake wheels is typically 142mm (thru-axle), or occasionally 148mm Boost spacing for stronger wheelsets. More adventure or utility-centric frames will come with mounts for racks and fenders so that the bike can be used as a sturdy commuter or year-round road bike. At the most extreme end of the adventure bike market, fork leg mounts and extra frame mounts are becoming increasingly common for even more luggage carrying options.

What are the best tires for gravel and adventure bikes?

You can find adventure road and gravel bikes shod with tires of pretty much any width between a 28c and 47c, plus tires measured in inches on 650b wheel builds! The best gravel bike tires can dramatically improve your ride. There's a real range of tread patterns available, which can add extra grip for muddy conditions or lower rolling resistance if you're mixing in more tarmac and cater for everything in between. We think changing your tires is one of the best gravel bike upgrades you can make. Going tubeless is also a great option to improve comfort and reliability. In the UK, you're likely to come across patches of wet mud or loose dirt year-round, so a more aggressive tread can be useful in those situations to help you maintain grip, albeit at the expense of road speed. But in the US, gravel roads can range from well-graded packed dirt that almost resembles tarmac, to the crushed and graded limestone you find in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Finding the right tires for your riding terrain may take some experimentation, and don't be afraid to try something with more or less tread than you're used to. You might also want to change your tires between summer and winter to get the best width and tread pattern for the conditions. Most gravel and adventure bikes are specced with tubeless or tubeless-ready tires and rims, ready for conversion to a tubeless set-up . Rather than having to replace an inner tube every time you flat, the sealant in the system will (in theory) plug any punctures from sharp objects like thorns, which is a real advantage when it comes to riding off-road. You may need to re-inflate the tire a little if you have a puncture. Tubeless tire plugs can get you riding quickly, but make sure you're equipped with a spare tube and full tubeless repair kit for more serious tire damage.

What are the best gearing options for gravel and adventure bikes?

Adventure road bikes and gravel bikes are designed to be ridden on the road as well as off, so you'll typically find a wide gear range to allow both efficiency and speed on the road, as well as enough gears to cope with loose and steep terrain off-road. The choice between a double or single chainring up front is usually down to rider preference. A 1x (one-by) set-up gives ultimate simplicity and can allow for greater tyre clearance, but sometimes at the cost of wider jumps between ratios, although the latest 12 and 13-speed groupsets go some way to avoiding this. Double chainrings offer more options for riders who prefer to spend more time on smoother terrain or on the road and may give you a greater overall range with smaller jumps between ratios.

What pedals are best suited to gravel and adventure bikes?

Pedal choice is a matter of personal taste and will be dependent on your riding style, but check out our guide to the best gravel bike pedals for advice. If you ride predominantly on roads and well-maintained paths where you rarely need to put a foot down, then road cycling shoes , clipless pedals and cleats may be a good choice. On the other hand, more demanding off-road riding may mean that you need to dismount and walk with the bike or put a foot down for stability. In this case, gravel bike shoes and two-sided gravel bike pedals with grippy treaded soles and recessed cleats derived from mountain bike systems may be a better choice for their ease of walking and easier foot engagement with the pedal.

What components should I expect to find on the best gravel bikes?

Adventure and gravel bikes use disc brakes for their better modulation and more consistent stopping in dry, wet and muddy conditions. This also has a really positive impact on wheel rim longevity compared to rim brakes for off-road riding. On higher-value models, the brakes will be hydraulic, while budget bikes typically have mechanical callipers. With Shimano's GRX and SRAM's gravel-specific groupsets available with hydraulic discs only, this tends to be the preference. You'll occasionally find mechanical disc brakes on adventure bike builds, where long-distance riders find them easier to maintain and repair in more remote situations. Different types of handlebars are also worth considering on adventure bikes. Again, we've got a guide to the best gravel bike handlebars for more info. Flared bars are generally accepted as a good upgrade to give greater stability in the wider drops for rough terrain and descending off-road. The wider the flare, the easier it is to fit a handlebar bag on the front of the bike and still be able to fit your hands on the drops and brakes at the same time. Raised bars such as the Specialized Hover Bar also help to give more clearance over the front wheel for smaller riders, as well as providing a more upright riding position. With a lack of innovation-quashing UCI rules in the gravel sector, more ambitious designs are being tested, like the radical double-decker bar on the Canyon Grail , designed to add additional compliance to the ride.

Best gravel bikes 2023: our pick of the top models

Male cyclist riding the Giant Revolt which is one of the best gravel bikes

(Image credit: Future)

Jump to category:

The Quick List
VALUE
1. Best for adventure
2. Best for versatility
3. Best value
PERFORMANCE
1. Best overall
2. Best for bikepacking
3. Best for racing
ADVICE
Gravel bikes: all you need to know
Gravel bike and adventure bike components
How we test

By Stefan Abram

last updated 20 October 2023

Best Gravel Bikes 2023: Jump Menu

(Image credit: Future)

The list in brief ↴

Best value
1. Best for adventure
2. Best for versatility
3. Best value

High-performance
1. Best overall
2. Best for bikepacking
3. Best for racing

Advice
How to choose a bike
Gravel bike components
How we test

This year Black Friday falls on Friday 24th of November, and will close out after Cyber Monday on the 27th of November. Ahead of the annual sale, we're searching high and low for the best bike deals available, which you can find on our main hub page.

The Giant Revolt Advanced Pro won our Gravel Bike of the Year award 2023, but in reality, there's not one best gravel bike for all as it is such a broad category - what works best for you will depend on the type of riding you want to do, as well as how much you want to spend.

Here, we've covered some great all-rounder gravel bikes as well as some more specialist picks that will serve for gravel racing and bikes that are good for multi-day bikepacking trips. We've also got options from among the best budget gravel bikes.

Our picks come from our extensive testing and reviews of the best gravel bikes available, from the sub-$1,000 / £1,000 category up to premium gravel bikes with price tags above $10,000 / £10,000. We've also taken our top picks from our gravel bike of the year face-off between nine gravel bikes, all ridden and rated by multiple reviewers before we picked the winners.

We've more on how to pick the best gravel bike for your needs lower down on this page, but first here are six quick picks, then our selection of the best value gravel bikes, followed by the best high-performance machines, with links out to our comprehensive full reviews for each.

The Quick List

Best value

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Best for adventure

1. Specialized Diverge E5

Best for adventure

The Diverge E5 Comp is a quality gravel ride. The Future Shock 1.5 front suspension system and big tire clearance add comfort, with room for 47mm 700c or 2.1 inch 650b rubber.

Read more here

Most versatile

2. Vitus Venon Evo-GR

Most versatile

The Vitus Venon Evo does double-duty, with both road and gravel specs offered. The GR gravel spec comes fitted with 40mm tires, but you can fit up to 45mm, for a fast ride on gravel.

Read more here

Most for your money

3. Ribble Gravel AL Sport

Most for your money

Ribble gives you good gravel tech with its alloy Gravel AL, including both 650b and 700c wheel options and plenty of gear mounts. You can choose your own spec, but this Shimano GRX400 provides plenty of gear range.

Read more here

High-performance

Best overall

1. Giant Revolt Advanced Pro

Best overall

Our Gravel Bike of the Year 2023, the Revolt has clever features like a flexing D-shaped seatpost that doesn't stop you swapping in a dropper and adjustable rear dropouts to fine-tune your ride.

Read more here

Best for bikepacking

2. Trek Checkpoint SL7

Best for bikepacking

We think that the Checkpoint is a great option for gravel expeditions. It has plentiful mounts and storage and its IsoSpeed decoupler helps to add comfort to long ride days.

Read more here

Best for racing

3. BMC Kaius

Best for racing

If fast gravel riding/racing is your thing, the Kaius ticks all the boxes. It's fast, with aero features and an aggressive ride position, but with the agility to tackle more twisty trails.

Read more here

Best value gravel bikes 2023: Our picks

Best for adventure

Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon which is one of the best gravel bikes — The Diverge is a do-it-all machine that can handle on and off road adventures

1. Specialized Diverge Comp E5

Best gravel bike for big rides

Specifications

Frame : E5 alloy

Fork: Specialized Future Shock 1.5

Groupset: SRAM Apex 1x11

Wheels: AXIS Elite Disc

Tires: Specialized Pathfinder Sport 38c (Max clearance: 700x47c or 650b x 53 (2.1”))

Weight: 10.1kg

Reasons to buy

Adaptability across gravel genres

Future Shock for front end comfort and compliance

Reasons to avoid

Tires compromise off-road capability

Geometry might not be aggressive enough for some

If your riding leans towards the more adventurous end of the spectrum, exploring new trails, all-day epics and occasional multi-day bikepacking trips, then the Specialized Diverge Comp E5 is well suited to you.

It comes with a relaxed geometry and a high front end for a more comfortable riding position - with the caveat that we found it a little more difficult to weight the front tire sufficiently when really pinning the corners.

There's a full complement of mounts, with pairs under the down tube and on top of the top tube, as well as triple bosses on the fork legs. Full fenders and a pannier rack are also catered for if you prefer a more traditional luggage carrying and splash defending setup.

However, the most significant feature of the Diverge Comp E5 is the Future Shock 1.5, which is usually only found on carbon models. This does a good job of damping out some of the trail chatter and high-frequency bumps, but we found that it's not sufficient to replace front suspension, if you were considering this as an alternative.

Most versatile

Vitus Venon Evo Force AXS gravel bike on a pink background — The Vitus Venon Evo Force AXS is light and versatile