Merida's Comp SL rims and the Maxxis Rambler tyres are both tubeless ready, so all you need is valves and sealant. The bikes are multiday adventure ready, with several mounting points for bottle cages and bags, and the choice between 700c or 650b wheel size, for extra of tyre clearance. The tough DT Swiss C 1850 Spline db wheels are gravel-specific as well, and shod with Schwalbe's G-One Bite 40mm tyres, which are supplied in a trendy tan wall. Below are the two best gravel bikes under $1,000 that you can get right now, in our opinion. Flared bars are generally accepted as a good upgrade to give greater stability in the wider drops for rough terrain and descending off-road. Pedal choice is a matter of personal taste and will be dependent on your riding style. All gravel essentials are accounted for, including decent tyre clearance, stealth dropper-post routing and a 1x drivetrain. The chainstays, seat tube and top tube have âflex zonesâ designed to deflect bigger impacts than in a traditional fixed-stay frame setup, creating a comfortable ride with a relaxed geometry which inspires confidence. The build isn’t particularly lightweight, but upgrading both the finishing kit and wheelset could be quick wins to knock a bit of weight off. While the Croix De Fer comes stock with 700c wheels, if you want even more cushion you can swap those out for some 650B wheels paired with plus 47mm wide tyres, so you can feel like you're riding on air. We were extremely impressed when Specialized launched the new Diverge, and knew that a budget Diverge had to be featured in this guide. Those who are looking for an affordable entry level bike with some substantial components will be pleased with the overall performance of this bike, especially for the lower investment to get started. There’s a variety of Specialized Diverge on offer, with the Carbon Comp sitting in the middle spec and price wise. Best womenâs gravel bikes If a womenâs specific or a customisable unisex bike is for you, below is our pick of the best female-ready gravel bikes for exploring the trails less travelled. The Diverge is almost the perfect do-it-all bike, Read more: Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon reviewÂ. With Shimano’s GRX gravel-specific groupsets available in hydraulic disc only, this tends to be the preference. Please refresh the page and try again. The Surly ECR is the quintessential bikepacking rig if you plan on tackling hundreds or thousands of miles on a single trip. Steel all-road adventure bike for those that like to ride long distances, Frame material:: Steel | Wheel Size: 700c | Tyre clearance: 700c x 35 and 650B x 47 | Weight: Unpublished | Sizes available: 50cm-58cm. For those who are looking for a single, do-everything bike, it's likely that a gravel bike is going to be the one that meets your criteria. 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. This bike is built on a 4130 Chromoly steel frame with a 4130 Chromoly steel fork making it a strong performer in gravel and on less than smooth roads. The wheelbase length made descending with heavy bags a stable joy. See more: Causeway GRX600 at Fustle from £1,999.99, The Merida Silex has nine options to choose from. The spec is well-considered, running SRAM's Apex 1 groupset, and it has Juintech F1 cable-actuated hydraulic disc brakes as a compromise between ease of maintenance and power. Low-modulus carbon frames are likely to actually be heavier and less compliant than equivalent metal frames, and have lower-quality components. The plump 42c WTB tyres help in this department as well. Sizes 54 and 56 cm in stock now! As an all-around package it works brilliantly with a spec perfectly suited to the riding style, although it might be worth investing in some faster tires if you’re riding longer stretches of tarmac. The Vielo V+1 gravel bike impressed us in review with its versatility and lightweight when considered alongside the 38c tires specced. Road bike groupsets: A complete buyerâs guide (video), A 1X drivetrain keeps it simple and can allow for greater rear tire clearance. See more: Scott Addict Gravel 10 at Rutland Cycling from £5,898.99Â, Dimondback Haanjo 7c Carbon is great value. The Checkpoint bikes are Trekâs gravel specific bike range and the AL 3 is the entry level model. Most gravel bikes will be able to accommodate both wheel sizes, giving riders who invest in a spare set of wheels the option of 'two bikes in one': a 700c wheelset set-up with fast-rolling tyres for the road and a 650b wheelset with large, knobbly tyres for more adventurous riding. There was a problem. The range of gravel bikes is enormous, which is excellent news for the bike buyer. Not thinking of something top shelf for now, but a bike to get going with and perhaps upgrade later. Thanks to Ribble bike builder you can have this bike any way you like. Even when fully loaded with bags, the 48/31 crankset rarely felt undergeared on any climb. Ribble offers the chassis constructed from aluminum, titanium or steel â in this case we went for the entry-level alloy option. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Wild-child gravel bike that will appeal to mountain bikers, Frame material:: Aluminium | Wheel Size: 650b | Tyre clearance: 700c x unpublished and 650B x 47 | Weight: Unpublished | Sizes available: S-XL. Price: $1249. We have chosen the 650b version for our list, but for £100 less, Ribble do a 700c-wheeled model with Schwalbe G-One tyres for those looking for a little more legs on tarmac sections. This includes the 16-speed Shimano Claris, and the 3-piece neck alloy crank and rigid steel fork, which combines to create a less maintenance-extensive bike with excellent performance. Its off-road performance is compromised by the tyre choice and we’d certainly swap them out if we were tackling more serious terrain. Ribbleâs CGR says what it does on the box â itâs the UK-based brandâs ‘Cross, Gravel and Road bike. With a lack of innovation-quashing UCI rules in the gravel sector, more ambitious designs are being tested, like Canyon’s radical double-decker bar, designed to add additional compliance to the ride. While the best budget road bikes and cyclo-cross bikes have previously taken care of workhorse duties, the stable ride quality, large tyres and durability are quickly seeing gravel bikes become the preferred bike to take on these duties. The under $500 category represents the lowest budget level in our guide, but that doesnât mean you have to settle for something that is barely above a department store level. ... best entry level road bikes? Marin has two gravel bikes on their books that qualify for our best budget gravel bike guide, but we've chosen to include the Nicasio 2 for a couple of reasons. The Liv Devote Advanced Pro is a very capable bike, it’s got all the mounts you’d need for bikepacking, rides like a super endurance bike on the road and – with spec changes – could be a trail slayer. Slacker head angles and longer wheelbases increase a bike's stability and control over rough terrain. The Nicasio 2 trumps the Gestalt by coming specced with hydraulic disc brakes; the Tiagra brakes offer a huge stopping advantage over mechanical alternatives. January 4, 2021 December 30, 2020 by Kristen Bonkoski. The Grail AL 6.0 is the cheapest of Canyon's gravel bikes, but the bike hardly screams budget. Hello! If there was one gravel bike that grabbed the headlines last year, it would be Open Cycleâs WI.DE., which was basically a two-wheeled monster truck. Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. Best entry level gravel bike for <$1500? The flickable cyclo-cross-inspired geometry is further enhanced with the added control, and encourages a lively riding style. Adventure and gravel bikes almost exclusively use disc brakes for their better modulation and more consistent stopping in dry, wet and muddy conditions. Now bikes are coming equipped with hydraulic brakes, 1x drivetrains and specific gravel tyres. Despite it’s looks the Topstone Carbon Lefty 3 is exceptionally well balanced. With each bike is a âSee moreâ or ‘Best Deal’ link. Because it shares almost the same geometry with its roadie sibling, the Speedster Gravel is a great choice if you're joining up scattered gravel paths with roads, as you'll not lose much momentum. The Giant Contend is a good entry-level bike for new road cyclists who are a bit gravel-curious. If you don't plan to go any wider than 38mm tyres, the Scott Speedster Gravel makes a great option, however the clearance ends there, so it's not so good if you're looking to throw on some 45s and take on your local singletrack. We found the Boardman ADV 9.0 a very fun ride; it was comfortable and gave great control, as did the well thought out kit supplied on it. Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. We had planned to keep the guide to a strict £1,500 budget, but have made an exception for the Diverge E5 Elite. Entry level best Mountain Bikes Under $500 Budget. It comes stock with 35mm Kenda Flintridge tyres, but has massive clearance for 42mm tyres if you want to up the ante. Not only are budget gravel bikes becoming more capable, but they are proving to be massively versatile. A forgiving frame material, steel can absorb some of the chatter from rough ground, plus it's extremely durable. If youâve ever gone out on a ride on your best road bike and unpaved roads, fire trails or alluring single track 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. The best gravel bikes will come with wide tyres, with room for extra mud clearance, and nowadays disc brakes as standard. The confidence inspiring geometry, along with the capacity to take 650b x 2.1 inch or 700c x 50mm tyres, meant that it was able to handle trails normally traversed by mountain bikes – and was a whole load of fun when doing so! You could also use it for commuting and light touring if you wished, thanks to the mounts for mudguards and a rear rack, making it a versatile option. The Shimano Sora 2x9 setup provides a wide range of gears to help with climbing off-road, while the mechanical disc brakes from Tektro provide adequate stopping power for all weather conditions. Mounts for pannier racks and extra storage will also feature on the best gravel bikes, as will the option for fitting mudguards. Frame material: Aluminium | Wheel size: 700 | Tyre clearance: 700 x 42 | Weight: 11.2kg | Sizes available: XS-XL. NB: Diamondback bikes are available online at diamondback.com, the Diamondback Haanjo 7C Carbon is priced at $2800. You can find adventure road and gravel bikes shod with tires of pretty much any width between a narrow 28c and 47c, plus tires measured in inches on 650b wheel builds! The ADV 9.0 series is pretty hard to come by now, but the slightly more affordable ADV 8.0 series should provide just as much fun on the road less traveled. The choice between a double or single chainring upfront is usually down to rider preference. For those wanting to head off the beaten track, but worry about keeping up, you might want to consider a electric version. 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. This bike could be a specialist bike for true adventure riding, but has the capability to be a commuter, winter trainer, tourer or a cyclocross bike. The Vitus Substance SRS-1 is backed up by a SRAM Apex groupset, with wide-ranging 1x11 gearing and powerful hydraulic disc brakes. Steel is simply the correct material for this category, and the Radar Pro and Warakin both feel very comfortable on the gravel. Gravel-bike geometry numbers fill the entire spectrum between road bike and mountain bike, so it's important to consider the type of riding that you want to do. Thereâs not really a consensus on the best pattern, with some bikes coming with fat, slick tires, whilst others have file treads or low profile knobs. Best entry level Gravel/Cyclocross Bikes? It might seem like an odd departure for Polish bike brand NS Bikes to make a gravel bike, best known as it is for its dirt jumpers, and the RAG+ certainly stands out as their only drop-bar bike. At the most extreme end of the adventure bike market, fork leg mounts are becoming increasingly common for even more storage options. Quick-release wheels are still sometimes found â particularly at the rear â the new norm is 12mm or sometimes 15mm thru-axles, which make for easier disc brake alignment. 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. You will receive a verification email shortly. RAG stands for 'road and gravel', and it's a bike that can bridge the gap between road riding and the point that you wished you had a suspension fork. All rights reserved. Itâs a fairly hefty machine that you can trust on rooty trails, though it has been slimmed down when compared to former iterations. If you want a bit more cushion, there's ample space for 45mm tyres. Even those looking for an entry-level adventure bike have plenty of choices, as long as you don't mind a couple of compromises. See more: Trek Checkpoint at Trek Bicycles for £2800 / $2899.99. The Croix De Fer 10 is at the lower end of the line-up, so if you're willing to spend more, there are higher specs available. The alternative option, Marin's Gestalt X10, is certainly more suited to rough gravel riding, with its short, flickable rear end and large tyre clearance, but its mechanical brakes and short stays make the bike feel unsure on open cannonball sections. See more: Cannondale Topstone Lefty 3 at Cyclestore for £3,399.99 or REI for $4,000, With such a well-designed frame and incredible value, it was easy to award 10/10, Read more: Sonder Camino AL Rival1 Gravel Bike review. Itâs also one of the most universal tri bikes that provides an honest fit for a wide range of athletes. 9 Best Womenâs Gravel Bikes. See more: Liv Devote Advanced Pro at Rutland Cycles for £4,698.99, The Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX scored a rare 10/10 in our review, Read more: Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra reviewÂ. Although it doesn't feature a carbon frame, the aluminium Silex 300 has all the same features and clearances as its premium iteration. Unlike many of Kinesis’ frame-only offerings, the G2 adventure bike comes as a full build, aimed at providing versatility rather than targeting any specific gravel sub-genre. At lower price points, bikes will often feature a manufacturer's own-branded components, and while this equipment may not offer the finesse of branded components, they do generally offer no-thrills functionality. Crisper gear changes and a huge increase in braking control and power greatly enhances the off-road riding experience. This is the gravel version of Scott's Speedster Disc road bike, with slightly shorter chainstays for a whippier back end, slapping on some 35mm Schwalbe G-One Allround tyres, and swapping out the Shimano Tiagra groupset for the GRX RX600, the mechanical disc brakes for hydraulic. While the aluminum bike frame is normal at this price point, what is not normal is its combination of features. $999.95. If you’re looking for adventure on the road less travelled, then you’ll need the best gravel bike for company. Steel is well established as a forgiving yet durable material, and is generally a little heavier, but the classically twangy frame-quality garners a dedicated following. First off, what is the difference? Fustle offers full build customization with their direct to consumer model, so you can choose from a range of wheel brands, 700c or 650b, a dropper post, tires, saddle and cockpit to suit you and your local terrain straight out of the box. You get a SRAM Force 1 groupset, and there’s even dropper post compatibility. The bike comes with WTB's Nano 40mm gravel tyre, so it's ready to hit the gravel trails straight from the box. MSRP $2,100 Trek bikes â Available in-store only. Tyres need to balance speed with grip and cushioning. More aggressive tread patterns can help in wet and mucky conditions. The ECR is designed to comfortably and reliably carry all your gear and supplies over every type of terrainâdirt two-track, gravel, single track, or paved. We found the frame super fast, which was an easy pedal. If you ride predominantly on roads and well-maintained paths where you rarely need to put a foot down, then road shoes and cleats may be a good choice. In fact, that’s probably the biggest difference between gravel and cyclocross bikes, that along with bottle cage mounts. Visit our corporate site. Shimano GRX 400 brings gravel-specific performance to the drivetrain and brakes. While not as comfortable as their Kingpin-suspension-equipped carbon frame, the aluminium Topstone does get flattened chainstays to help absorb vibrations. See more: Sonder Camino AL Rival 1 Hydraulic at Alpkit for £1,299, The Kinesis G2 is a great value and versatile adventure bike, Read more: Kinesis G2 adventure bike review. You canât go wrong with it! Its geometry shares similarities to Merida's cross-country mountain bike range, which makes it very capable on singletrack and rough trails. Gravel-bike technology is expanding at an exponential rate, with new features and designs regularly being released. The Specialized Shiv Sport is one of the best entry-level triathlon bikes for the price. However if you want adventure, overnight bivvies under the stars and multiple days in the saddle to cover a lot of ground, then the Nuroad Pro Fe has you covered. Aluminium technology is constantly evolving, and despite being a stiffer material, frame designers are able to now build aluminium frames with increasing levels of compliance and comfort. Bath With a reasonably long wheelbase it provides a stable and comfortable ride for hours on end, enabling you to munch up the miles. Solid performance and versatility place the Populo Quest 16-Speed Gravel Bike among the best gravel bikes on our list. Watch the video for the top five gravel bikes you can buy right now or scroll down for a whole list of gravel bikes that cost under £1,000. Although aluminium frames have a reputation for harshness, the slack head angle, long wheelbase and tall headtube, combined with some well-engineered flex, serve to isolate you from the road buzz. That's where the Boardman ADV 9.0 comes in. Rear-axle spacing for disc brake wheels is typically 135mm (quick release) or 142mm (thru-axle), or occasionally 148mm boost spacing for stronger wheelsets. Disc brakes are standard equipment on gravel bikes, and while mechanical disc brakes offer a marked improvement over rim brakes, hydraulic disc brakes are well worth the extra investment as they not only give you more power but also offer improved modulation control. However, we felt that, despite being £650 more expensive, the Diverge E5 Elite marked a significant upgrade in performance and quality. These bikes are ideal for mixed-terrain adventures; gravel paths, broken pavement, fire roads, and of course unpaved dirt tracks. The full carbon frameset comes with SRAM Force eTap AXS with Hydraulic disc brakes, carbon Syncros Creston 1.0 Flare handlebars, Syncros Capital 1.0 Synros RWS wheels snf Schwalbe G-ONE Evolution tyres – ready for the start line. The geometry is very relaxed, with a short reach and tall head tube lending to stability off-road, though thereâs plenty of room to get a bit more aggressive if you want to. Cannondale's Topstone is a versatile on- or off-road option that is based around a SmartForm C2 alloy frame and has a full-carbon fork. The direct-to-consumer model used by Canyon means that they can spec the Grail AL 6.0 to a level that seems well beyond its means. The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 3 leans much more towards the âfunâ end of the gravel spectrum than the âfastâ end. Jump to: How to choose a budget gravel bike, Frame material: Aluminum | Wheel size: 700 | Tyre clearance: 700 x 45 | Weight: 11.9kg | Sizes available: 50, 53, 56, 58, 61cm. 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. If you invested in two sets of wheels, you could comfortably go from sportives to singletrack with one bike and still ride to the office on Monday morning. 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. The D-Fuse seatpost helps reduce road shocks ⦠Canyon’s double-decker handlebar certainly divided opinion on release. It's easy to forget that aluminium is still a relatively new material in regards to frame building. For riders who prefer longer distances, the reduced choice of hand positions will be a deal-breaker. The steel bikes excelled in this category, as featured by the bargain priced Breezer Radar Pro, and the premium priced Otso Warakin. A steel adventure bike with a great build, Frame material: Steel | Wheel size: 650B | Tyre clearance: 650B x 47 | Weight: 9.2kg | Sizes available: XS-XXL. The Scott Addict Gravel is incredibly responsive in all conditions and terrain, and as a gravel racer, itâs an awesome bike, with a great spec. You can expect to pay from $200 to over $4,000 for a gravel bike⦠With an engine that you would sooner find powering a lawnmower, you canât expect to break any land speed records on this little dude. May 2020 in Road general. This is in part due to Rondo's Vario Geo Concept, which bolsters the Ruut's do-everything capabilities. And for good reason! The 650B wheels are paired with the plush 47mm WTB Venture TCS Road Plus tyres which come tubeless ready and feature a semi-slick semi-knobbly tread pattern to see you through most road surfaces you're likely to encounter. This also has a really positive impact on wheel longevity compared to rim brakes for off-road riding. See more: Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon at Rutland Cycling for £3,999.99, Scott Addict Gravel 10 received a Cycling Weekly Editor’s Choice Award, Read more: Scott Addict Gravel 10 reviewÂ. For a bike that could cover just about all cycling needs at the cost of less than some race wheels, the Haanjo seems like a great deal. See more: Pinarello Grevil Shimano Ultegra gravel bike at Sigma Sports for £3800 or from Competitive Cyclist with SRAM Force ETap AXS for $6999. The rest of the bike is a functional collection of goods from SRAM, Mavic and WTB, which doesn't have any glaring compromises. The Nicasio's slightly more conservative geometry figures mean it's a bike perfect for those whose gravel rides consist of less gnar and more far.