BikeRadar’s testers are in the fortunate position to be able to test the latest bikes. But giving a bike a five-star review and making a significant financial investment to buy one are two very different things.
The gravel discipline has expanded rapidly over the past decade and the bikes that fall under this dusty umbrella range from aero racers to monster adventure rigs. So, with the best gravel bikes ever-more popular and diverse, choosing what to buy is getting harder.
We gave Jack Luke, Warren Rossiter and Liam Cahill a tricky task: choose one bike you could realistically buy and one that would require a lottery win.
Given each rider has a very different take on gravel, they gave us a suitably wide range of answers.
Warren Rossiter, senior technical editor
The bike I could afford: GT Grade Carbon X
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The Cervélo Áspero Apex XPLR 1 comes in at £3,100, featuring a Universal Derailleur Hanger and a simpler frame design compared to the higher-end Áspero 5. Its handling is superb and it boasts a sleek, eye-catching look.
But it isn’t the bike I’d buy.
That would be the GT Grade Carbon X. Priced at £3,000, it offers great value and an outstanding ride.
The unique frameset features 30mm of flex travel at the rear, paired with a RockShox Rudy fork up-front. It’s an impressive setup with plenty of potential for upgrades. An update to include UDH would be a welcome improvement.
But for now, it’s a sensible way to spend my money. No wonder it won our 2024 Gravel Bike of the Year title.
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If money were no object: Cannondale Topstone LAB71
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While my ultimate dream bike hasn't yet been built, I’m currently riding something that comes very close: a Cannondale Topstone LAB71.
It has been customised with a Cane Creek Invert fork, Easton bar and stem, a RockShox dropper post, Cannondale SL carbon wheels and Tufo Swampero Gravel tyres.
However, I’m planning an upgrade soon – switching the wheels out for a set of Zipp 303 XPLRs as soon as they return from a friend who’s testing them out.
One standout feature of my setup is the SRAM Apex AXS XPLR groupset. I've opted for this over the more premium RED XPLR for a practical reason: the rough and tumble nature of gravel riding.
Given the likelihood of scrapes, drops and exposure to dirt, I’m hesitant to equip the bike with a top-tier gravel groupset. The price of a replacement RED XPLR (non-UDH) rear derailleur sits at £644, whereas the Apex version costs a more reasonable £295. It’s still a significant amount, but it’s less painful than replacing a top-of-the-line component.
Looking ahead, I’d love to see the Topstone evolve with a UDH and increased tyre clearance beyond the current 45mm limit. Being able to accommodate at least 50mm gravel tyres would be a fantastic enhancement. I’ve also got my eye on the sleek aesthetics of the Parlee, but for now, my Topstone remains the bike to beat.
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Jack Luke, digital editor
The bike I could afford: Blackheart Gravel AL
My beloved Brown Bike – an 'all-road-ish' steel passion wagon with mudguard and luggage mounts aplenty – suits 70 per cent of my gentle typically gravel riding.
So, to fill that remaining 30 per cent gap, I’d be looking for something a bit more shred-friendly and sprightly.
Unwilling to give a simple answer to a simple question, my reality bike would likely comprise an adaptable and upgradeable frameset pieced together with my worryingly large stash of spare parts.
There are many solid options on the market, but the Blackheart Gravel AL is my current pick.
Its boutique alloy construction appeals, I like the unfussy integrated cable routing and I’d have a choice of Cerakote finishes to match my wavey garms.
If money were no object: Canyon Grail CFR Di2
I tested the now-not-so-new Canyon Grail in October 2023 and fell for its calm handling, clever integrated storage and excellent cockpit ergonomics.
I was so enamoured with the bike, I awarded it a chunky five-star score.
Decked out with the full suite of accessories, including the neat aero cockpit and fun frame bag – and a slicker set of tyres – the Grail could handle all of the go-fast riding I do, on and off-road.
If I was being fussy (this is my dream bike after all), I’d swap the derailleur hanger for a cool Wheels MFG UDH to direct-mount hanger, upgrade the crankset to a power-meter equipped option and switch the tyres to taste.
However, even with its stock setup, the Grail CFR Di2 is a tremendously good bike.
Liam Cahill, BikeRadar video presenter
The bike I could afford: used Specialized Crux Pro
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I’m not made of money, but what I lack in cold, hard cash, I can make up for with Facebook Marketplace scouring abilities.
It is with these skills that I would acquire a used Specialized Crux Pro, like the one I reviewed, loved and eventually bought.
The Crux Pro is a peach of a bike. From a performance standpoint, you get an ultra-low weight, along with plenty of stiffness and ample tyre clearance.
In terms of value, the Pro model benefits from a carbon bar, seatpost and Roval’s Terra CL wheels. I’m also going to use this for commuting duties and some cyclocross races, which means even more value from my second-hand steal.
Then again, this additional riding will likely require at least one extra set of wheels and tyres to suit the terrain – and a set of SKS Speedrocker mudguards to keep me dry in the winter.
In time, I would look to convert the groupset from SRAM to a Shimano Ultegra / GRX Di2 mix. A double chainring setup suits me better and I still prefer the hood ergonomics.
As ever with my Facebook finds, the budget quickly gets forgotten.
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If money were no object: Factor Ostro Gravel
Frankly, I have no need for an aero gravel race bike, but after seeing the Team Amani bikes at The Traka, I really want one.
I’d start with the frameset to allow for a respray with a similar safari-inspired design, then build it up with a Shimano Dura-Ace / GRX Di2 groupset.
A Power2Max NG power meter would provide data, while the wheels would come from Zipp. Their latest 303 XPLR hoops look brilliant, with such a wide internal rim profile.
I’d fit the wheels with a set of WTB Vulpine S 45mm tyres. Hopefully, the whole package would be really speedy, although it’s wholly unsuitable for the majority of gravel riding near me.
