Gravel riding has evolved from a niche oddity to one of cycling’s fastest-growing disciplines.
Every mainstream brand has a gravel bike in its line-up and the increasing diversification of the category means there’s more choice for riders than ever before.
For many, a gravel bike is an all-terrain adventure machine that enables you to get off the beaten track, away from busy roads and to explore new horizons. Blending the efficient ride of a road bike with off-road capability makes the do-it-all gravel bike a one-bike solution for many riders.
For others, gravel bikes are cutting-edge race machines that are as highly optimised as WorldTour road bikes. Aero-optimised tech and back-achingly low positions are now commonplace at the pointy end of racing – a far cry from the humble ‘ride what ya brung’ nature of early gravel racing.
The rise of gravel has changed direction more than the face of wider cycling tech, however.
Gravel riding has helped to develop new communities and open up cycling to a more diverse mix of people than ever before.
The number of gravel events has also exploded. From serious races with six-figure prize pots that attract former and current pros, to more relaxed events that celebrate the ‘party pace’ over ‘race pace’, there’s something for all tastes.
Few have embraced this new horizon for cycling as keenly as BikeRadar’s team of die-hard gravel nerds.
From coverage of the scene’s biggest events to reviewing off-road, drop-bar bikes before the category was even born, we’ve been covering gravel since its nascent days. This week, we’ll be celebrating all things gravel.
Bringing you industry-leading buyer’s guides with the latest recommendations from BikeRadar’s test team, alongside features, opinions and explainers, Gravel Week will cover the best of gravel tech and culture.
Along the way, we’ll be charting the evolution of the gravel bike, exploring how gravel has influenced the latest road bike designs and delving into the burgeoning race scene.
Head to BikeRadar’s Gravel Week hub for the latest gravel-tastic content or subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest tech news straight to your inbox.
