Gravel Bikes – The Ultimate All‑Road Adventure Machines
Gravel bikes sit neatly between road and mountain bikes, blending the efficiency of a road machine with the robustness needed for off‑road exploration. They feature drop bars, disc brakes, and wide tyre clearance, allowing riders to confidently tackle everything from smooth tarmac to country lanes, bridleways, and light trails.
What Makes a Gravel Bike Unique?
Geometry & Handling
More relaxed than a pure road bike, yet more responsive than a mountain bike—gravel bikes offer stability on rough descents while maintaining speed on smoother surfaces.
Tyre & Wheel Options
Typically fitted with 650b or 700c wheels and 30–50 mm tyres, which can even be used tubeless to improve ride comfort and reduce punctures.
Gearing & Groupsets
Often equipped with gravel-specific groupsets (e.g., Shimano GRX, Campagnolo Ekar, SRAM XPLR), featuring low gearing for steep climbs and rough trails.
Mounts & Versatility
Designed with multiple mounting points for bottles, racks, and bikepacking gear—perfect for touring, commuting, or long-distance adventures.
Adventure vs Race Gravel Bikes
Gravel bikes generally fall into two distinct categories, catering to different riding styles and terrains:
Adventure‑Ready Gravel Bikes
- Designed for long, slower rides and comfort over mixed terrain.
- Feature relaxed geometry for stability and endurance.
- Typically have aluminium or carbon frames with wider tyres.
- Examples: Cannondale Topstone, Scott Addict Gravel, Merida Silex.
- Ideal for touring, bikepacking, or exploring remote trails.
Race‑Ready Gravel Bikes
- Built for speed and competitive riding on mixed surfaces.
- Feature more aerodynamic carbon frames and often carbon wheels.
- Aggressive geometry optimised for power transfer and responsiveness.
- Examples: Cervelo Aspero, Cannondale SuperX, Merida Mission.
- Suitable for gravel races, fast training rides, or sportive events.
Gravel vs Hybrid Bikes
While both aim for mixed‑terrain use, hybrids typically have flat bars and more upright geometry—great for daily comfort and commuting. Gravel bikes, with their drop bars, offer varied hand positions and more efficient performance across diverse conditions.
Performance Compared to Road & Mountain Bikes
Gravel bikes strike a balance:
- Not as fast as pure road bikes on smooth tarmac.
- Not as specialised as mountain bikes on technical trails.
- But they excel across a wide range of environments—ideal for riders who want one bike that can handle commuting, weekend gravel grinding, winter training, and bikepacking.
How You Can Use a Gravel Bike
- Commutes with a twist – take the scenic route or detour onto gravel shortcuts.
- Touring & bikepacking – load it up with gear and head into the wild.
- Winter training – its ruggedness makes it ideal for wet and muddy conditions.
- All-day adventures – go far, explore new trails, and discover hidden routes.
From the likes of the Cannondale Topstone, SuperX, and Trek Checkpoint to the Cervelo Aspero, Cube Nuroad, Merida Silex and more, gravel bikes offer something for every type of rider.
You can shop Gravel Bikes at Wheelbase with 0% Finance and Pay Monthly Options, as well as using a Cycle To Work voucher.
Wheelbase has been shipping bikes out of the Lake District for over 20 years and are considered experts in online bike sales. Speak to our customer services team if you have any questions – they are always happy to help.
