Stress Testing 6 Completely Different Gravel Bikes to Find the Future of Gravel

Key Points:

• Velo's 2027 Gravel Bike Field Test explores the future of gravel bikes by comparing six progressive models across varied terrains in Squamish, B.C., including gravel roads, dirt trails, and technical singletrack.
• The test features three challenges—climbing, descending, and efficiency—each undertaken by a different rider with distinct riding styles to evaluate bike performance under diverse gravel conditions.
• The six bikes tested range from all-rounders and ultra-endurance machines to aero gravel bikes and drop-bar mountain bikes, with tire clearances from 53mm to 60mm and weights between 7.85kg and 9.78kg.
• The riders, with backgrounds in mountain biking, long-distance gravel riding, and gravel racing, provide varied perspectives on the bikes’ capabilities, highlighting the evolving and multifaceted nature of gravel cycling.
• Testing used standardized tires and wheels to isolate bike performance, and future episodes will continue to analyze these bikes on longer rides to further assess which designs best represent the future of gravel biking.