In the articles in our gravel special, you can read about the latest gravel bike test results - we have analysed and tested a total of twelve gravel bikes in various price categories - from affordable to high-end - in the lab and in practice. From universal bikepacking bikes to sporty, fast off-road speedsters.
Why a gravel bike at all?
The success of the gravel bike is primarily due to the fact that it overcomes boundaries and blurs dividing lines. It does not define, it creates freedom. Of course, ambitious road cyclists may miss the lightness and aerodynamic refinement of their competition road bike, while mountain bikers may miss the full suspension travel for drops and downhills. Touring cyclists may not find enough space for their holiday luggage. But let's be honest: how often do we use the highly refined features of the specialists in our everyday cycling lives? Wouldn't we - literally - often ride better with a bike that allows a lot and excludes hardly anything? With the uncomplicated sports, holiday and leisure buddy called a gravel bike?
Which gravel bike would you like?
Four articles in our gravel special deal with the selection of the right gravel bike and offer assistance with the purchase decision by testing different gravel bikes:
Anyone looking for a new bike is also faced with the question of which components the bike should be equipped with. In our group comparison, we explain the gravel drivetrains from SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo.
Comfort on the gravel bike
How can gravel bikes become even more comfortable? New concepts adapted to gravel bikes promise more off-road capability with increasing comfort. Of course, the TOUR editorial team didn't miss out on this and, together with its sister magazines BIKE and MYBIKE to find out what the various concepts such as gravel bike suspension forks, suspension stems and wide tyres have to offer. You can read the test results in this article:
Special off-road challenges
If you are looking for extreme challenges for yourself and your gravel bike, the nine toughest gravel events in the world be inspired.
Of course, it doesn't have to be quite so extreme. To give people the opportunity to get their first taste of long-distance running, Raphael Albrecht has organised the Orbit360 series was launched. On 18 circuits in Germany or six tours in Switzerland, you can slowly feel your way around. The main focus is on fun and the challenge.
TOUR online editor Sandra Schuberth gives an overview of the small insight into an 800 kilometre gravel bikepacking event with 15,000 metres of elevation gain and gravel in every shape and form. She took part in the Seven Serpents and won the AR 35 Cadex Gravel wheelset subjected to a load test subjected.
What to take on a gravel bike tour?
There are things such as water, an air pump, tools and snacks that no bike tour should be without. Depending on the length of the tour, weather conditions and temperatures, sometimes more and sometimes less equipment is needed, which has to be stowed somehow on the bike. There are various bags and systems for this. We present the lightweight bag setup from Cyclite before.
The contents of the Gravel Special at a glance
- Trinity in a hurry: Which gravel bike is best?
- Top league: 4 top-of-the-range gravel bikes on test
- 4 gravel bikes from 3099 euros on test: How good is the mid-range?
- 4 aluminium gravel bikes from 1699 euros on test
- Gravel bike gears: SRAM, Shimano & Campagnolo in comparison
- Gravel bike comfort: How much sense do suspension forks and wide tyres make?
- The 9 toughest gravel events in the world
- Orbit360: 24 gravel boards in Germany - and now in Switzerland
- Cadex AR 35 - Load test at the Seven Serpents gravel bikepacking race
- Gravel tour equipment: what you need on your packing list
- Bikepacking bags from Cyclite
- Worldwide UCI Gravel Series published
- Seven race gravel bikes on test
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
