We take three very different machines into the great outdoors to find out their strengths and weaknesses
Words Warren Rossiter Photography Russell Burton
The Bike Test
Need to know
The gravel-bike genre is pushing its boundaries all the time.
From speedy to rugged, there’s something for everyone
GRAVEL BIKES HAVEN’T BEEN around for that long in the grand scheme of things. But in the decade since they arrived, they’ve certainly become more diverse, and there’s now everything from superlight race bikes and aero-optimised designs through to bikes you could load up and cycle around the world on. Suspension, multiple wheel sizes, many tyre widths and a multitude of material options are on offer to today’s gravel bike buyer. The three bikes we have on test this month help demonstrate the breadth of choice you have.
01 Southern steel
At South Downs-based Orro bikes, they build the bikes to order in the UK. You can buy direct from them online or through your local bike shop. The triple-butted steel of the Terra S is quality stuff not usually found on bikes at this price. The same high standards of quality are found in the bike’s build: it mixes Shimano’s GRX range with FSA finishing kit and top-performing wheels from Italy’s Fulcrum. With versatility at its core, the Terra S represents a great mix of classic materials and modern design at a modest price and promises to be a good all-rounder.
02 Minnesotan monster
Surly’s history is littered with genre-busting designs. The brand was at the forefront of single speeds, brought classic touring bikes bang up to date and made haulage bikes cool. Even an e-cargo bike has been given the Surly treatment for 2023. The Grappler, a very unusual gravel bike, is another machine that tests its genre, bringing mountain bike sensibilities and radical geometry designed for monster-truck-like, go-anywhere abilities to the drop-bar world. The frame also incorporates enough fixtures and fittings to appease the most adventurous bikepackers.
03 Aero all roader
Scott’s Addict Gravel brings the cutting-edge aerodynamic design of the pro-tour-proven Addict RC and splices it with big tyre clearance for a bike that’s designed to get you off road but keep your road-bike speed intact. With its superbike looks and value-packed build, the Addict Gravel 30 brings race-ready, rough-riding abilities to a level not seen before. In short, it’s a stripped-down speedster for stripped-down surfaces.
04 How we tested
This month, senior tech ed Warren headed into Wiltshire’s Salisbury plain on a trio of 50-mile routes that took in everything from wide gravel roads to twisting forest
