T3 recommends...
Our choice of the finest two-wheelers your hard-earned cash can buy
Gravel bikes are ‘cycling’s current big thing’, as almost every brand on the planet has launched one. Raising the question, what is the best gravel bike?
Although it might not have the same credentials as other big-name brands, the Arkose X is one of the best gravel bikes we’ve ever ridden. Fast, fun and confidenceinspiring, it’s a do-it-all rig that feels as at home on the road as it is off it. Moreover, the high-spec componentry and pocket-friendly price make it one of the best pound-for-pound adventure bike options. Just check out those iconic flared bars.
MONEY WELL SPENT
£2,249, evanscycles.com
As their biggest strength is their sheer versatility, you won’t be surprised to hear they come with many strengths. Some provide flawlessly engineered performance on both trails and the tarmac. Others offer a best-of-both-worlds bike for those on a budget. Still more can be used as rough-and-ready commuting bikes with fat tyres to bulldoze through potholes. And a handful more offer electric motors to power you up hills and tracks without breaking a sweat.
NEXT STOP: ANYWHERE
The Vello Gravel is a versatile and fully foldable two-wheeler that sounds like it has limited appeal – until you ride it. Out on the road, it’s comfortable and feels very nicely engineered. It’s handy for commuting, thanks to fatter tyres and some basic suspension that delivers a quality ride on all surfaces. And, as the name suggests, you can also take it pretty much anywhere on your travels, both on and off-road.
€2,290, vello.bike
QUALITY ON WHEELS
This is a brilliant out-of-the-box solution. Being a Ribble, the design and build is everything you’d expect from this premium brand, while still keeping the price competitive. The frame is a Toray T1000/T800 Carbon Monocoque, and the high-quality components continue with SRAM Rival HRD 1x11 speed groupset and Mavic Allroad Disc 650b alloy wheels shod with Halo GXC Gravel 650bx47mm tyres.
£2,999, ribblecycles.co.uk
THE EVERYTHING BIKE
This is the perfect all-rounder e-bike. It would make an ideal commuting machine, with its super comfortable fat tyres and flexing seat post and handlebar top. It has plenty of power, so you don’t have to break into a sweat on climbs, no matter how hilly it might be. Sure, cheaper gravel ebikes are out there, but if you opt for a more affordable model, you’d be forever casting envious glances at the Grail:ON.
£4,799, canyon.com
KNOW YOUR INTENDED USE
Why do you want a gravel bike – is it for touring, racing, commuting or family riding? Knowing your intended use will help guide you towards buying the right style and material of gravel bike that best suits whatever your needs are.
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