The Best Gravel Bikes
Race, Train & Explore
As the byways began to hit their springtime prime, we loaded up four of our best gravel bikes to put them to the test in our off-road oasis.
Each rig offers a unique experience. Read on to see what makes each one shine.
ENVE MOG
Dream BIG
What kind of gravel interests you? If your reply is “All,” then the MOG is your rig. ENVE’s first off-road bike is perhaps best described by one of its many acronym definitions. Quite simply, it’s a Master Of Gravel.
How MOG, MOGs
ENVE focused on balanced performance geometry to give MOG the swiftness to blitz the fields at race pace and the stance to mash XC terrain with panache. You’ll also benefit from the Chassis Concept and fine tune MOG’s components for your fit.
When you decide to wind down and find a slow road, MOG’s generous helping of frame mounts and clearance for 700c x 50mm tires lets you pack for the adventure.
Cervélo Áspero-5
Gas, Gas, Gas
If speed and responsiveness top your list of required traits in your gravel bike, the Áspero-5 is the obvious choice to make. Cervélo’s top-tier gravel racer rides like it’s in a crit and brings an excitement that’s hard to replicate in our other test bikes. It rockets over long stretches, darts around tech, and noshes on smooth singletrack, all while being shockingly comfortable on long triple-digit grinds.
It’s Fast, But There’s More To It
Internally routed cables, visibly slight yet effective aero tube shapes, and racing geo give you the edge in competition. But dial back just a click and you’ll unlock a sporty weekend getaway rig as well. Cervélo’s Trail Mixer on the fork adjusts for 700c to 650b wheels to fit up to 49mm of cush. Grab your overnight bag and make a break for it.
Ibis Hakka MX
An Amazing Ride
Hakka is here to have a good time, and from the moment you throw a leg over it, to when you finally park it for the night, it delivers a ride that hits all the right notes. It’s light, sporty, quick handling, traditionally aesthetic, and perhaps best of all … Hakka is a boon for the budget-minded.
Uncomplicated Versatility
Give Hakka a look over and you’ll find exposed cables, a non-proprietary bar/stem combo, and a relatively open frame design. It’s a tinker’s dream, and leaves options open for drivetrain and contact point mods to suit.
Straight frame tubing also makes adding pack bags a breeze, and a swap to 650b 2.1” tires will help you go wherever the wind takes you.
Pinarello Grevil F
Avant-Gravel
Grevil F tops Pinarello’s gravel lineup and wants nothing less than to top the podium as well. Complete with fully integrated routing, ONDA fork design, and asymmetric carbon layup, Grevil F pushes gravel style into the future.
Fast, In More Conditions
Comparing Grevil F to Áspero-5 is a given. Both focus geo towards road-racing positioning to prioritize speed, swiftness, and nimble handling over any surface. But we enjoyed Grevil F’s larger tire clearance (700c x 50mm) in the rougher gravel sections.
Straight frame tubing also makes adding pack bags a breeze, and a swap to 650b 2.1” tires will help you go wherever the wind takes you.