Gravel bikes
Gravel greats
Five quality but very different bikes show the breadth of the gravel bike genre in 2022…
The bikes
Cube Nuroad C:62 Pro £2,499
Weight 9.19kg (M/56cm)
Frame C:62 carbon
Fork C:62 carbon
Gears Shimano GRX RX812 rear mech, RX600 chainset, RX400 shifters (40, 11-42)
Brakes Shimano GRX RX400 hydraulic disc
Wheels Fulcrum Rapid Red 900 disc
Finishing kit Schwalbe G-One Allround 40mm tyres, Cube Gravel Race bar, Newmen Evolution stem, Newmen Advanced carbon seatpost, Venec Natural Fit saddle
The Good
Great value; wide range of fittings; very versatile both on-road and off
The Bad
Overly stiff bar; may not be ‘gravel’ enough for some
Verdict
Perfect for long, non-technical days in the saddle
Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 0 £4,999
Weight 8.33kg (L)
Frame Advanced-Grade Composite, 12x142mm thruaxle, disc, Flip-Chip dropout
Fork Advanced SL-Grade Composite, full-composite OverDrive steerer, 12mm thru-axle, disc
Gears Shimano GRX RX-815 Di2, 2×11 (48/31, 11-34)
Wheels Giant CXR 1 Carbon Disc WheelSystem
Brakes Shimano GRX 810
Finishing kit Giant Contact SLR XR D-Fuse bar, Giant Contact stem, Giant D-Fuse SLR carbon post, Giant Approach SL saddle, Maxxis Receptor, 700x40c tubeless tyres
The Good
Stunning comfort; quicker, racier handling; GRX Di2 braking; lightweight wheels; versatility
The Bad
Tyres that aren’t suited to wet or muddy conditions; won’t be a radical enough change for some
Verdict
A fun, go-anywhere bike with supersharp handling
Cinelli Nemo £5,149
Weight 9.82kg (L/56cm)
Frame Columbus Spirit HSS steel
Fork Columbus carbon gravel
Gears Campagnolo Ekar 13x (40/9-42)
Brakes Ekar hydraulic disc
Wheels Fulcrum Racing Red 500 DB
Finishing kit Cinelli alloy seatpost and stem, Cinelli Swamp gravel bar, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 700x35c tyres, Selle San Marco Shortfit saddle
The Good
Beautifully built; ride quality to die for
The Bad
Conservative clearances; can be a handful on technical terrain
Verdict
A classy-looking, nimble and lively steel bike
Vielo V+1 Strato SRAM Rival £5,299
Weight 9.09kg (L)
Frame Carbon
Fork Carbon
Gears SRAM Force/Rival AXS XPLR (44/10-44)
Brakes SRAM Force hydro disc
Wheels DT Swiss GR1600
Finishing kit Vielo one-piece carbon bar/stem, Fabric Scoop Ti saddle, Vielo carbon post, WTB Riddler 700x45c tyres
The Good
Beautifully put together; wonderful handling; exemplary finish
The Bad
Slipping saddle clamp; bar caught my wrists when sprinting
Verdict
A great choice for gravel racing, this rivals the big brands
Cervélo Áspero Rival XPLR Etap AXS 1 disc £5,499
Weight 8.66kg (58cm)
Frame Carbon
Fork Carbon
Gears SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 40/10-44
Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic
Wheels Reserve 32mm rims
Finishing kit Panaracer GravelKing SK 700x38c tyres, Easton EC70AX carbon bar, Easton EA70 alloy stem, Prologo Dimension STN saddle, Smartpak 400A top-tube storage bag
The Good
Lightning fast; snappy handling; great off-road and on
The Bad
Needs to be converted to tubeless to get the best from it
Verdict
A speedy steed on road and less technical gravel
OUR GRAVEL FIVESOME range from £2,499 to £5,499 and have very differing interpretations of what earns you a place in this genre. They also feature groupsets from the three big names, showing that gravel-bike design and kit hasn’t coalesced entirely yet.
Our two least-expensive offerings both go for Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX groupset, with Cube plumping for a 1x setup while Giant’s Revolt features the only 2x chainset here. Giant backs this up with an impressive, largely Giant-branded spec including carbon wheels. Cinelli’s Nemo eschews carbon for classy Italian steel and a predominantly Italian spec based around Campagnolo’s 13-speed Ekar. Vielo’s V+1
Strato has a 1x-specific frame and our test model features 12-speed SRAM, though as with the Cube and Cinelli, it has alloy rims.
Cervélo’s racy Áspero is also based around SRAM, with a Rival groupset paired with carbon rims.
Hit the Nuroad
Cube’s C:62 Pro is the cheapest full-carbon Nuroad, with a lightweight frame and fork, sporty geometry and maximum practicality from its mudguard mounts, rear rack mounts, and low rider and kickstand fittings. Tyre clearances of 45mm, or 40mm with guards, will serve gravel riders well, though the Nuroad is influenced far more by road tourers.
The 71.5-degree head angle is more relaxed than a road bike’s, but the 73.5-degree seat angle is road-bike steep.
The excellent Venec saddle feels firm yet flexible 
You’ll get tyre clearance of 45mm, or 40mm with mudguards 
Add to that a long reach and chainstays.
On the road, it feels like a classic endurance bike with a neutral, stable feel that makes it easy to carve lines through corners on fast, open descents, and there’s no front-end twitchiness. Off-road, the long wheelbase and its steering geometry make it track straight, even when the going gets choppy, but it’s not a handful to correct if you get tramlined into a tractor rut.
The C:62 Pro’s inclusion in the gravel category in some ways does it a disservice.
Yes, it’s a capable off-roader, and I love that the riding position on the road side of all-road results in a bike that’s rapid on tarmac. The Schwalbe G-One tyres are ideal for this ride too. Their small block tread performs much better than it has any right to on soggy tracks, and on the road they’re some of the fastest gravel tyres I’ve tried. The Fulcrum wheels are built well and while at 1,950g a pair, they aren’t the lightest, at this price you’ll be hard pushed to find better quality.
Shimano’s GRX drivetrain really shines, with sharp, quick shifts. The 1:1 lightest gear will get you up the steepest climbs, while the 42/11 top gear is enough to keep pace with roadie friends. The short-nosed Venec saddle is superb; not over-padded but firmly flexible. Cube’s gravel bar is stiff and feels great on the road, but on rough dirt and rocky trails it transmits a lot of vibration.
The C:62’s ride is not as nimble as the Vielo V+1 or Cervélo’s Áspero as a fast gravel bike. Rather, it’s the perfect long-distance commuter, with the comfort and practicality of a classic tourer. It’s also a capable all-rounder that’ll cut it with your roadie riding companions and hold its own on unmetalled byways.
Theory of revolution
At the heart of Giant’s Revolt is a new frame and fork, albeit with the low-slung sloping top-tube seen on past editions for ease of movement on technical parcours. The ovalised seat tube, aero-style cutaway and dropped seatstays look like the Giant Defy.
It also retains a D-shaped post, though it can also accommodate a round dropper post. The new fork is lighter and provides clearance for tyres up to 53mm wide. At the rear, there’s a clever flip-chip dropout, so you can extend the wheelbase to accommodate a 53mm tyre here too; in its short standard setting, you get 42mm of clearance.
These changes help to make the Revolt pretty versatile. Unlike the current trend for more stripped-down, racier gravel bikes that started with Cervélo’s Áspero, Giant has stuck with giving you plenty of the fixtures and fittings that can also be useful for bikepacking.
The bike’s handling’s been sharpened thanks to changing the head angle to 71.5 degrees, while also dropping the bottombracket height in order to accommodate the trend towards larger tyres.
The drivetrain is Shimano’s GRX Di2.
Shifting is exact and precise, and the clutch-equipped rear derailleur keeps chain bounce in check. That said, I have reservations about wiring and gravel mixing, and losing connection through the rough and tumble.
This version of Giant’s Revolt has a new, more aero frame and lighter fork 
The Maxxis Receptor 700x40c tubeless tyres seem to prefer drier conditions 
The Revolt’s 2x gearing means it’s at home on the road or on gravel 
You can fit wider tyres to help you navigate rough terrain more easily
Though it’s the lightest here, the 8.33kg weight doesn’t sound impressive (compared to lightweight road bikes) but the Revolt rides like a much lighter bike. Much of that’s down to the new CXR wheelset, whose 1,398g weight is quality road-wheel territory, rather than toughened gravel hoops. They accelerate well, feel laterally stiff and the DT Swiss rear hub’s 54-point engagement delivers snappy acceleration when you put in a big effort. They come tubeless too, which is appreciated, though the Maxxis Receptor tyres are a mixed bag – good in the dry, poorer in the mud.
The front end feels sharper than past efforts. Maybe less stable but more exciting.
Where it’s improved markedly, however, is in its comfort. The D-Fuse handlebar and post smooth out creases in the terrain, while the Approach SL saddle offers longdistance support.
With the new Revolt, Giant takes all the great points of the original design, tweaks and modernises them, and shakes up the bike’s handling for a memorable drop-bar experience. It’s an impressive gravel bike.
Full metal jacket
Cinelli’s Nemo Gravel is handcrafted in Italy from Columbus’s top-end Spirit HSS steel. It’s triple-butted to reduce weight – the frame weighs 1,900g, the carbon fork 450g – while maintaining strength. It has mudguard mounts, twin bottle bosses, top tube ‘bento box’ mounts, flat-mount disc mounts and rear dropouts that beautifully incorporate the wings of Cinelli’s logo into their drilled-out design.
With a slammed 563mm stack and lengthy 387mm reach, plus 72.5-degree head and 73.5-degree seat angles, the Nemo is built to be quick. The fork comes with a 47mm offset, which results in a trail figure of 61mm. This puts the Nemo in gravel-bike territory, but with a bit of roadgoing endurance bike thrown in.
It’s dressed with Campagnolo’s gravelspecific 1×13 Ekar groupset. The 40t chainring and 9-42 cassette combo offers a road-and gravel-friendly range, and the mechanical set-up works well. It shifts crisply and reliably via an external cable running down the down-tube and along the chainstay; the rear hydraulic hose runs internally through the oversized steel down-tube. This makes the braking arguably more impressive, and the lever shape fits beautifully in your hand.
With its long reach and low stack, the Nemo’s built for speed 
Its gravelspecific 1×13 Ekar groupset works well on and off road 
The Fulcrum wheels are two-way fit, so they’re both clincher and tubeless-ready, with a 24mm-deep rim that has a gravelfriendly 23mm internal width. At 1,760g a pair, they’re not bad for an alloy wheelset, but you may expect something swankier on a bike at this price. They’re shod with Pirelli’s mildly treaded Cinturato Gravel M tyres in a modest 35c width.
The Cinelli’s contact points are good. The Swamp bar has a more subtle flare than most, which keeps the Campag hoods and levers in a more natural position, while its flattened tops are comfortable when you’re climbing or taking a breather. The wellpadded San Marco saddle is excellent, with a great shape and enough hull flex to take the sting out of bigger hits.
On the road, the chassis is stunning – exactly how a great steel bike should feel. At the same time, there’s a lively feel to how it responds to rougher terrain. The Nemo’s compliance and nimbleness give it a character you simply don’t find with most carbon gravel bikes. Its lively handling can, however, become a bit of a handful on truly technical trails. Still, if your pockets are deep enough for all this handcrafted Italian metallurgy, it could be the bike for you.
A family affair
Gateshead-based Vielo was formed in 2017 by father and son Ian and Trevor Hughes, whose vision was to craft highperformance bikes focused on what British riders need for fast-riding drop-bar bikes on and off road. Its V+1 is just such a bike, with the Generation 2 designed to bring uncompromised speed to gravel riding and racing, thanks to its 1x-only frame.
This 1x-specific construction allows for a symmetrical rear end and a bottom bracket shell claimed to be 30 per cent stiffer laterally than a 2x design, while the seatstays and chainstays have also been redesigned for extra compliance. Tyre clearances are impressive, with room for 50mm tyres with 700c or 650b wheels.
The V+1 sits squarely in the fast gravel camp. I love the way it responds, with the bottom bracket rigidity making it feel just like a road bike, while its ability to inject pace is wonderful. I was concerned that its road bike-like performance would mean a harsh ride, but with 45mm of rubber, you get plenty of comfort. Even when running tyres at 60psi, the V+1 felt smooth.
The Vielo’s gear range works superbly for onand off-road riding 
The Vielo’s WTB Riddler tyres were impressive in the mud
The result is a ride up there with some of my favourite fast gravel bikes, such as Cervélo’s Áspero. It’s extremely capable but Vielo hasn’t had to resort to relaxed pseudo-mountain bike angles. And though the geometry resembles that of a road bike, riding the V+1 is not a nervy experience off road – it’s a very clever piece of design.
The SRAM Force, Rival and Vielo drivetrain proved reliable and never put a foot wrong, with the Rival mech’s sprung clutch controlling the chain. The gear range from the 44t chainring and 10-44 cassette is fast becoming a favourite of mine and proved a boon on road and off.
Braking from the Force brakes and Paceline rotors is spot on – powerful, easy to control and low on squeaks even in the wet. The WTB tyres were also just what I wanted on muddy test rides, their textured tread and prominent shoulder blocks keeping me turning pedals where lesser tyres would have left me hiking.
Vielo’s V+1 may be a small-batch bike from north-east England, but I think the V+1 is a match for the gravel offerings from some of the biggest global brands. In some ways it even has the better of them, with an uncompromised frame design and a stunning ride. Yes, it’s expensive, and I’d prefer a bar with a bit more flare, but that’s a minor niggle on a bike that’s nearly perfect as a racy rough-stuff special.
A need for speed
Cervélo’s Áspero is a fast, light, fun and adrenaline-inducing bike. A 56cm frame weighs 1,100g and it has the same fork as its pricier Áspero 5 stablemate, complete with an adjustable dropout that flips fore and aft 5mm. This is to equalise the fork’s trail and keep the handling consistent whether running 700c or 650b wheels.
Cervélo’s take on gravel geometry works if on-and off-road speed is your thing.
The 73-degree seat angle makes the Áspero road-race-bike aggressive when you’re stomping on the pedals, while the 72-degree head angle is only a degree less than a road bike’s. The wheelbase isn’t as long as you find on most gravel machines, and the chainstays are pretty much roadbike standard.
SRAM’s Rival eTap AXS 1x groupset performs very well. The gravel-specific Reserve 32 carbon rims measure 24mm internally, which ideally shapes the Panaracer GravelKing tyres. The DT hubs are durable and, at around 1,600g a pair, these wheels are a definite plus.
I’m impressed by the way the Áspero gathers pace, and the stiffness of the chassis means this bike can handle road sprints with ease. It’s absolutely at home on fast fireroads, roughened descents and unmetalled roads. The Reserve wheels add to the responsive feel as they’re stiff without feeling harsh, and the supple GravelKings take the sting out of sharper edges. I’d go tubeless, though, to avoid snakebite punctures.
At 8.66kg, it’s reasonably light, which helps it zip up sharp inclines. Even though the bike feels stiff under pedalling, it feels pretty stable at speed, with the fork and the frame’s back end having just enough compliance to stop you getting bounced offline too soon, though it can’t quite match the composure of Giant’s Revolt, or the softness of bikes such as BMC’s URS LT or Cannondale’s Topstone Lefty.
The Áspero’s 40t chainring is smaller than on its rivals, but well-judged if you intend to ride predominantly off road. The 38mm tyres are very fast (for gravel) on the road, and their flexible sidewalls and tenacious grip in the dry inspire confidence, while the narrower width enables you to ride with more thought for lines and surface choice – the Áspero certainly isn’t a bike for bouldering down a rock-strewn trail.
The Áspero’s 72-degree head angle is just less than a road bike’s 
The Áspero sports SRAM’s Rival eTap AXS 1x groupset
The verdict
Our selection shows just how diverse Gravel bikes can be. The Cube NuRoad’s ride, fixtures and fittings point to a modern interpretation of a classic tourer. This is the bike to carry you to work in comfort, yet be ready for big weekend adventures. The Cinelli oozes class, and the steel ride and Italian style elevate it further. With the V+1, British 1x specialist Vielo has a fast gravel bike that’s road-bike rapid on tarmac and it’s a close match to the Cervélo Áspero when it comes to going fast.
The winner by a good margin, however, is Giant’s updated Revolt. It’s light, as nimble as the two fast rivals here, yet is much better at smoothing out the rough stuff. As it’s also cheaper than Cervélo, Cinelli and Vielo’s offerings, the Revolt Advanced Pro 0 definitely deserves to come out on top.