Arguing About the Future of Gravel Bikes

Welcome to this special episode of the Velo Podcast from our 2027 Field Test, where we asked one very important question: What does the future of gravel look like? We took six bikes that couldn’t be more different and compared them head to head.

The 6 bikes on test

Giant Revolt Advanced SL

Watch the full review here

The all-rounder: race it or go adventuring.

Specification: Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0, SRAM Red XPLR
Tire clearance, claimed: 53mm
Weight (tested size): 7.85kg/17.3lbs (ML)

$12,000

Factor Sarana

Watch the full review here

The ultra endurance machine.

Specification: Factor Sarana, SRAM Force XPLR
Tire clearance, claimed: 56mm
Weight (tested size): 9.58kg/21.12lbs (Medium)

$8,499

Argon 18 Anti Matter

The aero approach to gravel.

Specification: Argon 18 Anti Matter + SRAM RED XPLR
Tire clearance, claimed: 55mm
Weight (tested size): 8.5kg/18.74lbs (Medium)

$12,999

Obed GVR

Watch the full review here

The progressive race bike.

Specification: Obed GVR, SRAM Red XPLR
Tire clearance, claimed: 56mm
Weight (tested size): 9.12kg/20.1lbs (Medium)

$9,075

 

Pivot Les SL Drop Bar

Watch the full review here

The drop-bar mountain bike.

Specification: Pivot Les SL Drop Bar, SRAM GX Eagle Transmission 12-Speed
Tire clearance, claimed: 29 x 2.4″
Weight (tested size): 9.78kg/21.56lbs (Medium)

$6,399

Salsa Fargo 32 Ti

The 32er. How much difference do big wheels make?

Specification: Salsa Fargo 32 Ti,  SRAM GX Eagle Transmission
Tire clearance, claimed: 60mm
Weight (tested size): 9.48kg/20.9lbs (Medium)

$3,500 (frameset)

We started our future of gravel exploration on a first impressions loop, then put the six bikes through a series of head to head challenges, and finally took them on a 100km ride with varied terrain up to Whistler, BC.

Now, Levy, Josh, and Logan have some thoughts about what they just experienced and where the future of gravel is headed. We break it all down on this special episode of the Velo Pod where we’re all together under one roof! Watch the three episodes and learn more about each bike in our individual reviews.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Velo Field Test wouldn’t happen without the support of these sponsors. A big thank you to Endura for providing kits and helmets, Schwalbe for tires, and Easton for wheels!

The team that made Velo Field Test possible

A special thank you to the crew who made this Velo Field Test a reality!

• Video team: Logan Patrick Nelson, Max Barron, Stefan Licko
• Video editor: Stefan Licko
• Bike shop support: Bici
• Lunch wranglin’, Kei truck driving and chauffeuring: Will Tracy, Brian Park
• Testers: Josh Ross, Logan Jones-Wilkins
• Host: Mike Levy

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:25 The Bikes
• 03:00 Was This Actually Gravel Riding?
• 08:30 The Importance of Back to Back Testing
• 13:48 Are 32-Inch Wheels the Future of Gravel?
• 21:16 What Kind of Gravel Riding Do You Like?
• 31:04 Biggest Surprise of the Test?
• 37:05 How would you change the pivot gravel bike?
• 40:35 Don’t Let the Brand Tell You What the Bike Is
• 43:48 Did We Figure Out the Future of Gravel?