Gravel bike equipment trends - gravel bike buying tips

Gravel riding is a popular and still growing category of cycling. And while gravel wheels are common and widespread, device trends at the top of the sport cause a revolution of a revolution in gravel devices.

It is not yet known whether this trend is a fad that will quickly flames, e.g.

But it is a radical change in gravel equipment that I advise most drivers who are currently shopping for a gravel wheel – especially for the race – to see where this evolutionary cycle leads us.

Not too long ago, 40 to 42 mm seemed to be the preferred tire width for gravel riding and racing. But last year (ISH) that had risen completely.

The latest trend, which dominates the competitive advantage of gravel racing, is the use of mountain bike-tire-in-front cross-country mountain bike racing tires with widths between 2.10 and 2.4 inches (53 to 61 mm).

This leads to a massive shock and rendering of new gravel racers that are out of date. Because if your gravel bike does not absorb at least 53 mm tires, what most of the gravel racing bikes cannot-you will be overlooked the performance credit for this potentially changing shift.

Payson Mcelveen is one of the more visible gravel racing drivers who use large mountain bike tires. I turned to him to ask what prompted him to pull too big tires. Mcelveen said he started driving on mountain tires after watching one of his competitors.

“Cole Paton made the jump and decided to operate MTB tires at Big Sugar in autumn 2023. This is a big Boy Power course. It is a small type of climbing. The rest of us in the front group was on gravel tires. He murdered us all day. It was all we could do to capture most of the time in his design. “

Soon afterwards, Mcelveen began to test tires with his bike sponsor Allied: “The results were breathtaking and it quickly became clear that the industry had everything wrong. MTB tires are better for all gravel riding and race. A lot. The end. “

But if you like to drive with the latest and greatest driving, just wait: the gravel bike market is about to be wild.

I followed Cole Paton to ask why he decided in 2023 mountain tires at Big Sugar. He said to me: “It made me a lot of sense on a course like Big Sugar. When I came from a mountain bike background, I hated the feeling of asking for me without having the grip and constantly piercing on sharp rocks. I studied the course and assumed that there was enough corners to compensate for the weight and the aero penalty with only the additional handle of large tires. “

Like most drivers, Mcelveen and Paton saw the unmistakable advantage of a larger mountain bike tire on the rockiest and roughest terrain. But what about the additional weight, the rolling resistance and the Aero penalty of the larger tires? Wouldn't that be a disadvantage of the smooth and faster sections of the course?

This is the most surprising and potentially revolutionary learning from gravel racing drivers who tested mountain bike tires: Mountain bike tires are faster almost everywhere.

Paton said: “When I tested it, I was overwhelmed. It rolled faster almost everywhere, even the smooth sections. “

In the meantime, Mcelveen led several back-to-back rounds on a smooth sidewalk as part of his tests to compare different tires from his sponsor Maxxis. He compared his time to the Aspen St. 57 mm (2.25 inches) and with the 45 mm reader file: “Your times were basically both up and down. This is a smooth sidewalk. Support! Insane, ”he called.

The advantages of the racing gravel on large tires spread quickly, and in 2024 more and more professionals were seen with the largest tires that they could fit in their frames.

But there is a problem: the most popular gravel racers are not designed for the mountain bike tires that McELveen and Paton had found so beneficial.

Canyons Grail Gravel Race Bike, which was introduced at the end of 2023, is only 42 -mm freedom of tire. Trek started its new Checkmate Gravel Race Bike in August 2024 with a maximum specified tire distance of 45 mm. Cannondale started its new Super X gravel racing driver with a maximization of 48 mm (afterwards, 51 mm on the fork) in February 2025. Devinci Only Started a new hatchet with a maximum release of only 45 mm.

The specified tire freedom of the Santa Cruz Stigmata is 50 mm, although Keegan Swenson occasionally plays with release and it seems, like 57 mm-maxxis-asp tires in his bike.

In the meantime, the core of the specialized gravel racing drivers has an release of 47 mm, but like Swenson some drivers look like they are running tires that are greater than officially recommended.

Matt Phillips

Trek Checkmate

Trevor Raab

Special crux DSW

In the case of produced and designed grails, checkmates and other gravel racers, appropriate tire freedom. However, the trend for mountain bike tires was faster than the gravel frame production cycle.

I wrote some of the above companies and I can tell them that they are aware of the trend and think about how to react.

Tires are relatively cheap, easy and easy to produce. Therefore, we should bring many gravel tires over 50 mm onto the market in the coming months.

However, some frame manufacturers I spoke to are concerned that this trend may be a fad. But if you don't do it, you risk being caught when the trend becomes mainstream.

I assume that you will see prototypes with massive tire freedom this year. However, it takes a long time for carbon wheels to exceed mass production. So even if it specializes. Trek, Cannondale, Canyon and the other big players can make frames for this trend (if not yet). You can't buy for a while.

One of the things that delay the introduction of gravel wheels that are adapted to new school tire widths is geometry. The tire size, especially if this large one, has a significant impact on negotiating a bicycle, so brands geo cannot simply copy/insert from its existing gravel bikes and add the clearance. You need to prototypes and test new geometries that have been developed for larger gravel tires. This is probably the most important reason why McELveen and Allied have built up so many prototypes of the new ones – at least seven, based on the Instagram post above.

If you want to buy a gravel racing bike today that is compatible with this state -of -the -art consideration over the size of the gravel tires, your options are limited.

Allied teases the new ones on his website.

The bike that I am most excited about is not yet completely available. Allied is about to start a production version of the mule, which Mcelveen drives for more than 57 -mm tires of 2.25 inches (2.25 inches). Allied has not publicly explained the release of the new, but I think it could take up to 61 mm, so it fits the 2.4-inch asp-gap.

I also know at least one more rapid gravel bike in June with approval for 2.25 mountain bike tires.

The Seigla's Seigla includes the available options. Although this bike has been on the market for years, it is only now when the tire freedom of 57 mm (2.25 inches) looks as foresight. You can order this bike with a run -up pension fork or a rigid fork, and the prices from are also extremely good. The complete bicycle prices start at 2,750 US dollars for a CO2 frame with wireless electronic shift.

Another option for great added value is the brand new All Road V2 Carbon Bike of the state. It fits up to 56 mm tires and also has a memory in the frame. The complete bicycle prices start at 2,299 US dollars.

Giant's Revolt-Paton Bike rates an approval of 53 mm (2.1 inches), which is better than most others, although this appears the mere end of acceptable release for the mountain tire trend.

Matt Phillips

My 3T Extrema Italia test bike with 2.25-inch mountain bike tire.

Matt Phillips

My Waheela C has set up on Race Grinduro.

3T Extrema Italia checks some convincing boxes. It not only has a run of 57 mm tires, but also an aerodynamic frame and manufactured in Italy. I have one of them to test and have just adapted it with a set of 2.25-inch Vittoria Terreno XC tires. I will use this setup to test the speed of mountain tires for gravel myself.

The Oso Waheela C, another bicycle that has been on the market for several years (and a personal favorite of mine), fits 53 mm tires and is also geometry corrected for a suspension fork.

If you want a little more boutique, Seven does the gravel 758, which offers a 58 -mm clearance. You can also get one quickly: Seven recently started its Rider Ready program, which promises a three-week turnaround. If you are ready to wait longer, almost unlimited custom options are available.

Another boutique titan option can be found in Mosaics GT-X-Serie-Bikes with 55 mm freedom of tire. In this matter, many custom -made framework builders would be ready to work with them to create a fast gravel wheel that fits large tires. However, an individual bike has an extended lead time and costs a lot more than the Seigla von Lauf, which is equipped with a reasonable 2,740 US dollar with SRAM Electronic Shifting.

There are also numerous drop bar mountain bikes with great release. These are ideal for adventure riding and bicycle packaging/documents, but in general there are generally no fast and powerful bicycles suitable for quick riding and races.

Another option is to Krocket an old 29er XC Hardtail mountain bike and build it with drop rods. Remember that mountain bikes were designed for flat bars and mountain bike speeds, so that the driving position and handling may not be ideal for gravel races.

If you are not interested in racing gravel on mountain tires, many bicycles are available. But if you like to drive with the latest and greatest driving, just wait: the gravel bike market is about to be wild.

Matt's journey to become a leading cycling sports journalist for his entire career started in 1995 and since then he has been there. You probably ride more bicycle systems than any other on the planet on the way. Before his time with Ride a bikeMatt worked as a service manager, mechanic and seller in bicycle shops. In Durango, Colorado, he likes to drive and test all types of motorcycles. So you are just as likely to see him on a road bike that is dressed in a ride in a ride on Tuesday evening -as they should dress it in a full face helmet and pads on an enduro engine. He doesn't run often, but he is a game for something; After street races, criteria, test competitions, dual slalom, downhill race, enduros, stage race, short track, time process and gran fondos. Next on his to-do list: a multi-day bicycle pack and an e-bike race.

Gravel bike equipment trends – gravel bike buying tips

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