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How to choose the right gravel bike for you

Sorting through the many options on bikes designed for rough routes

choose gravel bike

This story is supported by Trek Bicycle.

How do you find the right gravel bike? That’s a big question because there is so much variety within the gravel bike category. I find it helpful to look at it as a gravel bike spectrum. On one end of the spectrum is a bike designed for racing rough routes. At the other is a bike made for exploring. I’m going to look at the features of these two types of gravel bikes. Then, I’ll discuss how some of these racing versus exploring distinctions get a little blurry. All this will all help you choose the right gravel bike for the riding you’re going to do.

Frame and geometry

Gravel race bike

Let’s start with a gravel bike’s frame and geometry. As an example, take the Trek Checkmate. It is made with one of the company’s highest grades of carbon fibre, which makes the bike light and stiff. The tube shapes are optimized to cut through the wind. So, right away, you see similarities with high-end road bikes with the aerodynamics and low weight. The riding position this bike puts you in is aggressive: low so you can be as strong and efficient with your pedal strokes as possible. Also, the handling is fast and responsive.

Gravel adventure bike

The Trek Checkpoint is a gravel bike focused on exploring, so its geometry puts you a little more upright. That will keep you more comfortable on long hauls. Its stem is 20-mm shorter than that of the Checkmate (both bikes are size medium) so you don’t have to stretch out as far. A carbon-fibre adventure bike such as this one has slightly longer chainstays and wheelbase giving you a more planted and stable ride. The tubes don’t have aerodynamics as a priority, but that opens it up to other features that I’ll tell you about in a bit.

Tire clearance

Gravel race bike

An important consideration with any gravel bike is tire clearance. The fork and the frame will dictate the maximum size of tire you can run. Actually, even the drivetrain can play a role. If a bike has a front derailleur, it can affect how much clearance you have for your rear tread. The Checkmate has clearance for 45-mm-wide tires. That’s good for terrain that isn’t really, really chunky. Up until, say, 2024, I would have said that 45 mm is probably pretty good for most riders prioritizing speed. However, this past season, pros have been running crazy wide rubber—more than 50 mm. But despite those gee-whiz setups, 45-mm tire clearance provides you with a lot of options for covering ground quickly.

Trek Checkmate SLR 9 AXS
Trek Checkmate SLR has clearance for 45-mm tires. This one is nominally 40 mm but actually closer to 41.5. Image: Matt Stetson

Gravel adventure bike

The Checkmate adventure gravel bike has clearance for 50-mm-wide tires. That’s what you want for really rough surfaces. More rubber means better traction and control. It will also add to your comfort. Both of these gravel bikes have 700c diameter wheels. There are other bikes that are designed to take smaller 650b wheels that can allow you to run wider treads while keeping the rigs’ handling characteristics roughly the same. These bikes often have flip-chips that tweak geometry for the change in wheel size. You may find that on certain models that aren’t officially 650b compatible, you can move between wheel sizes, but handling is likely to change noticeably.

Remember with tire clearance, even if your treads have the right specs, check that they fit within the frame and fork properly, and that there is enough clearance for mud if you are taking on soggy routes.

Gearing

Gravel race bike

This Checkmate has the latest gravel gearing. It has a 13-speed cassette with a 10-46 tooth range of cogs. The smooth, more progressive jumps between cogs is what you want to keep your pedal stroke smooth and consistent during a race.

SRAM Red XPLR AXS
The SRAM Red XPLR AXS cassette’s cogs are 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 38 and 46. Image: Matt Stetson

Gravel adventure bike

The Checkpoint has standard gravel gearing. The 12-speed cassette has a good range with slightly bigger jumps between cogs. Those jumps aren’t such a concern when you are exploring routes with highly variable terrain. When you are exploring, especially in steep, loose stuff, you want to make sure you have the range of gears you need.

Storage

Gravel adventure bike

If you are heading out on a multi-day trip, you’re going to need plenty of storage. The Checkpoint has a whole bunch of mounts so you can run various bags and cages. There are even bolt holes on the fork blades. The handlebars are wide, which not only helps you with control on descents, but gives you a bit of room for a handlebar bag. The bike even has built-in frame storage in the down tube.

Gravel race bike

Storage is also a consideration if you are racing, especially if you’re looking to take on a 200-mile event. This gravel race bike can run a top-tube bag for quick access to snacks. There’s space for a triangle frame bag and mounts for bottle cages, including one near the bottom bracket. The fork, however, has no bolt holes. You’d only be able to fit a small handlebar bag at the front, but handlebar bags aren’t aero in the least.

Trek Adventure bags compatibility
Trek Adventure bags compatibility

If you are a rider who fits a small or extra small frame, you need to look closely at what you can attach within any gravel frame. For example, neither of these frames in extra small or small can fit a full frame bag officially—only the triangle bag. These bikes are medium. I actually need side-load cages for some bottle and bag configurations. Large and extra large frames have tons of space for frame bags and big water bottles.

Gravel bike accessories and versatility

Because a race bike is such a purpose-built machine, it tends not to lend itself to heavy modifications. On the Checkmate, you can’t put in a suspension fork. The seatpost has a proprietary shape so you can’t install a dropper post. You could swap out the integrated handlebar and stem, but if that’s your plan, I’d say this bike isn’t really for you. The bar/stem unit is part of a unified aero package. If that’s not a priority for you, then you probably want to look at a bike with standard parts that you can swap out more easily. With the Checkpoint, you can run a dropper post if you plan to go down some steep descents and want the saddle out of the way. If the terrain you’re facing is particularly bumpy, the adventure frame can take a 40-mm travel suspension fork. That may not seem like a lot when compared with a 100-mm cross country bike, but it adds heaps of control compared with a rigid fork.

Things can get blurry with gravel bike distinctions

So, let’s return to the question of what’s the right gravel bike for you? Simply, if you want to race, you should look for features that prioritize speed. If you want to explore, then a more versatile frame is what you are after. But, as I mentioned at the beginning, things on this spectrum of gravel bikes can get blurry. Can you add a seatbag to a race bike to carry enough gear for some light bikepacking? Sure. Can you race an adventure bike? Definitely. My advice is to think about where you will be riding your bike most of the time. Will you be riding twisty trails every weekend but might, maybe race Unbound one day? Well, get an adventure oriented bike. Are you more of a roadie who hits some rough stuff along your routes? Then look at the gravel race bike.

Your perfect gravel bike is out there. And I hope I’ve been able to help you on your search.