Welcome to Velo’s Sea Otter Classic coverage, where we share our favorite things we’ve found at the 2026 show. Bikes, components, accessories, and more: if we think it’s cool, you’ll see it. See the rest of our Sea Otter coverage.
Sea Otter is in full swing with the largest cycling trade show up and running for the past few days.
It is hard to boil down all of the vendors and technology, but we have done our best to chop it up and break down the big gravel bikes that could be of interest for those paying attention from afar.
There are three major pathways to go down with gravel bike tech across the show. Generally speaking, there are: 32-inch gravel and drop bar mountain bikes; new bikes released this week; and the continuing incursion of quality Chinese bike options.
ADVERTISEMENT
The temptation here is to lead with the big wheel bikes that seem to be at a tipping point in gravel at the 2026 Sea Otter show. There is so much speculation around where the industry is going, what consumers should expect, and which brand might bring a significant bike to market first. There is so much, in fact, that we at Velo are still doing some shoe-leather reporting to find the right people who can explain the landscape and prognosticate what is to come.
That being said, few bikes were as intriguing as the Faction Bike Studio 32-inch gravel bike, and it has to lead the gravel bike round-up.
As I mentioned, we are digging deeper into 32-inch wheels, and there will be more on it soon, but for now, it is good to say that it is not a question of “if” 32-inch wheels come to gravel; it is how much and how soon the new standard will integrate into the gravel landscape.
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Nevertheless, it is not just really big wheels here in Monterey. Here are some other finds from around the traps and what is new to the market.
The Look G85 Cezal was released this week. It is a modern gravel bike that is progressive up front, with a slightly longer reach and tighter in the rear to provide a mix of stability and snappiness for the brand’s refined gravel rig. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)We reviewed the Allied Echo and while it is a road bike according to Allied, I believe it can fit in the gravel bike, or all-road category quite easily as well. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)This is the rear clearance of the bike with 42mm tires on moderate rims, to give a glimpse at just how dynamic this particular road bike is. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)Seka, a Chinese brand, seems to be following in XDS’s footsteps by bringing quality and interest in Chinese bikes in a manner we have yet to see in gravel before 2026. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)The BlackHeart Road Plus is an all-road bike from the small builder in Northern California. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)It comes in both titanium and aluminum options. Both have the same geometry and the same features. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)New offering from Wilier called the Rave. (Photo: Will Tracy/Velo)(Photo: Will Tracy/Velo)(Photo: Will Tracy/Velo)(Photo: Will Tracy/Velo)(Photo: Will Tracy/Velo)To bring it full circle, Stinner brought a 32-inch gravel bike to the show. This one is far from hitting the market, but it is still interesting to see Stinner take the opportunity to research and develop the bike almost in the open as the metal frame builder from Santa Barbara can build prototypes and make changes quicker than a carbon frame can. (Photo: Jim Barnett)(Photo: Jim Barnett)(Photo: Jim Barnett)
