{"id":2242502,"date":"2026-11-06T16:15:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T13:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2242502"},"modified":"2026-11-06T16:15:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T13:15:27","slug":"arguing-about-the-future-of-gravel-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2242502","title":{"rendered":"Arguing About the Future of Gravel Bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Velo-Podcast-thumbnail-Velo.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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Updated November 6, 2026 03:02PM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2019t be more different and compared them head to head.<\/p>\n

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This podcast is part of our 2027 Velo Field Test. All episodes are streaming now!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Episode 1: First impressions<\/li>\n
  • Episode 2: Head to head challenges<\/li>\n
  • Episode 3: The big ride<\/li>\n
  • Factor Sarana Review<\/li>\n
  • Pivot LES SL Review<\/li>\n
  • Obed GVR Review<\/li>\n
  • Giant Revolt Advanced SL Review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

    The 6 bikes on test<\/h2>\n
    (Photo: Will Tracy\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Giant Revolt Advanced SL<\/h3>\n
    \"Velo
    (Photo: Max Barron\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Watch the full review here<\/p>\n

    The all-rounder: race it or go adventuring.<\/p>\n

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

    $12,000<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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    Factor Sarana<\/h3>\n
    \"Velo
    (Photo: Max Barron\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Watch the full review here<\/p>\n

    The ultra endurance machine.<\/p>\n

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

    $8,499<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
    \n
    ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Argon 18 Anti Matter<\/h3>\n
    \"Velo
    (Photo: Max Barron\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The aero approach to gravel.<\/p>\n

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

    $12,999<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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    Obed GVR<\/h3>\n
    \"Velo
    (Photo: Max Barron\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Watch the full review here<\/p>\n

    The progressive race bike.<\/p>\n

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

    $9,075<\/span><\/div>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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    Pivot Les SL Drop Bar<\/h3>\n
    \"Velo
    (Photo: Max Barron\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Watch the full review here<\/p>\n

    The drop-bar mountain bike.<\/p>\n

    Specification<\/strong>: Pivot Les SL Drop Bar, SRAM GX Eagle Transmission 12-Speed
    Tire clearance, claimed<\/strong>: 29 x 2.4\u2033
    Weight (tested size)<\/strong>: 9.78kg\/21.56lbs (Medium)<\/p>\n

    $6,399<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
    \n
    ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n

    Salsa Fargo 32 Ti<\/h3>\n
    \"Velo
    (Photo: Max Barron\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The 32er. How much difference do big wheels make?<\/p>\n

    Specification<\/strong>: Salsa Fargo 32 Ti, \u00a0SRAM GX Eagle Transmission
    Tire clearance, claimed<\/strong>: 60mm
    Weight (tested size)<\/strong>: 9.48kg\/20.9lbs (Medium)<\/p>\n

    $3,500 (frameset)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

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    ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    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\u2019re all together under one roof! Watch the three episodes and learn more about each bike in our individual reviews.<\/p>\n

    Thank you to our sponsors!<\/h2>\n

    Velo Field Test wouldn\u2019t 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!<\/p>\n

    <\/figure>\n

    The team that made Velo Field Test possible<\/h2>\n

    A special thank you to the crew who made this Velo Field Test a reality!<\/p>\n

    Filmer Logan Patrick Nelson directing the team. (Photo: Will Tracy\/Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    • Video team<\/b>: Logan Patrick Nelson, Max Barron, Stefan Licko<\/li>\n
    • Video editor<\/b>: Stefan Licko<\/li>\n
    • Bike shop support<\/b>: Bici<\/li>\n
    • Lunch wranglin\u2019, Kei truck driving and chauffeuring<\/b>: Will Tracy, Brian Park<\/li>\n
    • Testers<\/b>: Josh Ross, Logan Jones-Wilkins<\/li>\n
    • Host<\/b>: Mike Levy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
      ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Chapters<\/h2>\n
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      • 00:00 Intro<\/li>\n
      • 01:25 The Bikes<\/li>\n
      • 03:00 Was This Actually Gravel Riding?<\/li>\n
      • 08:30 The Importance of Back to Back Testing<\/li>\n
      • 13:48 Are 32-Inch Wheels the Future of Gravel?<\/li>\n
      • 21:16 What Kind of Gravel Riding Do You Like?<\/li>\n
      • 31:04 Biggest Surprise of the Test?<\/li>\n
      • 37:05 How would you change the pivot gravel bike?<\/li>\n
      • 40:35 Don\u2019t Let the Brand Tell You What the Bike Is<\/li>\n
      • 43:48 Did We Figure Out the Future of Gravel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
        \n
        Updated November 6, 2026 03:02PM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        [analyse_source url=”https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/arguing-future-gravel-bikes-velo-podcast\/”]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        [analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Velo-Podcast-thumbnail-Velo.jpg”] Updated November 6, 2026 03:02PM 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\u2019t be more different and compared them head to head. This podcast is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2242502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2242502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242502\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2242502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2242502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2242502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}