£2.6K GRAVEL BIKES

We take three very different machines into the great outdoors to find out their strengths and weaknesses

- Warren Rossiter

GRAVEL BIKES HAVEN'T BEEN around for that long in the grand scheme of things. But in the decade since they arrived, they've certainly become more diverse, and there's now everything from superlight race bikes and aero-optimised designs through to bikes you could load up and cycle around the world on. Suspension, multiple wheel sizes, many tyre widths and a multitude of material options are on offer to today's gravel bike buyer. The three bikes we have on test this month help demonstrate the breadth of choice you have.

01 Southern steel

At South Downs-based Orro bikes, they build the bikes to order in the UK. You can buy direct from them online or through your local bike shop. The triple-butted steel of the Terra S is quality stuff not usually found on bikes at this price. The same high standards of quality are found in the bike's build: it mixes Shimano's GRX range with FSA finishing kit and topper forming wheels from Italy's Fulcrum. With versatility at its core, the Terra S represents a great mix of classic materials and modern design at a modest price and promises to be a good all-rounder.

02 Minnesotan monster

Surly's history is littered with genre busting designs. The brand was at the forefront of single speeds, brought classic touring bikes bang up to date and made haulage bikes cool. Even an e-cargo bike has been given the Surly treatment for 2023. The Grappler, a very unusual gravel bike, is another machine that tests its genre, bringing mountain bike sensibilities and radical geometry designed for monster-truck-like, go-anywhere abilities to the drop-bar world. The frame also incorporates enough fixtures and fittings to appease the most adventurous bikepackers.

03 Aero all roader