What does the future of gravel look like? That is the question Velo set out to answer at its 2027 Field Test, published November 6, 2026, where testers rode six radically different gravel bikes head to head — and the verdict, delivered on a special episode of the Velo Podcast, is that the sport’s direction remains an open argument.
The six bikes span nearly every philosophy in the category, from a pure all-rounder to a drop-bar mountain bike. Testers Josh Ross, Logan Jones-Wilkins, and host Mike Levy rode a first impressions loop, a series of head-to-head challenges, and finally a 100km ride over varied terrain up to Whistler, BC.
Six Bikes, Six Visions of Gravel
- Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0 (SRAM Red XPLR) — the all-rounder, to race or adventure on. Claimed tire clearance 53mm; tested weight 7.85kg/17.3lbs in size ML.
- Factor Sarana (SRAM Force XPLR) — the ultra endurance machine. Claimed clearance 56mm; 9.58kg/21.12lbs in Medium.
- Argon 18 Anti Matter (SRAM Red XPLR) — the aero approach to gravel. Claimed clearance 55mm; 8.5kg/18.74lbs in Medium.
- Obed GVR (SRAM Red XPLR) — the progressive race bike. Claimed clearance 56mm; 9.12kg/20.1lbs in Medium.
- Pivot Les SL Drop Bar (SRAM GX Eagle Transmission 12-speed) — the drop-bar mountain bike. Claimed clearance 29 x 2.4″; 9.78kg/21.56lbs in Medium.
- Salsa Fargo 32 Ti (SRAM GX Eagle Transmission) — the 32er, built around one question: how much difference do big wheels make? Claimed clearance 60mm; 9.48kg/20.9lbs in Medium.
Are 32-Inch Wheels the Future?
The podcast dedicates a full chapter to the Salsa Fargo 32 Ti’s oversized wheels, alongside segments asking whether the testing was actually gravel riding, what kind of gravel riding riders prefer, and the biggest surprise of the test. Another chapter carries a pointed warning: don’t let the brand tell you what the bike is.
Did They Figure It Out?
The final chapter poses the question directly — did the testers figure out the future of gravel? The full three-episode Field Test, with individual reviews of each bike, is streaming now. Support came from Endura (kits and helmets), Schwalbe (tires), and Easton (wheels), with filming by Logan Patrick Nelson, Max Barron, and Stefan Licko.
