Brand Comparison: Top 5 Gravel Bikes
By Jesse JarjourGravel bikes are one of the fastest growing segments in the bike industry. They are versatile machines that range from beefed up road bikes that can handle rough roads to essentially drop bar mountain bikes that are designed to tackle intense single track or multi-day offroad adventures.
What is a “gravel bike”? This is a tough question and much of the definition can come down to where one plans on riding and what “gravel” means to them. The gravel segment has come to encapsul a diverse collection of bikes, and with that a diverse philosophy of fit. This comparison represents the widest variety in fit versus all the other comparison we have published.
Fit Geometry Comparison:
Below is a graph consisting of the stack and reach of each model. While it doesn’t tell the full story of how each bike will fit, it does provide an apples to apples comparison of what the baseline fit geometry looks like. If you are unfamiliar with stack and reach or its influence on fit check out our post on Fit Geometry.
Key Takeaways:
Fit and Sizing on the Trek Checkpoint SL/SLR*
The Trek Checkpoint has adopted a newer, more modern approach to gravel geometry. By running more reach, a slacker head tube and then offsetting that reach with a shorter stem Trek has made the Checkpoint more stable on technical gravel. This is similar to trends we are seeing in modern day mountain biking, with the bikes moving to slacker front ends.
Fit and Sizing on the Canyon Grail*
The Canyon Grail comes in seven sizes from XXS to XXL and as usual has the smallest bike available with the comparison (XXS) and one of the largest, at least in terms of reach (XXL). In general the Grail is a lower bike than the other bikes in this comparison, and the larger sizes are also quite long compared to the other bikes. Being longer and lower helps the Grail excel as an all-road, fast gravel option and many of the characteristics of this bike will be closer to a road bike than a pure gravel bike like most of the other bikes on this comparison.
Fit and Sizing on the Giant Revolt
Giant’s Revolt comes in six sizes from XS to XL, and similar to the Trek Checkpoint has a very small variance in reach across the bikes (26mm total). Unlike the Checkpoint Giant has gone for a more traditional geometry more similar to that seen on endurance road bikes with less reach and more stack. Strangely the Revolt also has a surprisingly small variance in stack (the smallest measured across a full size run in our database with six or more sizes). This leaves the Revolt with a small window of people that it will fit well, especially those riders who are very small or large.
Fit and Sizing on the Specialized Diverge
The Specialized Diverge comes in seven sizes from 49cm to 64cm. On the large size the 64cm is one of the largest bikes in our entire database and is a go to for very tall riders who don’t want to go custom. On the smaller sizes however, it is also of the larger small bikes in our database so smaller riders, especially those looking for a more aggressive position may have trouble with this bike.
Jesse Jarjour
Jesse's cycling journey was destined to end in bike fitting after first being sold a bike that was two sizes too big. The resulting chronic discomfort and related injuries transformed into a passion for finding the right riding position. The improvement he experienced after his first professional bike fit inspired a career change from economics to bikes, fuelling a quest to help others unlock the joy of cycling.
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Gravel bikes are one of the fastest growing segments in the bike industry. They are versatile machines that range from beefed up road bikes that can handle rough roads to essentially drop bar mountain bikes that are designed to tackle intense single track or multi-day offroad adventures.
What is a “gravel bike”? This is a tough question and much of the definition can come down to where one plans on riding and what “gravel” means to them. The gravel segment has come to encapsul a diverse collection of bikes, and with that a diverse philosophy of fit. This comparison represents the widest variety in fit versus all the other comparison we have published.
Fit Geometry Comparison:
Below is a graph consisting of the stack and reach of each model. While it doesn’t tell the full story of how each bike will fit, it does provide an apples to apples comparison of what the baseline fit geometry looks like. If you are unfamiliar with stack and reach or its influence on fit check out our post on Fit Geometry.
Key Takeaways:
Fit and Sizing on the Trek Checkpoint SL/SLR*
The Trek Checkpoint has adopted a newer, more modern approach to gravel geometry. By running more reach, a slacker head tube and then offsetting that reach with a shorter stem Trek has made the Checkpoint more stable on technical gravel. This is similar to trends we are seeing in modern day mountain biking, with the bikes moving to slacker front ends.
Fit and Sizing on the Canyon Grail*
The Canyon Grail comes in seven sizes from XXS to XXL and as usual has the smallest bike available with the comparison (XXS) and one of the largest, at least in terms of reach (XXL). In general the Grail is a lower bike than the other bikes in this comparison, and the larger sizes are also quite long compared to the other bikes. Being longer and lower helps the Grail excel as an all-road, fast gravel option and many of the characteristics of this bike will be closer to a road bike than a pure gravel bike like most of the other bikes on this comparison.
Fit and Sizing on the Giant Revolt
Giant’s Revolt comes in six sizes from XS to XL, and similar to the Trek Checkpoint has a very small variance in reach across the bikes (26mm total). Unlike the Checkpoint Giant has gone for a more traditional geometry more similar to that seen on endurance road bikes with less reach and more stack. Strangely the Revolt also has a surprisingly small variance in stack (the smallest measured across a full size run in our database with six or more sizes). This leaves the Revolt with a small window of people that it will fit well, especially those riders who are very small or large.
Fit and Sizing on the Specialized Diverge
The Specialized Diverge comes in seven sizes from 49cm to 64cm. On the large size the 64cm is one of the largest bikes in our entire database and is a go to for very tall riders who don’t want to go custom. On the smaller sizes however, it is also of the larger small bikes in our database so smaller riders, especially those looking for a more aggressive position may have trouble with this bike.
Jesse Jarjour
Jesse's cycling journey was destined to end in bike fitting after first being sold a bike that was two sizes too big. The resulting chronic discomfort and related injuries transformed into a passion for finding the right riding position. The improvement he experienced after his first professional bike fit inspired a career change from economics to bikes, fuelling a quest to help others unlock the joy of cycling.
