Best Gravel Bikes for BEGINNERS in 2023!

Excellent overview, as always. Thank you for all the great info. I've got 10 year old Specialized Cruz, but am looking to get something newer and maybe a little lighter. This helped!

Could you compare Trek Checkpoint with Trek FX Sport?

I found the 2023 Felt Broam 30 quite a phenomenal bike

Please review the REI Co-op bicycles ADV 1.1. It looks to me like a nicely spec'd touring bike. I'd like to hear what you think.

So I have only ever got enjoy one bike store level bike I took over my step-dad's trek hybrid when I was in high school exploring the city until the bearings in the rims gave out. Fast forward 20 years I decided I wanted to buy a good gravel bike. My wife would have probably liked it if I watched this video first. I ended up buying a ritchey outback for my first good bike. I guess I can call it a midlife crisis 😂😂😂

Would Thru Axl (TA) be important to consider?

Maybe its because i'm from portugal, but 800$ isn't that cheap i guess

Canyon has a good selection, with lots of price ranges

This is so technical. Im just a woman who wants a gravel bike with flatbars to get on n go

Awesome list. When my friends ask me I basically say “get steel.” Could be any brand… I just always notice buddies sending me super racy carbon type gravel bikes that look “sick” and being like “is this good?” Bike nerds know steel is real but entry people often don’t… To each their own, but I think people get sucked into sexy race gravels and it can be so limiting once they decide they wanna do things like camping or town riding

Any idea what the weight on the drop bar preamble is?

What are your thoughts on the Marin Four Corners? As a former Salsa Fargo and Vaya fan, this feels like a balance between those two bikes. You rock!

Now how about top atb's bike like kona unit x, surly bridge club, ogre or krampus and omany many other, hope to see them all on your channel)

Here's a question (and possible new video idea) with all the talk of buying new bikes, is there a golden rule of thumb regarding how long I should keep my old one? Be it an aluminum, steel, carbon or other material frame, is there an anticipated lifespan where I should consider a new one, like 3, 5 or 10+ years? Or ride it til it breaks?

My Surly Grappler is a little more niche but I absolutely love it as an ATB/bikepacking bike.

I bought a Boardman hybrid (flat bar) 10 x 2 in 2017 to do some gravel type events on. £550, 1kg lighter than Specialized & Trek, much better equipped, have also toured/bikepacked.
Only thing is, most road bikers wouldn't be seen dead on a flat bar bike, let alone say hi when you pass by!

Russter!!! Super-useful! Thanks! Recently, I was the tour guide for a 22-yr-old nephew. We pedalled 150 km over 3 days, climbing 2,000 metres. He was on a rented gravel bike; loved it. If he shows any interest in buying a new bike — I’M READY FOR HIM! Thanks to your good work. {I’m on a 64 cm Straggler; tubeless tires w/ CushCore. 42x50 1x9 Box 3 drivetrain. DT shifter (singular). 200 mm front rotor. Let it roll!}

You def. da MAN! (I’m on South Van. Is.)

I'm an amateur bodybuilder weighing a muscular 5 ft 11 and 235 lbs. I love cycling and don't want a typical MTB, what gravel type bikes would be suggested for someone with strong legs in my size?

I had a 2020 Renegade S4. It was my first bike shop bike. I rode it until the components were shot. Definitely agree with the recommendation.

Think you'll test a Preble this year? Considering one myself.

The Canyon Grizl AL for $1200 with a GRX group set is a good one too.

Surprised the Poseidon Redwood Didn’t make the cut.

All good bikes overall can’t go wrong.

I hope you get your hands on a dropbar Surly Preamble soon for an in-depth review!

Great list here! I would have to add the Poseidon Redwood and their X. Two great bikes at even lower prices than those mentioned here.

Great choices - I’ve been watching this channel since day 1 .
I will say imo the best chill - upright ride - the Salsa Cutthroat.
It’s mtb geo meets 27.5 gravel tires .
You can go Fargo too but the Cutthroat is a cut above .

I have the opportunity to purchase a Bombtrack Beyond 2 within the same price range as a number of the bikes on the list, does anyone have experience with them?

Just bought my Kona Rove 2023 model early this year and man its the best purchase ive made for a chill ride kinda bike! cant wait to take it to long adventures in the summer ^^

Thank you. It would be great to see a review of women's specific gravel bike models; so hard to find anything for my gf.

I would also highly recommend the Norco Search XR A2. Aluminum Frame, Carbon Fork, GRX 2x10 all for $1650 incredible value

No Space Horse or Cosmic Stallion? ok...

why are you rushing..relax dude we trust you...

Devinci Hatchet

Russ,; to paraphrase Hamlet, "650B or 700C, that is the question."

Ive been following Path less pedaled for some tine now.

I love your channel, i have a question, though. What's wrong with fitess bikes? Like the specilized Sirrus. Im seeing similar geometry to the bikes labeled. Gravel. Swap knobbier tires... presto gravel bike. I dont see anyone talking about that. Fitness bikes like the sirrus comes in different trim levels but you can pick up the 2.0. That has hydraulics. For well, under 1000 bucks

So why isn't anyone talking about fitness bikes that are supposed to versatile.
And their potential in the gravel world?

The Renegade is an AWESOME bike and the steel has more clearance than the carbon.

Excellent summary. All those bikes sound like great options for less than exorbitant prices of more widely promoted bikes. Easy to forget how many solid options are out there

Should the Midnight Special not be on this list? Also please consider doing a video like this for Road + bikes. Thanks and Great Video!!

As someone who’s riding Kona‘s Rove (ST 1x SRAM Rival 1) for three years now, I can fully agree with your summary about it. Not super fast but a joy to ride.

A nice and reasonable overview, liked a lot of the bikes 🙏🏻

Wow. This goes in the reference section with the expensive dictionaries and encyclopedias. Extremely well researched. No beating around the bush. Very objective. Incisive. Lots of info per sq. Inch. Thanks.

I love my wolverine. Great do it all bike.

Just put thicker tyres on your already road bike you have and then there you have it "GRAVEL BIKE".....I've been riding one now for 20 years , there nothing new, just a sales ploy that's all...🙏

I have a Surly Midnight special and it's pretty fast and aggressive on the gravel

Totally agree on the Marin Nicasio Plus; such a fun bike to ride!

Can anyone explain what Trail means?

would you or do you change out the handlebars ? i run 40cm drop bars on my road bike, but the gravel bikes are showing 44cm for my size?

Great choices.... I would also add the Fairdale Weekender.

Vitus offer good value gravel bikes with decent spec and reviews - just waiting on delivery of mine here in Australia.

I own a Surly "Karate Monkey" and love the adventure. I watched your review of the Tumbleweed Prospector and am thinking it might be another possible addition to my quiver.
I love your channel, you, and your videos stoked for the future adventures😁😁😁.

CrossChecker over here 😎

Russ, would you consider throwing a ATB list together in a similar format? Some honorable mentions would be like the Kona Unit, Surly Krampus, Breezer thunder, etc etc. Keep up the great work

I turned my eyes to Wolverine thanks to your earlier review of this bike and right now I'm looking into building it with belt drive and Rohloff.