How to Choose a Gravel Bike: 2026 Guide

43 hours and six minutes. Two nights without sleep. Sixth at Badlands. Metheven Bond’s ride through Eastern Andalusia was an extraordinary effort, with his ULTRA-GRIT carrying him and everything he needed across 817km and 14,420 metres of climbing.

What happens when you are responsible for your own supplies, repairs and progress, the smallest setup decisions can become a significant part of your race.

For Metheven, preparing for Badlands meant considering how the whole bike would work over nearly two days of continuous riding. Speed mattered, but so did comfort, access to equipment and the confidence to keep moving as fatigue built.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.

The ULTRA-GRIT provides a starting point that combines gravel racing performance with practical features for longer adventures. Its aero frame profiles and internal cable routing sit alongside 50mm tyre clearance, internal down-tube storage and mounting points for carrying equipment.

Those features give riders scope to shape the bike around their plans. Tyre choice, riding position and the arrangement of luggage all influence how a bike feels once it is loaded and heading into demanding terrain.

At Badlands, those decisions have consequences throughout the ride. Equipment needs to be carried securely, frequently used items need to be accessible, and the position needs to remain manageable long after the opening hours.