Our Favourite Road & Gravel Bikes
Trek Domane AL
Best aluminum all-road bike
Why we like it: The Domane AL is a versatile performance road bike that’s an excellent value, ideal for riders starting their road cycling journey. The endurance geometry, generous tire clearance, and frame mounts mean the Domane AL excels on group rides, fast commutes, and adventurous gravel paths.
Highlights:
This speedy endurance road bike is built around a lightweight Alpha Aluminum frame with clearance for 38mm tires and mounts for a rack, fenders, or top tube bags. The efficient yet relaxed riding position encourages comfort on all-day rides and extended outings.
There’s an 8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes for reliable performance in all conditions. The included 700x32mm tires are suited for all-road riding across smooth pavement, city streets, and gravel roads. High-quality performance in an affordable package makes the Domane AL a great starting point for anyone looking to get into road riding.
Price: $1,499 - $2,629
Giant Defy
Best carbon endurance road bike
Why we like it: We’re not alone in thinking that the Giant Defy is one of the best endurance road bikes out there. It combines featherweight carbon with high-performance specs and all-day comfort, ideal for long rides and extended training sessions.
Highlights:
The Defy has received an update in 2025, improving on an already popular endurance model. The advanced-grade composite frame is engineered for endurance riding and reducing fatigue on long days in the saddle.
There are plenty of build options for the Defy so you can find your dream setup, each version sharing Giant’s D-Fuse components to absorb road vibrations and wider tires for enhanced comfort and handling.
There’s enough room for high-volume tires up to 38mm. From fast-paced races to group rides, the Giant Defy sets the standard for lightweight carbon endurance road bikes
Price range: $2,999 - 6,999
Trek Checkpoint
Adventure-ready gravel bike
Why we like it: Trek’s flagship gravel bike has proven its adventure capabilities time and time again. Both the aluminum and carbon versions of the Checkpoint empower riders to take on gravel roads, dirt paths, and light singletrack with ultimate confidence.
Highlights:
The Checkpoint’s long list of durable and rugged components ensures this all-road bike checks all the boxes. Riders can choose between aluminum and carbon frame options, even up to Trek’s highest-spec SL (Super Light) composite material. The carbon models feature the brand’s Isospeed decoupler which significantly boosts compliance around the seat tube junction.
The adventure-ready gravel bike is loaded with tons of frame mounts for bottles and bags, including clearance for high-volume tires up to 45mm wide. Different build kits have 2x gearing or 1x setups suited for rugged, off-road detours.
Price: $1,799 - 7,999
Giant Revolt
Fast-paced gravel bike
Why we like it: The Revolt delivers the speed and all-road capabilities you want in a gravel bike, spanning pro-level racing and entry-level builds. The “X” version even has a short-travel suspension fork to take on the roughest gravel routes out there!
Highlights:
The Revolt is available with advanced carbon or ALUXX aluminum frame options, each tuned to versatile gravel riding. Giant’s specially designed D-Fuse handlebar and seatpost work together to boost compliance without sacrificing stiffness.
There’s also a flip chip on the rear dropout that alters the wheelbase— the shorter setting provides quicker handling and acceleration while the longer has increased stability. The longer wheelbase means you can run ultra-wide gravel tires up to 53mm.
For extra rowdy gravel riders, the Giant Revolt X features a front suspension fork with 40mm of travel, allowing for smoother and faster rides on rugged gravel and dirt.
Price: $2,199 - $8,699
What we look for in road & gravel bikes
When we recommend road or gravel bikes to our customers and friends, we usually look for curtain features depending on the price point and intended riding style. Here are some of those things you can start thinking about.
- Intended use: We're big on using the bike you have for all the riding that makes sense, but there's something to be said for having the right tool for the job. Ask yourself how you see yourself riding most often. Are you busting out long loops on mostly paved surfaces? Would you rather be exploring less busy gravel roads? Do you want to race? Each bike has an intended use, so try to match that to the majority of the riding you'll be doing.
- Frame material: Aluminum or carbon, that's the question. Go with aluminum if you want something more affordable and more durable, but upgrade to carbon if you want lighter weight and better performance.
- Groupset: It's always important to check out the drivetrain and brakes on a bike. There are multiple tiers of both, and which groupset is on a bike can tell you how performance oriented it is. We advise a 2x drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes.
- Wheelset: Wheels are a huge part of what makes a road bike ride well, so don't overlook this area. If your budget allows for it, carbon rims are a great way to improve stiffness and save rotational weight.
- Tire clearance We're big fans of having plenty of tire clearance. It's especially important for gravel bikes, as the ability to run tires 40c and wider can make a big difference in the kinds of roads you can ride fast.
- Dual wheel compatibility: Some bikes are designed to be able to accommodate both 700c and 650b wheels, which effectively means you can have both a gravel bike and road bike in one.