Gravel Bike Buying Guide

Gravel bikes have exploded in popularity over the last few years. There are now dozens of gravel bike events around the UK and a growing number of long distance cycling routes designed with gravel bikes in mind. In this gravel bike buying guide we’ll take you through the main things to consider when picking a gravel bike.

What’s the appeal of a gravel bike?

The main appeal of gravel bikes is versatility,. You can use them on normal roads but they’ll also work great on forest roads, old railway lines and farm tracks. So you can go for a ride off-road, avoiding cars and traffic, but link it with sections of tarmac as well. Of course you can do this on a mountain bike but a gravel bike will generally be faster and lighter. This also means you can cover some big distances when touring. A lot of gravel bike riders are road cyclists who want to get away from traffic.

As gravel bikes often get used for touring and bikepacking most will come with mounting points for bags. This luggage capacity combined with speed, and ability to handle mixed surfaces, means that gravel bikes are also extremely popular for commuting on.

Read our full gravel bike buying guide

Are Gravel Bikes Good for Commuting?

Gravel bikes are very popular for commuting. We sell lots of them on the cycle to work scheme. One of our biggest stores for gravel bike sales is our Greenwich shop in London. They're mainly selling them for commuting around central London on. We’re going to run you through the pros and cons of commuting on a gravel bike and answer the question ‘are gravel bikes good for commuting?’

The Pros of Commuting on a Gravel Bike

Gravel bikes are fast, nearly as quick as a standard road bike. They are certainly quicker on the road than most mountain bikes and many hybrids. That means you can get to work, and home, in the shortest time possible. But what makes gravel bikes so good for commuting is that they are extremely versatile. They can be ridden on tarmac, cycle paths, old railway lines, canal towpaths, and even off-road trails. So, it’s easy to mix it up on your commute and avoid traffic.

Another big advantage of commuting on a gravel bike is that they're generally more comfortable than road bikes. This is because they have wider tyres and longer wheelbases, which results in a smoother and more stable ride. So you don’t get bounced around as much on rough roads. Most gravel bikes have a fairly upright riding position which makes it easier to see what’s going on in traffic. The combination of stable handling and the comfortable riding position is a massive confidence boost for the rider, especially on wet roads.

Read more about the pros and cons of gravel bikes for commuting

Price Match at Cycles uk

We understand that price is important, so we regularly price-check our competitors to make sure we have the best offers available. We recognise that we will not always be the cheapest, so if you see the same product cheaper from any of our competitors then please get in touch via the form below and we will do our best to match any reasonable advertised price.

Cannondale are not keen on rules. Cannondale think outside the box and it has led to some of the most innovative bikes ever made. They were one of the pioneers of aluminium and carbon bike frames and were one of the first brand to introduce these materials into both professional racing and production bikes. Leading to their famous 'Legalize My Cannondale' ad campaigns after their innovations took their bikes below the official weight limit for pro racing.

Cannondale have led the development of technology in mountain bike suspension for years and have unique suspension designs, such as the Lefty, which only they use. Cannondale‘s commitment to innovation means they do things their own way. When you buy a Cannondale bike you will be getting something a little bit special and different from everyone else.

Cannondale have won awards for the 2020 CAAD13 and SuperSix Evo Road Bikes. Despite the alloy frame, the CAAD13 competes with a carbon road bike on every level but the price. SuperSix EVO is an evolution of Cannondale’s classic race machine. Adding more aero profiling, and a system integrated design to reduce drag.

Cycles UK is one of the leading Cannondale dealers in Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire and London. We stock a wide range of Cannondale road, mountain and electric bikes online and in our stores.

Frame - SuperSix EVO CX Carbon, internal cable routing w/ Switchplate, 12x142mm Speed Release thru-axle, PF30-83 Ai, flat mount disc, integrated seatpost binder

Fork - SuperSix EVO CX Carbon, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Speed Release thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 1-1/8" to 1-1/2", 55mm offset

Rims - DT Swiss G540 db, 28h, tubeless ready

Hubs - (F) Formula CL-712, 12x100mm centerlock / (R) Formula RXC-400, 12x142mm centerlock

Spokes - Stainless Steel, 14g

Tyres - Vittoria Terreno Dry TNT, 700 x 40c, tubeless ready

Pedals - Not included

Crank - Cannondale 1, PF83a w/ SpideRing, 46/30T

Bottom Bracket - Cannondale Alloy PressFit30

Chain - Shimano HG601, 11-speed

Rear Cogs - Shimano 105, 11-34, 11-speed

Front Derailleur - Shimano GRX 810, braze-on

Rear Derailleur - Shimano GRX 810, Shadow RD+

Shifters - Shimano GRX 600, 11-speed

Handlebar - Cannondale 2, 6061 Alloy, Compact

Grips - Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm

Stem - Cannondale 2, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7°

Headset - Integrated, 1-1/8" - 1-1/2"

Brakes - Shimano GRX 600 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT70 rotors

Brake Levers - Shimano GRX 600 hydraulic disc

Saddle - Prologo Dimension AGX, STN

Seatpost - HollowGram 27 SL KNØT, Carbon, 2 bolt clamp, 330mm, 0mm offset (46cm), 15mm offset (51-58cm)

Please note: Manufacturers can sometimes change the specification of the products from time to time.