The ultimate guide to gravel bikes – Trek bikes

From your first mile off tarmac to your five-hundredth, gravel riding ignites something inside us that’s hard to tap into anywhere else. Whether you’re pursuing quiet miles away from town, far-off scenic horizons filled with laughter and friends, a new physical challenge or something else entirely, we’ve got you covered with all the knowledge, bikes and gravel gear you need to explore what’s waiting for you down the road less travelled. 

Gravel riding is a versatile style of cycling that fits neatly between road and mountain biking. It takes you off the beaten track over miles of multi-surface, unsurfaced and rough roads. While it’s referred to as gravel riding, you’ll find that sturdy gravel steeds are eager to explore everything from dusty rail trails to steep and rocky fire roads – or even on wooded singletrack, if you dare.

What is a gravel bike anyway?

Gravel bikes are multi-surface bicycles built to explore the millions of miles of unsurfaced roads that roll on long after the tarmac ends. They find the balance between the off-road capability of a mountain bike and the quick-rolling, lightweight feel of a road bike, giving you every benefit you need to explore far beyond the tarmac.

Anatomy of a gravel bike

1. Comfortable upright
geometry

Gravel bikes often feature a more upright riding position to keep you confident and a slightly more open cockpit to help boost comfort on long rides.   

2. Tyre clearance 

Gravel bikes typically offer more clearance for higher-volume (38 – 50 mm) tyres that are knobbier than those found on road bikes to give you a boost of traction and comfort.

3. Mounts for 
bags and cages 

Gravel rides can take you far away from resources like water, bike shops and even mobile phone service, so many gravel bikes come with mounts for cages, racks and bags that let you load up with all the essentials you might need for the long-haul. Some even feature internal frame storage for stashing tools and gear!

Gravel bikes vs road bikes

Find out what sets them apart.

Types of gravel surfaces

All-road

A little bit of everything. Smooth tarmac, rough road surface, rugged cobbles and light gravel. Bikes for all-road riding should accept tyres from 32 to 38 mm wide.

Gravel

Roads and paths with mixed surfaces ranging from hard-packed dirt to deep, loose gravel and dusty, rocky terrain. Gravel riding is best done with tyres from 35 to 50 mm wide. 

Bikes made for the kind of gravel you’re chasing

Whatever the kind of gravel surface you ride or the goals you’re chasing, we've got you covered with gravel bikes for every kind of gravel riding and terrain.

Ready for the rougher stuff? Pure gravel riding involves minimal time on tarmac and maximum time on gravel, dirt roads and light singletrack. Bikes that are purpose-built for gravel prioritise stable geometry, tyre clearance, comfort and mounts for gear.

Checkpoint

Checkpoint is the ultimate drop bar gravel bike for big adventures, gravel racing and bikepacking.

– Up to 45 mm (2.1in) tyre clearance 
– Progressive geometry that balances quick handling with comfort
– Flared gravel handlebars for comfort on the long haul 
– Tons of mounts for bags and racks 

Shop Checkpoint Learn more

Checkmate SLR

The Checkmate SLR is a dedicated gravel race bike and the fastest and lightest gravel bike we’ve ever made.

– Up to 45 mm tyre clearance (as measured)
– Optimised Gravel Race geometry to keep you fast and tucked out of the wind while staying confident and in control
– Lightweight and aero flared one-piece bar/stem
– Frame mounts for race-optimised bottle and bag storage

Shop Checkmate SLR Explore Checkpoint SLR

All-road riding lets you choose your adventure. Bikes built for all-road offer a handful of benefits both from gravel and road bikes, like extra tyre clearance and a lightweight build that gives you versatility wherever you ride. 

Domane

The Domane is a drop-bar all-road bike built for mixed-surface rides that roll anywhere from ancient cobbles to crushed gravel.

– Up to 38 mm tyre clearance
– Comfortable endurance geometry for all-day rides

Shop Domane Explore Domane

FX Sport

The FX Sport is a flat-bar all-road bike perfect for riding tarmac and gravel paths, or even light touring.

– Up to 40 mm tyre clearance
– Upright, comfort-focused riding position 
– Mounts for bags and a rack

Shop FX Sport Explore the FX Sport

Go beyond the road and onto muddy CX courses, grassy hills, sand pits and winding trails. Cyclocross bikes are made for racing, with aggressive geometry that keeps you in a powerful riding position and clearance for knobby tyres that bite into mud and dirt.

What size gravel bike do I need?

The perfect bike fit will keep you cruising through the choppy stuff with composure and comfort. Find out what size bike is the best fit for you with our bike size finder.

When you’re saddled up on a go-anywhere, do-anything gravel bike, you need gear that’s made to handle it all. Browse our selection of gravel bike equipment to find everything you need, like compact multi-tools that fit in your back pocket, helmets and shoes to keep you covered from head to toe and bar tape to soak up the chatter from rough roads and keep you feeling fresh all day.

Adventure bags 

Bike bags should have all the capability and gear storage you need to get outside – and stay there. Whether you are gravel riding, bikepacking, touring or anything in between, Adventure Bags are ready to load up with rugged, waterproof protection for your gear and clever mounting systems that can even bolt directly to some Trek models, like Checkpoint.

Shop adventure bags

What kind of tyres do I need? 

Tyres are a surprisingly personal choice for your bike and choosing the right ones will help you have the most fun on every gravel ride. From puncture-protection to grip and size, many factors play a role in your perfect tyre choice. A good rule to start with is: the rougher the gravel, the bigger the tyre you want – just make sure that they fit your wheels and bike.

Whether you’re just getting started riding off-road, ready to sign up for your first gravel race or looking for tips on how to load up for gravel bikepacking adventures, we’ve got you covered. Explore our tips, tricks and guides for the best gravel rides. 

Gravel tips from the pros 

Where can I ride gravel?

There are millions of miles of unsurfaced roads. Find out where you can find the best gravel rides near you, or incredible rides where you can explore on your next gravel getaway. Adventure is waiting for you. 

Gravel bikepacking and touring 

Got an unquenchable thirst for adventure? Bikepacking and touring is your answer. Ride far beyond the beaten track and camp under the stars on bikes built to load up and roll far, far away.

See gravel bikepacking and touring bikes

Still need help finding the perfect bike? 

We've got the tools to help you find the right bike for you. 

Try the bike finder

Gravel, grit and fresh paint 

Make your gravel bike build exclusively yours with customised paint and your favourite components with Project One. 

Start designing

Talk to the experts in gravel 

Want to get tips or talk through your next adventure? Pop into your local Trek store to chat with the experts. 

Find your closest Trek store