For the speed chasers
Cervélo Áspero-5 | RRP R134 995 | cervelo. com Designed for speed over rough roads, Cervélo says it’ s shaved 66g off its new Aspero-5, leaving it at around 8.26kg for a size-58 build, including mounts and storage hardware. It’ s specc’ d with a SRAM Red AXS or XX SL Eagle groupset( 10-52T drivetrain with a 42T chainring), Reserve 40 | 44 wheels and Vittoria Corsa Pro Control 42mm tyres for top performance, and features Cervélo’ s flip-chip fork offsets that lets riders fine-tune their travel for different tyre widths. The geometry is aggressive, prioritising efficient power transfer, which racers will appreciate on long, flat gravel events where aero gains matter, but sacrifices a touch of compliance for pure performance. For those chasing podiums or simply wanting the most race-ready gravel bike, this stands out as a top-tier, purpose-built machine.
Adventure ready
Trek Checkpoint ALR 3 Gen 3 | RRP R26 000 | trekbikes. com
This bike is built for long, demanding rides with its endurance-focused geometry providing a stable and comfortable fit even over rough terrain. What sets the ALR apart is its durable aluminum frame, which offers a responsive, lively ride while keeping the price point more accessible. Bikepacking-ready, it’ s got plenty of mounts for racks, bottles and bags, tyre clearance is a generous 50mm, and the geometry is tuned for stable handling under load. The 2x drivetrain ensures reliable shifting across a wide gear range – it comes with Shimano’ s GRX 10-speed, but for more money, the bike can be setup with a 12-speed. What you gain in durability( and more money for worldwide adventures), you sacrifice in weight – you’ re looking at 10.4kg for a medium / large frame.
All-terrain resilience
Santa Cruz Stigmata Force AXS RSV | RRP R194 995 | santacruzbicycles. com Santa Cruz positions the Stigmata as a do-everything carbon gravel machine for riders who value strength and comfort over ultra-low weight. Geometry updates give it a slack 69.5 ° head angle, long reach, a short stem, and space for
50mm tyres – all aimed at stability and traction on rough roads. The Glovebox in-frame storage, internal cable routing, and frame guards add practicality for long rides and bikepacking. The spec shown here includes a 40mm RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork, a SRAM Force / XO AXS 1x drivetrain and a Reserve 25 carbon wheelset. This is a hardcore gravel build, and with Santa Cruz’ s renowned frame durability and lifetime warranty, a long-term investment that will handle anything.
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