Kit Facts – pedalnorth

GripGrab spring warmth cycling clothing for women

Pedalnorth Website — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:46:34 +0000

Spring warmth with GripGrab

Kristi Kuldkepp

GripGrab Winter Testing Review

Early Season Performance in Nordic Conditions

by Kristi Kuldkepp, Women’s Cycling Editor

Early season training in Northern Europe is always a challenge. Cold temperatures, wind, and constantly changing conditions demand cycling gear that is not only comfortable, but reliable over long hours on the bike.Too often brands forget this, working simply towards aero products, whilst not appreciating that comfort and movement equals performance.

Over the past weeks, I’ve been testing several pieces from the GripGrab PACR collection in real training conditions in Estonia – temperatures around +2 to +8°C, strong winds and typical early spring variability. Yes, cold for early spring, but ideal for testing women’s cycling clothing! The focus of this review is on functionality, performance and comfort during structured training (10–14 hours per week), rather than just first impressions. For me, as a semi-pro racer, clothing has first to perform, and that means that it has to be functional – style is an added benefit.
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Tested Equipment

• Women’s PACR Long Sleeve Jersey
• Women’s PACR Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey
• Women’s PACR Insulated Midlayer Vest
• Women’s PACR Thermal Bib Shorts
• Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves
• Ride Thermal Leg Warmers
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Images by Diane Unt Photography

First Impression – Clean Design, Functional Fit

GripGrab follows a very clean and minimal design approach, but what stands out more is the fit. All pieces feel purpose-built for riding, with no unnecessary bulk or distractions. They use a body mapping process, meaning that the fit is performance-oriented but not overly aggressive, which makes it suitable for long endurance sessions without compromising comfort.

How did I find it: overall comfortable, and yes, it did have that necessary movement, whilst being quite simply a nice product to wear. Ultimately, if it’s comfortable and functional, then I feel better and I’ll perform better. Do GripGrab achieve this – yes, I think that they do.

The quality is good, with excellent cut and fabrics, and the pockets are strong and easy to reach, with a good quality zip on the security pocket. Small points matter with cycling kit, far more than loud aesthetics.
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Performance in Cold Conditions: Layering System – What Works

GripGrab produce technical fabrics and don’t over-complicate things. Their combination of:

• PACR Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey
• Insulated Midlayer Vest
• Thermal Bib Shorts + Leg Warmers

This proved to be a very effective setup in temperatures between +2 and +8°C. Ultimately, it kept me warm and I felt comfortable. Ultimately, that’s what we want to achieve. It’s unfussy and uncomplicated kit, that allows me the freedom to move on the bike and to relax in the cold temperatures of early spring. The leg warmers stayed firmly fitted and formed a “second-skin” feeling, which is necessary. They didn’t sag and they were comfortable at the upper hem, tucked neatly under the shorts. They were warm without being too warm, and had the right level of moisture beading for light rain. They have superb stretch, due to the quality of the material, which is always a bonus.

Layering and leg warmers are important in early season and races. Would I be happy to take these along to a race – absolutely.

The layering works especially well because:

• the vest adds core warmth without overheating
• the jersey regulates temperature effectively during changing intensity
• the system adapts easily as conditions change during the ride

This is particularly important during longer Zone 2 sessions where body temperature fluctuates over time. Maintaining layers when training in early season can be tricky. Clothes have to work and be comfortable – these are.
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On the Bike – Comfort and Stability

During longer rides (2–4 hours), the key factors for me were:

• Stability of the fit – no shifting or adjustment needed
• Breathability – no excessive overheating even during harder efforts
• Freedom of movement – especially noticeable in the upper body

I guess that this is due to the work carried out GripGrab to develop and use the right fabrics. They work closely with world teams such as UNO X, and that feeds down into these jerseys and shorts.

The PACR Thermal Bib Shorts combined with leg warmers provided a surprisingly versatile setup. They offer enough warmth for cold starts, while still feeling lighter and more flexible than full winter tights. Best of all, the compression and cut means that they stay firm and stable when I ride – like a second skin, allowing me to simply focus on performance.
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Gloves – Critical in Nordic Conditions

Gloves are often an overlooked but critical element of our cycling kit. GripGrab made their name with gloves, and they still stand out today. The Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves stood out for me during these tests, as one of the most important pieces of kit in these conditions.

In temperatures close to freezing:

• hands stayed warm without overheating
• grip remained secure in both dry and damp conditions
• no loss of control or dexterity during braking and shifting

For Nordic riders, this is a key detail that can make or break a ride. The gloves fitted comfortably, had the necessary stretch and feel to them; and I was able to use my devices screens with them on – always a bonus. Gloves should never be a secondary thought, and these from GribGrab are a good option for early spring. They feel quality and are tough, and should last a long time.
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Breathability vs Protection

One of the most important aspects of early season gear is balancing insulation with breathability.
GripGrab manages this well:

• the fabrics protect against wind and cold
• but still allow moisture to escape during effort

This reduces the “overheating → cooling down → getting cold again” cycle, which is common in spring riding. The kit is stylishly simple, functional and offers that protection from the elements without sacrificing breathability.
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Who This Setup Is For

This kit is especially well suited for riders who:

• train consistently in cold or variable conditions
• prioritize functionality over aesthetics
• need reliable gear for long endurance rides

It’s priced in the right area to make it accessible for most riders, and will give you a comfortable ride – and ultimately, that is always a key focus. GripGrab design and produce cycling clothing and accessories that work. The kit is also stylish, in a cool and modern way, which I like. It’s not loud or garish – it simply works on the bike and fits my purpose, whilst adding that modern styling. Fundamentally though, it allows me to train in early spring, with those cold winds, and it functions on long rides in zone 2.
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Conclusion

GripGrab may not position itself as the most visible premium brand, but it delivers where it matters most: performance, reliability and functionality in real training conditions.

And for a rider, that’s exactly what counts. I’ve enjoyed testing their latest kit, and it does actually work. They’re a brand that doesn’t go for unnecessary headlines. Instead they focus on function and fit, which is what all cyclists want.

It’s time to ride!

Kristi

It’s time to ride!

with GripGrab

Is Ekoi the listening brand in world cycling

Pedalnorth Website — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:26:02 +0000

The listening brand in world cycling

Is Ekoi the listening brand in global cycling?

Jean-Christophe: Bucking the trend in the cycling industry since 2008

Before we start to talk about Ekoi, let’s focus on the cycling industry per se. It’s broken and a minor repair will no longer fix the issue. You can pour as much sealant into the punctures as you like – but, unless you start listening to the consumer… really listening, then you are not going to resolve the issues that are facing the industry. A simple tyre change also won’t help. Instead, pressing pause and engaging with the consumer will possibly begin in educating the industry on where the problems lie – and at heart, they’re fundamentally simple. Stop, look, listen, engage and then deliver.

However, whilst all of this has been going on – and indeed, long before it all started – there has been a company based in the south of France, quietly changing the way in which they (and indeed cycling) operates in that important space between consumer, pro cycling and brand. Yes, Ekoi, started by the passionate French cyclist and businessman, Jean Christophe in 2001, has been a burning beacon of hope for the cycling industry, and for kit-hungry cyclists around the world looking for comfort, performance, quality, style and price-point all operating in perfect harmony. Unfortunately, the coordination of those 5 simple elements have been as rare as a rocking horse winning the Prix de d’Arc de Triomphe. Unless of course, you look deeply at Ekoi and begin to break down how Jean Christophe has been thinking and operating his brand for nearly 20 years – which is when he introduced their revolutionary B2C model, in 2008, and began to change the cycle clothing and accessories industry forever, in a visionary and positive way.

Feeding the cycling child within us all

At heart, we are all that small child still inside of us – and Jean Christophe understands this as a cyclist himself. Do you remember, walking to school and stopping by the bike shop window to look at that blue Peugeot, road bike in the window and dreaming of it for Christmas. We still do this today, if we can admit to it – we frequently buy with our eyes. We watch the pro peloton and dream of our own cycling glory as choose our kit: the same helmets, the same sunglasses, jerseys and cycling shoes – and, if possible, the same bikes. We want to ride in groups with our friends, and to form our own team and pelotons.

What stops us in our tracks however is the price point; and why – well, because so many elements are now involved in the process of getting that simple cycling jersey to you. And they are all adding their own slice of the cake – meaning that the price of that jersey is usually beyond reach. Yes, the average cyclist still dreams and wants to wear a great jersey, of the type worn by the leading riders; but they also have to feed their families, and the dog and the cat – and the kids need those new training shoes for school…. and the list of impact factors goes on, whilst the main protagonists within the cycling industry continue to try to sell their over-priced offerings to 5% of the top egos on 2-wheels! Then, when their limiting strategy fails to deliver results, they wonder where it all went wrong. Conversely, Ekoi have always thought differently – which is why they resonate with me and with team here at Pedalnorth.

Delivering with passion creates proactivity

It was in 2008 that Jean Christophe developed and moved the young Ekoi brand forward, with his visionary direct to consumer, web business model and product strategy. It was still the infant days of online and in particular, online sales. However, in its first year of operation it achieved a 50K Euro turnover, with cycling sunglasses being the predominant product at that time. By cutting out the largely unnecessary and oft irrelevant links of distributors, outside marketing, and retail margins, Ekoi were able to design, make, market and sell the products themselves; and through their direct engagement strategy, they could also understand exactly what the cyclist was looking for – rapidly converting this into new product development which met the needs of the kit hungry cycling consumer.

Let’s not forget two critical aspects of those 5 key elements we mentioned earlier: style and price point. As a French company, Ekoi has style within its DNA. It’s as French as red wine and cheese. Personally, wherever I’m travelling to, a Bordeaux is always first choice of wine for me with dinner – nobody does style like the French. Then, price point; as mentioned, Jean Christophe had by 2008 been operating for 7 years and had learnt a lot about the heavy baggage that frequently attaches itself to the cycling industry. And so, he cut it away and developed Ekoi.com as the portal where his infant brand could grow alongside the cycling consumer, producing the products that they actually wanted, at the right price and at the right time. As cycling grew globally, so did Ekoi; by engaging closely with clubs and cyclists and designing and delivering the right products – products that consumers were directly asking them for.

Helmets came on board, then jerseys, bibs and socks, and the cycling clubs of France and elsewhere ate it all up, knowing the performance and quality of the product as they rode against the weather, seeing the ‘Côte blanc des feuilles’ and knowing that their reasonably priced Ekoi cycling jersey would weather the coming storm – and it has, quite literally!

With many in the world tour pro peloton now clothed in Ekoi products – sunglasses, helmets, clothing, cycling shoes – this visionary French brand continues to innovate and excel as they seek new areas and new ways to create the products being asked for by the growing global cycling community. And at their heart, working under the same principles that Jean Christophe laid down, are engineers, artisans, designers, former and current world-leading riders, all working together to create cycling dreams for everyone who feels inspired to ride a bike! Ekoi translated should mean ‘passion’, as it is this that flows outwardly from their base on the Cote D’Azur, and into the cycling clubs and cafes across Europe and beyond – and which has done since those early online days of September 2008, when their story began to emerge within the e-commerce space, way ahead of its time.

Re-inventing the B2C model

Having been active within the grassroots cycling community from their beginnings, Ekoi still operates closely on engagement. It’s that seemingly simple, but often difficult to get right, principle of observation and analysis. If done correctly, it should determine your strategy; and for Ekoi and Jean Christophe, it led in 2010 to a more defined and wholly web-focused approach, where Ekoi would be the B in the B2C model; designing, creating and delivering products based on the continual feedback from consumers, and by that all-important engagement with cyclists, clubs and a growing VIP client list. Aggressive pricing was based around them cutting away unnecessary retail margins, and it supported realistic club discounts and led to product expansion that was based solely on customer demand – a demand that was arrived at through two-way communication, and not meaningless marketing forums.

Add to this, the advent of Ekoi on the World Tour scene, where sunglasses were the first product taken on board on tested by the world’s best cyclists. Those dreaming club riders could now share the same products – as I did myself – as Ekoi catered for every cyclist in the pyramid of hierarchy, not simply the top 5% at the elite end. However, and it is a very big however, so take a breath please…

Ekoi products are engineered and designed in France, and that process involves input and testing by many of the best riders in the world; so that you can be sure when you pull on a Marion Rousse jersey by Ekoi, that Marion would wear it herself – because she does, and she helped to design the full range. No, Ekoi isn’t a lower level of expectation and quality; it’s quite the opposite – it’s the very best in terms of those key elements: comfort, performance, quality, style, all at the right price point.

Innovation & excellence for a brighter future

Talking with Jean Christophe – and Céline Vandenbroucke, their lead on PR, press, pro cycling and partnerships – they tell me about recent developments, alongside plans for the future. In 2025, Ekoi released their own cycling shoe and pedal development – the pW8 – which increases the shoe platform and power transfer opportunities, by re-inventing the contact area between shoe and pedal. Tested by members of the pro peloton, it delivers the performance gains and allows the foot to remain stable in rotation.

They’ve also been hard at work investing in engineering within French manufacturing, talking with cyclists about carbon wheels that were previously out of reach of the average cyclist. These locally assembled high-performance carbon wheels are a result of countless hours of research and testing, drawing on the expertise that already lay within French cycle wheel manufacturing – and included close liaison with their current and former pro peloton riders. In-house testing is important to Jean Christophe, as is having the position as the leading French brand within cycling – which they now are and which has been hard earned.

In-house testing listens and learns and adapts as the product develops, and it ensures that changes match needs; that the end-product is world-class, whilst remaining an affordable purchase for the majority, and not simply the minority.

Products are looked at, researched and developed alongside their support for some of the world’s best cycling teams. Currently, Ekoi equip and work with: Lotto-Intermarche; Astana; and also, NSN at World Tour level, allowing the brand to continue to call upon the expertise of the best riders in the world, before sharing the results with everyday cyclists as world-leading products.
Getting ahead takes technology & passion in equal measure

Their latest aero road helmet is one of the lightest and most efficient on the market, tried and tested by some of the world’s best riders. The EKOÏ Racing R-AERO helmet is a gamechanger in the aero helmet world because it perfectly combines speed, ventilation, and comfort. Developed with CFD technology, its profile was optimized in a wind tunnel with the clear goal of minimizing aerodynamic drag. An in-depth study in a simulated thermal environment, showed a heat transfer coefficient (ability to shed heat) higher than many ultra-vented helmets designed for climbing. The result: maximum versatility and optimal efficiency, whether in fast races, triathlon, or on mid- and high-mountain rides, even in scorching heat. It’s the helmet that was worn by Ekoi sponsored teams at the 2025 Tour de France, and the R-AERO stands out as the helmet built to win at high speed and at altitude.

Yes, from humble beginnings, Ekoi is a world-leader in so many areas, and yet still focuses on listening, looking and engaging with ordinary cyclists alongside the pro peloton, so that the products they develop meet the actual needs of the cycling community – at every level.

The future’s bright – so wear some Ekoi sunglasses!

With a bright future ahead and even more products in development, Ekoi’s list of collaborations reads like a ‘who’s who’ of world cycling: Fabio Aru, Julian Absalon, Phillipe Gilbert, Marion Rousse, Rudy Von Berg, Nicholas Roche and others. Riders across all forms of cycle sport continue to add to the palmares for this now iconic French brand, sharing the same passion that Jean Christophe used to develop Ekoi into one of the top cycling brands in the world. Innovation and excellence are often talked about in cycling; however, when this is merged with drive, intelligence and freedom of thought, and it is fuelled by passion and a healthy dose of French flair, then it is simply unstoppable.

Ultimately, none of us know what the future holds, but we can help to direct it and to meet the needs of those riding in that direction. Ekoi have been doing this since 2001, and their continued success within the world of cycling is a testament to the people behind the brand and their adherence to being different; to being the best, and in helping and encouraging others to be their best versions, too.

Talking with Celine and Jean Christophe has been exciting and yes, inspiring for me, as we shared our joint passion for cycle sport and for doing things differently – for doing things right! Ekoi won’t add sealant to the puncture that the cycling industry is currently suffering from. No, they’ll literally re-invent the wheel – and I can’t wait to be there when they do!

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2026 Spring-Summer Cycle Clothing Collection from ALÉ

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:18:27 +0000

New ALÉ Spring-Summer 2026 Collection

A collection that blends technological innovation, cutting-edge materials and contemporary design, created to experience cycling with freedom, comfort and personal style.

As the cycling seasons begins once more, and we start to look ahead to warmer spring days and short sleeved jerseys, Italian brand Alé has unveiled its new Spring–Summer 2026 cycling apparel collection. This latest range from their world-leading design team, celebrates the warm season with a distinctive balance of technical performance, functionality and modern style. It’s a range for the complete cyclist, bringing the Alé experience to all riders, from professionals to passionate enthusiasts.

Alé’s DNA is rooted in the fusion of functionality, design and textile engineering. Each garment supports the cyclist on a journey that is both physical and emotional, where comfort, innovation and aesthetics coexist in perfect harmony. Clean lines and carefully engineered details, and meticulously selected fabrics define a collection designed for those who experience cycling as a personal and authentic expression.

SS26 Collection – inspirational themes

The Spring–Summer 2026 collection is built around several creative universes and themes:

• Pure Essentialism – Clean, no-frills garments designed for riders who want only what truly matters, with no compromises.

• Cosmic Horizons – Celestial colour palettes and space-inspired textures turn every ride into a visual experience, where each shade evokes a journey toward new sensations.

• Energy & Dynamism – Vibrant tones and bold designs that convey speed, adrenaline and freedom, expressing the most instinctive and passionate side of cycling.

• Urban Style – Metropolitan vibes that merge performance and contemporary aesthetics, created for cyclists who live the city with a sporty, distinctive attitude.

• Reinterpreted Heritage – A tribute to cycling’s history, reimagined through modern fabrics and contemporary cuts, preserving the elegance of tradition without sacrificing functionality.

The five macro clothing collection families for 2026

As always, the Alé SS 2026 collection is structured around five main product lines:

• R-EV1 – The capsule collection representing the pinnacle of Alé innovation: advanced technologies, cutting-edge materials and design developed in the brand’s research center.

• PR.E – Creativity and performance inspired by the professional peloton. Garments designed for riders who want to combine technical excellence, colour, style and originality on every ride.

• PRAGMA – Essential, comfortable and practical. A range of durable, refined pieces where quality and craftsmanship are guaranteed by Alé’s long-standing expertise.

• OFF-ROAD GRAVEL – Designed for gravel and mountain biking, a robust and functional collection engineered to tackle off-road terrain with comfort and protection.

• TRIATHLON – Built for triathlon challenges. Ultra-high-performance materials, advanced aerodynamics and maximum breathability for every leg: swim, bike and run.

Together, these lines form the Alé Spring–Summer 2026 catalogue, a comprehensive offering for every type of cyclist, from elite athletes to leisure riders.

Garment engineering and technical performance

At the heart of the collection lies Alé’s commitment to seamlessly integrating technology, materials and design to deliver high performance in all riding conditions. Highly breathable, lightweight and elastic fabrics are combined with advanced construction techniques aimed at reducing friction and improving aerodynamics, while seams and hems are optimized to follow the body’s natural movement without interfering with pedalling efficiency.

Bib straps are anatomically shaped and crossed to distribute pressure evenly, ergonomic cam-lock zippers ensure ease of use and safety while riding, and reflective details enhance visibility in low-light conditions. Selected fabrics feature textures and microstructures engineered to increase stability and grip on the saddle, while advanced body-mapping technology allows each garment to adapt to different areas of the body, improving fit and comfort on long rides.

Every element of the collection is designed to maximize performance without compromising style, making the garments suitable for professional cyclists, dedicated amateurs and everyday riders alike, on the road or off-road. The combination of innovative materials, technical construction and attention to detail defines a versatile, high-performance and comfortable collection, engineered to support every ride with confidence and freedom.

It’s all ready and waiting for eager, style-conscious cyclists, and will no doubt light up the tarmac and trails this cycling season. We’ll be testing out a few selected items from this extensive tapestry of cycling style, with detailed reviews coming to our website, soon.

Visit the ALE Website

Winter training on the Elite Avanti Smart Trainer

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:37:09 +0000

Elite Avanti Interactive Trainer

Teodora Sabina

Athlete review by

Winter training on the Elite Avanti Smart Trainer

An all-around athlete perspective

by Teodora Sabina

Working in the mountain sports industry, and being a mountain runner and ski instructor, fitness is key. That means even on the worst of days, I have to find some form of training, to maintain my necessary fitness levels. Cycling is great – yes – but in snowy Transylvania it’s not always possible. Thankfully, Elite sent me a solution – their latest Avanti interactive cycle trainer!

The Elite Avanti smart trainer is an advanced interactive indoor cycling trainer designed to help athletes maintain and improve their physical condition during the winter season, when outdoor riding is often limited by cold temperatures, poor weather, and reduced daylight. By bringing the realism of outdoor cycling indoors, Avanti allows consistent, effective, and motivating training sessions regardless of external conditions. For me, physical activity in winter is totally different, since the days spent on the slopes are numerous, so it takes up a lot of my free time that I normally have to train, in summer days, for example. So, after a day spent in the cold, the trainer is the ideal partner to maintain my shape and continue my aerobic training for the following period.

Accuracy & reliability

One of the key strengths of the Elite Avanti is its high level of accuracy and reliability. It features an integrated Optical Torque Sensor (OTS) power meter with an accuracy of ±1%, enabling precise measurement of power output. This accuracy is essential for structured training, as it allows riders to monitor effort, follow training plans based on power zones, and track performance improvements over time. Such precision makes winter workouts purposeful and comparable to outdoor riding data, ensuring continuity in training progression.

The trainer’s direct-drive design contributes significantly to a realistic riding feel. Avanti is capable of simulating gradients of up to approximately 18%, which recreates the sensation of climbing and variable terrain. This realistic resistance helps maintain cycling-specific muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance throughout the winter months, preventing fitness loss and making the transition back to outdoor riding smoother when the season changes. I can hardly feel the difference between climbing on the trainer and real, outdoor steep climbing in Transylvania!
Another important advantage of the Elite Avanti is its quiet and smooth operation.

Thanks to its balanced flywheel and optimized resistance system, the trainer produces minimal noise, making it ideal for home use, even in apartments or shared living spaces. This allows riders to train early in the morning or late in the evening without disturbance, adding flexibility and convenience to winter training routines. So no more worries about disturbing while you are training.

Connectivity is key

Connectivity is a major highlight of the Avanti trainer. It supports ANT+, Bluetooth FTMS, and Wi-Fi connections, making it fully compatible with popular indoor cycling platforms such as Zwift, Trainer Road, Rouvy, and Elite’s My E-Training app. Through these platforms, riders can access structured workouts, virtual routes, group rides, and races, which significantly increase motivation and engagement during long winter periods. The interactive nature of these applications transforms indoor training from a repetitive task into an immersive and enjoyable experience.

Ease of use is another factor that makes the Elite Avanti particularly suitable for winter training. The trainer offers automatic calibration, reducing setup time and eliminating the need for frequent manual adjustments. Its sturdy construction ensures stability during intense efforts, while practical details such as foldable feet and an integrated carrying handle make storage and transport simple when space is limited. In terms of compatibility, the Elite Avanti works with a wide range of bicycles, including road, gravel, and mountain bikes, and supports various axle standards and cassette options. This flexibility allows riders to train on their own bike throughout the winter, maintaining proper riding position and muscle memory – small things, but essential for optimal preparation.

Indoor cycling with an outdoor feeling

Overall, the Elite Avanti smart trainer is an effective and reliable solution for maintaining physical condition during the winter months, for a person with an active lifestyle, as well as a high-performance athlete. By combining precise power measurement, realistic resistance, quiet operation, smart connectivity, and ease of use, it enables consistent, data-driven, and engaging training sessions indoors. As a result, cyclists and athletes in general can preserve their fitness, build strength and endurance, and remain motivated all winter long, ready to return to outdoor training at full potential when conditions improve.

Living in the mountains of Transylvania, it’s not easy to replicate the terrain accurately with an interactive trainer. However, thanks to the Avanti, it is now possible to train on routes from the Carpathian Mountains without leaving the warmth of my apartment. Now, that’s got to be good for winter training! Coffee and a well calibrated and reliably realistic cycling trainer!

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Choosing a triathlon bike

Pedalnorth Website — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:52:48 +0000

CHOOSING A TRIATHLON BIKE

Nadezhda Pavlova, Editor in Chief

WHAT KIND OF BIKE DO YOU NEED IN TRIATHLON.

There is a lot to think about in triathlon for beginners, three sports to master, the fitness levels needed to finish a race, the mental pressure and so on. However, equipment is also important, and while the right swimwear and running shoes are crucial, the biggest investment for most new to triathlon is the bike. With that in mind, knowing how to choose your triathlon bike can not only save you from an expensive mistake, but help make the triathlon more enjoyable in that first race.

TYPES OF BIKE

The first question that is faced when choosing a triathlon bike is the kind of bike to use. Walk into any cycle shop and there is a huge choice of road bikes at almost every budget, they are easy to find, and look almost the same as the dedicated triathlon bikes, so it is not surprising that beginners wonder if road bikes are a good choice.
However, while they often look quite similar, a road bike is subtly different from a triathlon/time trial bike in several ways. Those differences are crucial to your triathlon performance, but it is important to understand why.

A road bike has a shorter top tube and different frame angles, placing you in a more upright position on the bike while slightly compromising power delivery too, to achieve a more comfortable position for long distance riding. The triathlon/time trial bike forces the rider to stretch out further, lowering the body for a more streamlined position and maximizing the power extracted from the full leg extension during the pedaling motion.

Which type should you get? The answer here depends on what you want to do. If you plan on doing one or several triathlon races per year, then a triathlon bike makes sense. If you maybe want to train for a triathlon for beginners as a way to get fit, with no plans for more, then perhaps a road bike is the best option, as it is more suited to a regular fitness regime. The road bike will not get the maximum performance from your body in a triathlon race, but it will do the job when you need it to for sporadic race entries.

What you shouldn’t do is compromise. Splitting your budget to buy both types of bike usually ends up with two mediocre bikes. Get one good bike, whichever is most suitable, a good road bike will always perform better than a mediocre triathlon bike.
Assuming that you are aiming to compete in several triathlons in the future, the triathlon/time trial bike is the best option, but now what? With so many to choose from, you are no nearer to knowing how to choose your triathlon bike.

CHOOSING YOUR TRIATHLON BIKE

With a choice of materials, manufacturers, cost, size and shape, it can be daunting for triathlon beginners to know where to start. While your budget will be the biggest influence on the level of bike you end up with, the first thing to look for within your budget is the fit of the bike.

In general, you want a bike that feels comfortable, some bikes may put you in a more stretched position that improves aerodynamics and pedaling, but if it is too much of a stretch and feels uncomfortable, it can compromise your race overall, so always choose the one that feels right.

For the rest of the bike, there is so much choice, different frame materials from aluminum to carbon, choice of wheels, gear sets and so on. This is where knowing how to choose your triathlon bike matters, as it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

The key is to get the best frame you can afford with your initial bike purchase. An aluminum framed bike with the very best accessories can cost as much as a carbon framed bike with more modest wheelset, gears and so on. However, while it may be tempting to go for the bike with the latest and greatest components, the best buy would be the superior carbon framed option.

This is because you can replace everything on the bike over time, but the core frame will stay the same. Buying the best frame will give you a loner life for the purchase. You can add in new components when you feel necessary, while maintaining the advantages of that carbon frame throughout.

SADDLES

A word on saddles, a relatively cheap component, they are also one of the biggest contributors to comfort during triathlon for beginners. If the saddle fitted to your new bike feels uncomfortable, swap it. Its just a couple of bolts, and with a wide choice of male and female specific options easily available, there is no excuse for continuing on with a badly fitting saddle today.

CONCLUSION

There are two crucial things to think of when learning how to choose your triathlon bike, quality and fit. Find a bike that fits comfortably, and then get the best quality version of that frame you can afford. While it is nice to have the very best components attached to the frame, these can be changed over time, so always choose frame quality over componentry, for long lasting performance and enjoyment from your new triathlon bike.

CONTACT NADEZHDA - TRIATHLON COACH

Click here for online triathlon training programmes with Nadezhda

Who make the best carbon bikes in the world

Pedalnorth Website — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:11:05 +0000

Who makes
the best bike

TIME to ask
the question

Who make the best carbon bikes in the world

Road and off-road – where does innovation & excellence come as standard

We recently looked at who makes the best carbon road bike in the world. However, for many cyclists, and especially those addicted to N+1, the wider question is: ‘who makes the best carbon bikes in the world – on road and trail? Is the best bike in the world a road bike, a gravel bike or a mountain bike? That’s a far deeper question, and it relies on us speaking with numerous people, such as Guy Kesteven – the tester man – who knows more about mountain bikes than you can shake a stick. Now, in northern English slang, that’s a whole lot of information.

During 2025, Guy tested many incredible mountain bikes, and one of his favourites was the splendidly engineered race machine from Orbea, the Oiz M-Team. Taking a cue from Guy and adding our own thoughts, the Orbea brand has to be up there, as one of the brands making the best carbon bikes in the world – especially for trail riders. In terms of the Orbea Oiz itself, it’s a lightweight, aggressive geometry and nimble handling trail hugger that wants to fly along the tracks. Add to this the quality of the finishing and the components used by Orbea – along with the size of Guy’s grin factor – and you’ve got a competitor for the best mountain bike. Having used Orbea mountain bikes for many years myself, their quality is renowned; and it’s a brand that has been around for many years, with a rich history of developing high-quality and high-performance mountain bikes (and other bikes) since 1847, when the Orbea brothers opened a small workshop in the heart of the Basque country.

Today, they still design and assemble their frames in this area, whilst their frame manufacturing relies on the expertise in the Far East. Their meticulous attention to detail is legendary, and their latest bikes continue to share this adherence to innovation. The Orbea Oiz is simply a bike that looks quite beautiful, and which rides like an unleashed beast, wanting to devour the trails that you test yourself on.

The Road to Gravel

When we talk about the best gravel bike in the world however, other small artisan brands come to mind. Yes, there’s already a pattern emerging here, as these smaller brands tend to focus on the quality, performance and comfort of their bikes, rather than simply feeding the mass market. And unsurprisingly it’s brands such as 3T and TIME who forge ahead in the context of building the best carbon gravel bikes in the world. Breaking down the gravel biking sector in its constituent parts as it continues to evolve – gravel adventure, gravel leisure and gravel race – it’s around gravel adventure that 3T excel, with bikes such as their 3T Exploro Italia leading the way on innovation, quality and performance. However, when we look closely at the growing gravel leisure sector, we see the TIME ADHX45 taking the lead on the road to gravel arena, as probably the best carbon framed gravel leisure bike in the world.

What both these brands share however, isn’t just an adherence to excellence; it’s innovation and the constant desire to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible in carbon bicycle frame engineering. TIME, based in their European factory near Bratislava have developed and refined the Braided Carbon Structure (BCS) technique of weaving seamless carbon socks that provide the ultimate in lightness and strength, and which are seen by many as being the best carbon bike frames in the world. Utilising internal and external molds to ensure perfect frame composition with their Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), TIME carbon bike frames – on road and gravel – are simply works of engineering art that ride as well as they look.

Gravel adventure requires ultimate engineering

From their own small factory close to the Italian lakes and mountains, 3T have been creating iconic cycling parts and framesets since 1961. Like TIME, their own team of artisans have focused on developing techniques that ensure a 3T carbon frameset is ready for anything. Like the BCS technique, but also different in many ways, 3T use their own technique of Filament Winding (FWT).  Instead of sheets of carbon cut in different shapes and applied on a core, filament winding uses a yarn is spun that is spun onto a core to create a carbon shape. By changing the speeds of the winder, you can change the angle of the yarn on the core. This FWT allows to put each strand of fibre exactly where you want it. Having been at the forefront of the gravel adventure rise, 3T continue to make exceptional carbon framesets such as the 3T Extrema Italia at their home in Italy. And so, we have to rightly ask the question: do they make the best carbon bikes in the world?

Well, in terms of gravel adventure – possibly so. However, it’s time to consider the gravel leisure sector, and that’s a whole new ball game.

Riding the road to innovation & excellence

Going back to TIME and their own industry -leading BCS technique, their forte has always been in designing and creating innovative carbon road bike framesets. Are they the ultimate in carbon bikes for the connoisseur – yes, they very likely are in our humble opinion. When it comes to looking at who makes the best carbon bikes in the world, then TIME must be on the list and towards the top. Every aspect of their process has always been geared towards creating carbon bikes that stand head and shoulders above the rest in quality, performance, comfort and responsiveness. When you buy a TIME carbon frameset, you buy into a lifestyle and culture that exudes excellence. They also allow you to decide on what components your bike should have, so that the TIME bike you ride is your own unique bike.

Ultimately, we all want our own dream bike, and TIME make this possible for everyone. And, whilst they don’t make mountain bikes, as Orbea and the skilled designers and engineers from the Basque region of Spain, TIME do continue to innovate. They never stand still in their pursuit of quality and performance. Launching the TIME SCYLON in 2025, it took the brand to even greater levels of carbon engineering, with TIME testing and using new fibres within their BCS technique, to create an even lighter and stronger carbon road bike. And so I guess, and from a personal perspective ultimately; the best carbon bikes in the world are made by TIME in their factory, tucked away beneath the mountains and rolling hills of Slovakia – and all of us should aspire to ride a TIME machine into our own cycling future.

Fundamentally though, if you’re looking for a carbon mountain bike brand that stands tall above the others, then Orbea should most certainly be on your list. And, when it comes to gravel adventure, then using the 3T Extrema Italia is always going to be a good decision. We do however have to narrow down the final point though, and because of their continued adherence to excellence, their innovation and quality of ride, TIME is always going to be a bike to dream about.

Why… well, because we believe that they make the world’s best carbon bikes, with a passion that is reflected in every quite beautiful frameset.

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What is the best carbon road bike in the world

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:13:53 +0000

Is this the best
carbon road bike
in the world?

Time to find out...

What is the best carbon road bike frame in the world?

TIME to find out

by Robert Thorpe & Nadezhda Pavlova

It’s a complex question, I know, as there are so many carbon bike frame manufacturers out there in the world. Many of them are based in the Far East, where they’ve become world experts at creating high-performance, high-quality carbon frames using techniques such as monocoque, which involves the layering of pre-peg carbon sheets around a mold and using an inflatable bladder for a seamless structure. However, in truth, that’s a rudimentary, old-fashioned and simplistic way of producing a frame these days. It helps the larger multinational brands to produce in volume, yes; but does it produce the most innovative, strong, light, responsive and performance orientated frameset – probably not.

Some brands use the Holo Core methods, where foam cores are removed after curing framesets. However, in certain corners of Europe, brands such as TIME and 3T are creating woven carbon framesets, using their own developed techniques, such as TIME with its Braided Carbon Structures (BCS) and Resin Transfer Molding (RTM).

Braided Carbon Structures

Braided Carbon Structure is a technique that involves the weaving of multiple different fibres into complex bi-directional ‘socks.’ These carbon woven tubes are easy to tune with different materials, dependent on what is required from each individual bike model, and how tests have been carried out to determine which works best. TIME for instance, who have perfected the BCS technique over more than 20 years, currently chose from 16 filaments to perfectly tailor their layups.

Using the Braided Carbon Structure technique, from their artisan factory near Bratislava in eastern Europe, this iconic cycling brand has refined a process that allows something that is unheard of in the cycling world: continuous, unbroken fibres that run the full length of a carbon frameset structure. Think about this for one moment; not layered pieces of carbon cloth, but one long, unbroken and seamless sock of woven fibres. It’s easy to imagine the integrity of many layers of uninterrupted woven fibres running through a steerer tube and being integrated into a fork crown, and even down the fork legs with minimal overlapping joints. Contrast this technique with the industry standard prepreg layup where the edge of every carbon sheet is a potential weakness, and you begin to get the answer to that question posed at the start: what is the best carbon road bike frame in the world?

TIME SCYLON – probably the most beautiful carbon road bike in the world

The answer, for us here at Pedalnorth at least, is easy to determine. When you see a TIME SCYLON frameset being finished by the craftsmen and women in Slovakia, then the answer is this: TIME design and create the best carbon bikes in the world. They produce works of engineering art – not in huge numbers, because that would dilute things. They take their time to ensure that a TIME road bike looks as good as it rides – which is exceptional. The TIME SCYLON -the bike of choice for our editor and colleague, Nadezhda, is probably the most responsive and comfortable high-performance road bike in the world.

TIME engineers spent almost 2 years agonizing over every detail of the 2025 SCYLON release. Producing the best aero bike in the world does literally take TIME… pardon the pun. These artisans and engineering gurus wanted to ensure that the balancing of these key elements: aerodynamics, weight, responsiveness and comfort whilst challenging, was ultimately given the detail required if they were to produce the world’s best bike in its class.

When you are working to increase stiffness and tube sizes, it can also increase weight, whilst narrowing frontal areas for that all-important aero shaping can affect overall performance and ride quality. This needed a detailed focus, with absolutey nothing left on the table 2 years later. The result is a bike that glides along the road and produces the ultimate experience in cycling – a perfect balance between performance and pleasure.

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)

Part of the reason that TIME bikes are so beautifully constructed is how they use Resin Transfer Molding. Having developed molds that are external and internal to the finished frameset, TIME can be sure that the frameset being produced, looks and acts as well on the inside as it does on the outside. It’s also the best way to minimize defects in the composite structure. By injecting resin under high pressure between rigid external and internal molds, air pockets are pushed out, and voids between layers are eliminated. Resin can only flow where the precise molds – internal and external – allow and only assume the shapes that are intended, meaning that the RTM quality is extremely high-tolerance, uniform and consistent yielding a beautiful near-finished product.

The wax inside of each frameset as it is being produced by TIME, which helps to keep the shape and structure so smooth and perfect, is also recycled after each process. Whilst no bike manufacturing process can be totally green, small things count; and this element of recycling and re-use is good to see, whilst also adding to the process that makes a TIME frameset a work of cycling art.

Conversely, brands that use pre-preg bags can suffer from instances where the bags create resin pooling and allow wrinkling of fibre layers inside of the structure. For TIME, taking time to think about how they can produce the world’s most precise carbon road bike frameset is important.

Every TIME bike is an ambassador for the quality and performance that they’ve become renowned for since 1987.

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An adherence to excellence

TIME focuses on an adherence to innovation and excellence. They’re a small but dedicated group of creatives, always seeking out new techniques and testing new weaves, to ensure that a TIME bike frame has the perfect balance between lightness, strength, performance and comfort. The finished carbon weave also looks so good that you can have a TIME frameset that allows the look of the carbon itself to be seen – not hidden away under layers of paint. Yes, of course, they do paint framesets – and they do so quite beautifully. However, when you buy a TIME road bike, you buy into the quality and engineering excellence that has been creating these timeless pieces of cycling art since 1987. And, they continue to look at new ways to increase the strength, lightness and performance of their carbon bikes, by trialing new weaves using Kevlar and Dyneema within the BCS socks. On a weight for weight basis, Dyneema® is 15 times stronger than steel wire. Light Weight: Size for size, a rope made with Dyneema® is 8 times lighter than steel wire rope.Testing how and where to use this within the TIME framesets means that they can create some of the strongest carbon bike frames ever.

Ultimately, for Tony Karklins and his team of artisans, it means that TIME never stands still.

And so, if you’re looking for the ultimate bike for your own cycling lifestyle. One that matches your riding and ambition. A bike that allows you to ride in harmony with the bike itself and feel like one on the road, then maybe you need to take TIME for a new journey of discovery. Look at TIME and their current range of the world’s best carbon road bikes – the SCYLON and the current Alp D’Huez for climbers.

At the end of it all, the simple fact is this: the best carbon road bikes aren’t made in huge multinational factories in the Far East. They’re designed, crafted and created in a small corner of Slovakia – by TIME.

Now, pardon the pun, but isn’t it time that you took a closer look?

Click the link below and take a journey through TIME in 2026!

Visit the TIME website

Using a gravel bike as a winter road bike

Pedalnorth Website — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:19:31 +0000

Using a gravel bike as a winter road bike

Buying a bike for multiple uses

Choosing a gravel bike as a winter road bike can be a sensible solution to an annual problem for keen cyclists. Winter cycling brings on a whole spectrum of challenges and problems to overcome – especially for road cyclists. Wherever you ride, at some time in the year the weather will change and become either cold, wet or icy… or all three in one day! Cycling on winter roads can be a challenge; especially for high end and technically delicate carbon road bikes with expensive groupsets and gears, and with narrow wheels and semi-slick cycling tyres. Winter cycling roads here in the Yorkshire Dales are often covered with field debris, mud, deep water – and then, the ice and snow comes!

Add to this, road surfaces with grit and salt scattered across them, and this then attacking your bike gears – the chain and the cassette – and your wheel hubs and bottom brackets, and every bolt on your very expensive new carbon bike also being attacked by the dreaded and damaging road salt! Did I mention the risk of slipping on the ice and cracking your carbon frame! And yet, as cyclists in winter, we wrap ourselves up in Klimatik clothing by brands such as Ale, and we add mudguards to the bike and use lights even for day time riding… and we hope and pray!

Justifying N+1

As cyclists, we often meet confusion in our families and with our partner, when we try to convince them that each of our bikes is for a different purpose or use. Ultimately, they all have 2 wheels, a saddle and handlebars – so, what makes them different! Where did N+1 originate, and why don’t non-cyclists fully understand that the need to ride in comfort on all surfaces, is only solvable by the addition of yet another bike to your stable!

Thankfully, due to the ascendency of gravel biking, there is a kind of a solution to your winter road bike requirements. Yes, there’s a drop handlebar bike that has a more relaxed geometry, a stronger frame and wider wheels and tyres for you. And, if you buy the right choice of gravel bike, you even get to spec it up yourself and maybe add a double chainset to give you a wider range of gears, helping you to utilise your awesome all-terrain gravel bike as a tarmac munching winter road bike. Yes, making the right choice now in buying your gravel bike, will also give you a great option, as your gravel bike will make a great choice for winter road cycling… and here’s why!

The advantages of using a gravel bike as a winter road bike

The ideal bike for multiple surfaces

Gravel bikes are designed and built in a way that makes them a great option as a winter road bike. Ultimately, these versatile bikes are designed for multiple surfaces – especially road use – allowing you to ride on roads, gravel paths, and even light trails, providing the ultimate in cycling flexibility. Gravel bikes typically have several accessory mounting points, allowing you to easily affix mudguards and racks, keeping that winter cycling road debris at bay, and protecting you and your gear from road spray and debris. Yes, that age-old problem of fixing mudguards that will remain stable on your winter bike, is now easily resolved by using your robust and well engineered gravel bike as your winter road bike option.

Traction and Grip

Traction and grip is all-important in winter, and yes – you can use winter road tyres and ride with lower tyre pressures. However, your tyre size will always be limited on your winter road bike, whilst a gravel bike is designed with the ability to take on several wheel and tyre options. Wider tyres with a deeper and more defined tread pattern will provide better grip on wet, icy, or debris-covered roads, increasing your confidence and assisting with your cycling safety. Running these wider tyres in lower pressures will also add some much need comfort on pot-hole filled and cracked road surfaces.

Bikes such as the TIME ADHX 45 can take a 650B wheel, or a 700C wheel with a 45mm tyre width – now, whilst that’s maybe overkill, using a 35mm gravel tyre with lower pressures will provide you with better grip – and, your winter bike buying is now unnecessary, thanks to your 3-season gravel bike becoming a 4-season road option. And, thanks to the wider gear ranges on your gravel bike, you’ll still be able to comfortably tackle the long and steep hills of the Dales, Lake District, or Italian countryside!

A frame built for strength and versatility

You can of course simply swap your road wheels onto your gravel frame and use winter road tyres, which will ride faster than a gravel bike – if speed is truly important to you. Thankfully, gravel bike frames are more rugged and robust though, and they’re better equipped to take on the rigorous work of a winter road bike, and the dangers that lie around every corner, due to the weather and road conditions.

Looking at the iconic TIME brand – and other high-end gravel bike options – these brands give you the opportunity to spec the frame yourself, with your own choice of gearing and groupset, finishing kit and wheels. TIME also build their ADHX frameset for speed on gravel, leaving the hardcore bikepacking options to other brands such as Surly or 3T. It means that their gravel bikes are perfectly suited for dual usage on roads, and a perfect choice of gravel bike for use as a winter road bike. All that you need to do is to make sure that the gearing is relatable to the roads you generally ride.

Personally, I like a 2×12 gear option on a gravel bike, as the hills around here are steep and unrelenting. I want my gravel bike to be able to ride up with ease, and to allow me the opportunity to speed downhill as fast as possible! When it comes to using a gravel bike as a winter road bike, the 2×12 gravel gearing setup will also perform well as a winter road bike gear choice, giving you that road type feel for gear choice.

Hydraulic disc brakes are more and more common on road bikes. However, if you have to buy a winter bike, this can be an added expense for a bike that you’re likely to use for only a few weeks each year. Thankfully, gravel bikes such as the TIME ADHX 45 come with disc brakes, meaning that when you use this gravel bike as a multi-purpose winter road bike, you’ll still have the very best stopping power to keep you safe. Make sure that you keep the callipers and discs clean though, and help to maximise their performance by maintaining them after every winter ride.

And so, there you have it: taking time to think in detail about your next gravel bike and how it can save you money when it comes to a winter road bike option, will serve you well financially and on the road. Whilst an ‘off-the-peg’ gravel bike always seems tempting – saving you from making too many decisions – by getting a professional bike fit and then building up your own ideal gravel bike, you’ll ensure that you have a gravel bike that fits you perfectly and which will serve you as more than capable winter road bike option. Focusing again on our friends at TIME, the iconic bike brand; they’ve been creating world-leading road bikes for generations and have unrivalled expertise in carbon frame production for road bikes. They’ve used this to pause and think in depth when developing their range of gravel bikes, which are equally as impressive. For all the right reasons, they’re a good starting point in providing you with a dual usage cycling solution.

Technology has made the wide tapestry of cycles even more colourful and varied. However, when finances start to impact – as they do with such modern frequency – spending more on one great bike will often be a more sensible solution that buying two mediocre bikes that will spend months tucked away and unused. Yes, if it sounds as though I’m encouraging you to choose a gravel bike as your next winter road bike, then you’re right on the mark – and you’ll be able to ride off into the summer sunset on too.

It’s Time to Ride – with Time Bikes!

Gravel bike buying guide – choosing a gravel bike for adventure

Pedalnorth Website — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:01:24 +0000

Gravel Bike Buying Guide

Time to choose your next adventure

Gravel Bike Buying Guide

Choosing a gravel bike for your next adventure!

Gravel bikes are a recent addition to the global cycling scene, but their impact has been meteoric, with the UCI already crowning world champions, and Strade Bianche becoming a modern cycling classic. Events such as ‘Unbound Gravel’ and ‘Barry Roubaix’ over in the USA, and ‘The Gralloch’ and ‘Dirty Reiver’ in the U.K. provide excellent opportunities for adventure and epic gravel bike racing.

For many people, gravel bikes enable you to unleash that spirit of adventure that’s been locked away since childhood. And, as the development of the best gravel bikes continues, the gravel biking scene grows bigger and bigger, with sub-cultures for racing, bikepacking, endurance gravel events such as the Silk Road race, allowing everyone to find their own adventure on 2-wheels! However, when you are looking to buy your first gravel bike, what do you look for? Indeed, what should a gravel bike look like, and how do you choose your own gravel bike and decide between the growing range of gravel bike options.

Critically, we need to know what actually a gravel bike is, and which are the best gravel bike brands. And yet,as innovation continues in this still developing area, the brands that are currently at the top are changing each year. It’s an area of cycling in flux, due simply to still being in its infancy.

Whilst this article isn’t definitive, we want to help you when you’re looking to buy a gravel a bike, by giving you an insight into what a gravel bike is, what defines a gravel bike, and what to look for when choosing the gravel bike that suits you and your own grave bike lifestyle. And so, here’s a brief gravel bike buying guide for you. If you’re ready, it’s time for adventure, and it’stime for us to guide you around how to choose a gravel bike. Yes, it’s time to help you to find out what constitutes the best gravel bike brands in the world currently – and, what is the best gravel bike for you.

Different types of gravel bikes

Before you jump in and buy that discounted bike online, press pause and ask yourself one simple question: what is my intention?

Firstly, consider the gravel style of riding that you’ll be doing. Will you be entering gravel races, or do you want to explore the trails and woodlands, and ride into the mountains and meadows as you set yourself free. In effect, do you need a race-orientated bike or an adventure orientated gravel bike? Once you know this, you then need to decide about the frame material. Carbon is lighter, but do you actually need a carbon frame – they’re usually more expensive and can be over-engineered for some people.

It may be that an alloy framed gravel bike is perfect for you, and that you don’t need to break the bank. Remember, it’s about you and your style of riding – nothing else. Get the basics right, and yes – you will be riding the best possible gravel bike.

Frame material is critical when you are looking at how to choose a gravel bike. Will an aluminium, steel or titanium gravel bike frame be better suited to your adventures and bike packing trips. There’s a big cost difference between aluminium, carbon and titanium, and each performs in a different way… and has a different level of comfort and longivity.

Then, there’s the wheel size to think about – 700c or 650B, the tyre clearance, drivetrain (1x vs. 2x) are just a few starting points. Will you want to add suspension to your gravel bike – yes, I know, it could easily become an original hardtail bike of time gone by! If you’re going to be gravel biking on long haul endurance trips, do you need mounting points on your gravel bike. Thankfully, U.K. based bike pannier system brand, Tailfin, lead the world on bike panniers and bags that fit out your bike – any bike – with a full bikepacking system, without the need for mounting points.

Finally, what’s your gravel bike budget for the bike and accessories – and, think about a bike fit, to ensure that you buy the right size of gravel bike for you! It can be an expensive mistake, if you buy solely with your eyes and find out that your beautiful new gravel bike doesn’t fit you and doesn’t suit your own unique riding needs.

Breaking down gravel bike design

Thankfully for you, leading brands such as TIME sell custom-built gravel bikes and framesets, as well as complete gravel bikes. This allows you to discuss your needs with them or a retailer and have your gravel created to meet your needs. First of all, let’s get this gravel bike buying guide on the road and go through the various elements that make a gravel bike and which will help you in choosing your own.

It’s Time to Ride – with Time Bikes!

Gravel bike frame

When you are choosing a gravel bike, as mentioned earlier, understanding the frame options is critical. A gravel bike frame is constructed to be stronger and more robust that a road bike frame. Whilst they may look the same, the gravel bike frame will have a longer wheelbase for stability, a higher headtube for a more relaxed riding position, and a lower bottom bracket – again for stability. The frame tubes are generally larger and shaped to help in absorbing the ride; with seat stays often flattened and curved. Some innovative brands have created area headtubes and front forks, to compensate for the wider tyres, creating super-aero designs. In terms of materials, alloys may be just right for your own gravel bike needs, being cheaper; however, carbon frames will give a lighter and more comfortable ride – especially if you get the right quality of carbon manufacturer.

Not all carbon gravel bike frames are the same though. The carbon layup and construction differs between brands and certainly between price point. The best performing, most comfortable, and the stronger carbon gravel bike frames will use a technique such as braided carbon weaving, using the best high modulus carbon fibres. Braided carbon structure is used by TIME Bikes, weaving the fibres into complex bi-directional ‘socks.’ This process allows TIME to create unique continuous, unbroken fibres that run the full length of a structure – or frame. It’s easy to imagine the integrity of many layers of uninterrupted woven fibres running through a steerer tube and being integrated into a fork crown and even down the fork legs with minimal overlapping joints.

Contrast this with standard prepreg carbon frame layup where the edge of every carbon sheet is a potential weakness. When you’ve chosen your gravel bike frame, you want to ensure that it’s flexible enough to absorb the varying terrain, giving a comfortable ride; stiff and strong enough for you to take on the technical terrain and give you precise handling; and comfortable for all-day riding, even when loaded with bags and panniers. Hopefully, you’re getting an idea already of how important it is to understand all of these issues – hence the need for a useful gravelbike buying guide.

Taking a look at one of the iconic brands with cycling, TIME; with this high-performance and high-quality company you get a carbon frame that is the result of years of innovation and engineering excellence, and which will easily cope with many years of grave bike adventures. TIME stand in the higher echolons of bicycle engineering, with their artisan team having a world-class reputation for making some of the best gravel bikes in the world today, at their production facility in Europe. In our opinion, that’s a good starting point for anyone looking to buy the first gravel bike. You will pay more than some other brands, but you’ll be getting a frame that has had everything well thought through, and which has been tested to the highest standards of engineering, performance and that all important comfort factor.

Gravel bike gearing and chainsets

When you are buying a gravel bike, you really do need to consider the gearing and chainset options. Do you go for a double or single chainset – with a double giving you a slightly better range of gearing options. If you’re riding in a steep area such as the North Yorks Moors, then a double chainset may help you on the mixed-terrain, offering you a wider range with smaller gaps for rides that take you on steep tracks and tarmac, or for racing use. For the more rolling gravel tracks such as the South Downs in the U.K., or riding the white roads of Tuscany, then a single set up will be fine and keep you rolling along smoothly.

An 11-44, 11 or 12 speed cassettes will get you going on just about all terrain, especially when paired with a good 40 or 42 tooth chainring. Each of the main brands – Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM – produce a selection of groupset options, with Campagnolo being widely recognised as the lightest, with their 1×13 speed Ekar GT groupset. Campagnolo has always been a favourite of mine, and if you do choose a high-end from such at the latest TIME ADHX45, then pairing it up with Campagnolo wouldn’t be a bad choice. Just remember though; get the right crank length for your own needs – which is where a bike fit comes in handy. Buying a high quality branded frameset such as TIME allows you to choose your own ideal groupset. If you are intending on bikepacking though, a mechanical groupset may be a better option when riding remote areas.

Gravel bike wheels and tyres

Choosing gravel bike wheels and tyre sizes is allso crucial, if you want them to match your riding style. Gravel bike wheels and tyres are designed to handle varied terrain, with options for both 700c and 650B sizes, and a wide range of tire widths and tread patterns. A 700c wheelset will give you speed and work well on mixed terrain, whilst a 650B wheelset will give you extra comfort and grip. Tyre choice shouldn’t be about price point solely. Getting the right tyre to match the terrain will keep you safe and make the ride far more enjoyable.

Ultimately, if you’re likely to use your gravel bike on mixed routes, then choose a 700c wheelset. If, however, you’re looking at endurance rides and bikepacking adventures, then consider the 650B option for that extra comfort and stability when loaded with bags and panniers.

For tyre choices, first of all check your frame clearances. Many frames these days allow for either the 700c or 650B wheel. However, each provide a different set of options for tyres themselves:

700C: The most common size, found on the majority of road and gravel bikes.
o Narrower (700×28–35mm): Best for roads and hard-packed gravel, offering speed and efficiency.
o Wider (700×38–45mm): Better for rougher and looser surfaces, providing more comfort and control.
o All-rounders (700×40–42mm): A good compromise for mixed-surface riding
650B: A smaller diameter wheel that allows for wider tyres, often used for more off-road-focused gravel riding.
o Wider (650Bx47–50mm): Ideal for comfort, grip, and tackling rough, technical terrain.

Gravel bike handlebars

Whilst this gravel bike buying guide touches only briefly on each area, it does cover the relevant information to help you in choosing the best gravel bike for you. One often overlooked component for all cyclists is the handlebar. It’s easy to choose a bike off the peg, and then to find that the handlebars are the wrong width, causing pain in the shoulders and lower back. Once again, a good professional bike fit is recommended.

Gravel bikes tend to use drop bars, which at first glance look the same as those for road bikes. However, they’re fundamentally different, as they need to cope with different terrains and different pressures.

Terrain choice in finding your perfect gravel bike

Terrain is a big consideration for gravel bike handlebar choice. For those road cyclists who want the benefit of aerodynamics, narrower handlebars might be better for you. However, if you frequently tackle technical terrain or you want a more upright and comfortable riding position, wider handlebars will give you greater control. and high degree of control, consider wider handlebars. Now for the flared design, commonly seen with gravel bike handlebars.

The flare design is critical for comfort and safety, as it enables wrists and forearms to be clear when riding in the drops and whilst tackling tough terrain. You do still need to ensure though, that the handlebar you choose is the correct width for you. And finally, choose a strong bar, meaning that unless you’re racing, an alloy handlebar will stand up to the rigours of technical tracks and loose terrain far better.

Gravel Bike Buying Guide

Ultimately, gravel biking is going to keep growing in participation, as more and more cyclists look for adventure and take to the trails as an option away from the traffic. It enables and encourages an adventurous spirit and allows you to mix your riding up, taking in roads and tracks in some of the most beautiful parts of Europe. Brands such as TIME Bikes have been innovating for many years, and now produce some of the best engineered gravel bikes in the world. Once you’ve worked through your own needs and requirements, you’ll have a better idea about what to look for yourself in choosing your own first gravel bike.

One thing is for certain though; we all need a little time for adventure – and a gravel bike will help to set your cycling spirit free!

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THE BEST CYCLING ROUTES

Is this the best gravel bike brand in the world

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:09:37 +0000

Riding into Adventure

Which is the best gravel bike

Is this the world’s best gravel bike brand

Ride into adventure

Over recent years, the gravel biking scene has exploded all over Europe and North America… and beyond! Some of the most popular races are now gravel bike events, with former pro peloton riders such as Nico Roche participating and winning UCI World titles in the Masters racing. There’s even been pro peloton UCI gravel bike world championships, with Kasia Niewiadoma becoming the first ever women’s UCI World Gravel Bike Champion. This year, Mathieu van der Poel took the men’s title, whilst all over the world, the number of mass participation gravel bike races has literally exploded: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa.

Cyclists no longer want to simply explore off-road tracks and trails and fascinating places; no, there’s a thirst for going fast too, with a professional gravel biking scene in its infancy and growing yearly. Here in the U.K., former British Cycling Education Lead, Neil Atkinson and team at Focal Events are creating epic weekend gravel bike festivals such as Dirty Reiver in Northumberland, that are already becoming legendary ‘must ride’ gravel races for all-comers.

Gravel biking is changing, innovating and evolving, in the same manner that mountian biking did some 30+ years ago, when the separation between XC and downhill became so pronounced, and more recently when Enduro entered the scene. Yes, there are already defined sub-cultures evolving within gravel biking, with trail riding, bike packing, technical gravel bikes and fast or aero gravel bikes. The gravel bike space is ripe for development for those brands that identify the direction that they want to head in, and brands such as 3T in Italy, and TIME Bikes based in Slovakia are both leading the way in frame technologies and designs – in different areas of this developing tapestry of cycle sport. TIME in particular, are renowned for their innovative engineering and quality of their carbon framesets. Using their innovative ‘Braided Carbon Structures’, their frames are industry leading – and, whilst equal to any brand in the world, their area of concentration is for the growing number of gravel leisure riders rather than the 3T orientated gravel adventure focus.

What is the best gravel bike in the world

All of this then brings us to the question: ‘what is the best gravel bike brand in the world?’ Yes, we know about Kasia and Matthieu and Nico and all those top riders. However, in terms of the mass participation gravel bike races, and the already iconic gravel bike races such as Unbound Gravel XL in America, the Grinduro Race Series for gravel bikes in Europe and North America, Dirty Reiver and of course, Badlands unsupported gravel bike race, taking in 800km of European desert in the Sierra Nevada of Spain, there’s one particular bike that frequently finds itself on the podium – and it isn’t one of the larger brand names. It’s a brand that has a deep understanding and focus on the hardcore gravel scene of adventure seekers, and which has innovation and excellence built into its fabric and dna.

3T have set out their stall as the go to brand in this adventure sector, whilst the gravel race and ‘road to gravel’ sub-culture is still developing, with brands such as Orbea and iconic TIME Bikes making waves and catching the eyes of the speed orientated gravel grinding adventure seekers. This new sub-culture within cycling is seemingly looking for something different, and these iconic brands have found the recipe for success – alongside their renowned engineering excellence.

Ultimately though, as the varying subcultures develop further, it’s interesting to see who will come out top. For now though, the geography is owned by 3T – but the likes of TIME are closing in with their innovative designs and technology, alongside a heritage that brings them worthy recognition.

These images by Ben Thorpe, EuroBike 2024

Yes, 3T Bikes from the north of Italy in particular – that artisan led, specialist bike brand since 1962 – are the most prominent brand that keeps producing some of the very best gravel adventure bikes in the world, as riders excel in these events when riding a 3T gravel bike. Interestingly too, this small but high-quality, highly engineered and beautifully designed bike brand from Italy, were also the first gravel bike brand in the world to look at how a specialist gravel bike could be made more aero for racing. The 3T Exploro was the original fast and furious gravel bike and is still one of the very best choices in the world for off-road racing snakes. The Exploro model pioneered aerodynamics for gravel bikes, including even mud-covered knobby tire wind tunnel testing (much to the chagrin of the wind tunnel staff). The race-proven 3T Exploro range gives you the speed you’re used to on asphalt and an additional advantage on wind-swept gravel tracks.

Others are of course beginning to catch them up and indeed, to overtake them with innovative ways of weaving carbon, and mixing their frames with the best components available. The gravel biking scene is developing fast, at some point, yes, 3T will be caught and maybe left with the gravel adventure sector, whilst brands such as TIME take the lead in gravel leisure. For now though, the 3T products are continuing to catch the eye of the growing community of gravel bike riders. Will this still be the same in 2 years time – who knows. Time will tell

Freedom for all – fast freedom

The 3T philosophy is built on innovation and excellence, and the spirit of adventure for all cyclists who seek freedom in the great outdoors. It’s in the Italian blood; remember the white roads of Strade Bianche – modern day cycling classic. Long before gravel riding became popular, 3T decided that they wanted to ride faster and farther on any terrain than anyone else. The resulting 3T Exploro was the first gravel bike in the cycling world to combine road speed and mountain toughness, so that you, the ordinary adventure loving gravel bike rider, can race through the smooth sections and crush the rough and technical stuff. Total freedom had arrived at last, and some of the very best gravel bikes in the world had arrived on the trails, wrapped in the Italian flag!

The latest 3T PRIMO gravel bikes maintains their badge of exquisitely engineered excellence, and rightly continues the growing status of 3t gravel bikes. The current 3T PRIMO gravel bikes all use the latest generation of the original Exploro gravel bike frame. It’s a great choice for a high-end, highly-versatile gravel bike at an affordable price, and it’s a gravel bike that is suitable for riders at all levels, and for all adventures – weekend trips or epic multi-day gravel bike adventures.

3T Race Max and Race Max Italia

The 3T RACEMAX and RACEMAX ITALIA are renowned across the cycling world as being some of the fastest gravel bikes possible, with an aero optimized frame for 35-42mm WAM (Width as Measured) tires, ready to take on the most technical and toughest of rides, or long trips, as the frame even fits up to 61mm tires. The 3T ULTRA and the EXTREMA ITALIA are designed to go fast on the worst possible terrain, aero optimized for 55-61mm tires (but of course you can spec a narrower tire too). These technical tubes of Italian engineering excellence also combine an aero seat-tube with a round seat-post, so you can use any 27.2 round, dropper or suspension post and add to rider comfort.

Engineering excellence and innovation

Ultimately then and considering the support that 3T put into gravel biking, with their already renowned, annual Jeroboam gravel bike event, 3T are towards the top in the gravel bike league table. The Jeroboam Gravel Series is a gravel cycling event series organized by 3T, and includes a variety of routes and locations, with the original edition taking place in Franciacorta, Italy. Gravel bike riders attend from all over the world, and 3T are always showing the strength of their own bikes as riders cross the line, as they continue to engage with the grassroots cycling community at numerous locations across the globe.

Above images from TIME Bicycles, Europe

TIME for change

However – and it is a very big ‘however’ – as we mentioned earlier in this piece, the landscape of gravel is changing rapidly. Clear sub-cultures are evolving and they’ll be difficult for the smaller brands to keep pace with, unless they define which route they want to take: adventure or high-performance. For me there are 3 clear areas for the future:

Gravel adventure
Gravel leisure
Gravel race

The road to gravel is key for every brand aiming to capture something from the growing community – especially as that growth is beginning to slow with cyclists pausing to reflect and think about their own direction. Brands such as TIME have some success with their TIME ADHX 45 ‘full on’ gravel bike, which kind of slotted between the gravel adventure and gravel leisure categories, whilst wanting to reach out to the grabel race category too. TIME are a brand that has never stood still – pardon the pun – and they’ll no doubt be looking to develop further in one of these categories, making it their own and giving 3T some interesting competion in the gravel race arena as the colors evolve on the gravel biking tapestry.

What does this mean for you as a gravel biker; well, you now need to take that pause and ask youself ‘which of the new gravel sub-cultures do I wnat to fit into?’ N+1 has a whole new meaning these dyas, and consumers want more from each bike. The Road to Gravel is an interesting concept, and this small phrase may well fit most people’s ideal ride. Who takes it on will be interesting.

And so, as the global cycling community heads back onto the rocky and dust-strewn and technical trails, seeking their own new challenges on gravel bikes, the answer to the question: ‘which is the best gravel bike brand in the world’ has a dual answer.

As it stands, entering 2026, 3T will likely still be leading the global off-road gravel adventure peloton, by continuing to design and to create some of the best technical and tough gravel bikes in the world – at the home of gravel biking, along the dusty white roads of Tuscany and Italy… whilst TIME and others focus elsewhere and aim their sights on capturing the evolving gravel leisure area – where comfort, companionship and responsiveness is key, and where speed is your friend.

Ultimately I guess, only TIME will tell – so, let’s wait and see

Gravel Bike Routes

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