When Zipp launched the 303 XPLR SW in 2024 with a 32mm internal width, it felt like a line in the sand. Nobody had pushed a production gravel wheel that wide before, and the message was clear: the era of putting 45mm tires on 25mm rims was over. Now ENVE has responded with the G SES lineup — and specifically the 6.7 Pro at 35mm internal — and the aero gravel wheel market looks meaningfully different than it did twelve months ago. ...
If you’ve been paying attention to Canyon’s releases over the past year, there’s a pattern worth noting. The Aeroad CFR established the template — deep aero tubes, integrated cockpit, dropped seatstays, built purely for speed. Then last month the Endurace CFR showed up and took that same design language, added a little more tire clearance, and called it an endurance road bike. We actually covered that one here on Mizubikes. Now at The Traka in Girona this week, Canyon’s new team — the Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing squad — showed up to race on what appears to be an unreleased Grail CFR, and it’s exactly what you’d expect if you’ve been following the thread: Aeroad DNA, pushed all the way into gravel. ...
The line between a gravel bike and a mountain bike has been blurring for years. But 2025 was the year it basically disappeared. At the Leadville Trail 100, two of the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s races were on drop bar mountain bikes — full suspension included. Keegan Swenson won on a Santa Cruz Blur with drops. Melisa Rollins podiumed on a drop-bar Liv full suspension. Dylan Johnson, the godfather of the drop bar MTB experiment, showed up on an Unno Horn with a Fox suspension fork and GRX shifters. ...
The current Specialized Crux has been around in essentially the same form since 2021. That’s a long time in a category that’s been moving as fast as gravel. Aero gravel bikes have gone mainstream, tire clearance expectations have climbed, and integrated cockpits are now table stakes at the top end. The Crux, for all its strengths — and it’s still one of the lightest gravel bikes you can buy — is showing its age. ...
If you’re shopping for your first gravel bike and trying to make sense of tire clearance specs, here’s the first thing to understand: the number on the spec sheet isn’t the full story. I recently tested this on the Specialized Crux. The stated max clearance is 47mm — but I mounted a 50c tire in the rear and a 2.1" up front to see what the frame could actually handle. Watch the full video here. ...
Upgrading a hardtail mountain bike into a gravel beast with a drop bar setup is easier than ever with SRAM’s AXS wireless components. Here’s the complete list of parts needed to pull off a clean and functional hardtail gravel bike drop bar conversion. Choosing the right parts ensures your bike remains fast, durable, and comfortable across all kinds of terrain. Essential Parts Needed for a Hardtail Gravel Bike Drop Bar Conversion SRAM Force eTap AXS Drop Bar Shifters (wireless) SRAM GX Eagle AXS Rear Derailleur SRAM GX Eagle Boost Crankset - 170mm, 12-Speed, 32t Sram XG-1275 GX Eagle 12-Speed Cassette SRAM AXS Batteries and Charger Gravel handlebar: Zipp SL 70 XPLR Drop Handlebar - Carbon 31.8mm 40cm Matte Black Shorter Stem (60-80mm for ideal reach and handling) SRAM Hydraulic Brake Calipers Handlebar Tape Brake Hose/Cable Routing Supplies (if reconfiguring brakes) Choosing Brake Calipers for a Post Mount Frame Most mountain bike frames, including hardtails, use post mount brake calipers. This is an important detail when selecting brakes for your drop bar conversion. You have three solid options: ...
Hardtail gravel bike conversion Gravel bikes are all the rage—but what if you already have a capable hardtail mountain bike frame sitting in your garage? That’s the question I asked before starting a hardtail gravel bike conversion using a Cannondale Scalpel HT. Spoiler: with the right parts, it might be better than a dedicated gravel frame—especially for mixed terrain, chunkier fire roads, or long-distance bikepacking. Why Convert a Hardtail to a Gravel Bike? The Cannondale Scalpel HT is a lightweight, progressive XC race hardtail, and it turns out to be an ideal platform for a hardtail gravel bike conversion. Here’s why: ...
Why the 2025 Cannondale Super X Is the Ultimate Gravel Race Bike The 2025 Cannondale Super X is here, and it’s better than ever. With a sleek aerodynamic frame, improved tire clearance, and long-overdue design changes, Cannondale has taken an already legendary cyclocross and gravel race bike and made it even more versatile. If you’re wondering what makes this bike so special, here’s why the 2025 Super X stands out from the competition. ...