What started as an alternative niche, gravel has rapidly grown over the last decade and, for better or for worse, the gravel racing scene has become increasingly more serious. Events have grown in stature, with more eyes and more money than ever, and it's now attracting some of the biggest names in cycling. Brands have been quick to jump on the bandwagon too, and the start line of any prominent race on the gravel calendar has become awash with some serious tech.
With racing now extremely competitive and rules still relatively lenient around innovation, riders are doing everything they can to squeeze every ounce of performance from the best gravel bikes, resulting in all manner of bleeding-edge tech on show at events like the Traka and Unbound. For the tech nerds, it's a proverbial smorgasbord, but for most everyday riders who aren’t hunting the marginal gains for their gravel ride, it can all become a bit clinical, obsessive and boring.
