I test bicycles for a living, here are the 5 must-have features to look for when buying a budget gravel bike

On One Rujo gravel bike.

Testing bikes for a living has taught me a huge amount about what really matters if you want to get maximum fun and performance out of your gravel bike. If you pick carefully, the important things don’t have to cost a fortune either. So here are my top five essential elements of the best budget gravel/all-road bikes.

Having lots of clearance around the fork and the rear of the bike means you can switch to higher volume tires for more comfort and grip (Image credit: Rich Owen)