Sigma Sports has some of the best gravel bikes available discounted in its huge Summer Sale. If you have been thinking of getting into adventure gravel riding, or fancy some gravel bike racing, now is a good time to be grabbing a discounted bargain.
Gravel riding is massive, arguably the most popular genre of cycling with gravel races and adventure riding events cropping up almost weekly. The British Gravel Championships are at the end of this month in Scotland and are sure to attract a huge field with top riders like Ineos Grenadier Connor Swift to Cyclocross National Champion Cameron Mason lining up in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Sigma Sports also offers interest-free finance on sale prices and discounts of up to 50% from capable entry-level to race-ready gravel bikes. I had a look through the gravel bikes that have been discounted and compiled the five best options that tick the boxes for a great gravel bike at the lowest price possible.
We'll be keeping a close eye on these gravel bike deals because, at such great prices, these bikes are unlikely to hang around for long, so if you're swithering on one, best to move quickly.
Recent updates
Deals checked: 12.00 Monday August 12th
Sigma Sports gravel bike deals
1. Specialized Diverge STR Expert
The Specialized Diverge in its various incarnations has been around for years, it's one of the most popular gravel bikes, and for good reason. The Diverge has always been at the forefront of gravel bike technology and the latest Diverge STR takes gravel bike riding to the next level using suspension front and rear. The STR has 20mm of travel upfront using the Future Shock system seen in older models and now gets 30mm of travel on the rear.
The all-new Future Shock at the rear is a radical-looking hydraulic damper between the seatpost and the top tube and allows it to move independently from the rest of the frame. It's also tunable to suit each rider and terrain and Specialized says the system will boost comfort and control on even the roughest of gravel rides.
2. Cinelli Zydeco
My colleague Graham Cottingham reviewed the Cinelli Zydeco King and it delivered a "confident and controlled gravel ride". This was after an upgrade on the wheels and tires and this version comes with the Mavic Allroad1 wheelset which is a budget gravel wheelset that rode very well for me while I tested the Ribble 725. The tires are the same Schwalbe CX Comp K-Guard 38mm, so the best gravel tire upgrade may be on the shopping list with the money saved.
The highlight visually is the stunning multicolor paint job that makes the Zydeco stand out from the crowd. You also get the dependable Shimano 1x11-speed mechanical GRX groupset with GRX hydraulic disc brakes.
2. Cannondale Topstone 1 GRX
The Cannondale Topstone 1 features a SmartForm C2 aluminum frame and has all of Cannondale's expertise in aluminum craftsmanship built in. The lightweight frame is paired with a full carbon fork and a spec ready for the best gravel bike adventures. Topstone has a Shimano GRX 2x12-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc braking with plenty of stopping power delivered from the 160mm rotors.
This model comes with 37mm WTB tires and WTB ST i23 TCS alloy rims, but there's plenty of clearance for up to 40mm tires, and you can add a dropper post if your adventures are hitting more technical terrain. It's a capable bikepacking workhorse designed for maximum cargo capacity with a load of fender mounting points for bikepacking bags.
3. Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon
This Diverge is one of the best gravel bikes you could ever hope to swing a leg over. From winning Unbound Gravel 200 with Ian Boswell to featuring the latest in gravel bike technology like Future Shock suspension.
This Expert model of the Diverge has a FACT 9r carbon frame and Future Shock 2.0 front suspension. The frame also has SWAT internal storage which gives plenty of space for tools, nutrition, and essentials in the downtube of the bike. SRAM provides the reliable Rival Etap AXS 1x12-speed shifting. Roval Terra C carbon rims are paired with the Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2BR 42mm tires.
4. Specialized Crux Expert
If the Diverge is Specialized's all-rounder gravel bike then the Crux is its ultimate lightweight gravel offering. At just 825g the carbon 10r frame borrows plenty from the Specialized Aethos – the lightest bike Specialized has ever made and it makes the Cruz a gravel bike that climbs like a dream and floats over the roughest of terrains.
The spec on the Expert version is great too, with the SRAM Rival eTap AXS drivetrain providing a great range of gears across the 12-speed range. Paired with Roval Terra C wheels and 38mm Specialized Pathfinder Pro tires, the Crux is ready to deliver race-ready gravel performance.
5. Orbea Terra M41ETEAM
Orbea says it has designed the Terra M41ETEAM from scratch and the result is a gravel bike ready to deliver and take the gravel experience to the next level. Terra M has a carbon frame designed to strike a balance between weight, comfort, and strength. The LOCKR system is similar to Specialized SWAT and stashes your essentials in the downtube
It has a SRAM Apex XPLR AXS drivetrain, alloy wheels and Vittoria Terreno Dry 38mm tires but has ample clearance up to 48mm.
How to choose the best gravel bike
How much should I spend on a decent gravel bike?
As with any cycling niche, some bikes demand some pretty astronomical price tags. Even gravel bikes that are considered mid-range can still cost upwards of £3,500.
Luckily, there are plenty of really good cheap gravel bikes too. You may not get fancy carbon parts and electronic shifting but they still offer a lot of performance whether you're looking to get into gravel riding or bikepacking.
How much should a gravel bike weigh?
With tougher frames and stronger components, it's no surprise that gravel bikes can weigh more than road bikes. Frame materials used in the construction can see big differences in weight with carbon, alloy and steel being the most popular. A gravel bike's weight can range between 8kg to 13kg, more capable gravel bikes can weigh the same as the best lightweight hardtail MTBs and will have similar components such as suspension forks and dropper posts.
What is a gravel bike best for?
The obvious answer is that a gravel bike is best at riding on gravel. What's actually considered gravel is vague and can span everything from unpaved roads and well-maintained access paths to remote mountain tracks.
Before you invest in a gravel bike we recommend thinking about the riding you intend on doing. If you want to race, ride fast, or want a bike that can cross over onto the road as well then look for a lighter, racier bike like the Specialized Crux. or the recently reviewed Canyon Grail. If you're looking to push the limits of what is possible on a drop bar bike or head out on an adventure then a sturdier, bike will be better suited, and the Canyon Grizl.
What should I know about component selection?
For most riders, picking the right bike is about finding a balance between being confident and comfortable on a ride without sacrificing too much speed. Previously gravel bikes borrowed componentry from both road and mountain bikes but as the discipline has grown brands have developed gravel-specific parts.
Gravel drivetrains incorporate narrow-wide chainrings and clutched derailleurs to keep the chain on, wheel diameter widths are optimized for gravel tires and the best gravel handlebars combine wider width and flare for more control off-road.
Which wheel size is best for gravel – 700c or 650b?
The wheel and tire size debate seems to have settled on fast-rolling 700c x 35mm. However no one wheel size or tire width suits everything. The best gravel bike tire should reflect your terrain, riding style, and bike tire limitations. Luckily most of the best gravel bikes allow the option to run either 700c or 650b, so it is possible to experiment with different setups to see which works best for you.
Larger 700c wheels will generally roll faster on smoother surfaces as well as improve rollover capability thanks to their greater diameter. Smaller 650b wheels can offer a different ride altogether and I loved the Ribble 725 for its nibble handling and comfort.
Many brands are developing frames able to accommodate large volume 700c x 45mm+ tires so the days of 650b could be numbered.
Does a gravel bike need suspension?
Many of the best gravel bikes have some sort of suspension. From the straightforward suspension fork like the RockShox Rudy to more subtle built-in offerings like Specialized Future Shock. The benefit of suspension systems for gravel bikes is that the rider gets the benefit of extra comfort without compromising tire pressures or component choices. It's down to rider preference and what suits the type of riding you plan on doing.
