Velo crew tests six gravel bikes on 100km British Columbia ride
Testing six contrasting gravel bikes on a 100-kilometer ride up British Columbia’s Sea to Sky corridor from Squamish to Whistler, Velo’s field test crew evaluated machines ranging from lightweight race setups to drop-bar mountain bikes, velo.outsideonline.com reported on October 26, 2026.
Diverse Terrain and Control Tires Test Six Bikes
Devised by host Mike Levy, the 100-kilometer test route pushed riders and equipment across a diverse spectrum of terrain. The course featured smooth champagne gravel, loose stretches of large rocks, steep climbs, technical singletrack, and paved road connectors. To isolate frame and component performance from tire variables, all six test bikes were fitted with control tires consisting of 50mm Schwalbe G-One RX models run at identical pressures on Easton EC90 ALX wheels.
The Six Test Bikes
The test fleet captured the broad design spectrum of contemporary gravel engineering. Giant’s Revolt Advanced SL 0 entered as the all-rounder race and adventure platform, equipped with SRAM Red XPLR and a claimed 53mm tire clearance at a tested weight of 7.85kg (17.3lbs) in size ML. Factor’s Sarana positioned itself as an ultra-endurance machine with SRAM Force XPLR, 56mm tire clearance, and a weight of 9.58kg (21.12lbs) for a Medium frame. Argon 18 brought the Anti Matter, featuring an aerodynamic approach with SRAM Red, 55mm clearance, and an 8.5kg (18.74lbs) Medium build. Obed’s GVR offered a progressive race geometry weighing 9.12kg (20.1lbs) with 56mm clearance and SRAM Red XPLR on a Medium frame. Pivot’s Les SL Drop Bar leaned toward mountain bike capability, utilizing a SRAM GX Eagle Transmission 12-speed drivetrain, 29×2.4-inch tire clearance, and a 9.78kg (21.56lbs) Medium weight. Finally, the Salsa Fargo 32 Ti tested the limits of big wheels, featuring 60mm tire clearance, SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, and a weight of 9.48kg (20.9lbs) for a Medium size.
Three Riders Bring Different Philosophies to Testing
The testing crew brought three distinct riding philosophies to the project. Mike Levy represented a technical, rowdy mountain bike background favoring remote and rugged terrain. Josh Ross focused on long-distance efficiency across the Pacific Northwest, while Logan Jones-Wilkins brought elite racing credentials, including an 18th-place overall finish at the Unbound 200. With three riders and six bikes, test assignments for the second half of the 100km route were decided through go-kart racing. Josh’s background in Los Angeles underground street racing secured him the fastest track times, giving him the authority to choose which bikes Logan would ride.
Production Crew and Bike Shop Support the Test
The field test production was supported by Will Tracy and Max Barron handling photography, alongside a video team consisting of Logan Patrick Nelson, Max Barron, and Stefan Licko, with Stefan Licko also serving as video editor. Bike shop support was provided by Bici Lunch, while Kei truck driving, chauffeuring, and wrangling duties were managed by Will Tracy and Brian Park.