Gravel cycling is not a trend in India — it is a natural fit. The reality of Indian cycling is that even the best "paved" roads have sections of broken tarmac, gravel shoulders, unpaved village connections, and surfaces that change without warning. A bike built to handle all of this is not a niche machine — it is the most practical bike an Indian cyclist can own.
Beyond practicality, India's geography is a gravel paradise. The high-altitude passes of Spiti and Ladakh, the forest trails of the Western Ghats, the desert tracks of Rajasthan, the tea plantation roads of Munnar, and the village networks of rural Karnataka — these are routes that road bikes cannot access and mountain bikes are overkill for. A gravel bike unlocks all of them.
This guide covers every gravel bike and gravel frameset available at Cobbled Climbs — from race-focused carbon machines to adventure-ready aluminium workhorses — ranked by terrain type, riding style, and budget.
Need help choosing the right gravel bike? Ask CC-360, our AI cycling assistant, for a personalised recommendation based on your terrain, budget, and component preferences.
What Makes a Gravel Bike Different
A gravel bike sits between a road bike and a mountain bike — combining drop-bar efficiency with off-road capability. Understanding the key differences helps you choose the right machine.
| Feature | Road Bike | Gravel Bike | Mountain Bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre clearance | 25-32mm | 35-50mm | 2.0-2.6" (50-65mm) |
| Geometry | Aggressive, low front end | Relaxed, stable, longer wheelbase | Upright, very slack head angle |
| Handlebars | Drop bars (narrow) | Drop bars (often flared for control) | Flat bars |
| Brakes | Disc or rim | Disc only (standard) | Disc only |
| Gearing | High (fast on smooth roads) | Wide range (1x or 2x, low gears for climbing) | Very wide range with very low gears |
| Mounting points | Minimal (2 bottle cages) | Extensive (bottles, racks, bags, mudguards) | Some (bottles, racks on some models) |
| Suspension | None | None (tyre compliance) or minimal | Front fork, often rear shock |
| Weight | 7-9 kg | 8-11 kg | 11-15 kg |
| Best terrain | Smooth tarmac | Mixed roads, gravel, light trails | Rough trails, single-track, rocks |
| Indian suitability | Good highways and city roads | Excellent for all Indian riding | Mountain trails, very rough terrain |
Best Gravel Bikes by Brand — Premium Carbon
Cervélo Áspero
Cervélo brings their aerospace-level carbon engineering to gravel. The Áspero is a gravel race bike — designed for speed on mixed surfaces rather than loaded touring. The frame geometry is closer to a road bike than most gravel machines, which means it is fast on tarmac sections while still clearing 42mm tyres. The carbon layup is tuned for compliance over rough surfaces while maintaining stiffness for sprinting. If you race gravel events or want the fastest gravel bike possible, the Áspero is the benchmark.
Basso Palta II
Basso from Italy crafts beautiful bikes with meticulous attention to detail. The Palta II is their gravel platform — full carbon frame with internal cable routing, thru-axle front and rear, and clearance for up to 45mm tyres. The Italian design philosophy means the Palta II looks as stunning as it rides. Basso frames are known for their ride quality — a smooth, composed character that eats up rough Indian roads without transmitting harshness to the rider. Available as a frameset for custom builds.
Orbea Terra
Orbea from Spain offers one of the most versatile gravel platforms available. The Terra comes in multiple configurations — from race to adventure — with Orbea's MyO customisation programme letting you choose components, colours, and build spec. The carbon frame features dropped seatstays for enhanced rear compliance and clears up to 45mm tyres. The Terra balances race-day speed with touring capability, making it a true do-everything gravel bike.
Wilier Jena
Wilier Triestina from Italy brings over a century of frame-building heritage to gravel. The Jena is their flagship gravel bike — a full carbon frame with integrated cockpit, internal routing, and room for up to 45mm tyres. Wilier's carbon layup technology provides excellent vibration absorption on rough surfaces. The Jena is available with Shimano GRX, SRAM Rival, or Campagnolo Ekar builds.
Festka Rover
Festka from the Czech Republic is a bespoke frame builder — every frame is custom-made to the rider's measurements and specifications. The Rover is their gravel platform, available in carbon or steel, and built to your exact body geometry. For Indian cyclists who want a truly personal gravel bike that fits perfectly, Festka represents the pinnacle of bespoke craftsmanship. Browse bespoke framesets at Cobbled Climbs.
Chapter 2 Ao
Chapter 2 from New Zealand designs frames with a focus on ride quality and aesthetics. The Ao is their gravel bike — a carbon frame with elegant lines, internal routing, and up to 45mm tyre clearance. Chapter 2's design ethos prioritises how the bike feels over pure spec-sheet numbers, resulting in a gravel bike that is a joy to ride on India's varied surfaces.
Best Gravel Bikes — Mid-Range Performance
Merida Silex
Merida offers outstanding value across their range, and the Silex is their gravel-specific platform. Available in both carbon and aluminium, the Silex features generous tyre clearance (up to 47mm), a comfortable geometry for long days in the saddle, and multiple mounting points for bikepacking. The aluminium Silex models are particularly compelling — genuine gravel performance at a price that undercuts carbon competitors significantly. Excellent for Indian adventure riding.
Felt Breed
Felt brings their engineering pedigree to gravel with the Breed series. The carbon Breed features UHC Performance or Advanced carbon construction, 1x-specific design, and aggressive geometry for gravel racing. The aluminium Breed 30 is an excellent mid-range entry point with solid components. Felt's design philosophy focuses on performance per rupee, making the Breed series strong value.
Best Gravel Bikes — Adventure & Bikepacking
Kona Rove
Kona from British Columbia builds bikes for adventure, and the Rove is their gravel touring platform. Available in steel and aluminium, the Rove is designed for loaded riding — extensive mounting points for racks, panniers, and bikepacking bags, stable geometry that handles heavy loads predictably, and clearance for up to 47mm tyres. The steel Rove models offer the classic touring feel — smooth, compliant, and built to last decades. For Manali-Leh, Spiti Valley, and multi-week Indian adventures, the Kona Rove is purpose-built.
Marin Gestalt
Marin from California offers the Gestalt series as their all-road/gravel platform. The Gestalt X balances gravel capability with road comfort — wider tyres than a road bike but faster-rolling geometry than a dedicated adventure bike. Available with carbon and aluminium frames. The Gestalt's versatility makes it an excellent choice for Indian cyclists who split time between city commuting, weekend gravel rides, and occasional multi-day trips.
Best Gravel Bikes — Budget Entry
Polygon Bend
Polygon from Indonesia delivers genuine gravel performance at the most accessible price points. The Bend series uses aluminium frames with quality components — disc brakes, wide-range gearing, and clearance for proper gravel tyres. For Indian cyclists who want to try gravel riding without a major investment, Polygon Bend is the smart entry point. The price-to-component ratio is exceptional.
Jamis Renegade
Jamis has been building gravel-capable bikes since before "gravel" was a category. The Renegade series spans budget to premium, with the aluminium models offering excellent value. Jamis's SSTi butted tubing (on steel models) provides a smooth ride quality that absorbs Indian road imperfections beautifully. The Renegade's relaxed geometry and extensive mounting points make it a natural choice for Indian touring and adventure riding.
Fuji Jari
Fuji offers the Jari as their gravel entry — aluminium frames with reliable components at accessible pricing. The Jari features clearance for 45mm tyres, disc brakes, and a comfortable geometry for all-day riding. A solid budget gravel bike for Indian conditions.
Titanium & Steel — The Forever Gravel Bike
Van Nicholas
Van Nicholas from the Netherlands handcrafts titanium frames that combine the ride quality of steel with the lightweight durability of modern materials. Titanium does not corrode, does not fatigue under normal use, and provides a uniquely smooth ride quality that many cyclists consider the ultimate frame material for gravel. A Van Nicholas gravel frame is a lifetime investment — it will outlast every other component on the bike by decades. For the Indian cyclist who wants one gravel frame forever, titanium from Van Nicholas is the answer.
Bastion Cycles
Bastion from Australia creates titanium frames with carbon fibre tube junctions — a hybrid construction that combines titanium's ride quality with carbon's stiffness at key stress points. Their gravel frames are bespoke — built to your measurements and specifications. Available alongside other bespoke framesets at Cobbled Climbs.
Complete Gravel Bike Comparison Table
| Bike | Frame | Max Tyre | Groupset Options | Best For | Budget Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cervélo Áspero | Carbon | 42mm | SRAM Rival/Force AXS, Shimano GRX | Gravel racing, fast mixed rides | ₹2,50,000+ |
| Basso Palta II | Carbon | 45mm | Shimano GRX, SRAM, Campagnolo Ekar | All-round gravel, Italian craftsmanship | ₹2,00,000+ (frameset) |
| Orbea Terra | Carbon | 45mm | GRX, SRAM AXS, customisable | Versatile — race to adventure | ₹2,00,000+ |
| Wilier Jena | Carbon | 45mm | GRX, SRAM, Campagnolo Ekar | Italian design, integrated cockpit | ₹2,20,000+ |
| Chapter 2 Ao | Carbon | 45mm | GRX, SRAM AXS | Ride quality, aesthetics | ₹2,00,000+ (frameset) |
| Merida Silex | Carbon or Aluminium | 47mm | GRX, Shimano 105 | Value, adventure, all-round | ₹80,000–₹2,00,000 |
| Felt Breed | Carbon or Aluminium | 45mm | GRX, SRAM Apex/Rival | Performance gravel, racing | ₹1,00,000–₹2,50,000 |
| Kona Rove | Steel or Aluminium | 47mm | Shimano Tiagra/105, GRX | Adventure, bikepacking, touring | ₹70,000–₹1,50,000 |
| Marin Gestalt | Carbon or Aluminium | 45mm | GRX, Shimano 105 | Commuting + gravel versatility | ₹80,000–₹1,80,000 |
| Van Nicholas (Gravel) | Titanium | 45mm+ | Custom build | Lifetime frame, ultimate ride quality | ₹2,50,000+ (frameset) |
| Polygon Bend | Aluminium | 42mm | Shimano Claris/Sora/Tiagra | Budget gravel entry | ₹45,000–₹80,000 |
| Jamis Renegade | Steel or Aluminium | 45mm | Shimano Tiagra/105, GRX | Touring, adventure, all-round | ₹60,000–₹1,50,000 |
| Fuji Jari | Aluminium | 45mm | Shimano Sora/Tiagra | Budget gravel, value | ₹50,000–₹80,000 |
Gravel Bike Component Essentials
Tyres
Tyres are the single most impactful component on a gravel bike — they determine grip, comfort, rolling speed, and puncture protection. For Indian gravel, run tubeless for self-sealing puncture protection. Continental Terra Speed (fast rolling), Schwalbe G-One Allround (versatile), WTB Riddler (aggressive grip), Vittoria Terreno (mixed terrain), and Maxxis Rambler (loose gravel) are all excellent options. Read our tyres guide for detailed gravel tyre recommendations.
Groupsets
Shimano GRX: The purpose-built gravel groupset. Available in GRX 400 (10-speed), GRX 600/810 (11-speed mechanical), and GRX Di2 (11-speed electronic). Key gravel features: clutch rear derailleur, sub-brake levers for the tops, and optimised chainring sizing (40T/42T for 1x, 46/30T for 2x). Read our Shimano vs SRAM comparison.
SRAM AXS: Wireless electronic shifting with SRAM's 1x philosophy. Rival AXS (affordable), Force AXS (performance), Red AXS (premium). SRAM's wide-range cassettes (10-36T, 10-44T) enable 1x setups that cover the full gear range needed for Indian gravel climbing.
Campagnolo Ekar: The world's first 13-speed gravel groupset. 1x-only design with a 9-42T cassette that provides the widest gear range of any mechanical groupset. Italian engineering meets gravel functionality. Read our complete groupset comparison.
Wheels
Gravel-specific wheels need to handle wider tyres, rougher impacts, and tubeless setup. Wide internal rims (21-25mm) optimise 38-45mm tyre profiles. Scope, Fulcrum, DT Swiss, and Mavic all make gravel-specific wheelsets. Read our wheels guide for details.
Bags & Bikepacking Gear
Gravel bikes are purpose-built for carrying gear. Multiple mounting points accommodate bikepacking bags from Restrap, Ortlieb, and Topeak. Read our bikepacking bags guide for route-specific recommendations.
Best Indian Gravel Routes
| Route | Region | Distance | Terrain | Best Season | Recommended Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manali to Kaza (Spiti Valley) | Himachal Pradesh | ~200km | High-altitude gravel, river crossings, scree | June–September | 42-45mm aggressive tread |
| Coorg Coffee Trails | Karnataka | 50-150km loops | Plantation roads, packed dirt, light mud | October–March | 38-40mm all-round |
| Rajasthan Desert Trails | Rajasthan | 200-400km | Sand, hard-pack, village roads | November–February | 42-45mm high-volume |
| Western Ghats Forest Roads | Maharashtra/Goa | 80-200km | Forest service roads, broken tarmac, creek crossings | October–May | 38-42mm versatile |
| Meghalaya Living Root Bridges | Meghalaya | 60-120km | Subtropical jungle trails, stone paths, mud | November–March | 42-45mm aggressive |
| Tamil Nadu Temple Circuit | Tamil Nadu | 150-300km | Village roads, broken tarmac, flat terrain | November–February | 35-38mm fast rolling |
How to Choose: Quick Decision Guide
| If You... | Choose This | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the fastest gravel race bike | Cervélo Áspero or Felt Breed | Race geometry, aggressive positioning, speed-focused |
| Want Italian craftsmanship and ride quality | Basso Palta II or Wilier Jena | Beautiful carbon, smooth ride, Italian heritage |
| Want maximum versatility | Orbea Terra or Merida Silex | Race to adventure in one frame, customisable |
| Plan multi-week Indian bikepacking | Kona Rove (steel) or Jamis Renegade (steel) | Built for loaded touring, rack mounts, reliable steel |
| Want a bike that lasts forever | Van Nicholas (titanium) or Bastion | Titanium frames are lifetime investments |
| Want a bespoke frame built to your body | Festka Rover or Bastion | Custom geometry, handmade to your measurements |
| Need the best value entry into gravel | Polygon Bend or Fuji Jari | Genuine gravel performance at budget prices |
| Want a gravel bike for city commuting too | Marin Gestalt or Merida Silex | Versatile enough for daily urban use and weekend gravel |
Where to Buy Gravel Bikes in India
Cobbled Climbs offers the widest range of gravel bikes and framesets in India — from Cervélo, Basso, Orbea, Wilier, Merida, Kona, Marin, Polygon, Jamis, Fuji, Van Nicholas, Festka, Bastion, and Chapter 2. Complete builds and framesets available with free shipping above ₹2,500 and 5% cashback.
Not sure which gravel bike suits your terrain and budget? Ask CC-360 for a personalised recommendation.
Related Guides
- How to Choose Gravel Cycling Gear for India 2026
- Best Road Bike Wheels India 2026
- Best Tyres for Indian Roads 2026
- Shimano vs SRAM: Complete Groupset Comparison
- Campagnolo vs Shimano vs SRAM 2026
- Best Bikepacking & Cycling Bags India 2026
- 10 Best Road Bikes for Indian Roads 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best gravel bikes in India?
Premium: Cervélo Áspero, Basso Palta II, Orbea Terra, Wilier Jena. Mid-range: Merida Silex, Felt Breed. Adventure: Kona Rove. Budget: Polygon Bend, Jamis Renegade.
Gravel bike vs road bike — what is the difference?
Gravel bikes have wider tyres (35-50mm vs 25-32mm), more relaxed geometry, disc brakes, lower gearing, and extensive mounting points. For Indian conditions where road quality varies dramatically, a gravel bike is often more practical than a pure road bike.
What tyre size for gravel in India?
38-42mm is the sweet spot. 35-38mm for mixed road/light gravel. 40-42mm for Spiti, Rajasthan, Western Ghats. 45-50mm for very rough terrain. Run tubeless with sealant. Browse tyres at Cobbled Climbs.
Which groupset for gravel in India?
Shimano GRX (purpose-built for gravel), SRAM AXS (wireless electronic), or Campagnolo Ekar (13-speed). Key feature: clutch rear derailleur to prevent chain drop on rough terrain.
Can I use a gravel bike for commuting in India?
Absolutely. Wider tyres handle potholes, disc brakes work in monsoon, upright geometry gives traffic visibility, mounting points carry work gear. A gravel bike with 35-38mm tyres is arguably the most practical bike for Indian urban cycling.
Carbon vs aluminium gravel frame?
Carbon: lighter, better vibration absorption, aero shaping. Aluminium: more affordable, impact-resistant for off-road crashes, easier to repair. For Indian adventure and bikepacking, aluminium is practical. For gravel racing and road-biased riding, carbon is superior.
What are the best gravel routes in India?
Spiti Valley (Manali-Kaza), Coorg coffee trails, Rajasthan desert trails, Western Ghats forest roads, Meghalaya living root bridge trails, Tamil Nadu temple circuit. A gravel bike with 40-42mm tyres and bikepacking bags covers all of these.
Do I need suspension on a gravel bike?
For most Indian gravel riding, no. Wide tubeless tyres at lower pressures provide sufficient cushioning. 40mm at 35-40 PSI absorbs bumps effectively. Suspension adds weight and complexity. Only consider suspension for very rough mountain bike trails.
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