6 of the best electric gravel bikes for 2020
Back in the day, if you wanted a road bike that could handle rougher terrain you would simply find an old steel rigid-framed mountain bike, fit a set of drop handlebars to it and maybe some mixed terrain tyres and hey presto… you’d have a gravel bike or ‘gravel grinder’. Bike manufacturers have recently been producing some very capable all-terrain drop handlebar bikes that have design cues from cyclo-cross and mountain bikes.
It was inevitable that the gravel bike would sooner or later be available in electric assist form, and most of the big names in cycling have been quick to release e-assist versions. In this article I will be looking at 6 of the best electric gravel bikes available in 2020 from big names like Orbea, Cannondale and Ribble.
What is the difference between a road bike and gravel bike?
The main differences between a regular road bike and gravel bike are subtle, yet very important. First of all you need to understand the origins of gravel bikes and how they came about.
It’s widely accepted that gravel bikes have their origins in the US. There was increasing demand for a bike that could handle the countless miles of unused tracks that crisscross the vast wilderness and forests. A regular road bike designed for use on tarmac wouldn’t cut the mustard, so riders looked to cyclo-cross bikes – but they were designed for short and often muddy courses. Mountain bikes are designed for handling rugged terrain, but they are often quite heavy, and the high-volume tyres don’t roll so well on compacted gravel surfaces.
What was needed was a bike that could cover ground fast, and yet be capable of handling more technical single track routes.. and so, the gravel bike was born!
With a true all-terrain bike, versatility is the key. And if there’s one type of bike that epitomises the word ‘versatile’ more than any other it’s the gravel bike. Equally at home on tarmac, forest trails and canal towpaths (here in the UK), gravel bikes have seen a meteoric rise in popularity amongst recreational cyclists and commuters alike.
Frame Geometry
Gravel bikes are characterised by frame geometry that is more relaxed than that or a regular road bike. A taller head tube and slacker angle for more relaxed steering, making it less twitchy than a road bike. The wheelbase will also be longer than that of a regular road bike, thus increasing stability on the road and over rough surfaces (plus increasing comfort over longer distances). A sloping top tube reduces the stand-over height making it easier to get on and off the bike. There’s also increased clearance for much wider tyres than a regular road bike – very important if you’re going to be using the bike as intended!
Why Flared drop handlebars?
Another characteristic of the gravel bike is flared drop handlebars, but why are these types of bars used on gravel bikes? The reason is simple – they offer more control and stability, plus the additional width gives a more natural position.
Gearing
When riding off-road, a simple set-up like the latest 1 x 11 gearing is much more desirable on a gravel bike. SRAM Apex and Shimano’s latest GRX groupset offer a 42t front chainring combined with an 11-42t rear cassette along with hydraulic brakes. Having the important 1:1 gear ration is important, especially when climbing steep, gravel tracks.
There’s also gear set-ups that use double compact cranksets with 46 / 30 combined with an 11-34 cassette at the rear, Shimano offer this configuration with the GRX.
Brakes
Hydraulic disc brakes are now in widespread use, not just on gravel bikes but endurance road bikes and cyclo-cross bikes. The benefits of hydraulic disc brakes are well-known – better modulation, better stopping power and excellent braking when riding in wet weather.
Wheels and Tyres
Most gravel bikes uses either the traditional 700c (28″ rim) size or the 650b (27.5″ rim) size, more commonly found on mountain bikes. What are the advantages of 650b over 700c? The most obvious one would be smaller wheel diameters equal tougher wheels.
Most gravel bikes will be fitted with gravel-specific tyres like Schwalbe’s G-One Allround or WTB ByWay. These tyres are much wider than traditional road tyres – usually between 35mm all the way up to 47mm – they’re especially designed for all-terrain riding, and although they will handle a multitude of terrains, they still roll okay on tarmac.
So what are the 6 best electric gravel bikes in 2020?
I have tried to represent a wide range of budgets in my selection, none of them are particularly cheap. But they all have their redeeming features. One of the reasons gravel e-bikes have become so popular is their incredibly versatility. They are popular with commuters and adventurers alike.
Ribble CGR AL e Gravel eBike
Ribble Cycles
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The Ribble CGR AL e is a great ebike on many levels. First of all it is the cheapest of this bunch, with the Tiagra-equipped model coming in at under £2000, but there are plenty of other options to choose from, like a 650b wheelset, SRAM’s Apex or Rival 1 x groupset or Shimano’s higher level 105 or Ultegra. You can have the CGR wearing more road-friendly tyres, or go for the full-on gravel bike experience with WTB 650 x 47c gravel tyres.
All of the options, apart from the Tiagra spec have hydraulic disc brakes, and they all use the same excellent frame. You can even specify a custom colour option (at additional cost).
Features:
- X35 ebikemotion hub motor with integrated battery
- Choice of groupsets from Taigra to Ultegra Di2
- Lightweight alloy frame with carbon fork
- Very lightweight
- Cheapest bike on this list
- The buyer can customise the specification
- Smooth pedal assist, when you really need it
- Lower battery range (if assist is used constantly)
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Orbea Gain D31 Electric Gravel Bike
Leisure Lakes Bikes
tredz limited
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Orbea were the first of the major manufacturers to use the ebikemotion rear hub system with integrated battery. The Orbea Gain D31 electric gravel bike sits mid-way in their line-up and offers up a decent spec for the money.
The D31 has a lightweight alloy frame with carbon forks, and Shimano GRX 1 x 11 drivetrain, featuring a 40t single chainring with an SLX 11-42 rear cassette, which makes spinning up steep climbs a walk in the park!
Features:
- X35 ebikemotion hub motor with integrated battery
- Shimano GRX groupset
- Lightweight alloy frame with carbon fork
- Very lightweight
- The ultimate stealth electric gravel bike
- Excellent range of gears for climbing
- Subtle but good e-assist, when you really need it
- Lower battery range (when assist is used constantly)
Orbea Gain D31 Electric Road Bike
£2,599.00
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Whyte Gosford Electric Gravel Bike
Wheelbase.co.uk
rutlandcycling.com
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When British company Whyte first released their new e-bike range last year it was nice to see a couple of road bikes in the line-up. Both the Gosford and Winchelsea are more gravel and adventure orientated, and both bikes use the excellent Fazua Evation modular ebike system.
I don’t know what it is with Whyte bikes, but I have always been strangely drawn to them! The finish is always excellent and their choice of subtle colours always works for me.
The Whyte Gosford electric gravel bike is an excellent gravel bike in every sense – it’s stable handling combined with SRAM Rival 1 x 11 drivetrain and 650b wheels with wide WTB tyres make this an excellent choice whether you are commuting or going off for weekend adventures.
Features:
- Fazua Evation motor and battery
- SRAM Apex 1 x 11 groupset – 42t + 11-42 rear cassette
- Lightweight alloy frame with carbon fork
- Fazua Evation removable drive system
- SRAM’s Apex 1 groupset is excellent
- Looks great!
- Lower assisted battery range
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Cannondale Synapse NEO SE 650b Electric Gravel Bike
Evans Cycle
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What sets the Cannondale Synapse NEO SE apart from all the other electric gravel bikes featured on this list, is it is the only one fitted with Bosch’s excellent Active Line Plus mid-drive motor. This is a different beast altogether from the Fazua and ebikemotion drive systems found on the other gravel e-bikes.
The Bosch motor really packs a punch, and combine that with a powerful 500Wh battery, you have an electric gravel bike with a potential range of up to 100 miles – although 60-70 is probably more realistic.
Of course, there is a big trade-off having a Bosch motor combined with a powerful battery – the Synapse NEO SE weighs in at a heft 18.5kg, and you definitely can’t remove the motor.
Features:
- Bosch Active Plus motor with 500Wh battery
- SRAM Apex 1 x 11 groupset
- 650b tyres
- Bosch Active Plus motor is silky smooth
- Incredibly efficient
- Excellent battery range
- Very solid build-quality
- 650b tyres
- Heavier than the competition
- Looks more like an e-bike
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Boardman ADV 8.9e Electric Adventure / Gravel Bike
Halfords
Billed as an ‘electric adventure bike’ the Boadman ADV 8.9e is designed to be equally at home on tarmac or single track. Using the Fazua drive system and SRAM’s Apex 1 x 11 groupset, the ADV 8.9e is a versatile gravel bike, that can handle a wide varieties of terrain.
The lightweight alloy frame, combined with carbon fork and Fazua motor, make for a lightweight package, with the whole bike weighing in at just shy of 16kg. Of course, if you choose to remove the motor you can reduce the weight to 12.3kg (which is lighter than my old Dawes Galaxy!)
Features:
- Fazua Evation motor and battery
- SRAM Apex 1 x 11 groupset
- Lightweight alloy frame with carbon fork
- Fazua Evation removable drive system
- SRAM’s excellent Apex 1 groupset
- Cheapest Fazua-powered ebike on this list
- Lower assisted range
Boardman ADV 8.9E Electric Bike
£2,699.00
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Bergamont E-Grandurance Elite Electric Gravel Bike
The last bike in our line-up is the excellent Bergamont E-Grandurance Elite. This electric gravel bike uses the popular Fazua Evation system, which has the benefit of being relatively lightweight (at 4.6kg) and removable. The drive system and battery neatly integrate into the frame of the bike, with the only external clue this is an e-bike being the oversized downtube.
This bike has everything you would expect on a gravel bike, from the Syncross Creston handlebars with 10 degree flare, through to the Shimano GRX 1 x 11 drivetrain and the Schwalbe G-One Allround gravel tyres.
Features:
- Fazua Evation motor and battery
- Shimano GRX groupset
- Lightweight alloy frame with carbon fork
- Fazua Evation removable drive system
- Shimano’s GRX Groupset
- The Bergamont is a great looking e-bike
- Lower assisted range
- Pricier than some of the competition
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The Verdict – What is the best Electric Gravel Bike in 2020?
Gravel bikes are going to be massive in 2020, electric or otherwise. The selection in this article only represent the tip of the iceberg – they are all excellent e-bikes in their own right, but is there one that really stands out from the rest?
I think for sheer value for money and choice, Ribble’s CGR AL e is unbeatable, with their Tiagra-equipped version coming in at under £2000. The option of customisation is also going to tempt many would-be buyers.
The Cannondale Synapse NEO SE has it all – great motor, long battery range and it’s a very capable bike. The only real caveat being the weight penalty of the Bosch motor and high capacity battery.
If you prefer the versatility of having a removable drive system, the best value Fazua Evation-powered e-bike in this selection is the Boardman ADV 8.9e, coming in at around £500 cheaper than the nearest competitor.
All the other electric gravel bikes in this selection are excellent. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal choice and budget.
If you need any help or advice choosing the right electric gravel bike, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you within 24hrs. Thanks for reading!
Check out this article on ebikechoices.com – X35 ebikemotion vs Fazua Evation
