My top 5 gravel bikes of 2024 (I've ridden 75+)

After riding more than 75 gravel bikes in recent years, here are my favorite five gravel bikes of 2024.

The criteria? Simple: what I had the most fun on in 2024.
-
This video is supported by buycycle, the global marketplace for pre-owned bikes and components.

-
Gear I use for shooting (not sponsored):

--
The Ride is supported in 2024 by:
--
0:00 intro
1:32 funding
2:50 context & preferences
4:09 Giant Revolt
6:54 Canyon Grail
11:21 buycycle
12:36 Trek Checkmate
15:15 any bike!
17:29 Specialized Crux
21:49 tell your friends

[bencyclingarage]

I hear “aero is everything” more than I would like, now I know who to blame…. 😎👊.
I’m so glad you started your own channel. Keep doing what you do buddy. Please don’t rush your healing process, we want to see you 100% recovered. Cheers

[nominoe]

Your content is so helpful. I got a revolt earlier this year mostly based on your top list from 2023. But not just because it was your top bike but because you help your viewers understand the realistic benefits and drawbacks of the bikes you review. The revolt fit all my needs and wants, and your review helped me learn that. Been absolutely loving it for the past 9 months. My first real bike and have about 2k miles on it :)

I would love to see you compare an upper end model and lower end model from one of your favorite bikes. Not just from one groupset to another but for example the carbon Crux vs the dsw crux. Or the higher end carbon frames vs lower. I’ll not be buying a top end bike any time soon but I’m very curious what I’m missing out on relatively speaking. I’m guessing and hoping very little but would be interesting to hear imo

Cheers Ben thanks for good content

[cpopte]

Now I remember why I aubscibed to this channel. Well...because I Apreciate the "straightness" and "no bullshit" kind of talk. Thanks man.

[lukewalker]

Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge of the sport Ben. Much appreciated.

[chewynnmasurmardiros]

i love a good fast ride but seeing your number 2 top bike made me so happy! nothing better than getting out and getting dusty.

[terrillford]

Let's get this man to 100k subs before UNBOUND 2025

[albertopoco]

I love your toughts about bikes ... passion for riding and a good bike it´s passed to the viewers ... thanks

[WinstonJunior]

Nice job, Ben; always a pleasure to watch your segments

[baldder]

I was looking for a Gravel Bike a few months ago. Looked at quite a few different brands. Have Canyon a real hard look but the lack of local support was a bit of a deterrent for me. Pulled the trigger on a Cannondale Topstone Carbon. Coming off flat bar riding for the past 20 years I must admit it’s amazing how comfortable being on the drops are. Enjoyed your video.

[financeandpoliticstoday]

9:19 Couldn’t afford a bike fit so I did yoga instead. So much more comfortable on the bike. Also so much better overall, better balance too.

[gregmorrison]

Good luck with the shoulder recovery Ben, been there, done that, full shoulder reconstruction, frozen shoulder sucks, I did several months riding around the local park on a single speed 26" MTB with flat pedals and my arm in a sling with a slightly lowered saddle, kept me sane and kept muscle tone and some cardio fitness, did seated 45 secs intervals up a grass bank, if anything was to go wrong I could just step off. Was awhile before I could reach the bars and start riding on the road again.
I have a 2018 Checkpoint and run a 50mm Thunderburt up front and a 47mm Pathfinder in the rear, on my roads this is faster than the 40mm tires I rode for years, mainly because the forest I ride through on most of my rides has roads built for logging trucks not cars, so it has some big rocks which a 40mm tire runs the risk of rim strike and so slower speeds. And on smoother gravel roads the 50mm front allows the use of puppy paws much more, which I tend to ride in a lot over the course of long rides.

[bobtilton]

Excellent content as usual Ben! Love my Crux and hope to see you on yours in upcoming vids!

[chasepalpatine]

Great video, Ben. Really enjoy your presentation style.

[gerryl]

Solid segment Ben. Glad to see you’re on the mend.

[MZ-muom]

This video has been a gem for the simple reason that Im knew to gravel bikes and doing research as to what bike is a good fit for me . Your content is making my task of searching very easy. Excellent information and straight to the point. I just subbed because I enjoyed your content and you're a no-nonsense type of guy and that tells me your opinions and thoughts are genuine. Thanks and have a quick recovery.

[decoherence]

How come every time I watch a Ben video, I wanna justify buying another bike? Keep 'em coming Ben.

[brianlafrance]

I love your second bike! Just get out there and do it. No matter what you ride. I bought a diverge expert a few months ago and loving it.

[jmscheel]

@Ben, love that the Crux makes it back to the top of your list! Love my ‘24 Crux and looking forward to my ‘25 Crux when it finally arrives. So simple, light, comfortable, predictable. Can’t beat it.

[gearsofmedicine]

Awesome video and glad you’re doing better - Folks this is an awesome near year-end video and bookend / been looking forward to this! Thanks Ben

[OutThere]

Two other ends of the spectrum: 1) Review a premium steel like a Ritchey road logic or the montebello with 2x11 shimano ? 2) How about best alloy? Trek checkpoint ALR? Are alloy frames really only for the beginner or are they actually more than enough for most of us?