Fall cycling season is in full swing. So dig into our top picks for the best gravel, mountain, and commuting bikes and gear.
Cannondale
Super Six EVO SE
Ready to up your gravel game? Cannodale’s brand new ride melds the best features of its SuperX and EVO to create one responsive gravel race bike. The Super Six EVO SE sports the performance of a race bike with a carbon frame and slick aerodynamics but it’s got the beef for dirt with high enough clearance to run 45mm tires and short chainstays to eat up gritty climbs. It’s the machine you want if you are eying the podium. $5,000; cannondale.com
Liv
Devote Advanced
Women-specific bike brand Liv continues to impress us with this series of gravel grinders that can handle everything from racing to bikepacking adventures. The advanced-grade composite frame and fork feature female geometry that allow for all-day riding and precise handling on gnarly roads. Plus, internal cable routing protects componentry from dust and grit, and it has the clearance to run big 45c tires. $2,650–$6,150; liv-cycling.com
Brompton
Electric Folding Bike
Meet the perfect ride for commuting and travel. This nifty cycle—available in three or six speeds—combines the versatility of a folding rig with the power of an ebike—meaning you can stash it in the office and not have to worry about sweating out your work clothes. It features three levels of pedal assist and an app helps you control and monitor all your activity through your phone. It’s ideal for anyone who lives in a small apartment. $3,499; us.brompton.com
GT
Sensor Sport
Want to get into mountain biking but frustrated by low-end bikes that make the ride miserable or high-end machines that are far beyond your budget? Here’s a reasonably priced mountain bike that gives you the on-trail performance of a far spendier ride. RockShox suspension and a Shimano drive train impart the 29er with some guts when you hit the singletrack, and the alloy frame can take a beating out there. $2,350; gtbicycles.com
Charge Bikes
Charge XC
Here’s an ebike with a sane price tag that has the mojo to tackle errands around town, commuting, and joy rides on the pavement and dirt paths. Weighing in at 55 pounds (with battery) and able to ride 50 miles per charge with pedal assist speeds up to 20 mph, it features folding handlebars for storage and integrated lights, racks, and fenders, and it can even bomb some easy singletrack if the mood strikes you. $2,499; chargebikes.com
Küat
Piston Pro X
Küat’s latest rack is a triumph of innovation. The brand took all it learned from 12 years of building racks to perfect this beauty that can be operated with one tap and does not contact the bike frame to hold it secure. It’s adaptable for a wide range of bike sizes and Küat specifically worked to keep it wobble-free. Best of all the metal is impervious to the abuse of road salt. $1,389; kuat.com
Anamoly
Performance MTB Shoe
This Kickstarter campaign impressed us with a rethinking of the flat pedal bike shoe. The key is the brand’s Hero Rubber compound, which sticks like clip pedals, partnered with the style of a skate shoe. Anamoly has also started offering wide sizes, one of the few bike brands to accommodate those of us with big flippers. $159 (low top), $159 (high top); bit.ly/3t1x6T9
Sweet Protection
Trailblazer MIPS
Offering a slick style with an adjustable visor and MIPS protection to minimize the brain sloshing against the skull upon impact that causes a concussion, the Trailblazer keeps you safe and looking good on the trail. But don’t just take it from us: The Virginia Tech Biomechanics Helmet Lab rated this brain bucket as the best of more than 120 helmets it tested. $180; sweetprotection.com
Recover Brands
Sport Tee
Built from plastic bottles this performance tee does not feel like something you’d toss into the recycle bin. It’s soft to the touch, wicks sweat and stink, and regulates temperature whether you are grinding it out in the heat or facing a chill breeze. All that adds up to the perfect mountain bike shirt that can pull double duty if you are hiking or running, too. $25; recoverbrands.com
Pearl Izumi
Women’s Expedition Thermal Jersey
Cooler fall and winter temperatures shouldn’t cut down your ride time, but you do need to dress for the weather. The solution? This fleece sweater that won’t cramp your style in the saddle but will keep your core cozy when the cold takes hold. $130; pearlizumi.com
Gregory
Drift 10
With plenty of stash space to haul layers and food on long rides and a 3-liter hydration bladder, this pack will become your best friend this fall whether you are hitting the singletrack or the gravel. An adjustable hip belt keeps it secure when you are bombing downhills or navigating tricky climbs. $120; gregorypacks.com
Skratch Labs
Sport Crispy Rice Cake
Who doesn’t enjoy a good treat on the trail? How about a goody that will improve your performance? Skratch Labs created these treats with brown rice, wild rice, red rice, and quinoa and they hit you with 180 calories from a blend of complex and simple carbohydrates that won’t let you bonk on a tough pull. And don’t worry about your restrictions: They’re gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. $2.45; skratchlabs.com
Shimano
DURA-ACE R9200
Don’t worry road riders. We didn’t forget about you. Shimano’s brand new road componentry packages are going to get you excited to put down some serious miles this autumn. Featuring 12-speeds and wireless shifting, these sleek, light upgrades that just dropped this month are going to have you rebuilding your bike. Check them out at shimano.com.
