The Outdoor Retailer trade show is a visual feast: everywhere you turn there are built-out camper vans, walls of insulated water bottles, eye-catching apparel and of course, cute dogs. However, while I was walking the floor at this summer's show, something decidedly less flashy caught my eye: this gravel bike from Decathlon.
If you're unfamiliar with Decathlon, it's one of the largest and most well-known outdoor retailers and product developers in Europe. Akin to the United States' REI, Decathlon is well-known for making reasonably-priced, entry level camping gear that won't break down or break your wallet.
The brand's newest gravel bike, which has launched in Europe but won't be available in the U.S. until spring 2023, is appealing for one obvious reason: at $3,499, it's significantly less pricey than its counterparts on the market, and still comes with a host of technical performance features that make it a bike anyone can ride.
Welded in Italy, the titanium frame offers comfort and performance, and the bike is hand-assembled in France. The GRVL 900 features GRX hydraulic disc brakes, a Shimano GRX 600 40T-11/42 groupset and Fulcrum 700cc wheels with RR900 tubeless tires. The titanium frame offers an unparalleled weight-to-strength ratio, and delivers a comfortable ride without being weighed down.
The bike was designed to be affordable as possible; if riders want to cut weight from the 22-pound bike and get even better performance, swapping out the wheels would be a simple upgrade. The GRVL 900's frame, stem and bars all include a lifetime warranty. For anyone who wants to get into the popular sport, this gravel bike looks like an ideal entry option.
