The Sea Otter Classic 2026 has officially kicked off, and with it, we have a steady flood of new product launches. On Thursday, two brands chose the annual California cycling expo and race to reveal their new gravel bikes – and though both are trying to answer the same question about what a modern carbon gravel bike should look like in 2026, they have arrived at different conclusions.
One is a road brand's push into the gravel segment with a bit of a do-it-all bike, the other an update to a long-distance platform that has been around for many years. Yet they also share some specs.
Both run a traditional round 27.2 mm seatpost, keeping aftermarket options wide open. Both are suspension-ready. Both have down tube storage. Both offer 1x and 2x drivetrain compatibility and accept tyres 50 mm or wider. Both are pitched at riders who want a single bike that can race, or simply ride for hours on end. We took a look at them both.
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