Since Iowa has over 70,000 miles of gravel roads, this groupset hits close to home.
From cranks and derailleurs to brakes and wheelsets, Shimano’s new GRX goes all in on gravel.
Longer miles on safer and more adventurous roads, gravel cycling holds appeal for roadies and mountain bikers alike. And up until now, frame builders have led the charge with purpose-built bicycles that attempt to make riding on gravel faster and more fun.
But today, Shimano unveiled the “world’s first dedicated gravel component series.” Dubbed GRX, the setup provides a dialed, in-line component groupset to take on the typical a la carte builds widely employed to outfit gravel frames.
And while the tech looks to us like a solid setup for the demands of off-road adventures, it also suggests an evolution of the sport itself