The biggest thing you need to figure out is what are you going to do with a gravel bike. Just like a mtb, there are many "categories" of gravel bikes. I live in NH and most of my gravel bike riding is a mixture of paved roads, dirt roads, a small amount of snowmobile trails, and lots of short ups and downs. Do you want a gravel bike for non-maintained dirt paths, bikepacking, big mountain adventures, racing, and the list goes on. Also, being 5'4" I understand the battle of finding a correct fit. 20 years ago I would have chosen the XS size of any road bike on the market. My first gravel bike was the original Niner RLT in 47cm. After 10 years on that I replaced it last year with the 50cm Niner RLT Steel. Geometry has changed, and will continue to change, as the category of gravel continues to evolve.
Feb. 12, 2025, 6:10 a.m. - Offrhodes42
The biggest thing you need to figure out is what are you going to do with a gravel bike. Just like a mtb, there are many "categories" of gravel bikes. I live in NH and most of my gravel bike riding is a mixture of paved roads, dirt roads, a small amount of snowmobile trails, and lots of short ups and downs. Do you want a gravel bike for non-maintained dirt paths, bikepacking, big mountain adventures, racing, and the list goes on. Also, being 5'4" I understand the battle of finding a correct fit. 20 years ago I would have chosen the XS size of any road bike on the market. My first gravel bike was the original Niner RLT in 47cm. After 10 years on that I replaced it last year with the 50cm Niner RLT Steel. Geometry has changed, and will continue to change, as the category of gravel continues to evolve.