Gravel Bikes

The Jamis Renegade gravel bike was introduced in 2014, making it the first production gravel bike in the US. In contrast, Trek introduced their first gravel model the CheckPoint in 2019. 

Like most innovations in the bike world, smaller companies innovate, and the corporate brands duplicate.

Jamis' designers TC Corbett and Greg Weber were inspired by custom frame builders at the time who were modifying then popular cyclocross bikes by adding rack and fender mounts and widening the frame to take larger than the standard 700 x 33 size cyclocross tires.

11 years after the Renegade's introduction, Gravel bikes have become the most popular type of drop handlebar bikes on the market, outselling pavement only road racing bikes 20 to 1. 

For 2025 the Renegade carbon models have been redesigned for the third time, to continue their push for greater performance, ride quality and versatility.

Felt's gravel bikes the Breed and the Broam were introduced in 2018 and bring Felt's decades of professional road racing and triathlon frame building expertise to the category.

The Breeds are faster and lighter and the Broams are more comfortable and versatile.