One of the new ’gravel’ bikes from the States, it’s a fast low-profile road bike, but rugged enough to take off-road, too

Cannondale Topstone

Price £2,100, evanscycles.com

Frame carbon

Gears 22-speed Shimano 105

Brakes hydraulic disc

The term ‘gravel’ bike is a recent import from America. I think ‘trail’ would be more accurate, but it doesn’t sound so of-the-moment. We used to call them cross-bikes or even x-bikes. But, essentially, they are all the same thing. They are road bikes with off-road capabilities. Wheels are bigger, frames are more durable, brakes are beefed up and some have suspension. The upshot of all this is that you get a go-anywhere bike that lets you ride fast on smooth tarmac before heading confidently into terrain that most bikes would soon be rattled to pieces on. Cannondale has come a long way since it first got down to business in 1971 in Connecticut in a loft above an old pickle factory. Its initial product was a bike trailer known as the ‘Bugger’. The first bike, a touring model, wasn’t produced until 1983, but since then it’s gone on to create bikes that have won the world’s greatest races – including the Giro and Vuelta. The new Topstone features a lightweight suspension system that lets you ride harder when the riding gets hard. It’s strong, comfortable and will cope with anything.

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Cool kit

Give your furry friend the best view in town in this chic denim dog bike basket. Basil Buddy £89.99, cyclechic.co.uk

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter@MartinLove166

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