Giant Revolt vs Vielo V+1 Strato: Two Fast Gravel Bikes Compared

Introduction

Gravel bikes have settled into two broad camps. One is the all-rounder that copes with everything from quick after-work loops to multi-day camping trips. The other is the sharp-edged machine built to cover ground as fast as possible. The Giant Revolt and the Vielo V+1 Strato sit at different points on that spectrum, and the differences come down to frame philosophy as much as components.

The Revolt is an evolution of an already well-regarded platform. The frame and fork have been refined, tyre clearance has grown, and the complete build has shed weight compared with the previous generation. The V+1 Strato comes from Vielo, a smaller outfit founded in 2017 by father and son Ian and Trevor Hughes. Ian Hughes spent decades in the bike industry, including running UK operations for Scott Sports, and Vielo’s stated aim is to build high-performance drop-bar bikes tuned to what riders genuinely need for fast riding, on and off road.

Giant Revolt: Frame Set and Design

At first glance the new Revolt frame looks close to the outgoing design, and that is deliberate. The low-slung sloping top tube remains, which makes it easy to move body weight around when the terrain turns technical. Giant’s road range design cues have migrated across as well. The triangulated junction where the head tube meets the top tube and down tube echoes the TCX cyclocross bike with a little TCR influence, while the aero-style cutaway seat tube and dropped seat stays borrow from the Defy.

The seat stays are slimmer than before, and the yoke where they meet the seat tube is flattened to add flex. The Revolt keeps the D-shaped seat post that first appeared on the TCX, now in a lighter and more flexible D-Fuse form. Seat post fitment has moved to a roughly 30.9 mm diameter with a wedge to accept the D-shaped post, which means a dropper post can be fitted if you want one.

Up front, the new fork is lighter and clears a 53 mm tyre, and a flip chip in the rear dropout lets you extend the wheelbase to run the same size at the back. All told, the changes strip 200 grams from the previous model, which is a meaningful figure when so much else about the frame has been carried over.

Giant Revolt: Build Spec and Value

Because Giant owns its component brands, it is in a strong position to get build specifications right, and the Revolt lands well. The headline is a two-by GRX Di2 groupset, which delivers strong brake performance and ergonomics that feel right on long days. The vibration-damping D-shaped carbon seat post and the carbon D-Fuse handlebar are also notable contributors to ride quality.

The gravel-specific wheelset is a genuine highlight. At 1,398 grams for the pair, it sits in the territory of a really good road wheelset, yet the rims are wide enough for gravel tyres and built to take the knocks that come with riding off road. Taken as a complete package, the Revolt is about as good as you could reasonably expect, and that matters in the context of rising prices across the category.

Vielo V+1 Strato: Frame Set and Finish

Vielo’s commitment to single-ring drivetrains is absolute, and the reasoning behind it is structural. Most frame designs have to compromise somewhere in order to work with both one-by and two-by setups. The V+1 is designed solely for one-by, which allows a symmetrical rear end with no dog-leg drop stays and no asymmetry in the rear triangle. Vielo claims this lets it optimise the bottom bracket shape along with the seat tube transition and down tube, resulting in a bottom bracket shell with 30 percent more lateral stiffness than a two-by design.

That additional stiffness at the bottom bracket freed up the rear end to be designed for compliance rather than braced against flex. The seat stays are noticeably flattened across their wide stance from the seat tube to the rear dropouts, and the reshaped seat tube works alongside them to soften the ride. Tyre clearance reaches 50 mm front and rear, and the frame accepts either 700c or 650b wheels, shipping as standard with 45c WTB gravel tyres.

The finishing is a step above the norm. There is a soft matte finish with imprinted graphics rather than cheap stickers, polished stainless steel inserts on the rear dropouts and the fork to protect against scratches when fitting and removing wheels, and beautifully machined through axles fitted with smart quick releases. It is uncompromising detailing of the kind usually reserved for far more expensive frames.

Vielo V+1 Strato: Build Spec and Value

Each model in Vielo’s range starts from a base specification that can be tailored to your needs. The Rival AXS-equipped V+1 Strato has a base price of £4,999, and the version tested added upgraded wheels plus a slick all-carbon one-piece bar and stem, along with Force levers and brakes.

The drivetrain pairs carbon-infused SRAM Force AXS shifters and matching brakes with a long-cage Rival AXS rear mech, driven by a neatly finished alloy chainset with a CNC-machined narrow-wide 44-tooth ring. It all works flawlessly. The gearing from the 44-tooth chainring and 10-44 cassette is a combination that is easy to like: the biggest gear of 123 inches sits close to a two-by 50/11, and the easiest gear to turn is 28 inches, so the range is not far off what a two-by system offers.

Where the Vielo cannot match the Giant is the wheels. There is nothing wrong with the DT Swiss GR1600 wheelset, which is a solid mid-range gravel wheel, but a wheelset of that level on a bike at this price does not come close to the quality and value delivered by the Revolt’s own wheels.

How They Ride: Speed Versus Versatility

The V+1 Strato belongs firmly in the fast gravel camp. It is closer in spirit to a Cervelo Aspero than to a bump-squashing BMC URS LT, and it responds like a road race bike. The rigidity of the bottom bracket makes it possible to inject pace instantly, which is genuinely enjoyable on fast surfaces.

That rigidity does not come at the expense of comfort. The large 45c tyres and the ability to manage tyre pressure keep the ride plush, and it never felt anything but smooth on the way out to gravel testing loops. There is one caveat, though. The front end of the Vielo feels considerably stiffer than the rear, and it can get choppy on washboard and rooted trails.

The Revolt matches the Vielo’s speed, but it is over three quarters of a kilogram lighter, so it is the nimbler bike. It has the edge on climbs and it is more versatile: if you want to take on sections of mountain bike singletrack or head out for multi-day wild camping trips, the Revolt is the better tool.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Both bikes reward a clear idea of how you actually ride. The Vielo’s one-by-only frame is a deliberate design decision with real benefits in bottom bracket stiffness and rear-end compliance, but it also means committing to a single-ring setup and the gear range that comes with it. Its DT Swiss wheelset is capable, yet it is the clear weak point against the Giant’s package at a comparable level of spend.

The Revolt’s flip chip and 53 mm clearance open up more options, and its lighter frame gives it an advantage on climbs, but its strengths are spread across many disciplines rather than concentrated on outright pace. Neither bike is the wrong answer. They simply optimise for different things, and the more honest you are about your riding, the easier the choice becomes.

Buying Advice: Which Gravel Bike Suits Your Riding

If you want to blast along as fast as you can, the Vielo V+1 Strato is the one to think about. Its road-race-bike responses, stiff bottom bracket and compliant rear end make it a compelling choice for riders who treat gravel as a surface to be covered quickly.

If you are looking for an all-rounder that handles a bit of everything, the Giant Revolt is the safer bet. It is lighter, more versatile, and it arrives with a build package that is hard to argue with, particularly the wheelset. Choose based on the riding you do most often, not the riding you imagine you might do.

Conclusion

The Giant Revolt and the Vielo V+1 Strato both deliver on their briefs, and the decision comes down to priorities. The Revolt is the more versatile, lighter and better-rounded machine. The V+1 Strato is the sharper, faster-feeling option with standout frame finishing. Match the bike to your terrain and ambitions, and either will serve you well.