Vielo V+1 Race Edition Review: A Wireless-Only Gravel Bike Built Around One-By

Introduction

The Vielo V+1 Race Edition is the newest addition to Vielo’s gravel range, and it takes a very specific position within it. Vielo describes it as the first gravel bike built exclusively for one-by drivetrains and fully wireless shifting, with no cable ports anywhere on the frame. It was launched at the Seattle Classic, and it represents the next generation of a platform that began in 2018, when Vielo’s first bike was a gravel model the brand marketed as road plus.

That history matters, because Vielo has never treated gravel as a single category. The company sees it as a spectrum that runs from loaded adventure and bikepacking machines at one end to light, fast, endurance-oriented bikes at the other. The V+1 Race Edition sits firmly at the fast end.

Who This Bike Is For

This is a bike for riders who want road-bike speed and efficiency with the ability to leave tarmac behind. Vielo’s own description of the platform is light, fast and comfortable, with geometry and tube choices aimed at long days rather than loaded touring.

If your priority is carrying a full bikepacking load over technical terrain, this is not the tool for that job. If your priority is covering distance quickly on mixed surfaces, with 45mm tires as the typical setup, the Race Edition is built exactly for that.

The frame also reflects that intent in its details. There is no front derailleur provision, no shift cable routing and no blanking plugs, which keeps the silhouette clean and the frame sealed apart from the brake hose exits.

Frame and Design Approach

Committing fully to one-by gave Vielo a lot of design freedom. Because the frame does not have to accommodate an inner chainring or a front derailleur, the chainstays can be wider, and the chainstay design can stay symmetric. Vielo says that approach makes the frame stronger and stiffer through that area while allowing more compliance in the seat stays.

The dropout area is noticeably tighter and smaller than on the previous generation, without the extended dog-leg shape used before. The seat stay radius carries over from the first generation, so the overall look stays recognisable even though the details have moved on.

Tire clearance has grown too. On 700c wheels the frame accepts up to a 50mm tire, and 650b builds can also take a 50mm tire. In practice Vielo specs 45mm tires on 700c, which the brand considers plenty for the kind of riding this bike is designed for.

Fully Wireless by Design

The Race Edition frame has no cable port holes, no external cables and no blanking plugs. Apart from the exits for the brake hose, it is completely sealed. The fork uses a different mould from Vielo’s other forks, so the brake hose runs outside the steerer rather than through it, and the rear of the frame has no shift cable openings at all.

That makes the frameset exclusive to SRAM AXS and Explorer groupsets. Vielo had the frame designed for more than 18 months before launch and waited on Explorer groupset deliveries to build it up, which is why the wireless-only concept arrived with this generation rather than earlier.

The result is a very clean front end and a frame that is easier to keep tidy in wet, gritty conditions, since there are fewer openings for water and dirt to find.

Build Highlights and Finishing Details

The featured build pairs a SRAM Red Explorer rear derailleur and cassette with a 42 tooth chainring and SRAM Red carbon crank arms. Vielo’s direct-mount chainrings are available in 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 tooth sizes, so gearing can be tuned to terrain without changing the crank.

Wheels are Zipp 303 Firecrest with WTB Riddler 45mm tires on 700c. Braking comes from Hope RX4+ four-piston calipers, which Vielo rates as extremely strong. Carbon fiber through axles save roughly 25 to 30 grams over standard versions, and stainless steel scratch guards on the fork and the non-drive chainstay protect the paint when wheels are removed.

Small details are clearly a focus. The 3D printed out-front computer mount is part of a modular system, and the paint uses a bright pink to orange transition across the front of the frame with exploded V+1 logos that are hand laid onto the frame. The drivetrain and finishing kit are kept as black as possible so the frame silhouette stands out.

Mounting options are generous. There are three holes on the down tube so a single cage can sit low for a lower center of gravity, or two cages can be run with one moved up and the second on the seat tube. There are also top tube mounts for a bento or storage box and two mounts under the down tube for a tool keg, extra water or additional storage.

Versatility on Road and Gravel

Because the platform leans toward the fast end of gravel, the V+1 Race Edition should feel at home on tarmac as well as dirt. Vielo’s own framing is that the bike was always intended to be as versatile on the road as off it, a philosophy that goes back to the road plus positioning of the original model.

The 45mm tire spec supports that balance. It is wide enough to smooth out rough surfaces and loose gravel without the rolling resistance penalty of a much larger tire, and the frame still has room for 50mm if conditions or preference call for it.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The wireless-only design is the biggest consideration. Because the frame has no shift cable ports, it only works with SRAM AXS and Explorer groupsets. If you already run a mechanical or wired electronic drivetrain, this frameset is not compatible with it.

The one-by-only layout is the second. There is no front derailleur mount, so gear range comes entirely from the cassette and chainring combination. Vielo offers chainrings from 38 to 46 tooth, which gives useful range to work with, but riders who prefer a two-by setup will need to look elsewhere.

It is also worth understanding the company behind the bike. Vielo is a small, privately owned, self-funded business, and the cost of opening new moulds for every frame size is significant. That shapes how the brand develops and launches models, and it is useful context for anyone comparing the Race Edition with bikes from much larger manufacturers.

Finally, tire clearance has a ceiling. The frame takes up to 50mm on 700c and 650b, and Vielo generally specs 45mm on 700c. Riders who want to run much wider rubber will find that limit restrictive.

Buying Advice

Two decisions matter most. The first is which V+1 frame version suits you. The range includes the Altos, which Vielo describes as the lightest option with a claimed 880 gram frame, and a Strato version, alongside this Race Edition. If weight is the priority, the frame tier is worth checking carefully before ordering.

The second is gearing. With a single chainring doing all the work, choosing between 38 and 46 tooth is the main lever on how the bike feels on steep climbs versus fast, flat surfaces. Pairing that choice with the terrain you actually ride most will do more for your experience than any other option on the spec sheet.

Conclusion

The Vielo V+1 Race Edition is a focused machine built around a clear idea: one-by only, wireless only, and engineered from the ground up for that combination. The result is a clean, sealed frame with generous tire clearance, strong finishing details and a build that leans toward speed on mixed surfaces rather than loaded adventure riding. For riders whose gravel looks more like fast, long days than expedition touring, that focus is the appeal.