Vielo V+1 Race Edition Review: Inside the Wireless-Only Gravel Bike

Introduction

Vielo has spent years building drop-bar bikes that sit closer to the fast end of the gravel spectrum than the loaded touring end. The V+1 Race Edition pushes that idea further than anything the brand has produced so far, and it does so by removing something rather than adding it: cables.

The V+1 Race Edition is presented as the world’s first wireless-only gravel bike, and it launched this year as the newest generation of Vielo’s gravel platform. That platform dates back to 2018, when the brand’s first bike was a gravel machine positioned as much for road riding as for off-road use. At the time, gravel was still a young and quickly growing category, and Vielo deliberately avoided labelling the bike narrowly, preferring to describe it as road plus.

Since then the gravel world has splintered into many different interpretations. At one extreme sit adventure and bikepacking bikes built to carry loads over long distances. At the other are light, fast, comfortable endurance machines. The V+1 Race Edition sits firmly in that second camp.

Who This Bike Is For

This is a bike for riders who want one drop-bar machine that feels quick on tarmac and composed on gravel, without the weight and bulk that come with adventure-focused frames. The geometry has been tweaked from the previous generation rather than redesigned from scratch, so it keeps the racy but comfortable character Vielo has built its gravel range around.

It also suits riders who have already committed to wireless shifting and want a frame designed around that choice from the very first mould. If you prefer mechanical groupsets or like the idea of swapping parts across several bikes with standard cabling, this is not the platform for you.

The kind of owner who gets the most from this bike rides long days that mix sealed road, hardpack and rough gravel, and values a clean silhouette as much as a low weight figure. It is an endurance-oriented machine rather than a racing-only one, and the wide tyre capacity means you can tune the ride feel significantly by changing rubber alone.

A Wireless-Only Frame Design

The defining feature of the Race Edition is how far the wireless concept has been taken. There are no cable port holes anywhere on the frame, no external cables, and no blanking plugs filling unused openings. Aside from the exits required for the brake hoses, the frame is sealed.

The fork uses its own dedicated mould, different from the brand’s other forks. Instead of running a cable up through the steerer and out through a fork leg, the Race Edition fork is designed around hose routing only. The same logic applies at the rear, where there are no shift cable openings at all.

That means the frame is exclusively intended for SRAM’s wireless groupsets, including the gravel-oriented wireless range. According to Vielo, the frame itself was designed more than 18 months before launch, with the wait driven by the arrival of the groupsets that would do it justice. It is a clear example of building a frame around one ecosystem rather than adapting an existing design.

Where the Race Edition Shines

Because the frame was engineered specifically for a single chainring, Vielo had far more freedom in the rear triangle. There is no inner chainring and no front derailleur to accommodate, which allows notably wide chainstays and, crucially, a symmetrical chainstay design. According to the brand, that symmetry makes the frame stronger and stiffer through the bottom bracket area while still leaving room for comfort in the seat stays.

The seat stay radius follows the shape introduced on the first generation bike, but the dropout area is tighter and smaller, without the pronounced dog-leg shape of the older frame. Visually it makes for a cleaner rear end, and structurally it reflects the same commitment to designing around one drivetrain format rather than several.

Tyre clearance is another beneficiary. On 700c wheels the frame takes up to a 50mm tyre, and 650b builds can also run up to 50mm. In practice Vielo tends to spec 45mm rubber, which most riders will find plenty wide for mixed surfaces without giving away much speed.

Tyre Clearance, Geometry and Frame Details

The V+1 range is offered in two versions. The Altos is the lightest option, with a claimed 880 gram frame weight, while the Strato version sits alongside it. The Race Edition is the newest addition to that family, and it shares the wider clearance and lightly revised geometry that came with the second generation of the platform.

The second generation also brought a change in braking standard, moving from post mount to flat mount. Frame moulds are expensive, and each size requires its own tooling, though certain tubes and rear triangles are shared between adjacent sizes such as extra small and small. That kind of shared tooling is what makes a spread of sizes viable for a small, self-funded brand.

The Race Edition in this build rolls on Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels wrapped in 45mm WTB Riddler tyres on 700c rims, a combination aimed at the mix of tarmac and loose surfaces the bike was designed for.

Build Kit and Finishing Details

The drivetrain follows the wireless theme closely. This build pairs a SRAM wireless rear derailleur, matching cassette and carbon crank arms with a 42 tooth front chainring. Vielo produces its own chainrings in sizes from 38 to 46 teeth, using a direct mount fitting to compatible crank arms, which keeps clearance tight to the frame while holding the chain line where the groupset manufacturer specifies.

Braking is handled by Hope RX-4+ four-piston calipers, which are described as very strong in use. The brand’s own carbon fibre through axles replace the standard items and trim a modest amount of weight. Small stainless steel scratch guards are fitted to the fork and to the non-drive side chainstay, protecting the paint from rotor contact during wheel changes.

Mounting options are generous. There are three positions on the down tube, allowing a single cage to sit low for a lower centre of gravity or a second cage to be added on the seat tube. The top tube carries mounts for a bento box or storage bag, and there are two more underneath the down tube for a tool keg or extra water. A modular 3D printed out-front computer mount is also part of the brand’s kit.

Finishing kit and drivetrain are kept as black as possible so the frame silhouette stands out. The paint is where the Race Edition breaks from tradition: Vielo usually leans on pastel colours and understated graphics for its gravel bikes, but this one moves from bright pink at the rear to bright orange at the front. Up close, exploded V+1 logos transition from solid to fragmented, and the graphics are hand laid onto the frame.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The most important consideration is the one that defines the bike. A wireless-only frame locks you into SRAM wireless groupsets, and there is no mechanical fallback, no cable routing and no way to run a wired setup. If you already own or plan to buy into that ecosystem, this is a strength. If you value flexibility across brands, it is a genuine constraint.

Because the frame was designed for a single chainring only, there is no front derailleur option and no provision for one. Riders who want a wide double chainring gear range should look elsewhere, though the direct mount chainring sizes from 38 to 46 teeth give a reasonable span of gearing choices for a 1x setup.

The frame design timeline is also worth noting. Vielo built the frame more than 18 months before launching it, waiting for the right wireless groupsets to arrive. That patience is a good sign for how the bike was conceived, but it also means the platform was created around a specific generation of components rather than being updated year on year.

Finally, the frame moulds, the size-specific tooling and the move from post mount to flat mount braking all represent a substantial investment for a private, self-funded company run by two people. Buyers who value dealing with a small brand will see that as appealing. Buyers who prioritise a large service network should weigh it accordingly.

Buying Advice

If you are shopping in the fast gravel category, the V+1 Race Edition makes the most sense for riders who already run wireless shifting and want a frame that was engineered around it rather than adapted to it. The combination of a 50mm tyre ceiling on both 700c and 650b, a 1x-only rear triangle and a claimed 880 gram Altos frame in the wider range gives you a clear picture of what the platform is optimised for: speed, comfort and simplicity rather than load carrying.

Before ordering, confirm which version of the V+1 you are buying, since the range includes both the Altos and Strato frames, and make sure your intended groupset falls within the wireless families the frame accepts. Decide your tyre strategy up front as well, because 45mm is the typical specification but the frame will take up to 50mm if you want more cushioning on rougher surfaces.

It is also worth deciding how much you care about the paint. The pink-to-orange fade and hand-laid exploded graphics are a deliberate departure from the brand’s usual understated pastels, and they are one of the most distinctive parts of this build. If you want something quieter, the rest of the gravel range follows the more restrained approach.

For riders whose routes regularly mix tarmac, hardpack and loose gravel, and who want a light, fast and comfortable drop-bar bike with an exceptionally clean front end, the V+1 Race Edition is a coherent and thoughtfully engineered choice. The wireless-only design is a commitment, and it rewards riders who are ready to make it.

Conclusion

The Vielo V+1 Race Edition takes a simple idea and follows it all the way through. By committing fully to wireless shifting and a single chainring, the brand was able to remove cable ports, widen the chainstays, keep the rear triangle symmetrical and open up tyre clearance to 50mm, all while keeping the frame on the light, fast side of gravel.

It will not suit every rider. The frame accepts only SRAM wireless groupsets, there is no front derailleur provision, and the loud hand-laid finish is a matter of taste. For riders who want a quick, comfortable gravel bike with a genuinely clean silhouette and a build kit that matches the concept, it is a compelling package.