Cycling is expensive these days, but it doesn’t have to be. Started in 2018 by Huffy, Batch Bicycles was designed to fill the gap between, well, the Huffy you’d find at a big box store and the entry-level models from the likes of Trek and Cannondale you’d find at your local bike shop. “There are limited entry-level priced bikes on the market,” says Batch product manager Steve Fairchild. “Our price points are lower than what the big brands offer.” To that end, the brand’s launch models included a commuter, beach cruiser, and mountain bike, all around the $300 to $500 range.
I’ve been testing Batch’s Gravel Bike Plus since last fall to see how the brand is delivering on its mission to get you where you want to go without breaking the bank. Now Batch has refreshed its lineup, including a duo of new gravel workhorses — the GB.1 ($1,000) and GB.2 ($1,300) — in February. There is a lot of crossover between the old and new models, so with plenty of cyclists clamoring for more affordable bikes, I figured I’d talk about what I liked on the version I tested and what’s changed with these new releases.
Like my tester, the GB.1 and GB.2 sport plenty of features you’d expect from a modern gravel rig: 1x drivetrains, 6061 double-butted aluminum frames, disk brakes, tubeless-compatible rims, clean lines, tasteful branding, and, on the GB.2, a carbon fork. In other words, they’re designed, spec’d, and priced to make riders fall in love with the sport, not question if their time and money would be better spent elsewhere.
While the new models feature a steeper top tube to increase comfort by decreasing standover, the geometry has otherwise stayed the same. That’s fine by me. My tester felt closer to a road bike than a mountain bike while still being slack enough for stability on descents and rougher roads. That stability is further accentuated by a wider handlebar with a 16-degree flare that allows for better control when you’re in the drops.
The biggest update is the drivetrain, where Batch has swapped SRAM’s 11-spend Apex 1 for Microshift’s 10-speed, gravel-specific Sword. The jumps between gears are now bigger, but that shouldn’t affect most riders — especially those Batch is targeting. While my tester wasn’t equipped with the new drivetrain, this magazine’s editor-in-chief is a Microshift fanboy. His current gravel rig sports the company’s dropbar Advent X drivetrain, which has a lot of cross-compatibility with the Sword, including the same cassette. Other than a couple quarter turns of the barrel adjuster here and there, he swears he hasn’t had to re-index his derailleur in four years of heavy use. Plus, Sword’s 11/46-tooth cassette gives riders a wider gear range than the 11/42-tooth Apex, and 10-speed drivetrains should be more durable than the 11-speed for touring and bikepacking.
Speaking of tours, the fork and top, down, and seat tubes all feature bag and bottle mounts. All those hardpoints, coupled with rack mounts front and rear, meant that I could customize my setup for around-town errands or longer tours. Bikepackers will appreciate other touches, including space for tires up to 52 millimeters and double-walled, tubeless-ready rims. Then there’s the GB.2’s carbon fork, which saves weight while also absorbing vibrations, bumps, and rattles better than alloy.
The cable-actuated mechanical disc brakes, however, may split opinions. Some cyclists love them for their ease of maintenance. Others, especially those riding in high dirt and grime zones, may gripe about more frequent maintenance and lack of stopping power when compared to their hydraulic cousins. (If you find your mechanical disc brakes lacking, compressionless cable housing can increase your stopping power by removing excess give in the system, allowing more energy to transfer from the lever to the caliper. A kit only costs around $30.)
There is one change you’ll likely want to make right out of the box: the saddle. I found the stock option to be aggressively skinny and extremely uncomfortable. Swapping out a saddle is one of the easiest, most affordable, and most ride-transformational upgrades you can make to any bike. In fact, I assume the stock saddle that comes with any bike I ride won’t work for me. I always try it regardless, and then, inevitably, I replace it with an Ergon, the saddle brand that works best for my physiology.
To help ensure a good fit, Batch provides a 30-day window for you to swap sizes or even return the bike. As with any new bike, however, there are plenty of quick and affordable ways to dial in fit that aren’t as drastic as a return, including swapping in a new stem that’s longer, shorter, or has a different rise.
The biggest drawback, though, isn’t the things you may eventually change. It’s what you can’t. The GB.1 and GB.2 lack thru-axle compatibility and internal routing for a dropper post. Then there’s the weight. At 25.8 pounds, the carbon-forked GB.2 isn’t a leg breaker, but it is near the upper end when it comes to heft. So, if you get seriously into gravel and bikepacking, you’ll likely want to upgrade at some point. But that means the bike has done its job of being a gateway into the hobby, and done it well.
If you’re a rider who counts grams, or if you’re looking for a gravel race bike, this isn’t it. But if you’re gravel- or bikepacking-curious — or maybe just on a budget — and want a bike that can take you pretty much anywhere, you may have found your next ride.
Berne Broudy is a contributing writer for Adventure Cyclist based in Vermont.
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