Introducing the All-New OBED GVR: A Next-Gen Gravel Race Platform
The original GVR was the first gravel race bike Obed designed. We still love it, but in the years since, gravel racing has evolved at breakneck speeds. When it finally came time to update our flagship race bike, we knew we had to go big (literally, when it came to tires) to stay ahead of the curve.
Our engineers worked hard to give modern gravel riders everything they're hungry for: 2.2" tire clearance, aerodynamic frame shaping, and low frame weight. We even added suspension-ready geometry and more mounting solutions for gear. We'll explain why we believe the new GVR is the ultimate platform for racers taking on the world’s toughest gravel courses.
The Trinity of Race-Day Performance
When we listed out the features gravel racers want in a gravel bike, we distilled the most important elements down into three key elements. We like to think of this as the "holy trinity" of gravel performance: tire clearance, aerodynamics, and low frame weight. Maximizing each became our top priority.
Tire clearance was increased to 56mm to accommodate the faster rolling and more puncture-resistant 2.2” mountain bike tires that tire geeks have raved about for years. The much clearance gives riders more freedom to optimize their race setup for everything from the smoothest champagne gravel to the most rugged backcountry routes.
The redesigned Obed Race Fork was widened significantly, promoting cleaner airflow between the front wheel and the fork blades. This wide stance also provides additional clearance for a front tire up to 61mm or 2.4” wide, giving riders even more tire options. This fork is paired with a similarly widened downtube using a truncated aero profile shaped to recapture and smooth airflow disturbed by wider gravel tires.
The GVR’s new carbon lay-up has been refined to achieve a raw frame weight of only 886 grams, shaving nearly 150 grams off its predecessor while maintaining the ideal level of stiffness, comfort, and durability. The painted frame weight is 931g (+/- 3%).
With a combination of tire clearance, aerodynamics, and weight as potent as this, we believe the GVR is ready to do battle with any bike, on any type of terrain.
Suspension-Ready for the Future of Gravel
Suspension technology is gravel racing’s most exciting frontier. That’s why we designed the GVR with suspension-corrected geometry, allowing riders to run either a rigid fork for maximum efficiency, tire clearance, and weight savings, or a gravel suspension fork for enhanced capability, traction, and comfort.
The GVR is optimized for the latest generation of gravel suspension forks, and because of its aero internal cable routing, it’s a perfect match for the DT Swiss F 132 One. Obed is proud to be the first OEM to bring the DT Swiss F 132 One fork to North America, which offers 40mm of travel and a remote lockout, allowing riders to adapt instantly between smooth sectors and rough terrain.
Balanced Gravel Geometry
We also revised the GVR’s geometry to improve its off-road manners, giving every rider more confidence to go faster on the roughest gravel terrain. The reach and front-center are longer, the head angle is slacker, and the BB drop is increased to create a more stable platform. This makes it easier to attack high-speed descents and plow through technical gravel sectors. The stability is complemented by an increase in fork rake, which helps retain the agility needed for quick line changes, cornering precision, and tactical positioning in competitive race environments.
Ready for Epic Distances
You can’t crush ultra-endurance rides if you can’t carry all your gear. That’s why we put six bottle cage mounts on the down tube and three bottle cage mounts on the seat tube, plus top tube bag mounts, and additional accessory mounts on the underside of the top tube and downtube. This allows riders to mount their bottles in an optimal position with a frame bag or to carry up to three bottles in the main triangle. The accessory mounts provide more flexibility to carry the nutrition and supplies needed for ultra-distance races and all-day adventures.
Durability and serviceability are also built into the platform with reliable standards, including a UDH (universal derailleur hanger) and T47 bottom bracket, ensuring compatibility with the latest drivetrain technologies and easy maintenance.
Put to the Test
Obed ambassador, Austin Sullivan, piloted the first production-ready GVR at Transcordilleras, a legendary 8-day gravel stage race through the Colombian Andes. It dishes out huge climbs at high altitude on some of the world’s most brutal gravel terrain. Austin smashed them all on the GVR, taking 7th overall and finishing on the podium in the final stage. Now that it’s battle-tested in the harshest conditions, we’re more confident than ever that this podium will be the first of many.
At its core, the second-generation GVR was designed for riders who want to go farther, faster. Whether battling for podiums or chasing personal bests on the most epic gravel routes, we made the GVR to give modern gravel racers what they want: more speed, more control, and more versatility. We hope you put it to the test, too!