Vielo V+1 gravel bike
Price £5,499, vielo.cc
Frame carbon
Gears SRAM Force 1

In days gone by, bikes were the machines we rode wherever we wanted to go: roads, trails, tracks, leafy lanes and rocky canyons. I had a trusted Raleigh Arena (flame orange, tan-walled tyres, most unforgiving seat ever) that did the lot.

These days, however, cycling has become endlessly compartmentalised and different disciplines need different frames, apparently. Over the last few years a whole new category has developed called ‘gravel’ bikes – a sort of lightweight mountain bike or a beefed-up roadie, depending on your viewpoint. Either way, few will be a match for the carbon V+1, a road/trail/adventure bike from Vielo. The ride is impressively composed no matter the surface. It’s fast and fun, and is jewelled with clever details which make it a joy to use.

Vielo was founded by father and son duo Ian and Trevor Hughes, who between them boast 35 years’ experience in the bike sector. Their V+1 is the product of all that knowhow. The bike was styled in Italy, engineered in Germany, manufactured in Asia and then assembled in Gateshead. It’s expensive, but less so if you think of it as three bikes in one…

Cool kit

Warm, breathable, waterproof… and gold. Kalf’s winter bike jacket sets new standards. Kalf softshell jersey, £120, evanscycles.com

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter@MartinLove166