BlackHeart Bike Co. has a small and well-considered lineup of bikes. And its newest addition—the Gravel AL—fits right in. As the name suggests, the Gravel AL is an aluminum gravel bike with gravel-specific geometry and, most importantly, clearance for 47mm tires.
When I first saw the Gravel AL, it reminded me of classic aluminum criterium bikes. A simple design with an “everything you need and nothing you don’t” philosophy.
Truckee, California-based BlackHeart fabricates the Gravel AL in Asia from double-butted 7005 aluminum tubes. The frame weighs 1,660 grams (claimed) for a size 54cm. The frame features modern touches such as integrated cable routing, an aero Kammtail downtube, and a pair of dropped seat stays. All features (presumably) aid with the bike’s aerodynamics, although Blackheart does not make any specific aero claims for the Gravel AL.
The all-important tire clearance is a healthy 47mm. This gives riders plenty of wiggle room to fit 42mm labeled tires on modern gravel wheels that typically feature a 25mm internal diameter, plus a few extra millimeters to account for mud and other debris. Other important frame details include a T47 bottom bracket for nearly universal crank compatibility. The downside of T47 is the higher replacement cost compared to PF30 and BSA bottom brackets, even if you opt for more conventional steel bearings.
There is also a SRAM UDH for easy replacement (and Transmission drivetrain compatibility), and a round 31.6mm seat post for riders who want to add a dropper. Both standards are great for riders, especially those who travel to gravel events because most good bike shops stock replacement parts to fit.
Pros
- Eight frame sizes
- Nearly endless build and color options
- Well thought out geometry
- Good value, especially for complete bike builds
Cons
- Slightly harsh ride
- No top tube bag mounts
Pricing and Build Options
One of the things that sets the Gravel AL apart from the hundreds of other gravel bikes on the market right now is the personalization BlackHeart offers at the time of purchase. Riders can pick from—no joke—137 colors of Cerakote finish for their Gravel AL, with a single color frame paint and a 2nd logo color included in the price. For build kit options, most Shimano and SRAM groupsets are available. Although the Gravel AL isn’t compatible with mechanical 2x options (mechanical 1x and electronic 2x work just fine).
Pricing for complete bikes starts at $3,200 (1x mechanical Shimano GRX) and tops out at $4,750 (2x Shimano GRX Di2) with aluminum wheels. However, with the numerous upgrades that BlackHeart offers, you can easily build a much more expensive version of the Gravel AL.
Riders can upgrade to various carbon wheels, CeramicSpeed bottom brackets, or power meters—even Enve’s new single-piece cockpit is an option ($980). Most critically, riders can select their desired stem length and bar width when buying—a crucial option when purchasing a bike with an integrated front end. Running the cables external from the bar and stem—how I routed my test bike—is also an option.
Geometry
The term “gravel-specific geometry” gets thrown around a lot, but what it means in terms of numbers varies greatly from brand to brand (and sometimes even from model to model). For the Gravel AL, gravel geo means a head tube angle between 71° and 71.5°, matched to a seat tube angle of 73.5° to 74.5º (both measurements depending on size). Chainstay length is consistent (427mm) across all sizes, with a trail figure between 66mm and 64mm. And it’s incredible to see a relatively small company like BlackHeart offer eight sizes of the Gravel AL, from 46cm up to 62cm.
Ride Impressions
Since BlackHearts gets so many details right, I expected the Gravel AL to ride well. It did not disappoint me in the slightest. The Gravel AL was the exact off-road dropbar bike I wanted as someone who enjoys riding fast. The Gravel AL’s ride on the pavement is stable; as soon as you get it onto the dirt, the bike comes alive. The bike’s steering is precise and responsive but never twitchy. On flowy gravel roads, it felt the way I would expect a road bike to feel. On tight singletrack, it brought enough verve to briefly make me feel like I was on a cyclocross bike.
The main drawback of the fast snapping handling, aluminum frame, and 31.6mm seat post was that the Gravel AL did provide a slightly harsher ride. That might be a deal breaker for me on a road bike with limited tire clearance. But with room for 47mm rubber, there is ample opportunity to soften the Gravel AL to suit most riders by going with a larger tire and a lower PSI. I also recommend opting for a carbon handlebar (a $300 option on any build or frameset) for the extra bit of vibration dampening.
That said, I had no real issues with the Gravel AL's ride quality. I was busy having way too much fun on the dang thing. While many gravel bikes have the versatility of serving double duty as commuters or bike-packing adventure bikes, the Gravel AL does not and is better off for it. The handling is direct and engaging. Dive into some flowy singletrack, and it’s impossible not to have a big grin on your face.
The upshot of the stiff aluminum frame is that the Gravel AL is wonderfully responsive under hard pedaling—it is nearly as snappy as a road bike. On smoother surfaces, I had no problem making tempo adjustments. On rougher and steeper terrain, charging the Gravel AL into a climb—like I was on a cyclocross track trying desperately to avoid dismounting and running—was very fun, and it is where I noticed the relatively short 427mm chainstay length the most.
Blackheart nailed what I want from a gravel bike with the Gravel AL. It’s a bike that feels like a road bike on smoother gravel surfaces and has a bit of edginess and snappiness once you hit the single track.
Value and Conclusions
The BlackHeart Gravel AL is a very compelling value proposition for riders who can look past aluminum as a frame material. Once you put big, squishy tires on a bike, the advantages of carbon and titanium frames are significantly diminished (though those benefits are not zeroed). Ultimately, it is up to individual riders to decide how much frame material is worth to them.
For my money, an aluminum gravel bike makes a ton of sense. This is especially true given the abuse a frame can be subject to during gravel events in adverse weather—I know two riders who wore through carbon fiber frames at Unbound due to accumulated mud buildup. If those bikes were aluminum, there is a higher chance that the damage would have been cosmetic rather than structural.
The Gravel AL is priced on the higher end of aluminum frames, at $300 more than the Specialized Diverge and $700 more than Trek’s Checkpoint ALR. But it comes with a seatpost and you can pick from 137 colors. Compared to carbon frame options, the Gravel AL is $700 to $1,200 less than a Specialized Crux, Santa Cruz Stigmata, Cannondale SuperSix Evo SE, or Cervelo Aspero.
It’s tough to compare the Gravel AL as a complete bike because BlackHeart gives riders many options when purchasing a complete bike, but let’s use our test bike as an example.
Our Gravel AL shipped with a SRAM Force/X01 mullet groupset, Hunt 40 gravel race wheels, and a Zipp cockpit. This build sells for $5,800 and includes the custom Cerakote paint. There are cheaper complete bikes out there with a similar build kit. For example, the Lauf Seigla and Canyon Grail CF SLX sell for $4,400 and $5,500 respectively. But if you compare the BlackHeart to bikes like the Specialized Crux ($7,000), Trek Checkpoint ($8,700), or the Cervelo Aspero 5 ($7,500), it becomes harder to brush off the price differences. And when you factor in all the customization baked into the Gravel AL purchasing processes, BlackHeart’s value shines brightly.
I won’t claim that the Gravel AL is precisely as good as its pricier rivals. But having ridden many of the options, I can tell you that I would happily spend my own money on the Gravel AL. Sure, I would agonize over choosing which of the 137 colors to go with, but at the end of the day, I would get a bike delivered that is set up the way I want with a bit of money left over to take it to a big gravel event.
The Gravel AL’s sharp handling and spirited ride quality—paired with an excellent value proposition and BlackHeart’s customization options—make this a great bike. Riders who dismiss it as a budget alloy option do so at their peril. It performs to the level of many pricier carbon bikes.
In a sport like gravel racing, known for literally grinding delicate carbon chainstays into dust, there is something to be said for an aluminum race bike. I loved aluminum crit bikes in years past and now I’m in love with aluminum gravel race bikes.
Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.
