Trends come and go, standards keep shifting – But what’s really weighing on your mind and closest to your heart?Thanks to your incredible response, we’ve got a pretty clear picture. A total of 9,271 of you from 76 countries shared your experiences, giving us one of the richest sets of data we’ve ever had.
On average, you spent 22 minutes and 45 seconds on the survey. This adds up to 210,915 minutes – or 146.5 days in total!
Shaping the Drop-Bar World Together
Our annual reader survey isn’t just a tradition – it’s the engine that drives our feedback loop. Your answers aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; they’re the heartbeat and compass of what we do. They show us which way the wind’s blowing – whether it’s a tailwind, crosswind or headwind. With your input, we’re creating the kind of magazine you genuinely want to read: passionate, well-informed, inquisitive – and always with a healthy dose of curiosity.
And the best part? Manufacturers around the world are using the anonymised results to develop better bikes and components. From the first sketch to the finished carbon frame, you’re playing an active role in shaping the future of the drop-bar world.
Where are you from?
Whether it’s an Alpine pass or a coastal road, gravel trail or city boulevard – the GRAN FONDO community is as international as it is diverse. The demographic focus is clearly on Europe, with 90.6% of you based here. Germany leads the pack with 61.3%, followed by Switzerland (5.7%), Austria (5.6%) and the United Kingdom (2.8%).
But the community shines well beyond Europe too: 4.7% of you are in the USA, 1.4% in Canada, and 1.1% in Australia. All in all, responses came in from 76 different countries.
Who makes up the GRAN FONDO community?
Hi Thomas, hi Claudia!
The most common names in this year’s survey feel very familiar: Thomas once again tops the list for men, followed by Michael, Christian, Stefan and Andreas. Among our female readers, the top spots go to Claudia, Julia, Andrea, Laura and Nadine.
The average age is 47.8 years. And that life experience is clearly reflected in your cycling backgrounds: most of you have 16.8 years of drop-bar riding under your belts.
Women made up 7.03% of respondents – steady compared to last year, but with plenty of room to grow. We’re thrilled about every woman enriching the drop-bar scene, and hope many more will follow their lead!
As for income, your average net household income sits at € 80,320 per year. A strong academic background is also clear: 73.3% of you hold a university degree, with 7.6% even having a doctorate. And your professional experience is just as impressive: 22.1% work in management, while 7.9% sit in executive or board-level roles. But it doesn’t stop there – the community includes everything from lawyers to pastors, doctors to teachers.
And when you’re not on your bike…
…travel is a big part of it. Over the past 12 months, you spent an average of 20.6 days on the road with your bike. Whether it’s quiet mountain passes, dusty gravel tracks or espresso stops in sleepy Italian hilltop villages – your stories are packed with adventure.
A Peek Inside your Bike Garage
Time to drop the bib shorts: on average, you own 3.64 bikes – with one absolute legend clocking in at a jaw-dropping 60 bikes.
The undisputed frontrunner in your garages is the road bike: over 70% of you own a race or endurance machine. Hot on its heels are gravel bikes, which now form part of the fleet for 64% of you. And in third place? Mountain bikes. A solid 42.9% of the drop-bar community also have a flat-bar bike with wide tires ready to roll.
But Which Bike Do You Actually Ride?
No big surprises here: road race and all-road bikes lead the pack, making up a combined 44.9% – classic, fast, and built for efficiency. Hot on their heels are gravel bikes in both adventure and race trims, accounting for a total of 38.3% – proof that the gravel boom is still going strong.
In third place, with a respectable 9.1%, are mountain bikes – showing that even in the drop-bar world, there’s still a solid place for flat bars and big tires.
What about E-Bikes?
Let’s put it this way: only 2.3% of you currently own an e-road or e-gravel bike. So no, we’re still a long way off the kind of e-bike boom seen in the MTB world. Or to put it differently: in the drop-bar scene, your go-to fuel is still an energy bar, not a battery pack.
Why the hesitation? Well, 47% of you simply aren’t interested, and 9.6% actively reject the idea of riding an e-bike. On the flip side, 27.6% are open to it in principle, while 15.8% are still undecided. The bottom line: the e-bike hasn’t quite landed in the drop-bar world yet – but the interest is there, and it’s growing.
So why do the few who are already riding electric make that choice? The most common reason is to balance fitness levels with a partner – so you can still fly up climbs together, even when your legs aren’t quite on the same page. Teamwork, turbocharged.
Frames & Components – Here’s What you’re Riding
Carbon remains the undisputed king when it comes to frame material, with 66.0% of respondents riding carbon bikes. Aluminium follows in second place at 23.6% – and it’s clearly on the rise compared to last year. Steel (7.1%) and titanium (3.2%) continue to be the go-to choice for style-conscious riders and those with a soft spot for timeless craftsmanship.
There’s also a quiet revolution happening in your drivetrains: for the first time, more of you are riding 2×12 than 2×11. In total, over half of the community still prefer double chainring setups. But modern 1x drivetrains are gaining ground fast – 1×12 and 1×13 together already make up more than 20%. The trend towards single-ring simplicity is definitely still going strong.
Electronic shifting is also on the up. Already, 43.6% of you are shifting electronically, while 52.5% still rely on the mechanical click of traditional setups.
And when it comes to groupsets, Shimano clearly dominates with 64%, followed by SRAM at 29.4%. Campagnolo holds its ground with 4.9% – proving that the purists among you still have a soft spot for the Italian classic.
Which Brand are you Riding?
Always a highlight: Canyon confidently hold onto the top spot with 10.3%, leading the brand rankings once again. Specialized stay hot on their heels with 8.6%, showing just how deeply rooted the US brand is in the community. ROSE claim third place with 6.4%, nudging ahead of CUBE (6.1%) and Cannondale (4.9%). Rounding out the top 10 are Trek, GIANT, BMC, SCOTT and Orbea.
And when it comes to spending, you don’t hold back: you’ve invested an average of € 4,480 in your current bike. 13.4% of you bought used, while 13.3% are making use of leasing options.
What’s Next on your Shopping List?
30.5% of you plan to buy a new drop-bar bike within the next twelve months – so the appetite for upgrades is clearly alive and kicking. Right at the top of your wishlist: gravel adventure bikes (28.4%), followed by classic road race bikes (23.4%), gravel race bikes (22.4%) and all-road bikes (19.1%). The trend towards versatility is holding strong.
When it comes to buying, most of you still prefer the personal touch over clicking “add to basket”: 60.3% of you choose your local bike shop, 17.9% go online, and a solid 6.4% are planning to build their dream bike from scratch – hats off to you!
Which brands are hottest right now? Leading the pack are Canyon, ROSE, Specialized, CUBE and Orbea – in that order.
And what matters most when choosing a bike? It’s clear: geometry, handling and spec are top priorities. The brand’s image and sustainability credentials play a lesser role for now – though that could change in the future. For the time being, it’s all about how the bike rides – and how well it suits you.
What’s your Take on the Latest Drop-Bar Bike Trends?
A look at the data – and at your tires – makes it clear: the shift to wider rubber is no longer just a trend, it’s already the norm. As our big road bike tire group test also confirmed, the days of clinging to 25 mm tires are well and truly over. On the road, you’re now riding an average width of 31 mm. On gravel race bikes, that figure jumps to a solid 40 mm.
Another trend from the past season? Ever-narrower aero cockpits. But most of you are sticking with what works – and prefer handlebars that match your shoulder width.
As for tubeless on the road: 32.6% of you are already running a tubeless setup, with another 7.6% planning to make the switch soon. In our road tire test, we dive into the pros and cons of going tubeless – and where lightweight TPU tubes fit into the conversation.
And hookless? Still a source of confusion. A full 37.9% of you aren’t even sure whether you’re riding hookless rims – or if you’d want to in the first place. We’ve taken a closer look at the topic to help clear things up and explain what really matters when it comes to hookless tech.
Your Rides – tracked!
If you’re riding, you want to know how fast, how far, and how high. 65.1% of you rely on a classic bike computer for the numbers, 14.7% use a smartwatch, and 11.6% keep things simple by tracking with a smartphone. Only 7.5% skip tracking altogether – but let’s be honest: if it’s not on Strava, did it even happen?
When it comes to apps, there’s a clear favourite: Komoot leads the way with 43.9%, especially popular for route planning and off-road adventures. Strava follows at 34.0%, keeping the focus on performance, social connections and chasing virtual trophies.
And when the weather turns grim? No problem. 42.3% of you have a smart trainer at home – whether it’s for structured training sessions or just to ease the guilt when rain hits the windows. Quick hop on, smash out a session – and still go hunting for those KOMs, even if it’s only in Watopia.
Inspiration & Buying Advice
What influences your bike-buying decisions? The answer’s clear – 60% of you name GRAN FONDO as your go-to source.
But it’s not just our tests and reviews that influence your choices. Test rides and good old-fashioned advice from friends still play a huge role. And let’s be honest: nothing beats the feeling of a bike beneath you, or an honest opinion over a post-ride lemonade. Whether it’s around the campfire, in a car park or halfway up an alpine switchback – that’s where the best decisions get made.
At the other end of the scale? Social media and sponsored riders. Glossy posts and influencer hype barely register for most of you – when it comes to buying, you prefer real-world experience over staged content.
And if you want to delve even deeper into the GRAN FONDO universe: our free, interactive app (AppStore or Google Play)is your perfect companion. Three new issues a year, packed with group tests, buyer’s guides and stories that drop in the app first – before they hit the website.
You’ve rated the app an average of 4.7 stars, and that tells us everything we need to know: it hits the mark. Best of all? You can read it offline – perfect for the train ride to your next tour, or a chilled evening on the sofa. If you haven’t checked it out yet: download it now and start exploring!
The Lucky Winners of the Reader Survey
Of course, there were some lucky winners in our big giveaway! Jochen can look forward to a brand-new ROSE REVEAL PLUS – an e-road bike that combines lightweight construction with electric support in seriously impressive fashion. Huge congratulations!
Another highlight: the chance to win a Falkenjagd Aristos GTR Custom – a titanium dream bike, fully customisable through the brand’s in-house configurator. Marlene is now the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind gravel machine!
And for everyone who missed out this time – don’t worry! Your next chance is just around the corner. The next reader survey will be here before you know it, and with it, another opportunity to win an amazing bike.
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, sign up to our newsletter. That way, you’ll stay in the loop – and be first in line for more epic prizes. Stay tuned – it’s worth it!
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Words: Jan Richter, Jan Fock Photos: various