PM Approved: The Raleigh Willard 4 Gravel Bike
Raleigh's pitch for the Willard 4 is a road bike that can do a little more, a two-wheeled mobility machine that can handle smooth surfaces but is ready to take on gravel trails. On my test rides, it felt like an ideal compromise.
On the Central Park loop right near the Popular Mechanics office, where I usually test e-bikes and kooky cycles made of scotch casks, the Raleigh displayed its dual character. With fatter tires than a road bike, the Willard 4 isn't exactly effortless to propel across the pavement, but it rides comfortably enough that a long trek wouldn't be out of the question.
It hoofs uphill, to be sure. The tough hill at the northwest corner of Central Park is a bear as you can feel the friction of the fat tires slowing you down while the guy in the ultralight Trek road bike whizzes by. But the Willard is a featherweight compared to the ancient steel Schwinn that counts as my personal ride (I felt owned when a guy on a lemon Schwinn Varsity passes me on the hill, too).
To test what Raleigh claims to be "geometry that inspires confidence when riding off-road," I pulled the bike off the main loop and onto the loose gravel trail that suddenly becomes a bridle path. The Willard felt secure and not shaky as the footing got loose and handled the big rocks that showed up later with aplomb.
The Willard 4 comes in at $1,400, making it a reasonable option for the kind of person who wants to be able to tackle tougher terrain than skinny road tires can handle. This way, you don't have to buy two bikes.
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