Stooge Rambler gravel bike review: Fun at times, but absurdly heavy, and it made me pull my hair out

There’s been a steady change in the world of the best gravel bikes in recent years towards greater and greater emulation of mountain bikes. Bigger tyres, suspension, slacker geometry, but everything has been somewhat incremental. A hair more clearance here, a half degree more rad in the head tube there; don’t upset the market, we’ve got a good thing going on here!

Stooge, a boutique brand based in Shropshire, makes ‘beautiful bikes that stand outside of any trends or fashions, that handle wonderfully and challenge the common perception that a rigid bike is a lesser bike.’ Its bikes are quite different, and have been pushing massive tyres and progressive geometry for some years now.