Endurance bikes have thankfully seen something of a resurgence over the last few years. The future was looking somewhat dicey for a while, with most brands obsessed with trying to make their bikes ‘all-road’, or combining gravel and endurance into a not-so-comfortable whole.
Giant got the ball rolling in 2023 with the wonderfully road-focused Defy, and Cannondale returned the Synapse to the top of the tree for 2025.
While I wouldn’t expect updates to either of those greats, some of their biggest rivals could certainly do with a refresh.
It’s going to be all about the tyres
The move to bigger tyre volumes across the board is going to be the single biggest factor in some endurance models needing an update. We’ve had reports from pro-tour training camps of pro riders requesting 32mm tyres for their race bikes.
A lot of the current generation of endurance bikes were designed around 32mm tyres. So, if we see a shift towards 32s being the norm in racing, endurance will go bigger. At a minimum, endurance bikes are going to need to have at least 32mm clearances with mudguards/fenders.
I think we’ll also see a shift to frame specs using Universal Derailleur Hanger dropouts, and plenty of off-the-peg 1x drivetrain options. I was certainly impressed by Cannondale’s 1x Lab71 Synapse.
So here's the countdown of the top 5 endurance bikes I’d like to see in 2026, in reverse order.
5. Cervélo Caledonia
The Caledonia 5 got an update in 2024, with in-frame storage, UDH and bigger tyre clearances – so you can run tyres up to 36mm with mudguards and larger without – 38mm officially, but there is room for more.
The standard Caledonia, however, has been left unchanged. The Calendonia’s lower price point (between £3,000 and £4,000) doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.
I’d like to see much larger tyre clearances than the official 35mm and 32mm with mudguards – ideally even more than the lightweight Caledonia 5.
Down tube storage, like its pricier sibling, would be nice, but it should see a future-proof UDH dropout as standard.
- Read more: Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 review – it rides like a dream, but the price is a nightmare
4. Ridley Grifn
Ridley’s Grifn was very forward-thinking back in 2022: 40mm tyre clearance, 1x and 2x options and a UDH dropout.
The Grifn is marketed as an all-road bike, or a bike that can switch between road and gravel.
Ridley, however, has a wealth of gravel bikes from aero race to adventurous. So, I’d like to see the Grifn reimagined as a pure road bike, with a simplified range and purely road-focused builds and drivetrains.
- Read more: Ridley Grifn RS review: a rapid gravel all-rounder that falls short on the roughest terrain
3. Merida Scultura Endurance
Merida’s Scultura Endurance is another great bike, but it needs an update; the 35mm tyre clearance, down to 32mm with mudguards, is somewhat modest by modern standards.
I’d like to see it re-imagined with a Defy-matching 38mm (35mm with mudguards), or even pushed out to a Synapse-matching 42mm.
Merida’s endurance options have always been great bikes, impressively light with great handling and very competitively priced – which would do very well in 2026.
Oh, and knock the Endurance GR on the head – it's been superseded by the Mission for racier gravel/cyclocross, and the Silex is more than capable for every other style of gravel.
2. Canyon Endurace
We haven't seen an update to the Endurace since 2023, so it’s just about due from Canyon.
The Endurace has always had a nod towards competitive riding rather than recreation, so let’s see some more of that.
I'd like to see Canyon bring up the tyre clearances because the 35mm on the current model is modest on a race bike, never mind an endurance bike.
Keep the geometry at the sportiest end of endurance norms and, in typical Canyon style, keep the weight as low as the prices, with plenty of aerodynamic considerations, too.
- Read more: Canyon Endurace CF SLX 8 Di2 Aero review
1. Trek Domane
The fourth-generation Domane, from 2022, was a very forward-thinking bike. It had 38mm tyre clearances that were big for the time, and it shipped with big tyres.
The bike offered in-frame storage, aero integration and the signature smooth Domane ride, but with a racy edge.
What I’d like from a new Domane is more of the same, but for Trek to bring the tyre clearances up (I think 42mm may become the new endurance norm) and add a UDH dropout.
Aside from that, the Gen 4 Domane was simply brilliant.
- Read more: Trek Domane AL 4 Disc review
