These days, navigating the world of gravel bikes can feel overwhelming. On one hand, the market is overflowing with options. On the other, the namesake terrain these bikes are supposedly designed for remains stubbornly hard to define. As Nic discovered in his recent What is a Gravel Bike? post, the term is inherently subjective, nuanced, and dictated more by your local landscape than any industry standard.

In some places, buttery smooth, champagne service roads that connect small towns are gravel. In others, gravel is rugged doubletracks punctuated by bursts of semi-technical singletrack and rocky descents.

The consequences of this fragmentation are clear: race-oriented gravel rigs with aggressive positions and minimal tyre clearance might rip on hardpack, but they become torture machines when the going gets rough. Meanwhile, more progressive designs get dismissed as “too slow” by the Strava segment hunters who’ve turned gravel into road racing 2.0. But it’s precisely from within this polarised landscape that the appeal of bikes striving for true versatility can really shine. And not many boast more adaptability than the Wondercross Wanderer.

Over the last few months, I’ve pedalled this thing across a massive array of mixed terrains in New Zealand and Australia. Hundreds of kilometres later, I’m ready to share my thoughts on how it handles, how it hauls, and whether it truly delivers on its promises of go-anywhere capability. Let’s dig in.

People, Roads, Gravel, Trails

Before we dive deep into the Wanderer, a quick introduction to the Wondercross (WX) origin story. Wondercross didn’t begin as a bike brand but rather as a weekly, mixed-terrain social bike ride in Melbourne. Started in 2012 by William Jetnikoff, owner of local bike shop Jetnikoff Bicycle Co., the goal of the WX ride was to create a genuine alternative to the fast-paced and often exclusive club rides that, he felt, did more to separate biking communities than connect them. The ride was strictly no-drop and focused on exploring the local roads, gravel, and trails around Melbourne’s north side. It prioritised community, skill development, and confidence over KOMs.

By 2014, the WX ride had grown significantly, often attracting 50 people per week. Buoyed by the ride’s popularity and fuelled by the frustrating question many riders face: “What sort of riding do you want to do?” Will started thinking, tinkering, and testing ideas for a new bike-shaped answer. He’d built and sold thousands of frames through Jetnikoff, and although the market already had some good options, he felt there was still a gap for a true mixed-terrain platform.

So in 2020, with the help of co-founder and design director Matt Osborne, Wondercross evolved from a social ride to a social bike brand. Their mission: to build future-proof bikes for the very terrain that inspired them. The core principles experienced weekly on the WX Ride—bringing People together across Roads, Gravel, and Trails—became the four pillars stamped on every frame, a constant reminder of their roots and purpose.

Wanderer at a Glance

The Wondercross Wanderer is a versatile gravel/adventure bike geared towards varied riding. The kind of rides where you set off and don’t really know what to expect, aka the kind of riding I love. Sitting on a long, smooth, and well-graded gravel road for too long bores me, so my gravel rides often feature forest service roads that degrade into chunky 4×4 trails, rutted-out doubletrack, and the occasional blue run on a local MTB trail. I want a challenge, some proper dialogue with the environment, and maybe just sometimes, sketchy moments where I question my life choices. The Wanderer nails this brief perfectly.

• Highlights (XL)
• Angles: 72° Head tube / 73° Seat tube
• Reach/Stack: 405mm / 605mm
• Bottom Bracket: T47 Threaded / 70mm drop
• Hub specs: 12 x 100mm (front) / 12 x 142mm (rear)
• Chainstays: 440mm
• Max Tire Size: 29″ x 2.1″ or 27.5” x 2.6”

Like the best modern adventure rigs, it’s packed with bikepacking-friendly features: you’ve got tyre clearance for properly substantial rubber (up to 700c x 55mm / 29” x 2.1″ or a chunky 650b x 66mm / 27.5” x 2.6″), cargo bosses seemingly everywhere (three inside the main triangle, one under the down tube, triple cage mounts on the Enve fork), plus standard rack and mudguard mounts for maximum all-weather utility.

Modern standards are embraced throughout on the bike: a T47 threaded bottom bracket, flat-mount brake standards, UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) compatibility, and internal cable routing for both gear and brake cables for clean, uncluttered lines. Its distinctive S-bend seat stays aren’t just for looks, either. Paired with the custom-machined dropped chainstay yoke, they’re the secret to achieving the bike’s impressive tyre clearance and stiffness under load.

The Wanderer comes in an impressive seven sizes, ranging from XXS to XXL to accommodate riders from 158 cm to 192 cm (5’2” to 6’4”) tall. Wondercross offers an admirable range of sizes—something we seldom see from smaller bike brands.

By the Numbers

I tested the XL size frame, set up with 175mm cranks, 80mm stem, and my saddle height at 810mm. As a 186-centimetre (6’1″), 76-kilogram (170-pound) rider with fairly long legs, this size felt almost perfect for me straight away. I didn’t experience any teething issues with the size—no numbness in my hands or a sore back. In fact, this is one of the only bikes I’ve reviewed where the fit felt dialled right out of the box.

Designed to tackle the whole “Roads, Gravel, Trails” spectrum, the Wanderer’s geometry clearly reflects its “jack of all trades” ambition. The 73-degree seat angle provides a solid platform for pedalling efficiency, paired with a 72-degree head angle that offers confidence-inspiring stability on rougher ground without making the bike feel slow or slack. A 70mm bottom bracket drop hits that sweet spot, lowering the rider’s centre of gravity for stability while retaining decent pedal clearance.

Wondercross Wanderer Geometry

The 440mm chainstays (consistent across sizes except XXL) accommodate big tyres and contribute to the bike’s planted feel, especially when climbing or loaded. Crucially, though, they feel short enough to keep the rear end responsive and stupidly fun. The balanced reach and stack (405mm/605mm) prevented an excessive saddle-to-bar drop in my size, which meant I could find a comfortable riding position that felt balanced—not stretched out race-style—but efficient enough for punching out a mix of long gravel rides and singletrack shenanigans alike.

That Ti Feeling

I’ve ridden frames made from just about every material possible (yes, including wood). Each material has its trade-offs: steel is versatile and robust, carbon is light but can feel harsh to ride. But titanium, when crafted with care—including thoughtful tubing profiles, carefully calculated butting, and dialled wall thicknesses—delivers a ride quality that’s simply unbeatable in my opinion. And from my first ride on the Wanderer, I knew it was special.

Loaded up for a bikepacking trip or stripped down for a short gravel blast, the titanium frame performs that classic Ti magic trick: muting trail buzz and tiny, energy-sapping vibrations that cause fatigue on long rides. Even on tarmac, the Wanderer feels efficient and lively. Sure, it’s no Tour de France-winning roadie, but that’s not the point; the paved sections are just the runway to the real adventure where the dirt flies and smiles widen.

Shod with some burly 700 x 55mm Pirelli Cinturato tyres and loaded up with a mix of bikepacking bags and camping gear, the Wanderer’s handling feels inherently trustworthy and predictable. That 72-degree head tube angle paired with a 1,065mm wheelbase keeps things rock-solid when the gravel gets loose or speeds pick up. Climbing feels solid, too. The 73-degree seat tube angle and 440mm chainstays help keep the rear wheel digging in and the front end planted on steep sections without excessive wandering.

Now, where it got really interesting was when I pointed it at some local Wanaka singletrack. While it’s obviously not an XC mountain bike, pushing it on the flowy trails, small features, and loose pitches around Deans Bank and Sticky Forest proved surprisingly rewarding. Paired with voluminous tyres, the Wanderer transforms into a genuinely playful machine for ripping around trails. It reignited that childlike urge to play—launching off small roots, slapping corners, and generally treating the trail like one giant pump track. It’s nimble enough to feel engaging without ever becoming twitchy or nervous.

Fair warning: Sometimes, those chunky tyres lured me into situations that might have been a bit more suited to an MTB. So while the Wanderer most definitely is a capable light trail and gravel bike, you might feel safer sending jumps and hitting black runs on a dedicated slacked-out shred sled.

Downsides

One downside I noted, specifically on the more technical off-road climbs, was slight toe overlap. This is pretty common with fat-tyred gravel bikes in this category and not helped by my large feet (Size 46/US 12/UK 11) and preferred bike fit (cleats all the way back). Though for most riders, predominantly sticking to traditional gravel roads, I don’t think it’d be an issue at all.

In fact, while testing and riding with the wider Wondercross community, I asked a bunch of riders on frame sizes from small to XXL about their toe overlap experiences. Like me, they’d only experienced it when maxing out on tyre size (700 x 50/55) and hitting more technical trails. Factor that in if you’re particularly sensitive to toe overlap. Otherwise, I’d say if you’re running “standard” width gravel tyres (35 to 45mm), you’ll likely not experience any overlap.

The only other slight downside I could see is that with the bike’s focus on versatility and comfort. For a small selection of riders, it might lack the absolute explosive snap of a pure gravel gremlin race bike with ultra-short stays. If you’re looking for a Ti race rig and you just want all-out performance, then you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. However, if you want something that will enable you to explore a variety of trails, tracks, roads, and gravel just the way you like, and last a lifetime, the Wanderer is an unbelievably good option.

Complete builds that feel… Complete

When it comes to the three complete build options in their line-up, Wondercross isn’t playing the usual “slap some budget parts on and call it a day” game. Instead, what they’ve curated feels more like a selection of thoughtfully considered builds.

They don’t skimp on the parts that you see many brands save money on, either. For example, Wondercross spec every complete build with an ENVE carbon adventure fork ($625 USD), White Industries Headset ($170 USD) and T47 bottom bracket ($140 USD), and Zipp finishing components. Why? Because after decades of wrenching on bikes and seeing common faults with no-name, OEM headsets, bottom brackets, and carbon forks, they decided their customers deserve better.

Build 1

SRAM Force CX1 11 Spd + DT Swiss G1800 – $4,500 USD/$6,999 AUD

The gateway to the Wanderer platform is the SRAM Force CX1 11-speed build, paired with the sturdy DT Swiss G1800 wheelset. This build prioritises straightforward functionality and robust performance, providing riders with a wide enough gear range for varied terrain. The DT Swiss G1800 wheels are known for their bombproof durability, and the full gamut of White Industries BB and headset, along with a Zipp finishing kit, makes this build a premium yet accessible option that should suit most people.

Build 2

SRAM Rival AXS + DT Swiss G1800 – $5,800 USD/$8,999 AUD

Stepping up a notch, this build injects more modern tech into the Wanderer package, including SRAM’s Rival AXS 12-speed wireless electronic shifting, paired with the reliable DT Swiss G1800 wheelset. It’s a build that balances cutting-edge shifting with the grounded performance of a dependable wheel platform and plenty of versatility baked in.

Build 3

SRAM Force Eagle AXS + ZIPP 303’s – $7,100 USD/$10,999 AUD

Finally, a build for those looking to really unleash the Wanderer’s potential and aren’t afraid to invest in top-tier performance. Pairing SRAM’s wide-range Force Eagle AXS 12-speed gives you top-tier electronic shifting, enough gear range to tackle some seriously steep climbs, and the ZIPP 303 carbon wheels bring a noticeable upgrade in terms of weight and responsiveness.

Wondercross Wheelsets

Matt from Wondercross also informed me that they’ll be bringing their own carbon hoops and complete wheelsets to the market in the next couple of months. These will be sold stand-alone and also specced on their complete builds, which is pretty exciting.

The Wanderer I tested came with the 700c, 45mm deep versions featuring a 24-hole construction, 32mm internal rim bed, Sapim CX Ray spokes, and brass nipples. I really enjoyed their stiffness, strength, and low weight, so I expect the production models to be awesome. But you’ll have to wait for a separate review on those.

• Model/Size Tested: Wondercross Wanderer (XL)
• Actual Weight: 9.8 kilograms (21.6 pounds)
• Place of Manufacture: China
• Price: $5,500 USD ($8,500 AUD)
• Manufacturer’s Details: Wondercross.com.au