Boardman was an early adopter of the gravel genre. The original ADV was a triple-butted aluminium machine with mountain bike-derived 650b wheels and an attitude that was all about getting rough and ready in the dirt.
This new ADV 9.0 is a rather more refined affair that is, we are happy to report, still very much up for getting down and dirty.
The ADV’s charms far outweigh its relatively modest price. The chassis is tightly stiff and highly responsive, and the 38c Panaracer GravelKing SK tyres are impressive: compliant and grippy off-road, fast-rolling (for gravel treads) on tarmac, and also tubeless-ready (the wheels are tubeless compatible too).
VERDICT
"A great package, ride and weight for the money make this Boardman ADV 9.0 our Best Value Bike of the Year" / 5/5