Words & Photography: Alison McGregor
You don’t truly know a bike until you have to rely on it—completely.
Not until you’re far from home, the bitumen ends, and the trail drops into a dry, rutted creek bed, loose with shale. Not until double-trailer trucks roar past on a shoulder no wider than your wrist. Not until the clouds close in, the wind rises, and the only way out is forward.
That’s where I met the Wilier Adlar—in the thick of it, racing the clock, pushing hard to catch a country train back to Sydney.
Gravel Begins Where Certainty Ends
Like many, my first rides on the Adlar were local. The Perimeter Trail offered fast, low-skill cruising, a test of comfort and handling on smoother ground. But I wasn’t interested in smooth. I wanted to know what this machine could endure. I needed a ride that would strip away ideal conditions and better reveal the bike’s true potential.
An overnight adventure included a stay at Mount Victoria's pleasant Hotel Etico. Photo by the Author
So I packed the Adlar with saddle bags and an overnight bag, and boarded an early train from Sydney to Mount Victoria. My destination was in the blue mountains, and I was chasing a forecast that looked... questionable. The ride would be a mixed bag of hard pack trail, rocky descents, and asphalt. Perfect for testing the Adlar. What's more, the satellite route promised to challenge the frame, demanding speed on sealed roads before the true location - a ridgeline trail with epic views. The roads showed little to no shoulder before I'd confront loose, sandy trails twisting beyond Blackheath, to finally plunge into unseen bushland.
Wilier Adlar gravel bike in the Blue Mountains in vibrant lime, built for off-road Australian terrain. Photo by the author.
At first light, under dark skies, I rolled out. The rain was holding back, however, the bitumen was savage—shoulders littered with debris and glass to dodge and weave, barriers that forced me to stick to a single lane with double trucks hammering past. Never before had I been happier to ride a hypercolour lime bike. But it's not only bright colours that give you confidence, your gears matter more than you'd ever admit. I needed to accelerate hard, uphill, with traffic bearing down. The Campagnolo EKAR drivetrain held firm—every gear change was perfectly in sync, fluid, clean, reliable—but I did find myself wishing for a slightly lower gear ratio to spin easier under stress. Thankfully the wheels were light, and the bike moved with ease over rough asphalt despite the wider tyre.
But this wasn’t just a road test. As the road climbed and the traffic closed in, by 20km the abrupt transition from bitumen to dirt felt like escape—and that’s where the Adlar really began to speak.
A Frame That Carries Your Faith
You notice things differently when riding alone in remote terrain. You register every vibration, every shift in traction. You notice the absence of people, the weight of self-reliance. No mistakes, no excuses—your components and equipment must function perfectly.
A trail turns to loose gravel path in the Blue Mountains on Wilier Adlar, where traction and stability are required. Photo by the author.
On the trail, the Adlar proved itself brutally capable. Where other gravel bikes jolt in reaction or hesitate over rough terrain, this one stayed grounded. Descents were planted. Cornering was confident. I trusted the 47mm Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres far more than I expected—rolling fast on road, gripping cleanly on sand and dry creek crossings.
Rear view of Campagnolo Levante gravel wheel on Wilier Adlar, built for durability and precision on Australian adventure trails. Photo by the author.
When I reached a steep, technical descent into a hollowed-out riverbed, I braced for instability. Instead, the bike flowed. The Ergon carbon seatpost, the Deda gravel bar, even the compact, comfortable Selle Italia Boost saddle—every contact point muted the chatter without dulling the ride. Even fatigued, I didn’t ache. No hotspots. No wrist or back fatigue. Just motion.
The terrain on the trails can be unpredictable under the Wilier Adlar, but handling stays stable and reliable under pressure.
And at under 10kg, this bike is light enough to carry when you have to. And believe me—you will have to. Over fences. Around fallen trees. Across loose scree. That’s the kind of Australian riding this frame is built for.
Tested by Terrain, Trusted by Design
The Adlar isn’t just a gravel bike inching into MTB territory. It’s something else entirely—a convergence of endurance, utility, and capability. This frame isn’t coy about its intentions. Its geometry takes cues from mountain biking: a slacker head angle, longer wheelbase, and dropped chainstays—all designed to give stability where many gravel bikes falter. It also replicates the clearance of a mountain bike. It’s the kind of design that invites you to take the rough line, not tiptoe around it. And yet, it retains that gravel bike DNA—the efficiency, the speed on hardpack, the responsiveness that makes long days in the saddle not just possible but exhilarating. Throw in the modular utility of a touring rig and this unicorn of bikes becomes an endurance off-road riding machine. At the same time, it doesn’t pretend to be more extreme than it is. It knows its lane: the long haul, the rugged unknown, the middle of nowhere.
Below: A good view of the Deda Elementi Gera Handlebar with enough flare for comfort and ease of handling. Image by the Author 
Where This Bike Comes Alive
If you’re expecting a race-bred gravel machine, the Adlar will surprise you. This is a bike that settles in for the long haul. Its true character comes alive when the hours stretch out, when the trail turns from routine to unpredictable, and when comfort, stability, and control stop being luxuries and start being necessities.
Whether you’re planning a bikepacking epic across Tasmania, riding straight from the airport into the wild, or simply rolling into a local gravel event with your bags and gear in tow—this frame is ready. The abundant mounting points make it a touring powerhouse, yet the bike remains light, nimble, and responsive, even under load.
Riders like Wiebke Lühmann and Veronica Santandrea have trusted the Adlar across continents and punishing elevation—often with 35kg of gear, riding solo in terrain where help isn’t coming. And while my trip didn’t cross international borders, it still required a bike that could handle the unexpected—alone, exposed, and under load. Wilier’s offers accessories kit with mudguards, front and rear carriers, and bags in partnership with Miss Grape, which integrates cleanly.
Out there—whether it’s Australia’s city fringes or the Silk Road deserts—failure isn’t an option. Consider Alberto Fiorin and Dino Facchinetti, both from Italy, who chose the Adlar as their trusted steeds to retrace the legendary Silk Road. Part of their journey involved crossing deserts requiring they carry 14 litres of water per day, alongside all their existing gear. Through every harsh mile, the Adlar’s frame and design proved trustworthy—shouldering the load, enduring the grind, and carrying them safely through.
Lime Wilier Adlar after climbing narrow gravel ridge in the Blue Mountains, proves capable on technical trails. Photo by the author.
You might wonder—why not take an e-bike? After all, the extra assistance could make long distances easier. But that’s where Alberto and Dino’s philosophy comes in: they believe in travelling “gently, respectfully”—an approach that aligns perfectly with the simplicity and reliability of a bike like the Adlar.
Unlike an e-bike, which relies on continual battery charge (and additional weight) and comes with added complexities in mechanical systems, the Adlar is pure muscle and machine. It’s free from the constraints of charging points and power limitations—factors that can become serious issues in remote regions where support is scarce. And when it comes to transport logistics, especially flying across borders, an e-bike’s battery restrictions can make travel complicated or even impossible. The Adlar, on the other hand, remains plane-friendly, simple to maintain, and ready for the next leg of the journey, wherever that may be.
Campagnolo EKAR mechanical 13-speed drivetrain on Wilier Adlar built at Chainsmith. Photo by the author.
But back to my own adventure... When the clouds broke open above Mount Banks and the trail became slicker, I realised what the Adlar offers most clearly: calm under pressure. It didn’t react. It adapted. And when I rejoined the road for the return leg, exhausted and dirty, the ride remained fast, smooth, and though hard on tired legs, I still had a smile on my face.
Design Features: Purpose-Built Performance
When you’re building a bike for Australian conditions—where gravel roads turn into rocky goat tracks, and sandy riverbeds can appear without warning—the frame is the foundation. Superficially, the Wilier Adlar frameset, painted in an unapologetically vibrant lime, sets the tone for everything that follows. On a deeper level, the geometry and design features gives the Adlar more potential than most gravel tourers.
The wide tyre clearance (up to 52mm, or 29x2.0” MTB tyres) opens up terrain that would have been off-limits before. I’ve carried bikes over fences in Nattai, lugged them up washed-out trails after a long day’s ride. At under 10kg for the build, the Adlar’s carbon layup is featherweight enough that, even when fatigue sets in, the thought of hoisting it up and over doesn’t crush your spirit.
And that bikepacking potential—the frame is littered with mounting points, but you also have the freedom to install a suspension fork or dynamo hub for heartier conditions. On a simpler note, the chance to use a short stem along with mindful design of an open steering angle (70°) means better handling and control on challenging tracks even under the weight of a fully loaded bike. Whether you’re packing light for an overnight trip or hauling gear for a weeklong journey, the Adlar is ready for it. This is a bike built to go long, go deep, and keep going.
Fully built Wilier Adlar gravel bike with Campagnolo EKAR and wide tyres, ready for bikepacking and gravel riding in Australian bush. Photo by the author.
Component Choices: Building the Bike for Australian Gravel
A frame like this demands a build that matches its intentions—not just in performance, but in durability, comfort, and control. Had I been planning a transcontinental ride, I might have changed the gearing. That’s the genius of the Adlar—it’s a foundation, not a prescription. And with a mechanic who listens, who understands the relationship between rider and terrain, the build becomes uniquely yours.
Mechanic installs Campagnolo EKAR 13-speed drivetrain on Wilier Adlar during custom gravel bike build at Chainsmith. Photo by the author.
In my case? I built this bike for simplicity and reliability to take on Australia’s bush trails, the unpredictable conditions off Nattai, the edges of Wisemans Ferry, and the long stretches to Wollombi.
-
Campagnolo EKAR Groupset (9-42 / 44T): Mechanical simplicity meets smooth performance. Under load and on the move, EKAR offered clean shifts and firm control. I might opt for a smaller chainring on multi-day climbs with gear, but for this ride, it gave just enough punch when traffic demanded speed. On long, rough rides, the 160mm rotors deliver consistent braking without fade, even on technical descents where control is non-negotiable. The thumb shift is intuitive and efficient.
-
Campagnolo Levante Wheels with Vittoria Terreno Dry 47mm Tyres: The Levante wheels are designed for gravel abuse—light enough to spin up quickly on climbs, but tough enough to take hits without complaint. The tubeless setup with Vittoria Terreno Dry 47mm tyres was chosen for their fast-rolling center tread and aggressive side knobs—ideal for the mixed terrain on a trip like Wisemans Ferry to Wollombi, where hardpack gives way to sand, and back again. Surprisingly quick on tarmac. Unshakable in gravel. These tyres danced over sand and bit clean into shale. The wheels held their line.
-
Deda Elementi Gera Carbon Gravel Bar & Loop Bar Tape: Confident leverage and comfort—vital for keeping your head straight when your body’s cooked (which I was after this ride). Control at the front end is crucial when riding on loose, technical surfaces. The Deda gravel bar features a noticeable flared drop, giving me leverage and confidence on rough descents. Paired with Deda’s Loop bar tape, the cockpit remains comfortable with perfectly stable vibration-damping—it kept my hands fresh even after hours in the saddle. I also note that I didn't suffer the familiar neck pain with the normal gravel jolts.. This is a significant game changer for many riders. The bar tape helped absorb fatigue that can often creep in during long rides.
- Ergon All Road Pro Carbon Setback Seatpost & Selle Italia Flite Boost TM Superflow Saddle: Can I say my butt was fully supported throughout the testing. Stability and compliance—two elements that can make or break an adventure build. The Ergon All Road Pro carbon setback seatpost adds enough flex to soak up trail chatter—a vital detail when you’re deep into a ride and battling rocks and potholes. Flex, compliance, and control came into play, perfectly partnered with the supportive Boost saddle by Selle Italia. I barely noticed the saddle—and that’s the best compliment of all.
Below: Wilier Adlar awaits the next bikepacking adventure and is ever ready to be loaded with bags, cages, and accessories for remote touring. Photo by the Author
Final Thoughts: The Freedom Machine
The Wilier Adlar isn’t for everyone. But if you’re the kind of rider who sees a sketchy side track and wonders what’s down there—this is your bike.
It doesn’t ask for smooth conditions. It doesn’t need perfect weather. It’s not here to win races. It’s here to go further, carry more, and keep rolling when the trail tries to say otherwise.
This isn’t just a bike review. It’s a field report. And the report says: the Adlar holds its line—in mud, in silence, beside fast moving trucks, under clouds, under you.
Wherever the trail leads—you can follow it.
And yes, I made the train.
Ready to Explore Beyond the Limits?
If the Wilier Adlar sparks your curiosity, but you’re wondering if it’s the right fit for your riding style, terrain, or adventure goals—the team at Chainsmith is here to guide you. Whether you're after a custom build or want to test the boundaries of gravel, we’ll help you tailor the perfect setup. Get in touch with our expert mechanics and bike fitters to start your journey on the right frame.
