Schwalbe G-one Bite Superground Speedgrip tyre £59.99

The shallowness of the centre tread didn’t, however, lend itself to riding in sloppy, muddy conditions. Floating down the descents, it was much more a case of holding on and seeing where you end up.

It’s not a particular criticism, more an observation of the terrain these tyres are optimised for. The ‘Bites’ make a great spring and summer tyre but aren’t ones for the gloop of the winter – even though they are technically the second most aggressive offering in Schwalbe’s gravel line. Stefan Abram

Sizes 700c x 40, 45, and 50mm; 650 x 50 and 54mm www.schwalbe.com

RATING

Quite different from most gravel tyres, the tread pattern here consists of cylindrical knobs, contrasting with the more angular and blocky designs we commonly see. The reasoning behind this is to provide grip which remains consistent at any angle. On surfaces where there’s a loose topping of shingle over a hard base, the predictability of the ‘Schwalbes’ meant that even when slipping about sideways, I always knew where the limit was and just how much I could push it. On the road they roll a little slower than tyres with a narrower and slicker design, but thanks to the low profile and tight spacing of the centre knobs, they still make light work of long-distance rides.