Wilier Adlar Rival AXS XPLR E1 Bike w/Carbon Wheels

Wilier Adlar Rival AXS XPLR E1 Bike w/Carbon Wheels Info

The Wilier Adlar is what happens when a 120-year-old Italian frame builder approaches gravel from the direction of adventure rather than racing. It is a carbon monocoque gravel bike engineered for multi-day expeditions, loaded bikepacking routes, and technical off-road terrain — built by the same Veneto workshop that supplies Groupama–FDJ at the WorldTour level. The Rival AXS XPLR E1 build pairs the Adlar frame with SRAM's newest 1×13 wireless gravel groupset and Miche's Graff All Road 40mm carbon wheelset, both Italian-made and both chosen specifically for this application. At $5,950, this is a complete adventure gravel bike capable of carrying 35 kilograms of gear on a carbon frame that weighs under 1,200 grams. It is engineered to go places and come back with a story.

NHU-MOD Carbon Built for Load and Terrain

Wilier builds the Adlar frame from NHU-MOD carbon — high-modulus fiber in a full monocoque construction, the same carbon manufacturing philosophy the brand applies to its WorldTour road frames. The Adlar frame tips the scale at 1,190g and is rated to carry 35kg of additional load beyond the rider. That structural specification is not marketing language — it is an engineering requirement built into the layup and validated to support Wilier's axle-mounted rack system, which transfers cargo weight directly through the 12mm thru-axles rather than through traditional braze-on rack mounts. This distinction matters: axle-load transfer eliminates the bending stress on carbon tubes that conventional racks impose, making the Adlar's load capacity genuinely compatible with its carbon construction.

The down tube is shaped to function as an integrated mudguard, deflecting spray from the front wheel in wet and muddy conditions — a functional design detail that requires no added hardware. Internal cable and hydraulic routing runs throughout the frame, with dedicated internal dynamo cable routing in the fork for hub dynamo lighting systems. The fork is built to accept optional short-travel suspension forks — including the Lauf Grit SL and similar 40mm-travel designs — without altering the frame's intended geometry. The 27.2mm seatpost diameter accommodates a dropper post, which Wilier anticipated for riders descending technical terrain with a loaded bike. These are not afterthought features. They are decisions made at the design stage for riders who push farther than most.

Tire clearance runs to 700×52mm or 29×2.0" — wide enough to run XC mountain bike tires when the route demands it. The frame is strictly 1× only, with no front derailleur provisions, keeping the drivetrain clean, light, and snag-free in rough terrain.

SRAM Rival XPLR E1 and Miche Carbon Wheels

The 2026 SRAM Rival XPLR E1 groupset is the newest generation of SRAM's wireless gravel drivetrain. "E1" succeeds the D1 generation with the most significant update in the XPLR line: 13 speeds. The XG-1351 XPLR cassette runs 10–46T — a range that covers everything from fast paved connectors to extended loaded climbs without compromise. The Rival XPLR rear derailleur uses SRAM's Full Mount system, connecting directly to the Adlar's UDH-compatible hanger without a separate derailleur hanger that can bend or break in a crash. The 40T single chainring, 170mm crankset, and wireless AXS shift pods complete the drivetrain with no cables to snag, ice up, or stretch.

Braking is handled by SRAM Paceline hydraulic disc calipers with Centerlock 160mm rotors front and rear — flat mount, thru-axle at both ends. SRAM Paceline is built specifically for gravel applications: lighter than road disc calipers, with consistent modulation across the temperature swings that come with long off-pavement days.

The carbon wheels on this build are the Miche Graff All Road — a 40mm carbon disc wheelset made in Veneto, the same Italian region as Wilier's frame factory. Miche is Wilier's long-term wheel partner and supplies the brand's race team builds. The Graff All Road runs a 23mm internal width optimized for 40–55mm gravel tires, tubeless ready with an XDR freehub body for the SRAM XPLR cassette. Rim depth is chosen for balance between aerodynamic benefit and crosswind stability under load — not a race-shallow rim that sacrifices rolling efficiency on long days. The wheelset weighs approximately 1,600g, competitive for carbon gravel wheels with the durability profile expected of an expedition build.

Geometry, Stability, and What "Adventure Gravel" Actually Means

The Adlar's geometry is the clearest signal of its intent. Every size in the range runs a 70° head tube angle — well into mountain bike territory for a gravel bike. Most gravel bikes built around road racing geometry run 71.5° to 72.5°. The Adlar's 70° slack head angle delivers stable, confidence-inspiring handling on technical descents and under heavy front loads, where a steeper-angled bike would feel nervous and twitchy. The seat tube runs at 74° in a size medium — steep enough to keep power delivery efficient without sacrificing the upright, long-day position the high stack geometry provides. Chainstays are a consistent 423mm across all five sizes, moderately long for rear stability with cargo. Bottom bracket drop is 76mm, keeping the center of gravity low and handling predictable.

Five sizes run from XS to XL, covering riders from approximately 155cm to 190cm and above. Two colorways are available: Stone Dark Gloss and Bottle Green Gloss — both finishes that photograph well in the landscape you'll be riding through. The Ritchey Comp Corralitos flared drop bar and Ritchey alloy stem provide a cockpit that balances control on descents with comfort in the drops on long gravel days. The Adlar ships ready to ride, ready to be loaded, and ready for whatever distance you're planning. Wilier has been building Italian bikes since 1906. The Adlar is the one built for riders who want to see what's at the end of a dirt road that keeps going.