Santa Cruz Skitch 1.1 CC 700c 26 GX AXS-Kit

The Skitch is what happens when a mountain bike company builds a light electric gravel and commuter bike. The CC carbon frame and rigid carbon fork keep the weight down, and the Fazua Ride 60 drive unit is efficient enough that you can pedal the bike with the motor off without fighting drag, which is not true of most electric bikes. With the motor on, 60 Nm arrives smoothly, and in the US it is a Class 3 bike with assist up to 28 mph.

The result is a bike that works for two different jobs. It commutes without making you arrive sweaty, and it rides gravel roads at a pace that keeps you with a faster group. The battery is integrated into the down tube with a top tube LED display showing charge and mode, there are two bottle mounts, and 700c wheels keep it rolling fast on pavement. This build runs SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type wireless shifting with a wide-range cassette, which gives you a low enough gear for steep dirt even with a battery aboard.