DeAnima Soul gravel bike review

The DeAnima Soul trades outright, touring comfort for a racy Pegoretti-designed carbon frame, the result of which makes for a polarising yet granular riding experience

DeAnima Soul gravel bike
(Image: © Aaron Borrill)

Cyclingnews Verdict

A fast, left-field gravel bike option for those who prefer exclusivity over ubiquity

Pros

  • +

    Stiff, made-to-measure Italian frameset

  • +

    Beautiful design, handpainted graphics and quality workmanship

  • +

    Fast and adaptable, and able to double up as both a road- and gravel-bike option

Cons

  • -

    Ride quality can be firm at times

  • -

    Pricier than its rivals and more established marques

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The gravel market is the most rapidly growing niche at the moment, with virtually every manufacturer surfing the proverbial dust cloud. However, it's not just the industry perennials that are finding favour among cyclists looking for an answer to the gravel-bike conundrum, but fringe brands, too.

Take boutique Italian bike maker, DeAnima, for example. While new to many, the company has a rich heritage when it comes to building made-to-measure frames, having opened doors in 2014 with Gianni Pegoretti - brother of master frame builder Dario - at the helm. 

Aaron Borrill

Aaron was the Tech Editor Cyclingnews between July 2019 and June 2022. He was born and raised in South Africa, where he completed his BA honours at the University of Cape Town before embarking on a career in journalism. Throughout this career, Aaron has spent almost two decades writing about bikes, cars, and anything else with wheels. Prior to joining the Cyclingnews team, his experience spanned a stint as Gear & Digital editor of Bicycling magazine, as well as a time at TopCar as Associate Editor. 

Now based in the UK's Surrey Hills, Aaron's life revolves around bikes. He's a competitive racer, Stravaholic, and Zwift enthusiast. He’s twice ridden the Cape Epic, completed the Haute Route Alps, and represented South Africa in the 2022 Zwift eSports World Championships.

Height: 175cm

Weight: 61.5kg

Rides: Cannondale SuperSlice Disc Di2 TT, Cannondale Supersix Evo Dura-Ace Rim, Cannondale Supersix Evo Ultegra Di2 Disc, Trek Procaliber 9.9 MTB