The racey geometry on that bike kinda kills it as a gravel bike for me. I still dont think you can just pop on gravel tires and call it a gravel bike. Wider range gear set with a very easy gear, and more upright riding position with wider hand positioning are crucially missing on road bikes. Gravel bikes should be comfortable for long periods of mixed terrain, and not optimized for speed as a primary design like this and other road bikes are.
I still want to have a gravel bike and have an additional road wheelset - but that's because the riding I want to do includes multiday bikepacking rides that includes gravel (e.g. my summer ride was the Baltic coast of Germany & Poland followed by crossing Sweden cost to coast). But I do agree that it is the type of riding that's most appealing to the person that will be the decider - for Ollie that means a road bike and potentially an extra set of "gravel wheels" or running extra wide tires all the time, For me its a Trek Checkpoint with extra Road Wheels.
Sorry, I should clarify, the geometry on that road bike kills it for me as a bike overall. There is just no reason to go for a nice ride and be hunched over like that.
This won't do. You've sold me on 50mm tires over the last year. 40mm won't be enough, I saw how much fun Hank had on those Schwalbe Super Moto 50mms down Cheddar Gorge.
It think the geometry of endurance bikes and that of gravel bikes have become quite similar. The thing with tire clearance is that with e.g. this BMC you would have fork and frame rub with dirt once you hit a muddy section. So, I think this progression with tire clearance would need to head more towards 50mm. Skinnier road tires may look odd on that, but they are getting wider too. I am personally using a Giant Revolt Advanced for road and gravel riding plus touring and think it is pretty much a do it all. The BMC looks quite a bit nicer though.
During the video, he saied same arguments are working for cheaper bikes. But I agree to watch more videos on cheaper bikes (around 1200€) would be great too
Yup! and then you follow the link to the BMC website and there is no UK or GB option in the Country Select drop down. It looks as though, even if you wanted one and were in the UK, BMC don't wan't sell you one. Madness.
Why do people watch these videos to complain about the price of the bikes. If you watched top gear and the trio driving quarter of a million pound cars, you watched it for the enjoyment due to the presenters and the content. That’s why I watch GCN because they’re entertaining and I like bikes. Stop complaining about the fact that the new tech is expensive and just enjoy the fact that we get to watch these guys make great content that is available for us for free.
People complain because a road bike costing the equivalent of a decent and fairly new second hand car is just ridiculous. Prices of new bikes have spiralled out of controll. But that's just my opinion. Doesn't stop me from enjoying these videos though 😊
Entitlement. Nothing more nothing less. As with every product in the world there is the low end, the absurdly expensive end and then the middle where most of us get bits Personally, I like seeing the stuff I’ll never be able/willing to buy myself.
Picking up my Domane in a few weeks, and this is the plan -- upgrade to a carbon wheelset and then use the stock alloy wheels to run 38c gravel tires when needed
The reason for the popularity of gravel bikes is the same reason hybrids came about (and to some degree, why cyclocross bikes had a surge in popularity): Road racing bikes are not suitable for most users-especially the skinny tired versions that used to be common. Or, as Ollie puts it in another video, most people buy bikes that “are not fit for purpose.” Because, just as Si says here that most people don’t use gravel bikes for long and unsupported tours in the wilderness; most people don’t use road bikes for racing Milan-San Remo or the grand tours.
650b compatibility is the perfect feature for do-it-all road/gravel bikes. A fat 650b that’s in the 47-51 mm range is about the same size as 28-32 mm road tires.
Good content and Ollie and Si worked great together. I started with a road bike with 40mm tire clearance but soon realized that for more relaxing rides, such as my preferred gravel, that it was difficult for me to slow down and enjoy the sights. This is mostly down to my neck flexibility. So I added a more relaxed gravel bike that allows me to sit up in a more comfortable position. I now use this bike when I want to take a relaxing ride and see the sights and for long, low effort, rides when comfort comes before speed. The road bike comes out when I want to push things and go fast. I could easily get by with the relaxed bike for both purposes but since I already had the road bike, and can afford to keep both, it's nice to mix it up.
40 years ago, I was riding a steel bike with Campagnolo and 1 1/4 inch tyres on. I used it for touring, or bikepacking, including gravel, commuting, and of a weekend I'd put narrower, lighter tyres on and compete in club races and TTs. Did I win, no but I didn't expect to. Was I happy whenever I rode it, definitely. Now I have 3 bikes to do the same stuff. Like most people, I've fallen for the newest, and lightest is best marketing ploys. Am I going to buy a new bike because it takes wider tyres and has disc brakes, no. Ive learnt my lesson. Manufacturers need to sell bikes, fair enough, but we dont have to keep changing for the latest model.
Bro it's called being an enthusiast. Yeah you don't need to be one, most people aren't. But there are people that enjoy seeing how technology evolves and want to experience the newer things.
@roadcyclist1 My point is, gravel/road crossover bikes are nothing new. This is just the latest rehash of how I and others have cycled for many years. One bike, multiple usage.
I guess I am ahead of the curve. I have owned a BMC for over five years. It is a road bike fitted with 38mm Rene Herse Barlow Pass tires, which have almost no tread. My BMC works extremely well both on the road and on Gucci gravel.
The 40c Pirelli Gravel H has been a fantastic tire for mixed rides. Since getting a gravel bike creating mixed routes have been some of the most fun I've ever had in cycling. Those tires still roll so well on pavement, excel on gravel, and are still great on dry trails.
Main factor is the area where you actually live and do the majority of riding. Its mostly bridle and canal tow paths around by me which a training road bike with 28s on has always been able to handle.
10 years ago, 32mm CX tires were plenty for riding dirt roads. But...infrastructure maintenance in the US has gotten so bad over that time that dirt roads are just rougher and rougher, I'm now running 2.1 MTB tires to deal with this.
I often ride my 1998 Gary Fisher w/2.0" Bontrager slick/hybrid-style tires on my local multi-use path. The 2.0 tires make the path feel like it's freshly paved asphalt. Sadly, the path is better than most roads here in Colorado.
I have Trek Checkpoint. I have two sets of wheels, one lighter set with 21mm internal width and 28mm road tyres with TPU Tubes. The other slightly heavier hookless with 25mm internal, with tubeless 40mm. Both wheel sets use the same hub so that I don't have to keep re-aligning brake or re-indexing the derailleur. The change makes a reasonable difference to the overall bike weight. And being the 2019 checkpoint it has adjustable rear dropouts so you can adjust the wheelbase to change the ride feel, more stable or quicker handing.
@singingitman I built up my Trek Checkpoint from the frameset with GRX Di2 2x and run it with aero wheels with 32mm road tires, aluminium wheels with 45mm mud tires, or Roval terra carbon wheels with 42mm pathfinders. Does it all!
I go in the opposite direction with a gravel bike fitted with road rubber. I’m 60 years old so won’t be setting the record books on fire. But it seems the best way to go if you only have one do everything bike. Though if i had 14000 euros to spend then it would go on a really good road bike and a really good gravel bike.
Same here though I have to confess my carbon frame gravel bike gets used almost always on pavement while my alloy framed one gets more dirty. Both have 38 mm slicks @ 40 psi. My only road bikes these daze are vintage ones for vintage rides like L'Eroica, etc. But both together cost far less than 14K!
Thanks for the video Si and Ollie, my cervelo áspero 5 with 32mm tires improved a lot my rides in worn out pavements in Brazil, I really love those kind of bikes!
Don't care about gravel but I'll watch anything with my two favorite presenters. Bravo! That said, with bike prices being what they are, being able to have just one, all-road bike that can accommodate a wide variety of tire styles and widths just might be the best choice for most of us.
Why are you doing me so dirty? This video is all I need to actually grab that Roadmachine I've been eyeing, BUT probably not enough to convince my wife. Really, thanks.
I built up a cheap gravel frame with a 2x Force AXS groupset 45/33 and 10/33 cassette at the end of last year. Got 2 sets of wheels, set up road and gravel. Just swap the wheels depending on what I'm doing. Result is absolutely brilliand fun and haven't touched my "proper" road bike all 2024 - to the point I'm seriously considering getting rid of it.
Bike company makes specialist bikes, says specialising is king then Bike company makes all-in-one, says generalising is king Money machine go wwwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Specializing in 1 discipline will always result in the highest performance. A do everything bike has its place in allowing you to not have to buy multiple bikes, even if the performance won't be quite as good.
I love GCN's videos that research new technologies. And the banter between your hosts! 😊 I'd love a video about the massive tires I'm seeing on bikes. They're about 5 cm wide. I live in Ontario, Canada and I'm seeing them everywhere. I saw someone fall off their bike. I think she thought it was safer with the wider tires.
Nice video. I definitely see the appeal for road feel on gravel roads for the sake of getting away from vehicle traffic and feeling more immersed in nature. Kudos to BMC, but I would like to see you guys feature models further down on the scale
If you compare the geometry you'll likely find it very similar to many lower priced bikes. A Trek Domane looks to be very close to the same geometry, but fits slightly narrower tires, and is available for $1000.
I agree with the general idea. I would prefer a fairly aggressive road race-oriented bike that can fit moderate gravel tires than to fit road tires on a more gravel-oriented bike. Most of the drop-bar riding I do is only on the road, but there are a handful or gravel or "all-road" rides I wouldn't mind trying that would be less than fun on a pure road bike. The BMC is something I'd consider although for that price (well above $10K in the US) I would probably go with a custom Ti frame with a few options suited to the type of riding I like to do.
Have been switching out wheel sets on my Santa Cruz Stigmata for years now to match my riding. 50mm rims with 30mm tires for the road and a set of 650b wheels with 50mm tires. Works great! More bikes should be designed and built this way.
I got a triban rc500 from decathlon with gravel 35mm swalbe g-one tires. It has standard road tires on it. I love it so far! Its a good bike for it's price.
I currently have a rim brake endurance geometry bike that runs 25's and is great... my gravel bike is a 700cx 38 with gravel kings and it runs 50/34 front and 11/ 40 rear and is also heavier and a bit slower but it is the roadie's gravel bike....I use that bike more because of it's versatility as a secondary road bike and and can also do dirt. It is heavier but more capable and I currently have done my longest rides on it. It is my off season whip. whilst my carbon road bike stays on the trainer off season waiting for the good NY weather.
Agree with Si,almost the perfect setup except for the integrated cockpit. The utilitarian bike must accomodate aftermarket suspension systems eg a Redshift shock stop stem and seatpost. The integrated stem is a triumph of form over function.
Great video boys! I like the idea of one bike and change the wheels. And just love getting on Sy about the technical roads he tries to ride on with a gravel bike!
best part of that BMC is the 'where's that go?!' factor. Pass a road you haven't ridden before and if you wonder 'where's that go?' you can go find out on the same bike you're already on.
And vice versa.. i own a canyon grail cf sl. Normally using 40mm gravel tires, but because of the sound i don´t like, i switch to 32mm GP5000. I won a new bike. Fast, lighter, no noise at all.. I love it!
My Endurace CF with 35 mm semislicks on light carbon wheels is quite perfect for both road and gravel. Would be interesting to mix this comparison even more up with a BMC Kaius with similar wheel/tire swap 🤔
as y'all like to say: it's about the bike that you have! make sure when you buy a bike that it has the capability to fit wider tires, that way rather than having two bikes, you can buy another set of wheels, then you can just swap wheels. for commuters this probably means "summer versus winter" tires more than it does "gravel versus road" that being said, when I first started commuting, what I had was a road bike, but then when I started my commute was all road. however after I moved to shorten my commute time, my commute adapted to include some trails. at the same time, and also become a supervisor at my job, so I bought a BOB trailer to be able to carry all the equipment. at that time gravel was just becoming popular, so since I now had a bit more money from my new position, I bought a mid-level gravel bike worked great for a couple of years but, unbeknownst to me, because the BOB hitches on using the quick release to the quick release axle, that axle wasn't strong enough to hold the trailer against the torque generated when the BOB was fully loaded, and it was slowly chewing out my drive side rear wheel drop out. eventually it just wouldn't hold the wheel straight anymore and the wheel started rubbing on the inside of the frame and actually wore a small groove before I noticed. so I had to come up with a way to shim the axle to its proper position until I could afford a new bike in late 2019. the bike I've been using since is a Surly Big Fat Dummy. it's a lot heavier and thus initially a lot slower, but I could carry my equipment without needing a BOB trailer (although I've often considered modifying the BOB to be able to mount to the rear "bumper"which unfortunately is wider than standard dropouts) and the 26×5-in tires are much more suited to these Northeastern US winters, although I do still carry snow shoes. the dreamy part however is the difference between (28mm), vs 1¾-in(45mm), vs 4- to 5-in tires (101mm-127mm) on the rail Access road, which is crushed limestone. I had a lot fewer pinch flats on the 45mm, but the ride was still terrible and so I stuck to trails even though it was a little longer, but with the BFD I go right down that access road, and while I've gotten punctures from bits of metal buried in the stone ballast, I have yet to get a pinch flat. I currently average about 10-11 mph(16-18kph) versus the 13-14 mph(21-23kph) I was getting on the gravel bike, but when I first got the BFD I was only averaging 8 mph(13kph) on pavement so I'm curious to see what I would get on a road bike these days now that I've mostly acclimated to the much heavier BFD
I built myself a gravel bike based on a '70s french randonneur frame (Reynolds 531), and that's the perfect gravel bike for me. Of course weight cannot compete with anything modern and I'm limited in brakes (centre pull), tyres (max 35mm) and gearing (Ultegra 3x9). Still, this bike has an unmatched ride quality, the geometry is a bit more relaxed and forgiving, and it looks cool! To the point: Taking a road race bike like the BMC, putting on wide and knobby tyres and call it a gravel bike, doesn't work. Relaxed geometry and a more comfortable frame is key for me.
Recently switched from 45mm to 50mm on my Canyon Grizl. I was surprised at how the ride quality improved again, just with the extra 5mm. So, I’d say that 40mm gravel on the road bike might not be quite enough for the ideal gravel experience.
I’d love to see a video of what tyres are best for wet and frosty/black ice winter conditions. Gravel or road type tyres? Would hopefully save some painful slip outs and bike damage, and let us get out in the nasty weather. I currently use a gravel bike for my winter trainer, and Road bike for summer/race use, but it would great to know what tyres would be best in winter.
I’ve decided to ditch my Somec Diablo SL rim-brake aerobike and bought a second-hand gravel disc frame. Now I have a gravel wheelset (40mm) and a road wheelset (30mm) for it. This setup works well for me, and in the future, I plan to invest in a high-quality carbon or titanium aggressive gravel/all-road frame that I can use with both wheelsets. Ideally, I want frame clearance for 40mm tires-maybe something like the Rose Backroad FF or a similar model. I also prefer a 105 groupset over GRX. This market niche has been interesting, and I still think there’s potential for manufacturers to explore further. For me, it’s mainly a matter of space and wanting one "good" bike that does it all. Interestingly, the guy I bought the Somec from did the same thing-now I’m following in his footsteps.
LOL. When I was racing in the 1970s (think toe clips, nail-on cleats, and tubulars) we all had three bikes: road, track, and s**t (for riding around town). For the road bike I had three sets of wheels: training, racing, and cyclocross. For the track bike I had a pair of wheels for track and another set for grass track. That was it. It worked great.
Gravel frame with road group set and 32mm gravel slicks works great for me. I have pannier mounts for commuting and it's not much slower than my road bike. More comfortable for commutes or relaxed rides, too. If I had to give one bike up, I'd keep the gravel bike.
I did the same thing, built up a Ritchey Outback gravel frame with road components and 32mm road tires. I decided comfort was more important than speed for my 57yo body. I'm not racing anyone but myself, so absolute speed isn't that important to me but comfort makes it easier to keep going.
I’ve ordered a road e-bike with capability for wider tires to be my all-road bike. I agree about enough ‘gravel’ for the average user. I’ll still have a road bike but my other bikes need to ‘go’ for garage space! Good video 👍
In recent years, the bike industry has gradually phased out the original XC category, replacing it with gravel bikes aimed at those who aren’t interested in the technical challenges of off-road riding but simply want to enjoy a good ride in nature. Now, however, it seems that the same shift is happening with gravel bikes: more and more versions are emerging that push them towards the MTB segment, moving the category away from its original concept and once again overshadowing the joy of simply riding. Do we really need this, or should we return to the simple pleasure of cycling?
That last bit about 35-40mm road tires caught my attention. I really want to give those 35mm P-Zeros a try. I’m sure it was a disguised plug, but a valid point nonetheless
I do tend to agree that this type of bike is probably the best single bike for those of us who want to do road and gravel, basically a road bike that has wide clearance and internal storage. I looked into this bike when it came out and it was on my short list, but ultimately couldn't find anything I loved more than the ENVE Fray and that's what I bought. I love it and do 80% of my rides on it now, but I am keeping my SIegla for the truly knarly gravel or MTB'ing with my son. The Aspera, Ribble Allroad and some others probable provide more value as lower price points.
YES! Having an all-in-one machine is a great idea! But when I do gravel events, the amount of debris bouncing up makes me thankful that I ride a dedicated gravel bike.
Okay when it's dry... But the clearance with 40mm tires a bit small when it's muddy. And then the cost... If I can afford an 14.000€ expensive bike, then there is the change that I will buy a second specific gravel bike in a similar price range. And then for sure the gear ratio. It looks like enough for flat to hilly terrain. But if there come a 25% wall on gravel....
That kind of gravel I could do on my audax with 25mm tyres, in fact I sometimes do, you just have to be a bit more careful, plus, half the country roads I use are very nearly gravel surfaces!
Here's my take. The disk road bike killed the gravel bike. 10 years ago when they first came on the scene high end road bikes still had rim brakes and room for 28s maybe. I currently have a trek emonda from 2019 on rim brakes and a newer checkpoint. There is a big difference between those two. The emonda is much better on the road even vs the checkpoint with road wheels and tires. But it's close. And there's a bit of a price gap in my two bikes. But I think my next bike will be something like this. One higher end bike that does both well. I hear many people complaining about the cost but if it does both things we'll I think it makes more sense. For example I invested about $8k in my road bike and $2k in my gravel bike right now. One bike at $10K that does both well is more appealing than compromising to get two bikes again
“Invested”?:))… for 6K you could have bought brand new fast and reliable Japanese motorbike , and be happy with lots of spare cash in your pocket. Bicycle 8K you must be comedian:)
@tongotongo3143 lol yeah it's a poor return on investment I'll agree with that. But I got it in 2019 and plan on keeping it for a while. Locked in to what I already have would be a better way to phrase it
The Pinarello Crossista has accomplished this for years…aero shaping the same as the dogma, 40mm tire clearance, higher bottom bracket, and it’s a Pinarello, so……
Of course, years ago, Cyclist Touring Club Members very often had one bike, they were great on road and equally at home on 'mild gravel', although some in the Rough Stuff Fellowship did amazing things on fairly ordinary touring bikes. These days, with the ease of changing wheels, one bike for everything ordinary riders do is more than possible. Not that the bike industry wants us to know that....
My Marida 500 has 35mm tyres. My 2012 Trek Domane 4.3 can only take 25mm. Love both but shy away from exploring on the Trek. Marida is my 'go anywhere'. ( Snowdon to the Fens in a day on road, tracks, tow paths).
A one-in-all bike is definitely possible. I do most of my riding on my gravel bike, including pure road rides, and I enjoy it on the road, too. However, there will always be a slight difference between the two, so I don't think it will fully replace my road bike. Ultimately, it just depends on what you're looking for and what you enjoy the most
4:14 Question for Ollie - if gravel bikes should only be ridden on actual ‘gravel’, which actual mountains on the outskirts of Bristol are you referring to that should require a ‘mountain’ bike?
My Vittoria Terreno Zero 35c tyres arrived in the week to go on my Roubaix SL8 in winter mode. With Corsa NeXT 32c for dry days (on a different set of Roval wheels). But it also means 2 cassettes, 2 sets of rotors, so doesn’t work out cheap as such! Albeit cheaper than 2 bikes. So I’m already down with the concept even though I’m only on road, it’s the state of the roads that results in the need for 32c/35c tyres. Roubaix could actually be that “one bike” after all.
On my recent road bike purchase, I wanted “gravel tire” clearance. I compromised on a supersix evo with a 34mm max tire clearance. May never use anythings north of 28-30mm but wanted to have the option to do light fast gravel
perhaps this is the best Explorer Tiling bike.....i'm riding 30mm road tyres on most of my gravel/footpaths on an Aethos, and only really struggle in wet mud...
A set of slicks/knobbies does not a gravel bike make. The gearing setup can be completely different; one geared for roads, another for the dirty mountains.
Another rider on 25s commented on how wide my 35mm Conti GP5000AS tyres looked last Sunday, I had to constantly brake going down the hill to stop myself from rolling away from him while we were chatting. Wider tyres definitely have less RR.
The Roadmanchine that retails for a third of the one in the video I have it. Its my first road bike. Love it so far. Got it as I was going to change most of the components and make it my own bike.
The introduction and success of the grave bike have influenced the road bike to become more versatile. Bike like BMC and Cayon Endurance can fit wide tires which handle of pavement paths opening up more exploration on two wheels. The drop bar bike is going through a new renaissance of abilities. It's a fantastic time of choice. There is a drop bar bike for what every kind of road you like.
Loved my BMC Roadmachine 01 two. Shimano model of the same bike in the vid. Got hit by a car 6 weeks ago, bike destroyed. Still out of action, never got to test gravel mode out. 😫
Looks like there’s very little frame clearance at the front end with 40mm tyres. Could be a very expensive day out if you’re on messy off-road territory and stuff is getting pulled between tyre and frame/fork. What’s it like at the back end?
Clickbait headline aside, I think Si’s point about an endurance road bike being a great fit for road and light off-road is valid, provided that your road riding is on the more competitive end. The steep geometry and high gearing will let you down pretty quickly on even moderate off-road stuff, but at that point you’d need an adventure gravel bike or an XC MTB anyway. Personally, I would still take my £3k Fairlight Secan as an N-1 which can do road, off-road or touring and isn’t going to be obsolete in 5 years time!
I bought a canyon ultimate with 105 di2 and I took the aluminum DT Swiss wheel that came with it and put 34mm gravel tires. Bought Zipp 303s and put 28mm continentals and voila. 2 bikes in one.
I agree that most people really dont need an actually gravel bike, I have a gravel bike that fights huge tires. Now planning and looking for my next bike, lighter/quicker gravelish bike I will probably go something like an all road that can fit up to 38mm tires. still let me get fun but def quicker and lighter for the normal trails I usually ride that aren't hardcore at all.
GCN!!! We can’t afford these bikes! Please review more affordable bikes.
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I mean, making such a well played and dramatised video about something as common as an all-road bike… respect guys 😂 The mud clearance with the 40 mm tires is abysmal, so usable only in dry, so basically a road bike that can be used on champagne gravel in good conditions. For 14k, really nice value proposition 😅
Unconvinced. I tried my gravel bike with road tires and it didn't handle well. I much prefer the 1-by for gravel. I much prefer MTB shoes on gravel. My road and gravel bikes give completely different vibes. And you get to own more bikes!
A gravel bike with flat bars is still a hybrid between a road bike and a mountain bike. Most bike categories are hybrid of one thing and another thing.
But drop bars aren’t suitable for a real gravel riding. Nowadays they push drop bars everywhere, where it’s inappropriate, and even where it’s dangerous. That’s because drop bars look cooler for newbies and are significantly more expensive .
For me, Domane Gen 4 hits the spot. All-road bikes, as a category, strike a balance between race geometry road bikes and gravel bikes. If you’re a new rider of drop bar bikes, like me, and primarily use the bike on pavement, it’s an excellent choice. It has the capability to handle hard pack gravel, and if your riding skills ever surpass the bike’s capabilities, you’ll likely want another bike anyway. Who are we kidding?
My Titanium road bike with 35mm GravelKing tyres is way more competent off-road than I can exploit, although it does feel faster on-road with 28mm Contis. With the amount of potholes and rough chippings we have in Yorkshire, it's a close call as to which is better on any given day. I definitely don't need another bike!
What do you think? 🤔 Is a road bike with gravel tyres all you need, or are dedicated gravel bikes still king? 🚵♂️ Drop your thoughts below! 👇
The racey geometry on that bike kinda kills it as a gravel bike for me. I still dont think you can just pop on gravel tires and call it a gravel bike. Wider range gear set with a very easy gear, and more upright riding position with wider hand positioning are crucially missing on road bikes. Gravel bikes should be comfortable for long periods of mixed terrain, and not optimized for speed as a primary design like this and other road bikes are.
I still want to have a gravel bike and have an additional road wheelset - but that's because the riding I want to do includes multiday bikepacking rides that includes gravel (e.g. my summer ride was the Baltic coast of Germany & Poland followed by crossing Sweden cost to coast). But I do agree that it is the type of riding that's most appealing to the person that will be the decider - for Ollie that means a road bike and potentially an extra set of "gravel wheels" or running extra wide tires all the time, For me its a Trek Checkpoint with extra Road Wheels.
Sorry, I should clarify, the geometry on that road bike kills it for me as a bike overall. There is just no reason to go for a nice ride and be hunched over like that.
This won't do. You've sold me on 50mm tires over the last year. 40mm won't be enough, I saw how much fun Hank had on those Schwalbe Super Moto 50mms down Cheddar Gorge.
It think the geometry of endurance bikes and that of gravel bikes have become quite similar. The thing with tire clearance is that with e.g. this BMC you would have fork and frame rub with dirt once you hit a muddy section. So, I think this progression with tire clearance would need to head more towards 50mm. Skinnier road tires may look odd on that, but they are getting wider too.
I am personally using a Giant Revolt Advanced for road and gravel riding plus touring and think it is pretty much a do it all. The BMC looks quite a bit nicer though.
And the Roadmachine is only 14000€ so who wouldn't. There should be a "GCN pleb" channel where bikes can only cost up to 4000€
Just get a road machine 02 I have one with ultegra!
in what world a pleb can pay 4k for a bike?
@ I'm brand new to cycling, so I'll stick to my 1200€ cube for now. And eventually save up for a ribble allroad-ti 😅
The mamil dentist channel and a pleb channel. That's a good idea.
During the video, he saied same arguments are working for cheaper bikes.
But I agree to watch more videos on cheaper bikes (around 1200€) would be great too
This actually is all the gravelbike people need - only for about 14000 Euros. A real bike for the common man.
Yup! and then you follow the link to the BMC website and there is no UK or GB option in the Country Select drop down. It looks as though, even if you wanted one and were in the UK, BMC don't wan't sell you one. Madness.
the test is more about the difference in wheelset. get a grip
😂😂😂
I know it is probably a jake but if not. You didn’t get it
Why do people watch these videos to complain about the price of the bikes. If you watched top gear and the trio driving quarter of a million pound cars, you watched it for the enjoyment due to the presenters and the content. That’s why I watch GCN because they’re entertaining and I like bikes. Stop complaining about the fact that the new tech is expensive and just enjoy the fact that we get to watch these guys make great content that is available for us for free.
People complain because a road bike costing the equivalent of a decent and fairly new second hand car is just ridiculous. Prices of new bikes have spiralled out of controll. But that's just my opinion. Doesn't stop me from enjoying these videos though 😊
And, as far as I can see, the opinions presented are still valid and are applicable to more cost effective bikes.
Entitlement. Nothing more nothing less. As with every product in the world there is the low end, the absurdly expensive end and then the middle where most of us get bits
Personally, I like seeing the stuff I’ll never be able/willing to buy myself.
I remember when GCN was testing stuff for ordinary cyclists, not becoming the top gear of cycling.
People complained about top gear covering overly expensive cars all the time too😂😂😂
Trek had it figured out years ago with the Domane. I put 38s on mine and gravel on even the hashes of terrain.
Picking up my Domane in a few weeks, and this is the plan -- upgrade to a carbon wheelset and then use the stock alloy wheels to run 38c gravel tires when needed
Are 38s the biggest tire you can put on it? I’ve had a domane for a couple of years and I’m thinking of doing the same thing.
@@ericbayona2516 even bigger with 650B
@@ericbayona2516 for the gen 4, yes. 40c would probably fit but I would avoid rocks and mud for sure
@ I have an SL6 gen 4. I will go with the 38. Thanks for the information!
The reason for the popularity of gravel bikes is the same reason hybrids came about (and to some degree, why cyclocross bikes had a surge in popularity): Road racing bikes are not suitable for most users-especially the skinny tired versions that used to be common. Or, as Ollie puts it in another video, most people buy bikes that “are not fit for purpose.” Because, just as Si says here that most people don’t use gravel bikes for long and unsupported tours in the wilderness; most people don’t use road bikes for racing Milan-San Remo or the grand tours.
@@rudolphpyatt4833 I don't see a reason to buy an of road bike to ride on the road.
650b compatibility is the perfect feature for do-it-all road/gravel bikes.
A fat 650b that’s in the 47-51 mm range is about the same size as 28-32 mm road tires.
Good content and Ollie and Si worked great together. I started with a road bike with 40mm tire clearance but soon realized that for more relaxing rides, such as my preferred gravel, that it was difficult for me to slow down and enjoy the sights. This is mostly down to my neck flexibility. So I added a more relaxed gravel bike that allows me to sit up in a more comfortable position. I now use this bike when I want to take a relaxing ride and see the sights and for long, low effort, rides when comfort comes before speed. The road bike comes out when I want to push things and go fast. I could easily get by with the relaxed bike for both purposes but since I already had the road bike, and can afford to keep both, it's nice to mix it up.
40 years ago, I was riding a steel bike with Campagnolo and 1 1/4 inch tyres on. I used it for touring, or bikepacking, including gravel, commuting, and of a weekend I'd put narrower, lighter tyres on and compete in club races and TTs. Did I win, no but I didn't expect to. Was I happy whenever I rode it, definitely. Now I have 3 bikes to do the same stuff. Like most people, I've fallen for the newest, and lightest is best marketing ploys. Am I going to buy a new bike because it takes wider tyres and has disc brakes, no. Ive learnt my lesson. Manufacturers need to sell bikes, fair enough, but we dont have to keep changing for the latest model.
Bro it's called being an enthusiast. Yeah you don't need to be one, most people aren't. But there are people that enjoy seeing how technology evolves and want to experience the newer things.
Not to mention doing it all on a 6 speed 11/18 freewheel and 42/52 chainset... 😁
@@user-lx6pk9os2dNa, 5 speed block. I can't remember gearing on it though. Chainset was definitely 39/52. Height of modernity as it was cotterless.
You can do the same thing with many bikes today. So I'm not sure what your point is?
@roadcyclist1 My point is, gravel/road crossover bikes are nothing new. This is just the latest rehash of how I and others have cycled for many years. One bike, multiple usage.
Well I still use my gravel bike as a road bike with bigger tyres on them and works great. And if there is a small gravel section, no problem
I guess I am ahead of the curve. I have owned a BMC for over five years. It is a road bike fitted with 38mm Rene Herse Barlow Pass tires, which have almost no tread. My BMC works extremely well both on the road and on Gucci gravel.
For €14000 you get neither a road bike or a gravelbike, but "something in between"? Gcn should have a comedy channel for this kind of stuff! 😂
they had . I miss Matt
I love my BMC Granfondo. It's capable enough for light gravel.
The 40c Pirelli Gravel H has been a fantastic tire for mixed rides. Since getting a gravel bike creating mixed routes have been some of the most fun I've ever had in cycling. Those tires still roll so well on pavement, excel on gravel, and are still great on dry trails.
Main factor is the area where you actually live and do the majority of riding. Its mostly bridle and canal tow paths around by me which a training road bike with 28s on has always been able to handle.
10 years ago, 32mm CX tires were plenty for riding dirt roads. But...infrastructure maintenance in the US has gotten so bad over that time that dirt roads are just rougher and rougher, I'm now running 2.1 MTB tires to deal with this.
I often ride my 1998 Gary Fisher w/2.0" Bontrager slick/hybrid-style tires on my local multi-use path. The 2.0 tires make the path feel like it's freshly paved asphalt. Sadly, the path is better than most roads here in Colorado.
I have Trek Checkpoint. I have two sets of wheels, one lighter set with 21mm internal width and 28mm road tyres with TPU Tubes. The other slightly heavier hookless with 25mm internal, with tubeless 40mm. Both wheel sets use the same hub so that I don't have to keep re-aligning brake or re-indexing the derailleur. The change makes a reasonable difference to the overall bike weight. And being the 2019 checkpoint it has adjustable rear dropouts so you can adjust the wheelbase to change the ride feel, more stable or quicker handing.
@singingitman I built up my Trek Checkpoint from the frameset with GRX Di2 2x and run it with aero wheels with 32mm road tires, aluminium wheels with 45mm mud tires, or Roval terra carbon wheels with 42mm pathfinders. Does it all!
I go in the opposite direction with a gravel bike fitted with road rubber. I’m 60 years old so won’t be setting the record books on fire. But it seems the best way to go if you only have one do everything bike.
Though if i had 14000 euros to spend then it would go on a really good road bike and a really good gravel bike.
Same here though I have to confess my carbon frame gravel bike gets used almost always on pavement while my alloy framed one gets more dirty. Both have 38 mm slicks @ 40 psi. My only road bikes these daze are vintage ones for vintage rides like L'Eroica, etc. But both together cost far less than 14K!
Really appreciate the fun sketch segments you add to some of the videos. Sketchy Saturday!
Thanks for the video Si and Ollie, my cervelo áspero 5 with 32mm tires improved a lot my rides in worn out pavements in Brazil, I really love those kind of bikes!
Don't care about gravel but I'll watch anything with my two favorite presenters. Bravo! That said, with bike prices being what they are, being able to have just one, all-road bike that can accommodate a wide variety of tire styles and widths just might be the best choice for most of us.
Why are you doing me so dirty? This video is all I need to actually grab that Roadmachine I've been eyeing, BUT probably not enough to convince my wife. Really, thanks.
I built up a cheap gravel frame with a 2x Force AXS groupset 45/33 and 10/33 cassette at the end of last year. Got 2 sets of wheels, set up road and gravel. Just swap the wheels depending on what I'm doing. Result is absolutely brilliand fun and haven't touched my "proper" road bike all 2024 - to the point I'm seriously considering getting rid of it.
Bike company makes specialist bikes, says specialising is king then
Bike company makes all-in-one, says generalising is king
Money machine go wwwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Specializing in 1 discipline will always result in the highest performance. A do everything bike has its place in allowing you to not have to buy multiple bikes, even if the performance won't be quite as good.
@@roadcyclist1The Gravelbike is the do it all bike.
I love GCN's videos that research new technologies. And the banter between your hosts! 😊 I'd love a video about the massive tires I'm seeing on bikes. They're about 5 cm wide. I live in Ontario, Canada and I'm seeing them everywhere. I saw someone fall off their bike. I think she thought it was safer with the wider tires.
I ve been doing off road on my road bike for years ! I have a DT Swiss 1850 all road wheelset ( more than 10 years old ) and it simply won't die :))
Nice video. I definitely see the appeal for road feel on gravel roads for the sake of getting away from vehicle traffic and feeling more immersed in nature. Kudos to BMC, but I would like to see you guys feature models further down on the scale
If you compare the geometry you'll likely find it very similar to many lower priced bikes. A Trek Domane looks to be very close to the same geometry, but fits slightly narrower tires, and is available for $1000.
I agree with the general idea. I would prefer a fairly aggressive road race-oriented bike that can fit moderate gravel tires than to fit road tires on a more gravel-oriented bike. Most of the drop-bar riding I do is only on the road, but there are a handful or gravel or "all-road" rides I wouldn't mind trying that would be less than fun on a pure road bike. The BMC is something I'd consider although for that price (well above $10K in the US) I would probably go with a custom Ti frame with a few options suited to the type of riding I like to do.
Have been switching out wheel sets on my Santa Cruz Stigmata for years now to match my riding. 50mm rims with 30mm tires for the road and a set of 650b wheels with 50mm tires. Works great! More bikes should be designed and built this way.
I got a triban rc500 from decathlon with gravel 35mm swalbe g-one tires. It has standard road tires on it. I love it so far! Its a good bike for it's price.
I currently have a rim brake endurance geometry bike that runs 25's and is great... my gravel bike is a 700cx 38 with gravel kings and it runs 50/34 front and 11/ 40 rear and is also heavier and a bit slower but it is the roadie's gravel bike....I use that bike more because of it's versatility as a secondary road bike and and can also do dirt. It is heavier but more capable and I currently have done my longest rides on it. It is my off season whip. whilst my carbon road bike stays on the trainer off season waiting for the good NY weather.
I honestly love your videos and they inspire me to get into cycling,so thank u for the inspiration
Agree with Si,almost the perfect setup except for the integrated cockpit.
The utilitarian bike must accomodate aftermarket suspension systems eg a Redshift shock stop stem and seatpost. The integrated stem is a triumph of form over function.
Great video boys! I like the idea of one bike and change the wheels. And just love getting on Sy about the technical roads he tries to ride on with a gravel bike!
best part of that BMC is the 'where's that go?!' factor. Pass a road you haven't ridden before and if you wonder 'where's that go?' you can go find out on the same bike you're already on.
And vice versa.. i own a canyon grail cf sl. Normally using 40mm gravel tires, but because of the sound i don´t like, i switch to 32mm GP5000. I won a new bike. Fast, lighter, no noise at all.. I love it!
Hi Stand Ollie! You should come over and use your gravel bikes to ride the entire C&O canal route. It's an awesome ride. Love all your videos!
And this is why I have a road wheelset for my Giant Revolt. GP 5000 AS TR’s in 700x35.
That's why I love my Triban RC 520. It's an Endurance, Semi-gravel Road Bike. Or that's how I set it up atleast.
My 3T Exploro works great on the road when I change in 32mm "slick" tires.
My Endurace CF with 35 mm semislicks on light carbon wheels is quite perfect for both road and gravel.
Would be interesting to mix this comparison even more up with a BMC Kaius with similar wheel/tire swap 🤔
as y'all like to say: it's about the bike that you have! make sure when you buy a bike that it has the capability to fit wider tires, that way rather than having two bikes, you can buy another set of wheels, then you can just swap wheels. for commuters this probably means "summer versus winter" tires more than it does "gravel versus road"
that being said, when I first started commuting, what I had was a road bike, but then when I started my commute was all road. however after I moved to shorten my commute time, my commute adapted to include some trails. at the same time, and also become a supervisor at my job, so I bought a BOB trailer to be able to carry all the equipment. at that time gravel was just becoming popular, so since I now had a bit more money from my new position, I bought a mid-level gravel bike worked great for a couple of years but, unbeknownst to me, because the BOB hitches on using the quick release to the quick release axle, that axle wasn't strong enough to hold the trailer against the torque generated when the BOB was fully loaded, and it was slowly chewing out my drive side rear wheel drop out. eventually it just wouldn't hold the wheel straight anymore and the wheel started rubbing on the inside of the frame and actually wore a small groove before I noticed. so I had to come up with a way to shim the axle to its proper position until I could afford a new bike in late 2019. the bike I've been using since is a Surly Big Fat Dummy. it's a lot heavier and thus initially a lot slower, but I could carry my equipment without needing a BOB trailer (although I've often considered modifying the BOB to be able to mount to the rear "bumper"which unfortunately is wider than standard dropouts) and the 26×5-in tires are much more suited to these Northeastern US winters, although I do still carry snow shoes. the dreamy part however is the difference between (28mm), vs 1¾-in(45mm), vs 4- to 5-in tires (101mm-127mm) on the rail Access road, which is crushed limestone. I had a lot fewer pinch flats on the 45mm, but the ride was still terrible and so I stuck to trails even though it was a little longer, but with the BFD I go right down that access road, and while I've gotten punctures from bits of metal buried in the stone ballast, I have yet to get a pinch flat. I currently average about 10-11 mph(16-18kph) versus the 13-14 mph(21-23kph) I was getting on the gravel bike, but when I first got the BFD I was only averaging 8 mph(13kph) on pavement so I'm curious to see what I would get on a road bike these days now that I've mostly acclimated to the much heavier BFD
I use a Orbea Terra in the same manner, wheelset for road (32mm) and for gravel (40mm). I´ve no problem in my "normal" bike life.
Ollie, where on earth did you get those butt-ugly shoes?! 😱
Great show, guys. Cheers
I built myself a gravel bike based on a '70s french randonneur frame (Reynolds 531), and that's the perfect gravel bike for me. Of course weight cannot compete with anything modern and I'm limited in brakes (centre pull), tyres (max 35mm) and gearing (Ultegra 3x9). Still, this bike has an unmatched ride quality, the geometry is a bit more relaxed and forgiving, and it looks cool!
To the point: Taking a road race bike like the BMC, putting on wide and knobby tyres and call it a gravel bike, doesn't work. Relaxed geometry and a more comfortable frame is key for me.
Recently switched from 45mm to 50mm on my Canyon Grizl. I was surprised at how the ride quality improved again, just with the extra 5mm. So, I’d say that 40mm gravel on the road bike might not be quite enough for the ideal gravel experience.
My Giant Revolt came with 40mm but I swapped to 45mm and it’s lovely to ride
I’d love to see a video of what tyres are best for wet and frosty/black ice winter conditions.
Gravel or road type tyres?
Would hopefully save some painful slip outs and bike damage, and let us get out in the nasty weather.
I currently use a gravel bike for my winter trainer, and Road bike for summer/race use, but it would great to know what tyres would be best in winter.
This is back to the future for me. I have a Hampsten Strada Bianca that takes road or gravel tires and the ride quality is amazing on or off road.
I’ve decided to ditch my Somec Diablo SL rim-brake aerobike and bought a second-hand gravel disc frame. Now I have a gravel wheelset (40mm) and a road wheelset (30mm) for it. This setup works well for me, and in the future, I plan to invest in a high-quality carbon or titanium aggressive gravel/all-road frame that I can use with both wheelsets. Ideally, I want frame clearance for 40mm tires-maybe something like the Rose Backroad FF or a similar model. I also prefer a 105 groupset over GRX.
This market niche has been interesting, and I still think there’s potential for manufacturers to explore further. For me, it’s mainly a matter of space and wanting one "good" bike that does it all.
Interestingly, the guy I bought the Somec from did the same thing-now I’m following in his footsteps.
LOL. When I was racing in the 1970s (think toe clips, nail-on cleats, and tubulars) we all had three bikes: road, track, and s**t (for riding around town). For the road bike I had three sets of wheels: training, racing, and cyclocross. For the track bike I had a pair of wheels for track and another set for grass track. That was it. It worked great.
Gravel frame with road group set and 32mm gravel slicks works great for me. I have pannier mounts for commuting and it's not much slower than my road bike. More comfortable for commutes or relaxed rides, too. If I had to give one bike up, I'd keep the gravel bike.
I did the same thing, built up a Ritchey Outback gravel frame with road components and 32mm road tires. I decided comfort was more important than speed for my 57yo body. I'm not racing anyone but myself, so absolute speed isn't that important to me but comfort makes it easier to keep going.
I’ve ordered a road e-bike with capability for wider tires to be my all-road bike. I agree about enough ‘gravel’ for the average user. I’ll still have a road bike but my other bikes need to ‘go’ for garage space! Good video 👍
In recent years, the bike industry has gradually phased out the original XC category, replacing it with gravel bikes aimed at those who aren’t interested in the technical challenges of off-road riding but simply want to enjoy a good ride in nature. Now, however, it seems that the same shift is happening with gravel bikes: more and more versions are emerging that push them towards the MTB segment, moving the category away from its original concept and once again overshadowing the joy of simply riding. Do we really need this, or should we return to the simple pleasure of cycling?
That last bit about 35-40mm road tires caught my attention. I really want to give those 35mm P-Zeros a try. I’m sure it was a disguised plug, but a valid point nonetheless
I would like lower gear ratios on gravel
I do tend to agree that this type of bike is probably the best single bike for those of us who want to do road and gravel, basically a road bike that has wide clearance and internal storage. I looked into this bike when it came out and it was on my short list, but ultimately couldn't find anything I loved more than the ENVE Fray and that's what I bought. I love it and do 80% of my rides on it now, but I am keeping my SIegla for the truly knarly gravel or MTB'ing with my son. The Aspera, Ribble Allroad and some others probable provide more value as lower price points.
YES! Having an all-in-one machine is a great idea! But when I do gravel events, the amount of debris bouncing up makes me thankful that I ride a dedicated gravel bike.
Okay when it's dry... But the clearance with 40mm tires a bit small when it's muddy. And then the cost... If I can afford an 14.000€ expensive bike, then there is the change that I will buy a second specific gravel bike in a similar price range. And then for sure the gear ratio. It looks like enough for flat to hilly terrain. But if there come a 25% wall on gravel....
That kind of gravel I could do on my audax with 25mm tyres, in fact I sometimes do, you just have to be a bit more careful, plus, half the country roads I use are very nearly gravel surfaces!
Here's my take. The disk road bike killed the gravel bike. 10 years ago when they first came on the scene high end road bikes still had rim brakes and room for 28s maybe. I currently have a trek emonda from 2019 on rim brakes and a newer checkpoint. There is a big difference between those two. The emonda is much better on the road even vs the checkpoint with road wheels and tires. But it's close. And there's a bit of a price gap in my two bikes. But I think my next bike will be something like this. One higher end bike that does both well. I hear many people complaining about the cost but if it does both things we'll I think it makes more sense. For example I invested about $8k in my road bike and $2k in my gravel bike right now. One bike at $10K that does both well is more appealing than compromising to get two bikes again
“Invested”?:))… for 6K you could have bought brand new fast and reliable Japanese motorbike , and be happy with lots of spare cash in your pocket. Bicycle 8K you must be comedian:)
@tongotongo3143 lol yeah it's a poor return on investment I'll agree with that. But I got it in 2019 and plan on keeping it for a while. Locked in to what I already have would be a better way to phrase it
The Pinarello Crossista has accomplished this for years…aero shaping the same as the dogma, 40mm tire clearance, higher bottom bracket, and it’s a Pinarello, so……
Just like my 2021 Domane SL. 38 mm tires fit fine.
Of course, years ago, Cyclist Touring Club Members very often had one bike, they were great on road and equally at home on 'mild gravel', although some in the Rough Stuff Fellowship did amazing things on fairly ordinary touring bikes. These days, with the ease of changing wheels, one bike for everything ordinary riders do is more than possible. Not that the bike industry wants us to know that....
My Marida 500 has 35mm tyres. My 2012 Trek Domane 4.3 can only take 25mm. Love both but shy away from exploring on the Trek. Marida is my 'go anywhere'. ( Snowdon to the Fens in a day on road, tracks, tow paths).
A one-in-all bike is definitely possible. I do most of my riding on my gravel bike, including pure road rides, and I enjoy it on the road, too. However, there will always be a slight difference between the two, so I don't think it will fully replace my road bike. Ultimately, it just depends on what you're looking for and what you enjoy the most
4:14 Question for Ollie - if gravel bikes should only be ridden on actual ‘gravel’, which actual mountains on the outskirts of Bristol are you referring to that should require a ‘mountain’ bike?
Those are some beautiful BMC's! This was a fun episode to watch! Great job GCN!
One bike to rule them all.....I adore the concept. I discovered this on my crossbike.
My Vittoria Terreno Zero 35c tyres arrived in the week to go on my Roubaix SL8 in winter mode. With Corsa NeXT 32c for dry days (on a different set of Roval wheels). But it also means 2 cassettes, 2 sets of rotors, so doesn’t work out cheap as such! Albeit cheaper than 2 bikes. So I’m already down with the concept even though I’m only on road, it’s the state of the roads that results in the need for 32c/35c tyres. Roubaix could actually be that “one bike” after all.
On my recent road bike purchase, I wanted “gravel tire” clearance. I compromised on a supersix evo with a 34mm max tire clearance. May never use anythings north of 28-30mm but wanted to have the option to do light fast gravel
perhaps this is the best Explorer Tiling bike.....i'm riding 30mm road tyres on most of my gravel/footpaths on an Aethos, and only really struggle in wet mud...
A set of slicks/knobbies does not a gravel bike make. The gearing setup can be completely different; one geared for roads, another for the dirty mountains.
The gearing can easily be adopted to whatever you’d need on gravel and road bikes.
No way to change the head tube angle though. Nor the wheelbase.
Another rider on 25s commented on how wide my 35mm Conti GP5000AS tyres looked last Sunday, I had to constantly brake going down the hill to stop myself from rolling away from him while we were chatting. Wider tyres definitely have less RR.
The Roadmanchine that retails for a third of the one in the video I have it. Its my first road bike. Love it so far. Got it as I was going to change most of the components and make it my own bike.
I was looking at videos of the Enve Fray and then this video gets uploaded. I too am looking for a roadie that takes gravel tires.
The introduction and success of the grave bike have influenced the road bike to become more versatile. Bike like BMC and Cayon Endurance can fit wide tires which handle of pavement paths opening up more exploration on two wheels. The drop bar bike is going through a new renaissance of abilities. It's a fantastic time of choice. There is a drop bar bike for what every kind of road you like.
Loved my BMC Roadmachine 01 two. Shimano model of the same bike in the vid. Got hit by a car 6 weeks ago, bike destroyed. Still out of action, never got to test gravel mode out. 😫
Looks like there’s very little frame clearance at the front end with 40mm tyres. Could be a very expensive day out if you’re on messy off-road territory and stuff is getting pulled between tyre and frame/fork. What’s it like at the back end?
Could you put 650b wheels on and go even wider on the tyres?
Clickbait headline aside, I think Si’s point about an endurance road bike being a great fit for road and light off-road is valid, provided that your road riding is on the more competitive end. The steep geometry and high gearing will let you down pretty quickly on even moderate off-road stuff, but at that point you’d need an adventure gravel bike or an XC MTB anyway. Personally, I would still take my £3k Fairlight Secan as an N-1 which can do road, off-road or touring and isn’t going to be obsolete in 5 years time!
I bought a canyon ultimate with 105 di2 and I took the aluminum DT Swiss wheel that came with it and put 34mm gravel tires. Bought Zipp 303s and put 28mm continentals and voila. 2 bikes in one.
If the condition of British roads gets any worse, then a full suspension MTB would be better on the road than a road bike.
I have a CX bike which is now my only bike. It was quicker than my road bike - particularly up hill.
This is a bike for me, exactly the type of bike that would suit me... shame its not a threaded bb. Still tempted
If you are looking for a „budget” road bike with 40mm clearance check out a czech brand - superior
I agree that most people really dont need an actually gravel bike, I have a gravel bike that fights huge tires. Now planning and looking for my next bike, lighter/quicker gravelish bike I will probably go something like an all road that can fit up to 38mm tires. still let me get fun but def quicker and lighter for the normal trails I usually ride that aren't hardcore at all.
3:23, I wanted Ollie to keep going and note how gravel bikes are becoming cross-country MTB with drop bars.
GCN!!! We can’t afford these bikes! Please review more affordable bikes.
I mean, making such a well played and dramatised video about something as common as an all-road bike… respect guys 😂
The mud clearance with the 40 mm tires is abysmal, so usable only in dry, so basically a road bike that can be used on champagne gravel in good conditions. For 14k, really nice value proposition 😅
can you fit a tailfin or is the thruaxel end blanked off like in my teammachine? In which case stay away as you wont be able to easily tour on it
Very interesting topic! Do you have road bike that do this below 3000$
Yes merida scultura GR5000
@@barneyklingenberg4078 Well i dont have this brand here in quebec city canada.
If this is what you are looking for. Have a look at the Superior X-road lineup. Been absolutley lovely to ride.
Unconvinced. I tried my gravel bike with road tires and it didn't handle well. I much prefer the 1-by for gravel. I much prefer MTB shoes on gravel. My road and gravel bikes give completely different vibes. And you get to own more bikes!
“Gravel” bike makes sense only with a flat bar. Otherwise it isn’t a “gravel” bike, but more like a hybrid bike between road and MTB.
A gravel bike with flat bars is still a hybrid between a road bike and a mountain bike. Most bike categories are hybrid of one thing and another thing.
But drop bars aren’t suitable for a real gravel riding. Nowadays they push drop bars everywhere, where it’s inappropriate, and even where it’s dangerous. That’s because drop bars look cooler for newbies and are significantly more expensive .
@@tongotongo3143totally agree! Flat bar gravel 👌🏻
Get this, there's a category of bikes called the drop bar MTB. Why would you want an MTB with a drop bar?
It sells well to newbies who think drop bars are sporty and cool, but narrow road tiers are dangerous and too hard:)
Amazing Video, informative and entertaining the Same time. Thanks 🤩
Very interesting insights. However if I’d go for an all rounder, I’d go for the S works Crux.
Now that's a sick hybrid bike with drop bars...........
For me, Domane Gen 4 hits the spot. All-road bikes, as a category, strike a balance between race geometry road bikes and gravel bikes. If you’re a new rider of drop bar bikes, like me, and primarily use the bike on pavement, it’s an excellent choice. It has the capability to handle hard pack gravel, and if your riding skills ever surpass the bike’s capabilities, you’ll likely want another bike anyway. Who are we kidding?
My Titanium road bike with 35mm GravelKing tyres is way more competent off-road than I can exploit, although it does feel faster on-road with 28mm Contis. With the amount of potholes and rough chippings we have in Yorkshire, it's a close call as to which is better on any given day. I definitely don't need another bike!
*cough Specialized Roubaix '24
Mine is a 2019
@@maryrusso2920 Nice! I mentioned it because the latest one has space for wide tires too and the suspension stem. Lovely bikes no mattter the year!