Why Does EVERYONE Suddenly Want A Gravel Bike?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มี.ค. 2023
- Why Does EVERYONE Suddenly Want A Gravel Bike?
It seems like the world and his granny want a gravel bike thesedays.
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I think it's popular because it's pulling in people from both the road scene and mtb xc scene. It sits nicely in the middle of the two and covers most of the types of cycling the average rider does that being some road and gravel forest tracks. They are more comfortable than a road bike, lighter than mtb and are fast and easy to ride. I'm a big fan.
I love mine for those very reasons.
Yep,I fall into this category I love getting out off road but want the speed and comfort a road bike gives
DeadHead. I was going to reply myself, but you stole the words right from my mouth. Right on. Great touring bike. A bit slow for the road, but I can navigate stuff that a road bike simply can't handle. On a ride from the south tip to the north tip of the UK last year I didn't get a single flat with my slightly heavier touring tires whereas it was a regular occurrence with the road bikers (one had two flats at the same time). The GRX gearing lets me climb crazy steep stuff way more easily. I don't care what they call it, I love this bike.
Part of that is increased awareness and appreciation of how dangerous it is riding along the roadways.
Same here. I have a MTB, road and gravel bike. The gravel lets me go off-road and also allows me to go further, faster in search of those trails.
I have been a road rider for decades. But in recent years ( here in the States) it seems car drivers have become more aggressive.
Bought a "proper" gravel bike 4 years ago and love it. No cars out in the woods. Not that many people either. Oregon is a great place for riding gravel.
Thanks for another fine video.
I think the opposite here; I think drivers are becoming a lot more aware of us cyclists and treating us fairly.
Where I live in Florida, drivers have become very hostile to cyclists. Better to come across an alligator in the woods!
I wonder if it's anything to do with the astronomically increased share of truck-framed vehicles like SUVs & lifted trucks that seem designed to encourage aggressive, dangerous, selfish & inconsiderate driving. Where it's an arms race between motor vehicles out there & everyone else are like gnats.
@@jollygoodveloAt least from what I’ve seen on social media, there’s a bunch of posts slandering cyclists from the car community. It’s understandable, some cyclists have no respect of cars and vice versa. I appreciate both cars & bikes and believe both have a place on the road but in the end: cars are always gonna win if we butt heads…
MTB hardtail will always be even more comfortable , and better for offroad ride , safer , far more durable and suited for heavier riders . And all of that for bargain , great hardtail can be found for less than 1000 $ easily .
I think you nailed it. You're riding on the road and see a trail you want to explore. Gravel bike does both well enough, so it wins for people who want exploration and adventure.
It's generally only "Roadies" who find the gravel bike to be some kind of revelation. They tend to be so focused on fast road riding, they forget other environments exist. Pretty much every combination of road and off road riding has existed since the invention of the bicycle, and hence every type of bike has been adapted to suit people's specific needs and budgets. Gravel biking isn't new, that's pretty much the origins of Cyclocross, well before all the organised regulations came in. It's just a new name from the marketing departments... they need to sell bikes. 😂
100% agreed!! A year ago I did some kind of experiment: just rid off all my bikes and get a gravel as a all purposed bike. With a extra pair of wheels (28c to hang out with my roadies friends and 35c gravel tires for solos and grand fondos) I must say it covered 99% of my needs....
Hey Marco, yes, it would be interesting to see if one bike really could do it all.
@@jollygoodvelo well, I got some interesting numbers with the gravel using road tires: top speed 78kph on descend and 49kph sprinting in flat terrain... for a underpowered cyclist as myself, I think those are decent results...
@Cycling God let say I do at most 45kph with gravel tires… also those are less responsive than road tires
That is not an experiment, that is a mantra they keep repeating. Plus set of two wheels is actually second bicycle.
Last Saturday I’ve tried my first gravel bike. And I was amazed by it! After many years of road bikes, using 23 mm tires, the experience with the gravel was very comfortable, without compromising the road bike pedaling position and riding dynamic. And I could ride on tracks which I wouldn’t dare to with my road. Strongly recommend to all bikers.
I never saw the marketing. But I moved to Oakland and my road bike with skinny little tires just didn’t feel right riding on worn out city streets full of cracks and potholes. I picked up a 2012 Specialized Crux this week and had my first ride today. I’m in love! It felt so sturdy and confident even on horribly cracked asphalt. I love that it still feels like a road bike, with the racing style riding position and drop handlebars. And unlike my road bike, it has disk brakes!
Same for me. I get my ass kicked on my road bike riding around Denver and had way too many close calls. Moving to a gravel bike has made me feel way more safe and comfortable. Not to mention the actual gravel riding
Yea our streets in Oakland suck.. I’m getting a gravel bike
In 2018 I bought a cyclocross bike that was marketed as "Could also be a Gravel Bike". It has an alloy frame and is a little more stiff than a designated Gravel bike.I'm quite happy with it, especially when I have to enjoy our rotten German roads and cycle paths. Catching up with a road bike for long time might also be a little exhausting - at least for me - 🙂. I'd say this is not only due to the tires but also because of the more stretched sitting position on my cyclocross bike.
Longer wheelbase, bigger tires that make for the most comfortable ride on a road bike, relaxed geometry, off road capability, most models can fit racks and mudguards, great for bike packing, what is not to like about a gravel bike. Oh yeah...the fact that the bike industry has gone crazy again, as they usually do when they find a new thing to sell us, and at the extreme end of gravel bikes are basically trying to sell us 90's mountain bike concepts like suspension stems and 50 mm suspension forks. The Arkose is an excellent example what a gravel bike should be. If you need suspension and a smoother ride the better option is a mountain bike. Sorry for the rant Leonard. 😁
Yeah, can be a bit of a trend thing but the things you listed do make for a great ride.
I live in California. Gravel trails are appearing where a trail didn't exist. Now, there are more and more gravel group rides and this makes it more enticing to buy one. I'm a roadie, but I will buy a gravel next year😁
I think gravel is the best thing to happen to cycling. Definitely more accessible and inclusive than road riding.
Before I bought a gravel bike I was riding my cycle cross bike on the gravel roads and on some mountain-bike trails.
I ride in the states and I think a gravel bike is the perfect because the roads here make you feel like your on an adventure.
I bought a gravel bike last year to use for my winter work commute instead of a heavy mtb. I found it ideal to be honest, it was lighter and faster but still had that ‘grippy tyre’ confidence of the mtb. And one particular plus is I’m back on the road bike this week and flying to work after a winter of using a heavier bike.
I also got a Gravel Bike during Covid. To me, it is a bit slower than my road bike on the road, but the Gravel Bike allows me to ride much more varied terrain. I have tried riding my Road bike on gravel and it's a bit sketchy but the wider knobbly tyres on the Gravel bike give me more confidence and stability on loose surfaces. Horses for courses so the Road bike for paved surfaces and the Gravel bike for, well, gravel.
I never really understood why people buy road racing bikes in the first place. I used to race as a kid, but once I stopped riding competitively, the distance travelled during workouts became irrelevant. For staying in shape, all that matters is time and intensity, not how far you get. Road racers are uncomfortable and prone to flat tyres. No need for that if you don't want to race.
@@Volkbrecht All about speed and aerodynamics with road racing bikes.
I got a gravel bike and ride it exclusively on road. It rides on bad roads, broken roads and rubbish roads. It tackles potholes and unscientific speed breakers without getting a pinch puncture. 1x drivetrain is easy to maintain. Geometry is relaxed and it is tubeless ready.
I see Gravel Bikes as a practical road bike (which can also go off road Yay!) Considering how bad our roads are getting. I can jump onto kerbs, jump off kerbs and not worry about any damage.
GBs are a win-win for me.
The gravel bike is the crossover suv of bikes. You won’t turn heads anywhere but you know in your heart it’s the only ride you need.
As I've aged the average speed isn't so important anymore and the condition of the roads (along with the increased traffic) has led me to seek solace more off road these days. Being able to ride the country lanes as normal, then venture on to a track is a lot more interesting and relaxing. With this in mind I finally purchased a gravel bike late last summer after years of thinking they they were just a gimmick! I haven't ridden my carbon framed bikes in about a year as they just aren't any fun now as I found I was spending too much time looking at the road surface and trying to avoid all the pot holes. Life's far nicer now I have more freedom to roam.
Wait until you discover mountain bikes!
@@goodobservers I had a Whyte T130 for a while, but sadly it was just too large to store in my flat. The damn handlebars where so wide I'd always catch on them when trying to squeeze by the bike! But I know what you mean. :)
@@Rick--A-F Yeah they are burly, but they allow access to some amazing sights. It's a trade off for sure.
Wait aa minute, Road bike,MTB, touring bike, city bike now a gravel bike, just get on what ever you got and ride!
My Giant Roam 2 is great for the road and gravel. It was only about £700. I often cycle a gravel path to Loch Ness. It's pretty comfy too. I also got a Trek FX3 for £775 for the road and that bad boy flies in the city. It's nice and light and very nippy. I kind of like having two bikes myself - so if I ever get a puncture I can still get to work without cursing lol :) I've been caught out with the morning puncture many a time. But that's just me!
Definitely marketing but it's something people wanted. As a commuter who rode a road bike for years, I heard people asking for what amounts to a gravel bike for at least the last 10 years. I saw people online and I knew people in person who wanted the look of a road bike and not a hybrid bike but also wanted something that could handle the steep and often deteriorating pavement conditions. People wipe out on road tires so easily when turning across muddy leaves and wet sewer covers. So those knobbier tires are delicious! Our town uses gravel to deal with snow and ice and often there are hazards hidden in the gravel that will pop your skinny road tires rather savagely. The lower pressures of wider tires are very attractive for that reason as well as the comfort. Plus, you get loads of mounting points for racks and fenders on most of them, which is a problem for my little old road bike. The favorites around here are Kona, Salsa, Surly, Jamis, Trek and Cannondale.
Hi Leonard, love the content of the channel. I purchased a gravel bike last spring and it is by far my favorite bike to ride. In terms of enjoyment it beats my road, mountain and tandem bike.
I love my gravel bike since I don’t like riding my bike on busy roads. Where I live we have a lot of trails that are both paved and gravel…so it works for me 😀
I applaud your honesty about the cheap gravel bike! Especially as not sponsored. Would like to see you take some offroad adventures on it come summer. I tend to think spending on clothing makes sense given the weather we often get in the UK. Was pleased to hear the cheap gravel bike performed well.
Count me in!! Gravel gang! Subscribed. Love the points you make and it makes sense eveytime.Thats what happen when you are an obejective person, thx for this content!
Great video Leonard. I was particularly impressed by your smooth inclusion of the cycling holiday reference.
Coincidently, my band at school were called The Crusty Crud Monkeys...
Love it!
I am too old for jumps and drops, but I like riding off-road. I used to throw my old Trek Singletrack into my truck, drive to the park and ride horse trails for a couple of hours. Now I ride my Poseidon X to the park, ride the horse trails, and pedal home. I see road bike owners asking what’s up, but the mountain bike crowd seems to accept the niche concept just fine.
Great explanation and cleared up the differences very well. Your spring looks wonderful as always and ours in some parts of Canada will be here in about four weeks.
This is my favorite video, Because it's all true, do anything, wear anything... ❤
I bought a cyclocross bike about 20 years ago. I love it and now it would be called a gravel bike.
Leonard, I think you made a wise purchase. I was a road rider for years, but when the pandemic struck, and we were encouraged to ride more locally, I thought maybe I should check out the trails. As it happened, I had an old (vintage) CX bike, that was shod in road tyres, as well as a hardtail MTB. On both of these bikes, I discovered a whole network of wonderful local traffic free trails. I now ride trails almost exclusively. My CX bike now has 38 mm knobbly gravel tyre, which is sadly the max tyre size you can get on a CX bike. So,I may have to invest in a gravel bike too!
I will find out this fall when my first gravel bike is built cycling is the one thing I regret giving up
Another interesting video Leonard. Something which may also be of consideration to those who like me own an older classic road bike (with modern components) with rim brakes, is that in wet conditions I reach for the gravel bike as it has disc brakes which makes a huge difference in stopping confidence on my hilly Devon lanes. Also I am surrounded by many unmaintained roads with pot holes and rough surfaces which I feel the gravel bike is more suited for and I am more confident on it.
Hey, sounds just like me! Got some vintage bikes with modern components but also have a gravel bike for the same reasons too.
Thanks Leonard, great vid. I have a Gravel bike and love it, it really suites my needs like you said I use it to run around on.
Gravel bike is just a fancy drop bar hybrid but made for cyclists. Flat bar hybrids are made for non cyclists who want a bike to ride once in a while. There is nothing wrong with either.
I’m 6ft6 and the Orbea gravel bike was the only one in the local shop I could fit on and was a reasonable price for the base model.
😂😂 'heaven forbid...your other half' I love that, especially as mine makes me buy bikes so he can feel less guilty about his guitars!
Sounds like the perfect arrangement. He’s a keeper.
I agree about the speed. I bought a Kona Rove DL last year and was surprised at how well and easily it moved on the road after not riding for well over 20 years.
Just one more point. I think modern gravel bikes resemble early MTBs when single track riding was more popular that shredding down hill on full suspension monsters. In fact converting and old MTB to a gravel set up can be a fun pastime.
Gravel bikes are brilliant. Its a great way to explore the Australian Alps. Its like bushwalking on a bike. It is fast on rough roads & fine on the bitumen. In the city its a stable superb commuter.
Gravel bikes aren't a fad they are the best all round bike you can buy.
Brilliant way to explore those seldom used dirt tracks in state forests, national parks & great countryside
Agree. Added a Trek 6500 aluminum hard tail with 1.75 all around tires. Bingo…gravel bike with flat bar enhancement.
Much better than nice steel frame road bike on 25s on the rougher roads where I moved.
That's where the idea of the "Hybrid" bike came from several decades ago. Not a pure road bike, not an MTB, but something inbetween. But it all goes much further back than that. The origins of cyclocross lay in the same idea, but there were no official regulations, so people used any bike they felt would work for them. Before that, touring bikes adopted bigger tyres, better clearances and wider gearing. Before that, people used and adapted typical "Sports" bikes and Roadsters to ride trails etc.
I’m a 35 year racer and rider. Not a “35 year old rider and racer” but I’ve been in this game for 35 years. I didn’t think much of the gravel idea. But then I rode one. I bought mine two years ago, and it’s the only one I ride of my three bikes. I’m not going as fast as I used to, so the comfort of the bigger tires is a much nicer ride. Also, where I live the roads are shit. They’re almost as bad as a real ass gravel road. I love it. My bike is a Rodeo-Labs Trail Donkey. Check them out.
Luckily for me there are a couple hundred miles of gravel roads near my home that I ride regularly. And for years now I've been using a gravel bike as my winter and bad weather bike.
Sounds like that is the ideal place to ride. I use my mine as my Winter bike as well.
I’ve been riding a 6:59 road bike all my life . I’m 64. I bought a gravel bike in 2021 and I don’t regret it! It’s a carbon frame and lightweight like my road bike. It’s more comfortable than my road bike and can take on the gravel roads here in the mountains of NH. Most of all it’s safer because I can stay off the roads more often and stay away from cars. Too much texting and sight seeing in the scenic white mountains which makes road riding much more dangerous nowadays!
Well the roads in south australia are absolutely rooted,
My 2006 Specialized Tricross has all features of a gravel bike, apart from the name. It has also eyelets at the front and rear fork for mounting carrier racks and using it as a touring bike.
Yeah, I agree too, my Fairlight Secan is just a fantastic steel gravelbike. And like you said, they are not slow at all, I ride my Secan with 650b x 48mm tires by Rene Herse, super plush but fast, great fun to ride! And so versatile, I do road rides but mix it up with gravel tracks whenever I come across those. And I am even considering touring in the UK fully loaded on it too..... All the best Leonard!
I think the speed thing is an issue sometimes but the low gear ratio means I climb better.
Thanks for the tip on Secan Wow. Super nice stuffs
With you 100% , I got a gravel my first “proper” bike for all the reasons you mention. My all year round bike and as a larger chap seems more robust. We stick to the back lanes and the two roadies I ride with are considering getting one.
I’ve been a vintage road bike kind of rider but did get a gravel bike because I was curious, and being able to GET AWAY from traffic and oblivious pedestrians and take not so popular paths has really converted me. I won’t get rid of my road bikes but any bike I buy in the future HAS to be able to handle gravel roads as well.
As a mountain biker and had all sorts of mtbs for over 25years and love them but bought my first gravel bike last year and absolutely love it to the point that I haven’t been on my mtb for anything other than the bike parks
whats the most imporant things i should focus while buying a gravel bike?
mental how I just ordered my first gravel bike and strait after I click on YT and I am greeted with this video. I'm hoping that my new bike rekindles my forgotten love of cycling. great video by the way 🙂
I live in Michigan. Our states roads are shambles. To many pinch flats on a dedicated road bike. A gravel bike smooths things out substantially
"Smooth" plug. I laughed so loud when that part of the video hit. The wink sealed the deal! I am looking at a Domane but the Diverge gravel option is on the table too. Who knows...might see you next year in Italy. Keep up the great vids.
Because it is bike most folk actually need. More relazed geometry. Wider tyres. Mpurpose. Comfortable. Plus other stuff too. 🙃 can commute on it too.
It's one bike to do everything. It lets us roadies get away from the ever increasing menace of bigger cars and distracted drivers, lets XC riders enjoy some more speed. Bikes are expensive, living prices are going up globally and so having one bike that you can throw at most situations is a huge plus.
Brilliant, thanx for sharing your view on gravel bikes.
Late posting here, but really enjoyed the video and wanted to comment. In the States, another reason for their popularity is, I think, that the "rails to trails" type of trails are more often than not unpaved: gravel, crushed limestone, packed dirt, etc., is more common. These are wonderful trails, many without significant elevation, so perfect for many levels of riders, but not a fun ride on a proper road bike. Gravel bike manages them so well.
Just a Hybrid MKII, road bikes went down the lighter faster route, mountain bikes went down the more travel more gnarrr route leaving a gap in the middle. Yes I have one, yes I love it. 👍
Been riding "gravel bikes" for 2 decades now and I love them. I always just thought of it as a custom hipster bike though. Usually, I would find an 80s/90s road bike frame, put thicker tires/wheels than what I found it with, and boom I'd have a hipster custom bike, but now they're called gravel bikes.
Because they are insane fun. So much fun has been sucked out of cycling, these put the fun right back.
I bought a gravel bike to go touring on. The intention is to be able to get off busy roads as much as possible and cope with moderate rough tracks. I think that this is the reason why Gravel bikes are popular for general riding as opposed to out and out road riding and mountain biking.
I think you made a great point. Many people are out off by riding in traffic.
Agree with you about the weight. I had a cheap road bike and it always felt like it was going to crumple under me. Picked up my gravel bike and no longer have that underlying stress.
I too bought one. I hated it and was lucky to offload at a price more than I paid for it.
The issue I had was that it was a compromise in all conditions. It was too twitchy off road and like a Land Rover on roads, slow and noisy.
I did find a few good gravel routes but they involved driving to the location. Riding on road with gravel tyres was just irksome.
I don’t miss it at all.
My gravel bike got me back to cycling again, love it. Built up a Sonder Camino Ti frame. I'm now moving to Oman for a few years and the bike is definately coming with me (along with the turbo trainer when it's too hot in the summer to cycle outside).
I resisted for a long time then finally gave in. very glad I did.
A gravel bike is like a crossover vehicle. I have 1 gravel bike and 1 mountain bike. During warm weather , I put on slick tires to ride with my roadie buddies. When winter arrives, I put on a fatter tire for wet road. This bike kills 2 birds with one stone and it saves space to make my wife happy. 😁
My 'gravel' bike is my 2006 Giant OCR 2, which has been and still is my commuting bike. Takes 30mm Schwalbe cross tyres easily. Has rim brakes that work as good off road as on. Mudguards and a rear rack...perfect. Wheels are team 35 Vision. Lots of fun on the railtrails etc around here.
I’ve wanted one for a while but as I get older I get stubborn. Still want one but use my MTB for combined road and dirt road (which will jar your insides they’re so rough in places!) I now only ride the MTB because it is soooo smooth and lower pressure, less aggressive tires with Flat Attack or Slime offer protection against “goat head” thorns. Also I’m a solo rider in a rural area and find the MTB better for several other reasons. A wider tire gravel or hybrid bike would be as good or better though. If I was starting out now a gravel bike (or hybrid) would be my only bike! Enjoyed this video! Take care brother!
"Smoooth" ... great humor! Loved it!
I have one hardtail mountain bike and I ride it everywhere.
Mountainbikes are good for gravel, especially with gravel-happy tyres. I think something between 35 and 50mm tyres does great job, depending on the road. Washboards invites fatter tyres than smooth roads. My old MTB has ca the same tyre fatness as my new gravelbike with 44 mm.
As someone who only does off-road cycling gravel bikes aren't for me, if I wanted to cycle on the road I'd probably just buy a cheap road bike
@@RJA I agree. For me gravelbikes are primary for long distance training and commuting on asphalt and gravel/dirt roads.
Personally I live on a gravel road,so a "gravel bike" is the natural choice.
Another smoooooooth video, Leonardo! Well done humor!
Great film Leonard!I bought a Cervelo aspero a couple of years back with two sets of wheels one for road one for general,I’m an older rider not bothered about speed ,I don’t even bother with any tech now as I felt the stats had started to consume me and ruin my enjoyment,I just wanted a comfy bike and that’s what I’ve got,distance goals are more important to me!
gravel bikes are like the basic trekking bikes everyone and their mother has but cool and goes fast
I switched to gravel from MTB.
The reason being a gravel bike is better suited to daily riding where various surfaces are encountered. On tarmac an MTB is a drag. The image associated with mountain biking today is becoming more and more extreme. The bikes are becoming more focused on big travel suspension and geometry aimed at descending at speed rather than peddling efficiently along a tow path or fire road.
I’m a 43 year old bloke with average bike handling skills, I don’t want to be doing tricks and jumps at a MTB park. I want to set off from my front door and get away from traffic, the gravel bike is ideal.
I fell for the gravel bike hype and it’s the best bike purchase I’ve ever made. To me it’s more comfortable over longer distances due to switching up hand positions, it’s faster and more aero which my PRs have proven and it really will happily blast along a road section pretty much as well as the lycra clad roadies can and then take me off into the woods.
My N+1 was a second gravel bike. One is a carbon framed carbon wheeled speed machine for the summer, the other is a steel framed alloy wheeled full mudguards winter mud muncher. The XC MTB sits in the garage.
Leonard - You can never have enough bikes and if you do, there are always room for upgrades 🤣.
you got me with 2:34 :D well done, lovely video!
I didn't jump on the G-Bike bandwagon in the beginning because they were just cross bikes with road wheels. And I wasn't going to put gravel wheels on a road bike. I waited until they got it right with the more relaxed geo. Now they're making legit road bikes that you can take off road. I just got my first gravel bike this year, a VAAST A/1 and that thing is a blast right.
You are absolutely correct. Gravel bikes are the latest version of the original MTBs from the 80s-and 90s. That is what I have. Nearly the same geometry. The only major difference is that I am on 26" (559) tires instead of 650B. Potato/Patatto. Oh! I have V brakes instead of disc brakes. Mine are easier to maintain.
Great bikes. I was very surprised at how well it handles off road. super light in comparison to my 90's mountain bike
Gravel bikes are 90% of a road bike, but for real world riding. Swap aero wheels and you have a zippy sunday bike. Add racks for the big touring trip. Fenders and lights for the weekly commute.
They are very multi functional
It gets me off the road away from traffic and also allows me to ride in the wind and and rain with more confidence.
Gravel bikes are aimed at the people who missed out on what mountain bikes used to be in the 90s, when they were still versatile "do anything" bikes rather than trail-specific travel monsters.
There is a place for them, as you illustrate quite will on this video. But those of us who still have an old lightweight mountain bike with a rigid fork really don't need them. But certainly a good type of bike for newer riders for whom a thoroughbred MTB or road bike is overkill.
Gravel bikes are very location dependent. Where I live, you either want a road bike or a mountain bike, even the "gravel" roads here are so chonky you're gonna hate your life on a gravel bike.
Thanks. I was under a rock for ten years. I had a "hybrid comfort" bike during that time. Its almost the same thing, but with flat bars, pannier rack, full fenders, and a cushy seat.
I also love my Gravel bike and twice on Sunday!!! Very versatile, use it in all weather and all year round! The road condition where I live is horrible at times and I like to cut through the forest so no need to worry about the terrain my gravel bike is so much fun to ride!
I do want one, because I don't enjoy riding on dirt and gravel paths on my road bike with narrower tires (28s) (BMC Roadmachine-their more randonneur oriented road bike). It is next on my list. Probably an Open CDn or a Time.
Glad your channel came up in my feed. I used to watch you surreptitiously on my work computer but I retired November 2021!
I’m not entirely sure how a ‘gravel’ bike differs, but in 2015 I bought myself a cyclo-cross bike. It was an instant game-changer for me. Unless someone has very specific requirements, it’s hard for me to recommend anything else as my bike is just so versatile & capable!
It's mostly in the tires.
The frame is made wider to make it easier to fit over your shoulder to carry the gearing is also different 👍
A proper cyclocross bike has specific limits to tyre width. They usually don't have mounts for racks etc, and are designed so that carrying them on your shoulder won't stab you or catch on clothing. Before the regulations were standardised, people rode cyclocross events on whatever bike suited their needs and budget, irrespective of the label given by the bikes manufacturer. Touring bikes, racing bikes, city bikes, roadsters, flat bar, dropped bar... anything could be used and adapted.
The geometry of gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes is very similar. Gravel bikes have more braze-ons, especially on the forks. And gravel bikes have a bit wider clearance for larger tires. Other than that, pretty much the same.
I've been riding a Kona Jake for years, essentially as one would a gravel bike. Just no touring, I have another bike for that :)
@@PRH123 haha, I’m also riding a Kona Jake. They’re such great bikes! I did have to replace the rear-derailleur. But other than the usual consumables, it’s basically all stock - and still going strong!
OmG I should really watch the whole video before commenting! 😂😂SMOOTH..(cue smooth sideways look to camera) 😂 Fantastic!
Sorry for spamming up the comments section. And thanks for making me laugh out loud even though I'm really REALLY fed up with the back pain.
No problem Alice, great that you want to comment.
I built a "Road Plus" Bike. Not Quite a Gravel bike, but has ability to fit 60mm 650b or 700c 28mm. Has a short wheelbase like a road bike and steeper head angle than a gravel bike. More like an endurance road bike that can fit fat Meats. Cost me a bloody fortune to build, but I decked it out with GRX e shift etc. I wanted a tough ,durable ,verasatile, bike that would be quickish on the road, and able to ride mid level MTB trails with a change of wheels and tyres. Small jumps even!One bike to do it all. Got it with the Surly Midnight Special . 9.99 kg with 700c 28mm , and 10.5 kg with the fat meats.
I have a all steel 2018 Fuji touring bike that I turned into a gravel bike by simply installing specialized 38mm gravel tires.
Me & the wife have only ever owned gravel bikes since giving away the MTB 10yrs ago & we enjoy the more relaxed position.
We both completed the Coast 2 Coast in a day on the Specialized Diverge last year, albeit with Mavic Road rims with 32mm road tyres, #499/#500
It depends on where you live. Where I live, it's invaluable
I had a Whyte 529 MTB which was absolutely fantastic for my regular commutes on very poorly surfaced roads as well as exhilirating dirt rides but it got nicked and I decided to replace it with a Saracen Levarg because the Whyte's heavy and I'm not really skillful enough to make full use of its immense potential. The Levarg is the bike I go to most out of my small bike collection (a traditional steel tourer and a carbon racer) which speaks volumes.
In cities the flat bar is really dangerous if you don't have dedicated bike road. Stand up let your arms and hands hang. Some drop bars have "flare" for a more natural hand position.
I Built a Specialized gravel bike for about $450. I love it! I use it on the road because I live in California, the roads are horrible & I’m a heavy rider so 28c tires feel like pizza cutters.
I got a Gravel bike instead of buying a hard tail for light trail riding. Then ended up selling my road bike to pay for some upgrades. Including a second set of wheels and tires for road rides.
I'm on my second gravel bike but bit the bullet and went for an Orbea again e bike and love it.
I use the power only when I need it so believe I still get a good workout for a 66 year old.
I use my Bianchi road bike mostly in the summer when I dont plan on attempting big hills.
My "gravel bike" is rigid steel MTB from 90ies. For its price I could buy, maybe, only front wheel of modern gravel bike, with no tire. Can't complain!
I live in an urban area and there aren't any gravel roads anywhere! Best place to ride are paved trails, and Im happy with my road bike.
Thanks for great explanation.
I live in Indonesia and been riding gravel bike for about a year. And I love it.
it's budget alloy frame, 10speed, local made, but it suit the road condition. since many road around suburb, and even some in the city are bit rough for my roadbike.
thanks again and have a great ride.
Years ago I enjoyed the old steel framed road touring ways before switching to MTBing. Afterwards deciding what I'd really love would be that love child you refer to, I found none. They hadn't hooked up yet, so I found myself on a hybrid instead. Steel frame-check, front shocks-check, touring tires-check, off road capability-no. And then the gravel bike craze arrived. So here I am pining for the fjords...and a gravel bike. I am sure one more bike would be worth it...gravel bikes do look like cycle perfection.
Thanks Leonard, ATB.
There's one aspect that make gravel bikes more desirable too it's the lack of care countryside roads get these days. Soon it will look like Paris-Roubaix, potholes are much easier to deal with a gravel bike and it's less prone to pinch flats (pretty much immune if you run tubeless which you can especially with lower tire pressure involved).
Agree with you. That’s why I got some sensible winter tyres, my 28mm Schwalbes have plenty of grip & gone through everything that last winter can throw at them. And continue to do so. A great option to Gravel.