I too have thinned out my collection over the years. I only have one bike now. It is ultimately really versatile with six wheel sets, four frames, eight saddles, four handlebars and a few different cassettes
That was me trying to explain to my wife how the gravel bike I just bought is different from my cross bike even though, to her, they look just alike. LOL!
I have the minimum number of bikes humanly possible: - first road bike (outdoor) - second road bike (trainer only) - triathlon bike - gravel bike - fat bike for snow (with +tire for summer)
I strongly disagree with your rigid stance and insult you and your family. I also make a passive aggressive verbal attack vaguely aimed at anyone who thinks differently.
Everything is in slow motion when riding a full suspension on the street :D real life experience after 15 years on a road bike and just took on mt biking.........
On the flip side, the only 'road' bike I've ever had and ridden is a Cannondale Slate with the Lefty Oliver. I'm just curious to see how much faster an actual road bike is compared to my bike. I think deep down it's a subconscious excuse to justify how hard it is to ride 20+mph solo.
@@hipnutikdpretender8357 for any serious technical single track you need a decent mountain bike. In my area most people are running dual suspension trail and enduro bikes and you still break stuff (i.e. jumps, drops, extremely rocky terrain that tears tires apart). For me it would be a two or three bikes: I'd run my enduro on most single track/downhill, bmx bike for dirt jumps and skateparks, and a gravel bike for all that other riding which to be honest is the majority of riding, but there are things I'd definitely would not personally attempt on a gravel bike (4' drops into rock gardens, half pipes, dirt jumps...etc).
I'm looking into the same thing. I mainly ride MTB but a 32lb full sus trail bike, while comfortable, is kinda slow on road haha. Been looking at selling off my hardtail and getting a gravel bike instead for N+1 for road, off-season and for my Zwift bike.
marco jardim I’m planning to do the same. Are you swapping the chain as well? Curious to know what wheels, tyres, cassettes you’re running for each scenario.
Did this a year ago as my first drop bar and have been super happy. Stock Giant branded wheels with 40c gravel tires the Revolt came with and 28c Conti GP5000 on Fulcrum DB4’s. Both set up tubeless. 32/48 sub compact on the front, 11/34 on the road wheels. Sunrace 11/40 on the gravel wheels. Same chain but some tweaking (and adjusting the B screw) of the rear mech. Shifting isn’t crisp on the big cassette but it works with no extenders.
Running my Orro Terra C with the stock 700c wheels with 32mm road tyres and 11/30 cassette. And have a pair of Fulcrum Rapid Red gravel wheels with WTB Nano 40mm tyres and an 11/32 cassette. I’ve changed the stock road bars for a pair of Richey Venture Max flared bars for more control and comfort off road, but not too wide for road rides.
@@hoobs4140 Haha, to be fair I mostly was saying that in jest. Firstly, I would consider the clearance that the bike you're considering has. Having wider wheels makes more a more comfortable ride, especially when off-road. The difference in comfort between 28mm wheels and 32mm wheels is notable, even if it makes you notionally slower. (A road bike can be adapted to better suit off-road conditions.) I'd also consider what your main aim for the bike is: if you're really gung-ho about doing off-road cycling, then a road bike is probably not the right choice; however if you're mostly going to be cycling on the road or paved bridleways then I'd still go for a road bike.
@@wsmu Great advice. Makes me feel better about the road bike I've just bought. Was starting to regret the purchase over a gravel bike (I hadn't considered one beforehand but I've always been a roadie) but I live in London where roads are prominent so perhaps this is a better deal for me.
@@IshmaelSimpson No worries - it's easy to succumb to buyer's remorse over these things. Of course, modifying a road bike for gravel conditions is dependent on the bike's frame, and gravel bike frames tend to have a slightly different geometry than road-specific frames. But in your case, as in mine (I live in Cambridge rather than London), a road bike works just fine. Safe cycling!
Here for all the middle-aged commentators that are 20lbs overweight and trying to get to Cat3 to tell you how a gravel bike isnt enough of a road bike for them.
@@matthiaskettner6686 yea but the point is y is it the joke people turn to? ..alot of truth is said in jest. It's the sheep like mentality. The joke, in the real world of co tent relationships doesn't even make sense
My gravel bike gets more use than my road bike. Can ride the obvious country roads, tame trails, and city riding where there’s curbs to be hopped and pot holes. When the weather gets bad the fenders keep me and the bike clean. Tire choice and wheel options are important
I live in the city and every now and then encounter grass and dirt at parks. As well as potholes. The one bike I would need is a hybrid or mountain trail bike.
When I was looking to upgrade from an old steel frame 26" mtb I decided to go with a gravel bike. I had never rode a drop bar bike before and was worried it would be uncomfortable but after plenty of research and asking around I'm very happy. I can do road stuff, trail stuff and I bikepack with it. Fits my riding perfectly
If I were confined to one bike it would be a Gravel bike. I remember the freedom I felt on my first grownup bike, an English bike, three speeds 😁. From that moment on my riding has been about going exploring, seeing places missed by people to busy to slow down. I want to go fast and far and not be confined to tarmac, if a dirt road looks interesting I want to take it.
100% agree with this! What I would say though is as long as you have some wheel clearance and disc brakes even an endurance road bike can go off road. I've done loads on 28mm tires.
I have yet to try a gravel bike, but I'm looking for something like my old Bob Jackson touring bike but with better brakes and some off-road capabilities, and it seems to be it by what I'm hearing.
@@noj1yt in the parts of SoCal where I ride, I see more folks on mountain bikes for everyday commute and cycling then road bikes. Tweakers on the other hand are different stories, they use BMX dirt bikes AKA tweakers mobiles. Cuz we all know how tweakers love competitive dirt bike racing. Lol!
@@noj1yt Well duh, MTBs on the road are ridiculously ill-suited to that and were never the answer. 'Gravel' bike is the stupid-ass name that should not have stuck to what these bikes are, 'All-Road' Bike ;) . Way way more versatile not to mention infinitely better riding and handling.
I still nedd 3 bikes. I use it everyday to go to the grocery store, to my job, everywhere. Sometimes I like to take a shortcut, so I ride my MTB. Sometimes I want to go as fast as I can, so I ride my road bike and sometimes I just want to go smoothier, so I ride my comfortable (but heavy) city bike. Thinking better now, I'll buy a gravel bike to add to my options. Maybe one day I would like to go as fast as I can, taking a shortcut with comfort. That's it, I made my mind. Thanks!!
I live in New England where the vast majority of mtb trails are littered with rocks, roots, and intricate singletrack through endless trees. A gravel bike is brutal on such terrain (or you just walk). However, the US infrastructure is in such bad shape, gravel bikes are slowly becoming a necessity on all the crumbling, beaten up paved roads here.
LOL! That's exactly my experience, too. On my road bikes, I have to choose my routes very carefully. But my CX bike is totally OK with whatever apocalyptic, third-world-style surfaces of Mars the authorities in the U.S. want to refer to as "roads" these days.
This is what is making me think of getting a gravel bike. I'm already overweight, which makes this worse, but there are *paved* parts of my neighborhood I have to avoid because they're in such poor condition. They just beat the hell of out of me when I'm riding my road bike on them. There are also some dirt trail sections I try to avoid if I'm on my road bike. A gravel bike might be a better option for me than a road bike. Then again, I already have a hybrid that I rarely use. I wonder how much different a gravel bike would be. The handlebars would obviously be different, but other than that, I wonder what the overall difference in riding experience would be.
@@jneiberger I think a lot of whether you ride a bike or leave it in your garage has to do with the quality of the bike. A good quality bike is always a pleasure to ride, regardless of what type it is. I have a Trek Crockett 9 CX bike in addition to various road bikes. Although the Crockett isn't as fast on the road as my road bikes, that almost doesn't matter, because the Crockett is so well made it's a joy to ride both on and off the road. (Also, I've rigged it with a pannier rack, so I can use to to go grocery shopping.) I think if you buy a gravel bike at the same level of quality as your road bikes, you'll find that you'll use it any time you're planning to be out on rough surfaces. You could also look into a CX bike if you think you might like to start going completely off road and doing some less technical MTB riding such as you might find on walking trails in a park. It's a ton of fun to be able to just turn the handlebars and leave the pavement behind at will.
This is way I’m having such a hard time giving up my hard tail mountain bike. I would like to sit up a bit most straight but riding in New England on something without front suspension 😬
@@jneiberger I got a gravel bike last year - was looking to replace my 28-year old road bike. I wanted something faster than my hybrid - my gravel bike is much faster than my hybrid and I really like having slightly wider / more forgiving tires. As I age I feel like gravel bike might be my sweet spot! I can't keep up with faster people even if I have a super lightweight carbon fiber -- so might as well be comfortable!?
Like all bike purchases, the best bike for you depends on your use cases. I certainly got caught up in the allure of gravel bikes...then I focused on my use cases and decided a gravel bike wasn't the best for me. My local area has roads, bike trails, and gravel/rocky trails with steep inclines. My riding would be 90/10 road/off-road and fairly long rides. I do not race and do not tour. Given these reasons, I went with an endurance bike as it's better for my riding than a gravel bike. For me, a gravel bike would be like having a swiss army knife in my kitchen: it gives me the option to do so much, but I really only need it to do one thing and it's not great for that purpose. Remember, effective, clever marketing is about creating new needs and selling solutions for them. People in the not-so-distant past lived just fine without many of the "indispensable" things we "need" today. I'm not saying people don't need gravel bikes, but don't be sheep either, people! Know thyself, then decide.
darthjohn0 My riding is also 90road 10offroad, and i also planing to do some touring few weeks in future, so do u thing gravel is good for that or i should focus on something else? Currently I using mtb bike and I never tried anything else, so thats why I asking.
darthjohn0 the line between endurance road bikes and gravel bikes is getting blurry. Trek Domane is better at being a gravel bike than Trek Checkpoint in many use cases, gravel bikes like 3T Exploro or Cervelo Aspero turn into amazing road bikes just when you swap the tires to 25-28c, better than many actual road bikes. The naming isn’t important. My use case is very similar to yours and I recently got a gravel bike and I don’t even ride much gravel. I run it with 38c slick tires and find to be as capable on road as my old road bike and yet it just gives me this great freedom of choosing any path I want when I feel like doing so.
SVoJtA ; gravel bikes can be anything between “almost a road bike” and “almost a MTB”. There are quite a few gravel bikes built for touring (which basically just means more relaxed geometry and more mounts for stuff) and also some classic touring bikes can now be lumped under gravel bike name. The short answer is: it all depends. MTBs (but mostly the hardtail variety) also make great touring bikes if you wish to tour more off-road. And if you want to go on road more, just consider a less knobby tire set and most likely you’ll be good to go. If you want to go fast and pack light while touring then a gravel bike or an endurance road bike should indeed be better.
Yeah, for my use, an endurance makes the most sense, as well. On all the surfaces I go on, I'd take the efficiency, posture, and lighter weight of an endurance bike over a gravel bike. If I moved somewhere else, that may very well change. For now, I'll take the more sporty feel of an endurance bike over the ultimate versatility of a gravel bike that will rarely be used to its full potential.
Of all my bikes, my gravel bike sees the most use. It is the most efficient and comfortable bike I have. I love my hard tail. I love my full squish MTB. But they go out when the going gets tough. For absolutely every thing else, gravel bike.
TravelingAnvil agree on where use them, but I would think most mountainbikers spend most of their time riding mtb trails. Mainly my gravel bike is for when the trails are closed. So the mtb still gets the most use.
I’ve loved my gravel bike so far. Haven’t touched my mountain bike once this season. Makes easy singletrack fun again, it’s lighter, and faster. I think the only thing I’d change is the crankset, the road compact is a bit on the top end side for me.
I thought about about consolidating to one bike but I just love my road bike (which is currently being rebuilt) and my 29er. I think the only justification for a gravel bike is that the roads where I live are abysmal.
Best All Around Bike is..."A HARDTAIL MTB with XC TIRES!!!" You can ride fast on the road, ride MTB if you want. go BIKEPACKING and ride gravel if you have to!!!!
Maybe a top-end 29er one from 10-15 years ago - steeper angles, narrower bars, narrower rims, 2x9 or 2x10. Slightly less trail capable but lighter and still good all round.
Can’t help but think gravel bikes are just a compromise. They’re ok on road and ok on trails but not as good as a road bike and mtb respectively. I think I’d rather have a £1000 road bike and a £1000 mtb than 1 £2000 gravel bike
More comfortable on a road for me (even one without pot holes) and faster on trails with plenty of control. Gravel bikes are perfect for most UK trails. If you prefer slower, technical mountain biking then obviously an MTB is better for that. Getting a gravel bike saved me buying multiple bikes and (my favourite thing) is that I can really enjoy multiple terrains on ONE RIDE, while mounting any necessary kit.
I like the fact that you can have a road ride, and then if you happen to see somewhere off road you want to explore, there's nothing stopping you. Gravel bikes are great for exploring.
I like riding to my trails. I won't drive there, so cyclocross bike is a good way to feel you're making progress both on the road and on the trails. I'm too old to go looking for technical downhill singletrack, so no need for an MTB for me
I have 7 bikes 1 fs mountain 2 ht mountain 1 carbon hybrid 1 electric mtb 1 Brompton folder 1 road bike now l am about to commit myself to purchasing a gravel bike.
I started using a 'gravel' bike for all touring when I did a 6 month tour in Australia and knew a lot of good roads to ride were going to be gravel. Glad I did. A gravel bike is a more comfortable ride on pavement and it allows you to safely move off onto a gravel shoulder to get out of the way of traffic when necessary which is important here in the U.S. where there are so many cars and trucks on the road today (not that much of a problem 45 years ago when I first bike toured). It is never a good idea to assert you right of way privilege on a bicycle to aggressively against vehicles, you'll always lose!
on a gravel bike you could do a red MTB trail, then ride 100 miles on/offroad to another trail center and do the red there. Swap your wheels over and you can easily do 22mph+ on roads. Its not the same animal as a hard tail. (but not a million miles away) Personally, I think the ultimate combo to be able to do anything is a full sus and a gravel bike...
Love my Giant Revolt and how versatile it is. I have two wheel sets - one with 40 tubeless gravel tires for the tougher stuff and one with 32 slicks for road riding. It’s perfect.
@@9thwave9th I got the stock set of Bontrager wheels that comes on a Trek Domane of a similar price as my Revolt Advanced 2...I think they were around $200 for the set. I definitely went cheap, but stock wheels are good enough for me.
MTBs do come with 3x and 2x setups also. The gearing ratios are more than adequate for most uphills. MTBs do take different types of tires; knobbly, grooved etc. also the tire sizes need not be on the plus side. Riding position is all about getting used to it. Road bikers find that crouched position comfortable, many MTB riders find the flat bar comfortable. So I guess its all about getting used to it. The sturdy feel of an MTB gives you more comfort when riding over potholes. Cycling is not always about racing....for me its more about enjoying the ride....
Did you guys get the carbon or the alloy Grade? I see a ton of love for the carbon with its fancy bendy parts and no word on how its much more affordable sibling compares....
@@cartilagehead I got myself a Carbon GT Grade. The bike is fast, fun and very confortable. I have other bikes built in aluminium and honestly I cannot see how a GT Grade built in aluminium could be as confortable as its version built of carbon fiber. Aluminium is far too stiff.
1. HT MTB's when ridden for fun, are more versatile. 2. There are more types of 26er tires. They are not all good, but there are bad tires in every size. 3. A 3X will give you more gearing choices you could want/need. 4. Any bikes geometry can be tuned for "Flavor of the Month" by changing components. 5. All bikes are fun.
I agree with you. the key word here is 3X. This is the reason why Mtb's today are not fast. I have a 29" XC bike and with the right tires it is almost every bit as fast as my Cannondale racing bike. It takes more watts to maintain speed and go fast BUT fact of the matter is that I have no problems keeping up with most carbon fiber racers out there and I still have a bike that I can throw around on the trails in the weekend. Decent fast and climb anything is what a 3X system allows for. Call me old-school but its more pure and more challenging in my view.
Totally agree - in fact I've had a 'gravel bike' for years before such a thing existed. Its a rigid 26in wheel steel MTB with flat bars and most importantly a road triple chainset. Doesn't quite match road bike speeds but eats up the miles at a quick pace. It just wasn't ever cool....
A 3x? I fuse if your going to ride road all day but even gravel bikes use mtb 10x50/51 Gear ranges, huge range and a beter chain line and tension, but most of all the chain doesn’t just decide to fall of anymore. And if you really want to, there’s the shimano deore, slx, xt, and even xtr if you have too much money, they are all modern mtb drivetrains that still use a 2x but now it’s a way larger 2x12. Better then the old 3x in my opinion
Yes, I had this idea of a do-it-all bike 25 years ago, starting from a cyclocross frame, before gravel was a thing. It ended I bought a road bike after few years, and the cyclocross now is in the basement.
I ride my gravel bike and think "This is the perfect bike. This is the only bike I need." Then I get on my road bike again and remember how good it feels to ride a perfectly specialized bike. I'm not getting rid of that road bike until it falls apart or I get a newer one. I do need more than one bike, and I'm lucky to have them all.
Prices tend to be too high for a frame on two wheels. They all seem to have shortcomings and most of them don't have rear rack fixation points for a baggage carrier.
I did the same with my Ultimate but ended up going back to the Endurace for a slightly more relaxed setup. Going to put some 33c tires on it and ride some gravel near me.
I need an extra bike to go to work and come back, but there's a long uphill on the way there which it makes it more difficult unless I install a good brakes when going downhill.
The first bike I ever bought was a flat bar gravel bike, with a 1 by 9 gearing. Before I bought it I didn’t know how to shift or hold a drop bar. They are so much fun to take onto gravel roads. I’d recommend them as a first bike since they’re so versatile and you can find a decent one for cheap.
In order to solve for the optimum number of bike(s) a person should buy, simply use the following equation: n+1 where 'n' is the number of bikes you currently own
Yeah, that's what I did. I'm a roadie but do the occasional gravel ride. I got a gravel bike but with double chainrings. I run 32s on the road and it's great. The frame can handle 42s. The local xc race series has a drop bar class and I may try it. It's my only bike and I don't see myself needing anything else...at least for now :)
Gravel bike was my first bike when I restarted cycling. I took it on Grand Fondos as well as some single tracks. It was OK. However, I still ended up adding a road bike and a full suspension MTB to my fleet as the gravel bike was a little sluggish on the road and didn't handle rooty and rocky single track.
And this is what they said about "Hybrids" in the 80's. Those bikes are now called city bikes. And cross bikes are now gravel bikes... which were like touring bikes of the 60's and 70's. Then mountain bikes came along. Then 29" wheels. Then 27.5" wheels. Seeing a pattern here??? :)
It really depends on the person and what they plan to do. I personally found a hardtail XC bike to be the most versatile because I could go long distances if I needed to, it was plenty quick, yet had more off-road capability than a gravel bike.
I only have a gravel bike. Its not a top end one. However it was the only thing in the store the guy had that was my size. I havent ever rode a bike with drop bars before that was wierd to get used to. I am not used to doing jumps or anything with it yet or even bunny hopping. Its alot of fun and its slightly faster than most of the mountain bikes i used to ride in the past. I really enjoy it but im going to buy another hardtail for trails when they get back to making bikes again once the flu is over.
I have a commuter gravel (Nuroad FE) and absolutely love it. It's light enough to be fun, but it suitable for tours and my daily commute. It actually makes me ride more.
That's what I think the gravel bike has created. Not everyone wants a stable, they want at most 2 bikes. With a gravel, you can have your second as a roadie or a mountain. But neither is as versatile as the gravel
My "last bike I.will.ever need/retirement bike" is a gravel bike. I.had to swap.the stem and bars out to something more like a hybrid for a bad neck disc. Everything else is everything I ever wanted. 1 x 11 gearing is light simple and plenty.
I cant speak for others but for me the main position of the drop bar has been the most comfortable for long range cycling (though classic dutch bars have a similar effect minus the wrist pressure). Since everyone has slightly different body geometry and cycling styles different bars for different peeps :)
Sad thing is, in the bike business you more often than not have to do it. Most of the world has switched to metric over 100 years ago, but tire/wheel sizes are still commonly stated in inches while handlebar width and stem length is given in mm/cm.
Yes! I use a gravel bike with two wheelsets as my do-a-lot bike. Plenty fast with road tires and TT sticks on, but with gravel tires it also opens up the quaint little unpaved forestry roads and gravel exercise paths around here. But for legit trails I'm keeping my full sus MTB.
With a cyclocross bike, it doesn't take much modding to make it into a legit road bike. I own one bike, an aero-designed cyclocross bike. I use it all year and it works in all four seasons flawlessly. I overhaul it once a year (regrease, replace chain, etc), and it's never let me down -- on almost daily riding! I'm sure gravel bikes can do the same but I love my cyclocross bike.
@@owyzzzz It's an ebay Chinese aero cross frame. No problems so far (but it's only 16 months old). Buy at your own risk because if something happens to your Chinese frame, there's limited to no warranty service for it, and no known actual safety standards to rely on. I'm a light rider, so I get away with things that most medium to heavy riders wouldn't get away with. For example, my buddy's Chinese cross frame developed a loose BSA BB shell (a built-in part where your bottom bracket cups thread in), and once that happened, it was very difficult to repair. Might as well get a new frame. Buyer beware basically.
It just depends on what you have around you to ride, if you have mountain bike trails close, nothing better than a trail bike, if you have a park in front of home... Or Enduro trails, DH... You name it, if you only have fireroads and somee dirt, an xc or a gravel bike, yeah why not lol, Im just super uncomfortable on the racing position you're forced on a road/gravel bike (or even 99% of XC bikes)
this really depends on where you live. I rather have a hardtail and a roadbike because gravelbikes get overwhelmed on our non paved roads really quick. on tarmac I‘m faster aswell on my dedicated roadbike. I‘m fine riding hardpack on my 25mm tl contis whereas real gravelroads here require 2.2 -2.35“ fast rolling mtb tires. horses for courses
Fully agree with this, I commute multiple times a week on mine with my 'commuer wheel set', then on weekends out my skinnier 'road wheel set' on and get up to 100 miles out of it. Or if I fancy some more fun I get the 'gravel wheel set' on and get off-road. The MTB (Scott spark) has hardly moved since getting the specialized diverge!
I'm getting into biking and looking at a Diverge on my cycle to work scheme.which they're updating to 3k🤯🤯🤯 so I'm hoping to go to the sub 2k so I can get another set of wheels.
I just bought a comfort hybrid (Giant Sedona DX..a leftover 2020, IN MY SIZE PREFERENCE AND COLOR CHOICE!! :-) ) for the aforementioned reasons addressed in your video. I have no plans for racing though. I have no plans for trans America traveling with it ( although, very possibly trans-Southern Michigan). Good video though, and it makes good sense. I think my particular bike has a lot of similarity with many gravel bikes. Different seating and handlebars, of course. It's cool that we have so many choices. So far I am very happy with Giant's workmanship, and I am happy with my bike choice. Cheers, and God bless. Thanks for posting this.
Hi guys: just got a Hyper Explorer 29 Hardtail w/ 1x9 to become my new flatbar Gravel bike. With 32t @ 14-42t gearing is good & double mechanical discs stop well. I'm flipping the 60mm stem & deleting the MTB tires for 42c Speed Ride tires. It's a "budget Gravel Build" but already having loads of fun.
Why would you not want front shocks on a gravel bike??? My $500XC hardtail trek might not be as fast but much better when I have to jump a curb or tree
Bought a gravel bike a couple months ago and couldn't be happier! I usually ride DH(North Shore and Whistler) being from Vancouver. But this bike can do most things and as I get older I prefer the Gravel bike style riding, and like the bike packing idea(already have a frame bag) I run tubeless, and love the option of lowering the tire pressure for more aggressive riding. By far the most versitile bike!
Steel, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber and even Bamboo. But Gravel? No, do not make a gravel bike, it is a terrible build material! I have a Surly Straggler with a dyno hub and great Busch & Meuller lights. It is kind of a wide tire road bike (32mm). This is a decent way to go.
My good, old tourer is easily my most useful bike. Can you carry home 20kg of shopping from Tesco on a gravel bike? It’s easy with four panniers. I’d be the first to admit my racing bike and my mountain bikes are more fun and that’s why you should not be taken in by gravel bikes. Get the best tool for the job. It’s more fun.
I don't want one bike for everything, it'll wear down far too quickly. Having multiple bikes of different price points used for appropriate occasions is much more cost efficient in the long run. A gravel bike definitely has it's uses under those conditions though, so this is not against gravel bikes, rather against owning just one single bike. ;-)
This one really spoke to me. I live in New York City, which, considering the state of some of its roads and trails, could be fairly characterized as a gravel course. I got the On One Bish Bash Bosh carbon frame with a SRAM Force 1x11 hydraulic disc brake group set. I absolutely love it. For New York City, it is the ultimate post city bike, suitable for any excursion, whether to the beach or to the fresh market. This bike, with 35mm tubeless tires, is so nimble that it just wants to go fast. At the same time it is very stable, which has saved me from painful spills several times when hitting potholes at night.
![[Live] ศึกมหึมันส์มวยไทยสังเวียนเดือด เวทีมวยชั่วคราวสวนสยาม | จันทร์ 30 กันยายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pM1k6f7JXUc/mqdefault.jpg)
5 More Reasons | 2022 update! 👉 th-cam.com/video/H-9z8lZH10g/w-d-xo.html
can we talk about the prices for events 200 euro or more for 2 day events 60 euro for 1 day event ????? better talk about that
I too have thinned out my collection over the years. I only have one bike now. It is ultimately really versatile with six wheel sets, four frames, eight saddles, four handlebars and a few different cassettes
Hahaha - great! :-)
That you Trigger
Is that George Wahington's original axe? Yep... Only changes the handle 6 times and the axe head twice! ;-)
You're killing me. :-)
You have more bike than Harry
I’m here to find justification to buy a gravel bike as a third bike...
lolz
That was me trying to explain to my wife how the gravel bike I just bought is different from my cross bike even though, to her, they look just alike. LOL!
I have the minimum number of bikes humanly possible:
- first road bike (outdoor)
- second road bike (trainer only)
- triathlon bike
- gravel bike
- fat bike for snow (with +tire for summer)
You ALWAYS need n+1 bikes.
Loki Missing at least one proper full sus mountain bike!
I'm just here to take it too seriously and take a firm and overly rigid stance.
Sam McLoughlin lmaoo
You also got the first comment! Have a heart and one billion gold stars from your friends at BikeRadar. x x x x
Does this mean you disapprove of suspension on drop-bar bikes?
@@timfalkenberg6879 His stance is rigid but his bike is squishy
I strongly disagree with your rigid stance and insult you and your family. I also make a passive aggressive verbal attack vaguely aimed at anyone who thinks differently.
As a mountain biker I would confirm that a gravel bike can take me to my grocery shop to get some energy bars for my mtb rides
@AG Coarseman He doesn't want to destroy his soft tyres on tarmac xD
This comment says it all.
your mountain bike would take too long to get to the store?
Everything is in slow motion when riding a full suspension on the street :D real life experience after 15 years on a road bike and just took on mt biking.........
tim the tool man taylor grunt . gif
Finally decided to say goodbye to my superlight racebike and picked up an endurance bike with gravel capability. I'm never going to be Peter Sagan :)
Thank god you're in touch with reality.
That was me a few years back. Smart move. Lots of happy rides ahead for you. 😊
On the flip side, the only 'road' bike I've ever had and ridden is a Cannondale Slate with the Lefty Oliver. I'm just curious to see how much faster an actual road bike is compared to my bike. I think deep down it's a subconscious excuse to justify how hard it is to ride 20+mph solo.
I have an endurance because I can't afford a gravel.
Why is Gravel better than CX for most people?
What'd you end up buying?
“Well done you beautiful people” hmm someone is watching a lot of Blake haha.
One bike is never enough. Thats just fact
Why do you think one bike is "never" enough Keep Smiling. Do you have any supportive argument for that..?
Hipnutik Dpretender I break bikes and it’s my only method of transportation. 😃
@@hipnutikdpretender8357 for any serious technical single track you need a decent mountain bike. In my area most people are running dual suspension trail and enduro bikes and you still break stuff (i.e. jumps, drops, extremely rocky terrain that tears tires apart).
For me it would be a two or three bikes: I'd run my enduro on most single track/downhill, bmx bike for dirt jumps and skateparks, and a gravel bike for all that other riding which to be honest is the majority of riding, but there are things I'd definitely would not personally attempt on a gravel bike (4' drops into rock gardens, half pipes, dirt jumps...etc).
Johnny Gunz n+1 you will always come up with a reason for another bike
@@KeepSmilingAdventures ha for sure...I got about 7.... Only a couple are fancy but they all serve a purpose!!!
I've picked a Gravel bike over a Road bike. Best thing I could've done.
with 2 set of wheels/cassete and I've got the a very versatile and fun bike .
I'm looking into the same thing. I mainly ride MTB but a 32lb full sus trail bike, while comfortable, is kinda slow on road haha. Been looking at selling off my hardtail and getting a gravel bike instead for N+1 for road, off-season and for my Zwift bike.
Can share your 2 sets of wheels specs? Tyre width etc?
marco jardim I’m planning to do the same. Are you swapping the chain as well? Curious to know what wheels, tyres, cassettes you’re running for each scenario.
Did this a year ago as my first drop bar and have been super happy. Stock Giant branded wheels with 40c gravel tires the Revolt came with and 28c Conti GP5000 on Fulcrum DB4’s. Both set up tubeless. 32/48 sub compact on the front, 11/34 on the road wheels. Sunrace 11/40 on the gravel wheels. Same chain but some tweaking (and adjusting the B screw) of the rear mech. Shifting isn’t crisp on the big cassette but it works with no extenders.
Running my Orro Terra C with the stock 700c wheels with 32mm road tyres and 11/30 cassette. And have a pair of Fulcrum Rapid Red gravel wheels with WTB Nano 40mm tyres and an 11/32 cassette. I’ve changed the stock road bars for a pair of Richey Venture Max flared bars for more control and comfort off road, but not too wide for road rides.
Wife: "I just saw this new video that you only need a gravel bike"
Me: "How many?"
n+1 of course
I didn't need to see this after buying a road bike just last week.
I'm about to get one myself so I have to ask, do you have any regrets?
@@hoobs4140 Haha, to be fair I mostly was saying that in jest. Firstly, I would consider the clearance that the bike you're considering has. Having wider wheels makes more a more comfortable ride, especially when off-road. The difference in comfort between 28mm wheels and 32mm wheels is notable, even if it makes you notionally slower. (A road bike can be adapted to better suit off-road conditions.) I'd also consider what your main aim for the bike is: if you're really gung-ho about doing off-road cycling, then a road bike is probably not the right choice; however if you're mostly going to be cycling on the road or paved bridleways then I'd still go for a road bike.
@@wsmu Great advice. Makes me feel better about the road bike I've just bought. Was starting to regret the purchase over a gravel bike (I hadn't considered one beforehand but I've always been a roadie) but I live in London where roads are prominent so perhaps this is a better deal for me.
@@IshmaelSimpson No worries - it's easy to succumb to buyer's remorse over these things. Of course, modifying a road bike for gravel conditions is dependent on the bike's frame, and gravel bike frames tend to have a slightly different geometry than road-specific frames. But in your case, as in mine (I live in Cambridge rather than London), a road bike works just fine. Safe cycling!
Here for all the middle-aged commentators that are 20lbs overweight and trying to get to Cat3 to tell you how a gravel bike isnt enough of a road bike for them.
Lucky me, I don't take advice from wannabe racers or anybody who believes cycling equals racing.
11robotics OK Grant
I wish I was only 20lbs over..
😂😂👏🏼👏🏼
Cat 3?
No!!!! Can you delete this video? If my wife sees this video, I can’t buy any more bikes......
By C as you said - it’s a „joke“ which means it’s not here to be taken serious...
@@matthiaskettner6686 yea but the point is y is it the joke people turn to?
..alot of truth is said in jest. It's the sheep like mentality. The joke, in the real world of co tent relationships doesn't even make sense
@@byc1013 his wife: OUR money.
Hahaha
My gravel bike gets more use than my road bike. Can ride the obvious country roads, tame trails, and city riding where there’s curbs to be hopped and pot holes. When the weather gets bad the fenders keep me and the bike clean. Tire choice and wheel options are important
I'm considering a gravel bike because of it's versatility, but will be 90% on country roads. What size tires do you run?
For me it's difficult to choose between a touring or gravel bike, though gravel bikes are more fun for general riding.
@Mark Lewis That's good to know.
“If you could have only one bike what would it be?”
Dumb question. If you only have one bike, you clearly need another.
I live in the city and every now and then encounter grass and dirt at parks. As well as potholes. The one bike I would need is a hybrid or mountain trail bike.
The best bike is just that one I can maintain without going bankrupt.
When I was looking to upgrade from an old steel frame 26" mtb I decided to go with a gravel bike. I had never rode a drop bar bike before and was worried it would be uncomfortable but after plenty of research and asking around I'm very happy. I can do road stuff, trail stuff and I bikepack with it. Fits my riding perfectly
If I were confined to one bike it would be a Gravel bike. I remember the freedom I felt on my first grownup bike, an English bike, three speeds 😁. From that moment on my riding has been about going exploring, seeing places missed by people to busy to slow down. I want to go fast and far and not be confined to tarmac, if a dirt road looks interesting I want to take it.
Amen!
100% agree with this! What I would say though is as long as you have some wheel clearance and disc brakes even an endurance road bike can go off road. I've done loads on 28mm tires.
to ja polecam koge worldtravellera. mam jako jedyny i nadaje sie do wszystkiego (tylko zongluje oponami) :)
Absolutely agree
I have yet to try a gravel bike, but I'm looking for something like my old Bob Jackson touring bike but with better brakes and some off-road capabilities, and it seems to be it by what I'm hearing.
I thought they could only ride on gravel. Urgh! This is so confusing!!!
hahaha
It must look really confusing when I I end up riding my full sus MTB on road haha
Reminds me of every roadies bitching about MTBs on roads
@@noj1yt in the parts of SoCal where I ride, I see more folks on mountain bikes for everyday commute and cycling then road bikes. Tweakers on the other hand are different stories, they use BMX dirt bikes AKA tweakers mobiles. Cuz we all know how tweakers love competitive dirt bike racing. Lol!
@@noj1yt Well duh, MTBs on the road are ridiculously ill-suited to that and were never the answer. 'Gravel' bike is the stupid-ass name that should not have stuck to what these bikes are, 'All-Road' Bike ;) . Way way more versatile not to mention infinitely better riding and handling.
Top five reasons why the only chair you’ll ever need is a folding stool.
But everyone wants 3 $3k bikes. 😐
I still nedd 3 bikes. I use it everyday to go to the grocery store, to my job, everywhere. Sometimes I like to take a shortcut, so I ride my MTB. Sometimes I want to go as fast as I can, so I ride my road bike and sometimes I just want to go smoothier, so I ride my comfortable (but heavy) city bike. Thinking better now, I'll buy a gravel bike to add to my options. Maybe one day I would like to go as fast as I can, taking a shortcut with comfort. That's it, I made my mind. Thanks!!
I live in New England where the vast majority of mtb trails are littered with rocks, roots, and intricate singletrack through endless trees. A gravel bike is brutal on such terrain (or you just walk).
However, the US infrastructure is in such bad shape, gravel bikes are slowly becoming a necessity on all the crumbling, beaten up paved roads here.
LOL! That's exactly my experience, too. On my road bikes, I have to choose my routes very carefully. But my CX bike is totally OK with whatever apocalyptic, third-world-style surfaces of Mars the authorities in the U.S. want to refer to as "roads" these days.
This is what is making me think of getting a gravel bike. I'm already overweight, which makes this worse, but there are *paved* parts of my neighborhood I have to avoid because they're in such poor condition. They just beat the hell of out of me when I'm riding my road bike on them. There are also some dirt trail sections I try to avoid if I'm on my road bike. A gravel bike might be a better option for me than a road bike.
Then again, I already have a hybrid that I rarely use. I wonder how much different a gravel bike would be. The handlebars would obviously be different, but other than that, I wonder what the overall difference in riding experience would be.
@@jneiberger I think a lot of whether you ride a bike or leave it in your garage has to do with the quality of the bike. A good quality bike is always a pleasure to ride, regardless of what type it is. I have a Trek Crockett 9 CX bike in addition to various road bikes. Although the Crockett isn't as fast on the road as my road bikes, that almost doesn't matter, because the Crockett is so well made it's a joy to ride both on and off the road. (Also, I've rigged it with a pannier rack, so I can use to to go grocery shopping.) I think if you buy a gravel bike at the same level of quality as your road bikes, you'll find that you'll use it any time you're planning to be out on rough surfaces. You could also look into a CX bike if you think you might like to start going completely off road and doing some less technical MTB riding such as you might find on walking trails in a park. It's a ton of fun to be able to just turn the handlebars and leave the pavement behind at will.
This is way I’m having such a hard time giving up my hard tail mountain bike. I would like to sit up a bit most straight but riding in New England on something without front suspension 😬
@@jneiberger I got a gravel bike last year - was looking to replace my 28-year old road bike. I wanted something faster than my hybrid - my gravel bike is much faster than my hybrid and I really like having slightly wider / more forgiving tires. As I age I feel like gravel bike might be my sweet spot! I can't keep up with faster people even if I have a super lightweight carbon fiber -- so might as well be comfortable!?
Like all bike purchases, the best bike for you depends on your use cases. I certainly got caught up in the allure of gravel bikes...then I focused on my use cases and decided a gravel bike wasn't the best for me. My local area has roads, bike trails, and gravel/rocky trails with steep inclines. My riding would be 90/10 road/off-road and fairly long rides. I do not race and do not tour. Given these reasons, I went with an endurance bike as it's better for my riding than a gravel bike. For me, a gravel bike would be like having a swiss army knife in my kitchen: it gives me the option to do so much, but I really only need it to do one thing and it's not great for that purpose.
Remember, effective, clever marketing is about creating new needs and selling solutions for them. People in the not-so-distant past lived just fine without many of the "indispensable" things we "need" today. I'm not saying people don't need gravel bikes, but don't be sheep either, people! Know thyself, then decide.
darthjohn0 My riding is also 90road 10offroad, and i also planing to do some touring few weeks in future, so do u thing gravel is good for that or i should focus on something else? Currently I using mtb bike and I never tried anything else, so thats why I asking.
Good comment. Also... If you're only 10% gravel... Get a Cyclocross bike! At least that way you can do a little 'cross racing AND ride gravel too.
darthjohn0 the line between endurance road bikes and gravel bikes is getting blurry. Trek Domane is better at being a gravel bike than Trek Checkpoint in many use cases, gravel bikes like 3T Exploro or Cervelo Aspero turn into amazing road bikes just when you swap the tires to 25-28c, better than many actual road bikes. The naming isn’t important. My use case is very similar to yours and I recently got a gravel bike and I don’t even ride much gravel. I run it with 38c slick tires and find to be as capable on road as my old road bike and yet it just gives me this great freedom of choosing any path I want when I feel like doing so.
SVoJtA ; gravel bikes can be anything between “almost a road bike” and “almost a MTB”. There are quite a few gravel bikes built for touring (which basically just means more relaxed geometry and more mounts for stuff) and also some classic touring bikes can now be lumped under gravel bike name. The short answer is: it all depends. MTBs (but mostly the hardtail variety) also make great touring bikes if you wish to tour more off-road. And if you want to go on road more, just consider a less knobby tire set and most likely you’ll be good to go. If you want to go fast and pack light while touring then a gravel bike or an endurance road bike should indeed be better.
Yeah, for my use, an endurance makes the most sense, as well. On all the surfaces I go on, I'd take the efficiency, posture, and lighter weight of an endurance bike over a gravel bike. If I moved somewhere else, that may very well change. For now, I'll take the more sporty feel of an endurance bike over the ultimate versatility of a gravel bike that will rarely be used to its full potential.
i have a CX bike, put a 11-42 on the rear, and boom, gravel bike!
Of all my bikes, my gravel bike sees the most use. It is the most efficient and comfortable bike I have. I love my hard tail. I love my full squish MTB. But they go out when the going gets tough. For absolutely every thing else, gravel bike.
TravelingAnvil agree on where use them, but I would think most mountainbikers spend most of their time riding mtb trails. Mainly my gravel bike is for when the trails are closed. So the mtb still gets the most use.
What's better than a hybrid for dodging traffic around my city?
I disagree. Regardless of discipline, a true cyclist should always follow the golden rule; N+1
Ifht
Wildstallion 2.0 n+1 is an equation that calculates how many bikes you should have n being how many bikes you currently have
@@wildstallion2.048 go watch IFHT Films' series called "How to be a ____"
I’ve loved my gravel bike so far. Haven’t touched my mountain bike once this season.
Makes easy singletrack fun again, it’s lighter, and faster. I think the only thing I’d change is the crankset, the road compact is a bit on the top end side for me.
So I just upgraded my Mountain Bike and my Road Bike. Next thing I know is I'm browsing gravel bikes. Thanks N+1Radar
I thought about about consolidating to one bike but I just love my road bike (which is currently being rebuilt) and my 29er. I think the only justification for a gravel bike is that the roads where I live are abysmal.
Best All Around Bike is..."A HARDTAIL MTB with XC TIRES!!!" You can ride fast on the road, ride MTB if you want. go BIKEPACKING and ride gravel if you have to!!!!
imo, gravel is what you mentioned with wide drop bars... (increased versatility on road, greater no of hand position)
Week point - riding in the wind. On gravel you just go on drops and continue your commute.
Maybe a top-end 29er one from 10-15 years ago - steeper angles, narrower bars, narrower rims, 2x9 or 2x10. Slightly less trail capable but lighter and still good all round.
Nope!
@@doc.toadex No, because a fucking gravel bike has no suspension fork. Wanna see you doing jumps and tricks with that pos
46/30 with an 11-30 cassette would cover all of my riding.
If you're more on road than on gravel the typical 50/34 with 11-34 cassette might work just fine.
@@mrvwbug4423 An 11-30 has the five close gears for fast riding whereas the 11-34 is jumps of two throughout.
I think BikeRadar got it completely wrong because their hypothesis contradicts the basic natural law, which is n+1.
:D
Sort of, they said gravel bike, they never said only one gravel bike right?
Can’t help but think gravel bikes are just a compromise. They’re ok on road and ok on trails but not as good as a road bike and mtb respectively. I think I’d rather have a £1000 road bike and a £1000 mtb than 1 £2000 gravel bike
Toss some flat bars on a gravel bike and you have a...hybrid bike.
I agree
More comfortable on a road for me (even one without pot holes) and faster on trails with plenty of control. Gravel bikes are perfect for most UK trails. If you prefer slower, technical mountain biking then obviously an MTB is better for that. Getting a gravel bike saved me buying multiple bikes and (my favourite thing) is that I can really enjoy multiple terrains on ONE RIDE, while mounting any necessary kit.
I like the fact that you can have a road ride, and then if you happen to see somewhere off road you want to explore, there's nothing stopping you. Gravel bikes are great for exploring.
I like riding to my trails. I won't drive there, so cyclocross bike is a good way to feel you're making progress both on the road and on the trails. I'm too old to go looking for technical downhill singletrack, so no need for an MTB for me
I have 7 bikes 1 fs mountain 2 ht mountain 1 carbon hybrid 1 electric mtb 1 Brompton folder 1 road bike now l am about to commit myself to purchasing a gravel bike.
And so you should 😂👌
i use a "gravel" bike for: Commuting, touring, gravel riding, and road riding
How do I know what a gravel bike is?
Is it the same as a hybrid?
I have a Salsa Journeyman 650b that I have used for commuting, gravel race (unPAved), mountain biking plus and a road ride on rainy days
I can see if youre not into racing this is an all around bike. You can go light trails or road.
I started using a 'gravel' bike for all touring when I did a 6 month tour in Australia and knew a lot of good roads to ride were going to be gravel. Glad I did. A gravel bike is a more comfortable ride on pavement and it allows you to safely move off onto a gravel shoulder to get out of the way of traffic when necessary which is important here in the U.S. where there are so many cars and trucks on the road today (not that much of a problem 45 years ago when I first bike toured). It is never a good idea to assert you right of way privilege on a bicycle to aggressively against vehicles, you'll always lose!
I was an HT MTB stalwart for years, now my mid-range gravel bike is the most ridden bike I have.
I'd just have a hardtail
Id probably do the same, posibly an E-hardtail, so it isnt as exausting on paved roads
on a gravel bike you could do a red MTB trail, then ride 100 miles on/offroad to another trail center and do the red there.
Swap your wheels over and you can easily do 22mph+ on roads.
Its not the same animal as a hard tail. (but not a million miles away)
Personally, I think the ultimate combo to be able to do anything is a full sus and a gravel bike...
@@thomasraaberg8400 yea that's lame...dont think this bid was aimed at people lacking the ability to cycle themselves
I'd stick with full suspension XC bike with front and rear lockouts 👍
A mountain bike is a pain in the ass for long distance road riding
Love my Giant Revolt and how versatile it is. I have two wheel sets - one with 40 tubeless gravel tires for the tougher stuff and one with 32 slicks for road riding. It’s perfect.
Hadn't thought of doing this with my Revolt. How much did you roughly spend out for another set of wheels?
@@9thwave9th I got the stock set of Bontrager wheels that comes on a Trek Domane of a similar price as my Revolt Advanced 2...I think they were around $200 for the set. I definitely went cheap, but stock wheels are good enough for me.
MTBs do come with 3x and 2x setups also. The gearing ratios are more than adequate for most uphills. MTBs do take different types of tires; knobbly, grooved etc. also the tire sizes need not be on the plus side. Riding position is all about getting used to it. Road bikers find that crouched position comfortable, many MTB riders find the flat bar comfortable. So I guess its all about getting used to it. The sturdy feel of an MTB gives you more comfort when riding over potholes.
Cycling is not always about racing....for me its more about enjoying the ride....
gravel bike (or any other drop bar bike) has more riding positions than mtb and that is why it's better and more comfy on long distance rides
@@kxf2610 The video says Gravel bikes have a more aggressive riding position than an XC bike... Not everyone's cup of tea.
@Shahnewaz not all of them have agressive riding position you know, there are gravel bikes whose geometry leans towards those of touring bikes
Since I fell in love with the GT Grade, I totally agree with this video! OMG! The best bike that can do pretty much anything!
Been neglecting my mountain bike since i got the GT grade. So versatile.
Did you guys get the carbon or the alloy Grade? I see a ton of love for the carbon with its fancy bendy parts and no word on how its much more affordable sibling compares....
@@cartilagehead I got myself a Carbon GT Grade. The bike is fast, fun and very confortable. I have other bikes built in aluminium and honestly I cannot see how a GT Grade built in aluminium could be as confortable as its version built of carbon fiber. Aluminium is far too stiff.
1. HT MTB's when ridden for fun, are more versatile.
2. There are more types of 26er tires. They are not all good, but there are bad tires in every size.
3. A 3X will give you more gearing choices you could want/need.
4. Any bikes geometry can be tuned for "Flavor of the Month" by changing components.
5. All bikes are fun.
One of those statements is true
I agree with you. the key word here is 3X. This is the reason why Mtb's today are not fast. I have a 29" XC bike and with the right tires it is almost every bit as fast as my Cannondale racing bike. It takes more watts to maintain speed and go fast BUT fact of the matter is that I have no problems keeping up with most carbon fiber racers out there and I still have a bike that I can throw around on the trails in the weekend. Decent fast and climb anything is what a 3X system allows for. Call me old-school but its more pure and more challenging in my view.
Totally agree - in fact I've had a 'gravel bike' for years before such a thing existed. Its a rigid 26in wheel steel MTB with flat bars and most importantly a road triple chainset. Doesn't quite match road bike speeds but eats up the miles at a quick pace. It just wasn't ever cool....
A 3x? I fuse if your going to ride road all day but even gravel bikes use mtb 10x50/51 Gear ranges, huge range and a beter chain line and tension, but most of all the chain doesn’t just decide to fall of anymore. And if you really want to, there’s the shimano deore, slx, xt, and even xtr if you have too much money, they are all modern mtb drivetrains that still use a 2x but now it’s a way larger 2x12. Better then the old 3x in my opinion
Simon Davanzo have you seen the new specialised gravel bike, the evo version is literally a really old mtb but decked out with modern components
Thanks for simplifying it for me. Now I can have just three road bikes and keep my 7 gravel bikes 😁👍
Yes, I had this idea of a do-it-all bike 25 years ago, starting from a cyclocross frame, before gravel was a thing. It ended I bought a road bike after few years, and the cyclocross now is in the basement.
I have never ridden a gravel bike in my life but with these arguments I kind of want to get one.
That's what the bike industry intended.
I ride my gravel bike and think "This is the perfect bike. This is the only bike I need." Then I get on my road bike again and remember how good it feels to ride a perfectly specialized bike. I'm not getting rid of that road bike until it falls apart or I get a newer one. I do need more than one bike, and I'm lucky to have them all.
Yeah... Roadies are just too special.
There's absolutely nothing like riding a road bike through smooth asphalt.
Prices tend to be too high for a frame on two wheels. They all seem to have shortcomings and most of them don't have rear rack fixation points for a baggage carrier.
Look at the Vitus Energie.
Trek does.
gravel bikes are basically what bikes were in the 90's with just road handlebars
Retro MTB is the way forward! 😁
But much lighter and better components including hydraulic discs
Just slapped gravel tires on my Canyon endurance. I feel way more comfortable now riding around in the forest.
I did the same with my Ultimate but ended up going back to the Endurace for a slightly more relaxed setup. Going to put some 33c tires on it and ride some gravel near me.
How wide tires can you fit on it? I find this solution interesting but id like to have at least 35 mm wide tires.
I need an extra bike to go to work and come back, but there's a long uphill on the way there which it makes it more difficult unless I install a good brakes when going downhill.
Bought my Kona Jake just on a whim, and not once have I ever looked back. It’s my rugged road bike, who keeps up with my mtb friends
The first bike I ever bought was a flat bar gravel bike, with a 1 by 9 gearing. Before I bought it I didn’t know how to shift or hold a drop bar. They are so much fun to take onto gravel roads. I’d recommend them as a first bike since they’re so versatile and you can find a decent one for cheap.
I just purchased a Cannondale Topstone 105 for all the reasons that you covered.
In order to solve for the optimum number of bike(s) a person should buy, simply use the following equation:
n+1
where 'n' is the number of bikes you currently own
Can you think of any reasons we've missed? Or do you disagree with our Top 5? Let us know in the comments!
Please make a similar video about why you don't need a gravel bike and seek either a road or mountain bike.
Spot on. Don't forget that those old MTB wheels probably fit your bike: 12x142, 15x100 converted to 12x100.
XC bike is the best bike to have for everything
Among roadies, you can keep-up with them at some extend and brag how fast are you off-road.
Among MTBers: same, but on-road.
I do not think you are wrong. I just think you have forgotten an even better option: fully rigid XC HT.
Owning only 1 bike? What world is that! Impossible! It's shouldn't be legal! My four bike and myself are disliking the video 😉
I definitely need two bikes, because I need one nice bike and another bike that's cheap enough to be comfortable locking it up in town.
Helicase21 that’s exactly what i’ve done - road bike for the sunday ride, gravel bike for everything else
just two? 😂 Why limit yourself? 😆
When we were kids, buying a bike was so simple...Mongoose, Diamondback, GT, take your pick. Now as an adult, its so complicated!
Gravel bike you say? 🤮
No suspension as the do all bike?
Amos Paul - There is a full suspension gravel bike ;)
Yeah, that's what I did. I'm a roadie but do the occasional gravel ride. I got a gravel bike but with double chainrings. I run 32s on the road and it's great. The frame can handle 42s. The local xc race series has a drop bar class and I may try it. It's my only bike and I don't see myself needing anything else...at least for now :)
Gravel bike was my first bike when I restarted cycling. I took it on Grand Fondos as well as some single tracks. It was OK. However, I still ended up adding a road bike and a full suspension MTB to my fleet as the gravel bike was a little sluggish on the road and didn't handle rooty and rocky single track.
And this is what they said about "Hybrids" in the 80's. Those bikes are now called city bikes. And cross bikes are now gravel bikes... which were like touring bikes of the 60's and 70's.
Then mountain bikes came along. Then 29" wheels. Then 27.5" wheels.
Seeing a pattern here??? :)
It really depends on the person and what they plan to do. I personally found a hardtail XC bike to be the most versatile because I could go long distances if I needed to, it was plenty quick, yet had more off-road capability than a gravel bike.
Bought a gravel bike without ever owning a street bike before. I haven't regretted it for even one single moment...
Gravel bike and fitted road tyres
I only have a gravel bike. Its not a top end one. However it was the only thing in the store the guy had that was my size. I havent ever rode a bike with drop bars before that was wierd to get used to. I am not used to doing jumps or anything with it yet or even bunny hopping. Its alot of fun and its slightly faster than most of the mountain bikes i used to ride in the past. I really enjoy it but im going to buy another hardtail for trails when they get back to making bikes again once the flu is over.
Love my gravel adventure bike. Does everything I need it to
What are you on, thinking of getting one, but there is too much choice
Is it any different compared to hybrid bike?
Disc brakes ruined the look and the aerodynamic of the bicycles. It is a tragic that people follow like sheep. 😞
I have a commuter gravel (Nuroad FE) and absolutely love it. It's light enough to be fun, but it suitable for tours and my daily commute. It actually makes me ride more.
That's what I think the gravel bike has created. Not everyone wants a stable, they want at most 2 bikes. With a gravel, you can have your second as a roadie or a mountain. But neither is as versatile as the gravel
My "last bike I.will.ever need/retirement bike" is a gravel bike. I.had to swap.the stem and bars out to something more like a hybrid for a bad neck disc. Everything else is everything I ever wanted. 1 x 11 gearing is light simple and plenty.
Never understood drop bars. I guess I started out on a mtb so...
I cant speak for others but for me the main position of the drop bar has been the most comfortable for long range cycling (though classic dutch bars have a similar effect minus the wrist pressure). Since everyone has slightly different body geometry and cycling styles different bars for different peeps :)
Isn’t this gravel bike just a road bike with different tires?
Mixing metric and imperial units in two contiguous sentences triggers me so hard.
Sad thing is, in the bike business you more often than not have to do it. Most of the world has switched to metric over 100 years ago, but tire/wheel sizes are still commonly stated in inches while handlebar width and stem length is given in mm/cm.
"Think we are wrong, let us know why in the comments" . Thats how you get subscribers, gj
Hardtail: "then what am i?"
Yes! I use a gravel bike with two wheelsets as my do-a-lot bike. Plenty fast with road tires and TT sticks on, but with gravel tires it also opens up the quaint little unpaved forestry roads and gravel exercise paths around here. But for legit trails I'm keeping my full sus MTB.
Nope. Hardtail mountain bike with a few spares to switch around: wheelset, chainrings and maybe a rigid fork.
With versatile handlebar, like Jones h-bar or velo orange crazy bar
Got a 1990s one they are shit
That's heresy. Just like if you said "you only need one guitar"! :D
With a cyclocross bike, it doesn't take much modding to make it into a legit road bike. I own one bike, an aero-designed cyclocross bike. I use it all year and it works in all four seasons flawlessly. I overhaul it once a year (regrease, replace chain, etc), and it's never let me down -- on almost daily riding! I'm sure gravel bikes can do the same but I love my cyclocross bike.
What bike do you have?
@@owyzzzz It's an ebay Chinese aero cross frame. No problems so far (but it's only 16 months old). Buy at your own risk because if something happens to your Chinese frame, there's limited to no warranty service for it, and no known actual safety standards to rely on. I'm a light rider, so I get away with things that most medium to heavy riders wouldn't get away with. For example, my buddy's Chinese cross frame developed a loose BSA BB shell (a built-in part where your bottom bracket cups thread in), and once that happened, it was very difficult to repair. Might as well get a new frame. Buyer beware basically.
It just depends on what you have around you to ride, if you have mountain bike trails close, nothing better than a trail bike, if you have a park in front of home... Or Enduro trails, DH... You name it, if you only have fireroads and somee dirt, an xc or a gravel bike, yeah why not lol, Im just super uncomfortable on the racing position you're forced on a road/gravel bike (or even 99% of XC bikes)
this really depends on where you live. I rather have a hardtail and a roadbike because gravelbikes get overwhelmed on our non paved roads really quick. on tarmac I‘m faster aswell on my dedicated roadbike. I‘m fine riding hardpack on my 25mm tl contis whereas real gravelroads here require 2.2 -2.35“ fast rolling mtb tires. horses for courses
Fully agree with this, I commute multiple times a week on mine with my 'commuer wheel set', then on weekends out my skinnier 'road wheel set' on and get up to 100 miles out of it. Or if I fancy some more fun I get the 'gravel wheel set' on and get off-road. The MTB (Scott spark) has hardly moved since getting the specialized diverge!
This is absurd. XC bike can do anything just as good as a gravel bike and about million things more.
Versatility and more road oriented. That's all you need to know about a gravel bike.
I'm getting into biking and looking at a Diverge on my cycle to work scheme.which they're updating to 3k🤯🤯🤯 so I'm hoping to go to the sub 2k so I can get another set of wheels.
Gravel bike makes sense for 80% of roadies as their only bike.
Who wants to have just one bike?
And us other 20% with only 1 bike would do well with a full suspension trail bike 👍
I just bought a comfort hybrid (Giant Sedona DX..a leftover 2020, IN MY SIZE PREFERENCE AND COLOR CHOICE!! :-) ) for the aforementioned reasons addressed in your video. I have no plans for racing though. I have no plans for trans America traveling with it ( although, very possibly trans-Southern Michigan). Good video though, and it makes good sense. I think my particular bike has a lot of similarity with many gravel bikes. Different seating and handlebars, of course. It's cool that we have so many choices. So far I am very happy with Giant's workmanship, and I am happy with my bike choice. Cheers, and God bless. Thanks for posting this.
“Gravel bikes are more aggressive than mountain bikes.” They got their facts wrong
By aggressive geometry we mean steeper angles. e.g. head angle. Thus making them 'a bit more aggressive than mountain bikes'. Hope that helps.
I've been riding 40 years....road and mountain, every shape and size. My current Cannondale TopStone gravel bike is my favorite bike ever (so far).
Which model did you get? Been debating a Topstone for a year or so... this comment might have finally twisted my arm.
5 years ago, you told me that I ONLY needed a road bike :'(
times have changed. 😆
Road biking is no longer fun I guess. I was always told hardtails are the jack of all trades. It still is.
I‘m completely new to road cycling...bought a Cannondale topstone 1 week ago and it’s just great :) riding it with trainers and flat pedals 😄👍🏼
What are trainers
@@lwinston5950 Runners. Sneakers. (UK)
Hi guys: just got a Hyper Explorer 29 Hardtail w/ 1x9 to become my new flatbar Gravel bike. With 32t @ 14-42t gearing is good & double mechanical discs stop well.
I'm flipping the 60mm stem & deleting the MTB tires for 42c Speed Ride tires.
It's a "budget Gravel Build" but already having loads of fun.
What's difference between gravel and hybrid bike?
Why would you not want front shocks on a gravel bike??? My $500XC hardtail trek might not be as fast but much better when I have to jump a curb or tree
People like putting trees on trails they dont want bikers on...
Bought a gravel bike a couple months ago and couldn't be happier! I usually ride DH(North Shore and Whistler) being from Vancouver. But this bike can do most things and as I get older I prefer the Gravel bike style riding, and like the bike packing idea(already have a frame bag) I run tubeless, and love the option of lowering the tire pressure for more aggressive riding. By far the most versitile bike!
It's the best all around type of bike! Thanks for sharing!!
ill just keep riding my 26er that is still faster than all the 29ers i ride with. these are bunk!
26” mtb suck, I have one - slow as fuck
Steel, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber and even Bamboo. But Gravel? No, do not make a gravel bike, it is a terrible build material!
I have a Surly Straggler with a dyno hub and great Busch & Meuller lights. It is kind of a wide tire road bike (32mm). This is a decent way to go.
My good, old tourer is easily my most useful bike. Can you carry home 20kg of shopping from Tesco on a gravel bike? It’s easy with four panniers. I’d be the first to admit my racing bike and my mountain bikes are more fun and that’s why you should not be taken in by gravel bikes. Get the best tool for the job. It’s more fun.
I'm hoping my Bridge Club is the answer. It's my first big investment! 😆
I don't want one bike for everything, it'll wear down far too quickly. Having multiple bikes of different price points used for appropriate occasions is much more cost efficient in the long run.
A gravel bike definitely has it's uses under those conditions though, so this is not against gravel bikes, rather against owning just one single bike. ;-)
This one really spoke to me. I live in New York City, which, considering the state of some of its roads and trails, could be fairly characterized as a gravel course. I got the On One Bish Bash Bosh carbon frame with a SRAM Force 1x11 hydraulic disc brake group set. I absolutely love it. For New York City, it is the ultimate post city bike, suitable for any excursion, whether to the beach or to the fresh market. This bike, with 35mm tubeless tires, is so nimble that it just wants to go fast. At the same time it is very stable, which has saved me from painful spills several times when hitting potholes at night.
I've got the road bike and hardtail MTB, unfortunately this means I have no way of justifying buying a gravel bike to myself.
I have a hardtail MTB and a gravel bike. Here I am, still looking for another bike 🤣
@@Echolsdigital you clearly need a DH and a proper aero road bike.