Cyclo-Cross Vs Gravel: Same Bike, Different Name?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- A debate that divides cyclists like no other, CX bike or gravel bikes, is there even a difference? Both have evolved to suit the needs of any cyclist off-road, but are they just the same thing? Si is here to check both out! Plus really want to know what YOU think, let us know!
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Big thanks to ShamXross for letting us use the cyclocross course which is on private land. Please, if you recognise the location, don't ride it! You'll have to wait until the next race so you don't risk putting the future of the course in jeopardy. Thanks.
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Leave us a comment below!
CX or gravel bike - which would you choose?
I was looking for a gravel bike recently, partly for 'gravel' riding and partly for winter road riding (wheel clearance, disk brakes etc), and ended up choosing a cx bike. I was lucky to be able to try a few (friends) bikes over mixed terrain and ended up choosing a cx bike as I preferred how it felt, how it handled and yet it still gave me the versatility of the gravel - I went for the Ribble CX SL which has clearance for wider tyres than UCI rules allow too.
I currently use my CX bike as my road bike (KTM Canic CXC). Works very well, circa 8 kilos, powerful discs, comfortable, climbs well, and very quick off the lights! Love the capabilities of these bikes.
I went through this exact comparison mid last year, going between the Boon/Crockett and the Checkpoint SL5. Reason? Distance and endurance fits my goals and motivations. Hopefully, one day, I can fill my dream of Bikepacking in the Patagonia region of Argentina.
I choose my touring bicycle. Basically the same as a gravel bike but with lower gears. Drop bars, sti shifters, can go anywhere and do anything either of the others can do, plus is suitable for cross continent touring and daily commuting/shopping etc.
At the moment, CX bike still has the upper hand.
Gravel & CX are still far too close together in terms of ability off-road and then a huge jump to MTB bike with added weight, different gearing, fatter tyres, suspension…
For me, Gravel bike needs to be more capable off-road. Manufacturers did realise that lately with ever wider tyre choices, adjustable geometry, iso-speed decouplers, future shock/stem suspension… all measures to make them more capable/comfortable off-road. As wider tyres only get you so far…
Gravel bike needs a front suspension, to make it really capable off-road, that you can lock-out when using on the road. That might add a bit of weight, but still miles lighter than MTB machine. By doing so, you can’t argue with the “DO IT ALL” Gravel bike label and perhaps then it’s really the only bike you need.
I might then consider getting one myself…
Ok, we all usually give props to the presenter for these videos, but I would like to give major props to the entire production team on this one. The director, camera person, and especially the editor. Outstanding imaginative creation. Well done all! If you could, please let us know who the people behind the scenes are.
thank you for pointing this out. the editing style reminds me of some of gmbns videos. but thats just a very uneducated guess.
YES! I'm still waiting for a "behind the scenes" of GCN where we get to meet these people, see the studio, meet the production team, go through the process of making a GCN show and the other videos......perhaps on GCN+?
Well, than thank Trek.
Except whoever added the pegboard on the GCN Tech set. That was not a winner for me.
With a massive channel like theirs they should really do a credits roll at the end. It seems only fair.
The production quality on GCN has reached new heights. Si himself is clearly on his game, no doubt, and the sweet camera work and editing gives him the platform to really shine. Just outstanding all around. (applause)
Yes, they sure know how to produce a Trek advert
@@mattstorey7683 As opposed to what? Sponsors send them products to showcase because GCN has built a genuinely good programming base, which is bringing in new cycling-curious viewers. I personally want these presenters and production crews to be able to make a good living. I'm not a fan of Trek, from my own experiences, but I genuinely enjoy watching these adventures. I thought this was good fun, and that Si is talented enough to be successful making videos for products outside of cycling.
@@mattstorey7683 Haha yep... the bit where Si says "I applaud Trek" made me cringe.
1080p video in 2023 🤡 while a TH-camr opening up a pack of Pokémon cards filing in 4k 🤷♂️ CGN are slacking
I bought an aluminum CX bike a few years back without knowing the difference between it and a proper gravel bike. I thought about getting rid of it but instead I upgraded it from mechanical disc brakes to hydraulic, I managed to get my hands on SRAM Axs Rival groupset (after many months of waiting for components to be in stock), and now I absolutely love it. It's my main bike for commuting to work, carrying my toddler around on his bike trailer, and riding in the winter/rain....My full carbon bike (worth three times the price) now sits on my trainer... I sometimes feel a proper gravel bike would have suited me better, but I've learned to live with my CX bike and have grown to love it :)
I ride a 2021 Crockett with a GRX-810 2X setup and 38mm in front, 42mm in back. I love it, It's comfy, fast, nimble and absolutely adequate for everything from commuting to gnarly single track at the MTB park. I've done 10 hour rides and not been uncomfortable, tired, yes! I have a bit of blade tape on the inside drive stay to prevent tire or mud rub and it's held up, no paint missing yet after thousands of Km's of muddy, winter fun! I ride in Victoria BC, Canada. WET!
I bought a Trek Checkpoint a few months ago for mixed-terrain riding and all-day touring. I don't really do CX, but I took the bike on a local CX course and I had a ton of fun on it! It's horses for courses, but for me, I prioritised versatility over performance.
CX is more fun. Gravel bikes are more functional😉
I believe for most people the gravel grinder is the better bike since they neither have the intention nor the skills to ride the CX bike where it can shine. Love the CX bike, tho.
This is so true. I see a lot of gravel bikes where I live and the bulk of them are just ridden on the roads. A few people I know do go and hit the trails on them, but most bought a gravel bike for a more comfortable ride over a traditional road bike.
@@buckroger6456 That's becasue there is no reason to ride gravel bike on singletrack apart from need for selfdestructive adrenalin rush.
@@kosskrit 🤣😂🤣 so true cause that's how I ruined my rims. Leason learned the hard way but dang is it a blast riding Mtb trails.
Great vid again! Would have been fun to see Ollie crashing and running around CX course 🤣 . .. nearly as much fun as Matt!
You can always rewatch this one for a bit of that!! th-cam.com/video/HKfXQTgveLY/w-d-xo.html
Have a CX and Gravel…the major difference I’ve found is the lower BB drop on the Gravel gives far more stability.
I have a CX, I have used it in duattalons, cycled the West Highland Way, the full length of the UK (Unst to Hugh Town), The Arctic Circle to Berlin, it's even been in the Barra Beach Sea Plane.
Evidence how versatile a CX can be.
Wow, sound like some great adventures Ian!
Although this topic was covered by Si before, which helped me to purchase my own do it all gravel bike.
I still enjoy the content a lot.
Thanks for the high quality video that introduces more people into different categories of cycling.
Glad you enjoyed the video Timmy!
Conclusion: if you have one, you likely don’t need the other. I put 38s on my cross bike and have plenty of fun on gravel.
Hi Guys, I own a Caad-x and love it. Don’t think I need to change as it does everything I need. Surely …that’s the point? What do you want from a bike? South Wales roads are..tough, fire roads in local forestry and woodland tracks. It’s got bosses galore and is nimble with it. Love the vid’s keep ‘em coming 🤓
Nicely produced video. My Colnago Prestige is a CX bike with a relatively low bb, so it always feels like a road bike. Longer stem gets me the stability I want and it absolutely eats gravel with pleasure... but the responsiveness is always there.
Currently building a Boone for gravel use for 2023! The new Checkpoints have a 30mm longer reach which makes the Boone’s geometry a better fit! I’ll put 40mm tires on it for gravel use.
I use my modified cx bike for everything. Racing cyclocross tracks, mtb tracks, gravelrides and bikepacking, long distance roadracing. I have no comparison, but I love doing it all on my Cube Cross Race C:62 pro cyclocrossbike with different fork with attachment points and flared handlebars.
The thing about the pre - 2022 checkpoints is they had the adjustable stranglehold rear drop outs you could move forward for more nimble cyclocross bike characteristics, or back for more straight line gravel bike characteristics and even extra room for wider tires. Odd that they decided to get rid of them
The big thing here that stands out for anyone who descends gravel fire roads at speed, does touring and bikepacking and the like, is that the high BB on a CX bike makes it feel like riding a horse - it might seem minor but having your center of gravity 2cm higher is surprisingly noticeable and not to my taste.
My 2005 Ritchey Break-Away CX bike is my "Do everything (except triathlon)" bike. I love that I can pack it up, take it on a plane, and go exploring on and off road. The only problem is that it's limited to 33mm tires on the back. I'm waiting for the next big crypto spike to upgrade to the newer Ritchey gravel bike ;)
I ride my cx bike on 40mm tires. And it's perfect for me. But I'd love to see the same comparison but both bikes on 38mm tires.
Actually, you illustrated one of the key differences when you crashed which you also talked about. Geometry. Because a gravel bikes tends to be more "slacked out" for long distance comfort you can't make the tighter turns at speed. The slacked out geometry mean the wheelbase is usually longer and therefore your turning radius is greater on the gravel bike Vs the CX bike. Much like an endurance road bike vs race road bike. You can certainly race on a endurance bike but tight criterium courses are a little tougher to hold a tight line a high speed. I personally race a Boone in CX but also own a gravel bike for the 100 milers.
To be fair, much as I want to blame the geometry, I was just going a bit too fast for the level of grip! Cheers, Si
@@gcn That could come down to the fact that the Gavel bike is not made for skinnier tires at the UCI max limit, so you can't bomb as well as when Gravel bike had better tires suited for the design of the bike frame.
The geometry is different by not even 1 degree... it was the tire losing traction...
@@FalcoBikes how different is the wheelbase thou? larger wheelbase = larger turning radius. The faster the speed the more control you need to make a tight turn = lost traction
@@donmyers6113 You are right on larger wheelbase meaning a larger turning radius. That said, the wheelbase on these specific bikes are barely an inch. So the difference is pretty minor here. If we are talking about a 63-65 degree Enduro bike then we are talking about 5-8 inches more wheelbase which would be much more relevant.
I have both, and one being the Boone. The Boone is a mental bike....the frame alone is over 300g lighter (I think 850g) than my Bianchi road bike and more comfortable on the road with all the built-in compliance. I believe I had it built up sub-17lb 1X Force with aluminum wheels....and you can really feel it on and off road. However, it is definitely more on the road side for geometry than my gravel bike. It's sharper in every way. The drawback is the tire clearance for sure where as the new Specialzed Cruz (which is even lighter albeit quite a bit more expensive in the S-Works trim) fits 650bx2.1....basically the best of both worlds. And like the Boone, it can really be a road bike with a wheel (or tire) swap.
However, tire clearance is a big thing especially if you want a bike for versatility, and my Ridley gravel bike clears 27.5x2.3 easily and I am currently running 700x50 with loads of clearance. The geometry also isn't that sharp, but its also not as intense to ride, and even being aluminum provides all-day comfort on and off road. This bike is my gravel/bikepacking/commuting bike. Honestly, unless the bike is dual-purposing as your road bike as well, I see no need to have such a sharp, light, expensive bike. I believe the flexibility of a gravel bike is the way to go....until you start looking at it from the perspective from the other end of the spectrum where I honestly believe a hardtail MTB to be a better gravel bike than a gravel bike....especially if the ride includes singletrack or technical bits and even on fast travel, a hardtail will hold its own. I have a ProCaliber 9.6 (also with IsoSpeed) and it really is a rocketship.
I bought a Canyon Inflite cross bike to double as my gravel and road bike with just a switch of wheels/tires. I don't actually ride cross with it at all.
Two things:
1. I ride the gravel bike in question (Trek Checkpoint), and it's a brilliant all-around bike. If you put a carbon wheelset and road tires on it, it even makes a pretty good endurance road bike. I've used this thing for commuting, long day rides, gravel biking (of course), and touring, and it's done well for all of it. If you can only have one bike but want to use it for multiple purposes, a gravel bike is the obvious choice.
2. I was pretty impressed with Si's cyclocross skills in this video; he kind of looks like he knows what he's doing!
Which Checkpoint model do you have? I am curious if the higher end models are worth it as the lower end ones seem capable enough. The ALR and SL weigh about the same so ALR seems better value. The SLR saves 2lbs but most components are higher end.
Wasn't he a mountain biker originally?
@@mouf406 I have the ALR5. It's a little heavier than the SLR versions, with 105-level components, but it works really well for everything I need a bike for. With wheel upgrade and 32mm road tires, it comes in at just over 10 kg. The only thing I regret is the crappy front fork on the ALR; it buzzes at low speeds on bumpy terrain. The higher-end Checkpoints have a better layup in the fork.
I would love to see that grass spiral as part of a race with 50 riders going around it
they have them in some pro races
I have a Ti CX bike which I use for everything.
1 set of wheels for road and another for off the beaten track (I can get up to 42mm in 700c).
Its comfy enough to ride all day and fast enough to keep up with a spirited group (I might not be though!)
Its not going to win a TT, nor manage a DH course, but for 90% of the time, it just works.
I own road bike, gravel bike and 2 MTBs (29er and 27.5). The gravel bike is the most versatile bike IMHO. Put on a rear pannier for a multi-day bike packing trip. Swapped out the 700c for 650bx2.1 MTB tyres and it eats single tracks any day.
Scored a very attractive & upgraded Trek 2016 Crockett 7 this summer. I mostly ride tarmac & maintained unpaved surface. Really enjoying the CX geometry on road rides. Granted my only road bike specific experience is a steel Scattante, the Crocket is hella fun on back roads & corners.
Si’s got some bike handling skills! Gnarly skid braa
Since I can't really afford Trek Bikes (or any other top of the line in 2022) Thumb Up and back to dreaming of riding one :D
Either bike with 2 wheel sets/tires is an unstoppable force! I really want another wheel set for my CX bike since swapping tubeless tires is such a pain in the butt.
40mm slicks/low tread will take you almost anywhere
I ride a Norco Threshold cyclocross bike, and not only for trips to work, but I participate in MTB marathons and just get high from its responsiveness, agility and rigidity. I won't trade it for anything.
I bought a Checkpoint SL frameset on Friday. Good comparison, I feel I've made the right choice for my type of riding. More comfort, and packability is my takeaway. I don't need a race specific bike with tire size limitations. Cheers.
Honestly, going forward, Si should have to check them for ease of listening. Just a song bellowed at full volume to make sure it handles well while singing in a full throated way.
Great! This topic (with Trek Cyclocross and Gravel) made me wonder a bit just these days! Love your content 🎈
I'd like to see video about off-road pennyfarthing vs off-road unicycle.
Awesome video, Si ur the best! Except when Ollie is killing it on hills, the velodrome, in windtunnels, bikepacking, etc 😅
If I am riding a bike through this terrain for pleasure (that is, I am not racing) then I'd prefer to be on a mountain bike, maybe the XC variety or even the trail variety.
I am a purist. CX bike is for CX and nothing else, I hate it when someone sees my bike and says “oh nice gravel bike” 🤯 and even more when someone turns up for a CX race on a gravel bike with 40+mm tyres on 🤦🏻♂️
What we call a 'gravel bike' seems to share a lot with rigid mountain bikes of the late 80s/early 90s. One of the superstars of the day, John Tomac, raced and won on mountain bikes with drop bars, essentially using a gravel bike 20 years before the term was invented.
I see this comparison a lot. It’s just wrong. I have a 1998 stump jumper comp. and a 2021 Diverge. I can tell you that the two bikes could not be anymore different. Make no mistake, the diverge is a road bike through and through and my stumpjumper is a tiny short little nimble winch machine in the woods. It’s terrible though. Unbridgeable on the road.
Come on Si. Do a crashless lap on the Checkpoint with cx tyres. You guys.
I use my CX bike for urban commuting. I fitted it with 28mm slick tyres and it is ideal for me)
Going to by gravel bike over to cyclocross or road bike.
It's not going to be tied to tarmac as much as road bike, also wider tires are more comfortable and help in winter on snow abit, i think.
Not really keen on racing, beside if someone is pedaling a head of me...
I ride a Trek Domane SL5. Love the bike and versatility. Yes it heavy on the black top. But I can change out my wheels & tire set and off I go ! Gravel are black top .
CX bikes are designed for races that are ~60 minutes long. How do they feel after 4-5 hours in the saddle?
Just ok.. my tcx from 2014 with 40mm tires rides just fine.. have done a 9 hours ride last year and 200+ km pr day.. i am a normally overweight dad at 46 years of age. No problems.. have put on a sram 1x11 42t in front and a 10-42 in the rear, my Trek emonda endurance bike will stay Home later this year when we travel for Italy.. to me my cx bike is my swiss knife.. gravel, bad tarmac and mountains.. it will be suited for all of that.. GCN just trying to please the Industry (sponsors).
Norco Threshold feels just fine after a day of gravel with 38s.
Loved the speedway style sliding, just thought “Si’s got some £###### skills!”.
Gotta say I love my gravel, mainly as my all weather trainer and commuter.
It just laughs at all the muck and dirt the winter roads throw at it, grips better than the road bikes in greasy or slightly icy conditions, and as I’m running it on eagle AXS rear derailleur and cassette along with HDR shifters, it can take the abuse caused by dirty gritty water and stops brilliantly.
Found this video very helpful. Thanks Si! I've been toying with the idea of a new road bike, but want more comfort and ability to deal with trashed "tarmack, so I was wondering about which of these "categories" would suit. You can see the extra frame length and tire clearance on the GG in the video. Been looking at >,& # and trying to make sense. I live in western Canada, I don't race and every detail that makes a grinder what it is speaks to me. Super helpful, cheers!
I put 32mm tyres on my whyte friston and did the welsh cyclocross last year 💪 no worries at all 👍
gravel is a more relaxed ride. because its a hybrid. a cyclocross is a mountian ready power maker; the geometry and design is for lightweight speed off road
CX seems like a rally car, with its fast, agile, no worries with the its capabilities on going fast. meanwhile Gravel bike seems a bit of overlander who can carry everything but handy when u not on loads. Yes u can still goin bit fast with overlander on decent roads but not as fast as rally car fast
same thing really, have 2nd stem, 2nd pair of wheels and it's an all rounder: cx, gravel or winter road
Great video of Si demoing these two awesome bikes. I am planning using the Boone for Gravel races, putting Zipp G40 tires in. Checkpoint is a bit heavier, so opted for the lighter frame. The roads here in SoCal US are pretty dry, sandy, and loose over hard pack dirt. BTW, where is this course in the UK? really keen to ride it when Im over next! Cheers
I went for Ribble CGR :)
I use my gravel bike for cross. If I was Cat 1, I’d need a CX specific bike. I am Cat 4-5 soooo… 😂
Also my gravel bike does double duty as a road bike.
I would have loved to see also a speed comparison on street of the two bikes.
New cyclo cross bikes come with ultagra 2x12 gearing.
Can I use it instead if a normal road bike or is it bad on the streets?
In ten years there will be 3 types of Gravel Bikes, and GCN will make a video about which one is more like CX bike... Oh, there is one already?
OK kids(assumption), a Cyclocross bike is a bike intended for CX events but can be used otherwise. A Gravel bike is a bike.
Grountd-2-BottomBracket distance and associated with it head tube angle/rack... That's about it. And most importantly, unless you care about 0.23... no, it's to much.... 0.2265 seconds on dirt arrival difference after spinning in closed circuits as opposed to enjoying traveling on a bike, you definitely must get a CX model. If you don't, you'll be castigated and humiliated by being 2 likes short off your comfort zone on FB.
To summarize, the answer to one of the most recurrent cycling questions (differences between CX and gravel is):
1. wider tyres
2. lower center of gravity
Thanks!
3. longer wheelbase too
Yes this video is very important for me, I have a $100 budget to buy a bike.
so gravel and cx is just a convergent evolution. different path of evolution (modification) to meet similar needs
Eh on this video. I do not choose to like or dislike based on my feeling that this is a Trek ad. I did not finish the video because I have already done all that and more. I raced Trek for many years, mostly MTB. The point is CX v Gravel right? Ok lets go. I built my first CX bike in 2000. It was a Kona. I was racing road and mountain for those past fifteen years. Trek 970 was my first 'true' MTB race bike and she was great. My road was a used GT that I upgraded and rode to podium. This is before 1996. Giant came calling and for sure I answered and was given frames and everything. Anyways, fast forward Mike your losing the audience, ha ha. So, CX was the next step in my endeavor and the Kona was great. Then I retired from Competition and just worked a job. Now. Now I have four Canyons; Exceed, Lux, Grand Canyon and...drum roll...Grail. Look a Gravel bike is what a bike should be. Everything and more. The geometry is the beautiful layer in between. If you can ride then you can ride anything. Yes, my Grail is my work horse and I will ride her hard.
there are quite a few videos of rebuilding a gravel bike to be capable of MTB trail riding, but would i be able to do the same steps in those videos to get an cyclocross bike on the trails?
"There's no UCI that prevents you for doing it..." - honest words towards those formal technocrazy nerds...
IMHO cyclo-cross and gravel bikes/events are just a step back in the evolution of biking made just to boost the bike industry and raise the sale of new bikes. Years ago people used to ride road bikes in all conditions and surfaces (only adaptating them by fitting wider tires etc.). We used to do so in the 90. because there where no other possibilities. But when the bike industry "invented" the MTB and cross-country bikes it is really strange that some people still want to "go in the mud" with road bikes. New generations of XC/MTB bikes are really fast on the trail AND on tarmac. I still do many road (tarmac) trainings on a hardtail XC bike when the weather is not suitable for a TT/Road bike. Why riding a road bike adapted for mud when you can just take a light, carbon-framed XC bike designed from scratch to travel in such conditions?
XC mountain bikes are not very comfortable when riding 50, 60, 70+ miles. with the exception of marathon racers, a rider on a well-fitted drop-bar bike will be more comfortable, faster (aerodynamic), and be able to put out more power based on bike position.
You are welcome to turn up to any (non-national) CX race in the U.K. on an MTB, or indeed any bike you want. No UCI rules apply. Many first timers and most of the younger youth riders do. But the reality is that even the lightest XC bike is slow and heavy compared to a CX bike round a CX course, and is a pig to shoulder.
this is the fourth time they’ve done this
Great video GCN!
Does anyone know where this was filmed? I want to buy a house, noticed the building site in the background, and how cool would it be to have a CX track in what is pretty much your back garden!!
Keynsham. The course is used in Wessex CX league.
@@nstrug thanks. I’ll look to come and do a few events this year 👍🏼
How can you evaluate a gravel bike in a country that doesn't have any gravel? the UK has mud
Gravel bikes also tend to offer a more relaxed body position, like endurance vs. race geometry. I've done a 10-day bike-packing tour on a CX and it was NOT comfortable.
I did quite a few two week bike-packing tours on a cx bike and it was comfortable for me. 😊
I agree, after day 3 of the festive 500, I switched from my CX bike to my Gravel bike. The relaxed geo made a big difference. My CX is much stiffer, and the gravel flexes more and was easier to do the big miles on, despite wider tyres and flat pedals
Just a question off handlebar position
@@mitchdehotte Well, you can raise the handlebar with spacers but on the one hand that is ugly and on the other it will not make the frame more compliant. A taller headtube, sloping top tube and smaller rear triangle usually make for a more comfortable bike.
@@gaborozorai3714 Sure that not everything is perfect I understand your point , maybe you can improve things with tubeless tyres also
I use my cx bike for everything. 3 sets of wheels with different tyre types. I did the King Alfred Way in 3 days, with bikepacking gear and 38mm tyres. Plus it's equally at home on the tarmac.
My swiss army knife bike
I'm doing the same with an aluminium Focus Mares, using three sets of wheels and tire widhts (ROAD-700Cx28mm + ALLROAD-700Cx42mm + GRAVEL-650Bx47_42mm) 🤞
Same.
Same for me. Use my Boone on road with 48mm deep wheels and on gravel with cx tyres. Works a charm on both
Same
I'm neither well off nor have an abundance of space and have thought about the same but with a gravel bike. I'm past legitimate competiting age so would rather prioritise comfort over performance. Regular gravel wheels and tyres for winter and adventures and then something narrower and slick for summer short rides and triathlons.
great opener! speed, transitions, splitscreen! loads of energy in 1minute clip!
love to the editor!
Thanks Sören!!
Love CX bikes. I use my Trek Boone as a lightweight and comfortable long distance road bike, and my Giant TCX as a super fast gravel bike with 45 mm tires.
Have you fitted a 50t on your Boone?
Like you I own both. Ultegra di2, 46-36 on Boone, ultegra/dura-ace mix 46-36 mechanical on TCX. love both bikes. Got a new Boone, ultegra di12 coming next month ( friend in the industry).
Great video! Bought my CX bike not really knowing much about the deep rabbit hole of the world of bikes… I’ve enjoyed it on all terrains - road, gravel, single track. With the skinnier tyres I’ve just been able to hop on and go for a ride with mates with road bikes, and then the same bike when doing off road missions - so versatile! That said… I’m now looking to buy a new tyre and wheel set - wider tyres for some of those more rockier adventures as the skinner setup has had me slightly worried and well shaken on a few trips 😅 wouldn’t change the bike though! I’m riding a Kona, Jake the snake 🤘 happy trails everyone
The camera crew and the editors, we notice you. Good work!!!
Are they part of the tribe then?
Thanks Jaise!
Honestly I think the biggest differences come from the BB height and followed closely by the head tube angle. That said, as demonstrated by this video, there is ALOT of overlap between the two, so depending on your riding needs, both would suit you just fine. I run a Crockett (Aluminum Boone basically) as a dedicated gravel bike and I have no regrets.
To me the only difference is that, cyclocross is a competition, while gravel is a relaxing ride in the middle of nowhere. Love them both equally
You made cyclocross sound horrid to me and gravel biking sound wonderful!
@@apm9507 I think it largely depends on your local CX scene. A lot of CX communities are 75% folks just looking to have fun and have something fun to do on their bikes in the fall. All the competitive dudes are literally in their own race category. Almost every race will have beer hand up from the crowd, lots of folks choose to wear costumes or ride a fat or mountain bike instead of a drop bar bike. Honestly that description is so misleading to me for CX, I don't feel like I have to be competitive at all in cross, I just push myself as hard as I can while having fun and try to stay upright lol.
@@d_imil1787 I'm in beautiful rural eastern Idaho with thousands of miles of gravel. There is an 8 mile rocky canal trail less than a minute pedal away from my home. About an hour away from our home is the Tetonia to Ashton trail. The 29.6 mile trail follows the abandoned railroad grade of the Teton Valley Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad from Ashton to Tetonia. No cyclocross to be had locally but tons of amazing gravel or rocky trails. We also have tons of mineral hot springs and Yellowstone. What we like might be due to what is available.
CX bikes don’t have as many braze ones for racks - fenders - bottles etc… and the CX top tube may have a flattened underside for carrying on ones shoulder…
@@PRH123 this has recentlu changed as I was on search of CX bike 2 months ago and most of them had multiple mounts for fenders or even a bikepacking. My new italian Fondriest with 1x apex groupset has a full set of mounts like a gravel bike would.
Here's a thing... I ride a 20yr old Marin urban sports commuter bike (aka a hybrid, shortened flat handle bars). I recently switched to 35mm cyclo-cross tyres (schwalbe). OMG.performance and handling went way up. Holds it own very well against one mate on a gravel bike, the other one on a mountain bike. Particularly when the ground is loose and dry. Sand, Flint, chalk, grass. Not great for hill climbs in the mud, no traction on rear end out of saddle. Also found it harder work up hill on tarmac. I cycle the South Downs in Sussex so if you know the area you will experience a wide range of surfaces but overall I'm all for CX tyres over Gravel.
I’ve spent thousands over the years on hard tail mtb, short travel full sus mtb, enduro mtb, carbon road etc, but the best bike I own for 99% of the time in the UK is my CX bike. Love it. Ride for miles anywhere. Cost me next to nothing. If I only had one bike, CX does it for me GCN
I have a Crockett which I absolutely LOVE. I prefer it for my Feb-August riding. It eats tarmac as equally as well as gravel, mud, sand and snow.
What it boils done to me is difference is like a road bike compared to endurance road bike ... You can use both but some people want fast snappy bike and other prefer an easier ride which is more upright, You can use both for short or long rides it's just personal preference. Yes you struggle to get 40mm+ tire on CX with 700mm but you can drop to 650b to get 40-50mn tire on! .... My summer bike is a Boone 2x gearing its great on the roads 😁 especially with 50mm carb rims ! Winter bike is another CX Kenisis with mud guards and 2x gearing and can take 32mm + road tires so a great winter bike 😁 stick 650b on and get 42-50mm tires on for MTB course! One bike to rule the all on or off road!😁
I’ve got the 2022 Checkpoint and can’t rate it highly enough, love riding it. From road to climbing washed out fire trails here in Australia. Its an an amazing bike and a true credit to Trek.
I wanted a checkpoint but I was quoted delivery of Dec 2022. I ended up getting a Pivot Vault instead. Someday i hope to ride a checkpoint and see if I'm missing out.
Did you size down from your normal size bike?
I went with the Trek Boone (2020 edition which does have ISO Speed in front and back). 650B wheels with 40mm tires. 11-36 cassette. Great 3 - 5 hour ride bike. Most people are not doing multi day trips needing all the gear on the bike.
I have a 2020 Boone. You were able to put 40 mm tires on yours? I've put 36s on mine but haven't tried higher.
@@zoso73 th-cam.com/video/hjxZk-q6v5g/w-d-xo.html. G25 650B wheels let one run a wider tire.
@@zoso73 with 650B wheels you can fit wider tires
I've got a CX bike with 42mm tires on. It is a goddamn dream machine! :) Fast and comfortable offroad and onroad. Love it :).
I want to give Si cred for doing the swim dance when switching between present and past 😂
As always great video! Where is that course please? It looks great!
Sometimes I feel that GCN are more biased towards the gravel bike on a few test lately.
Don't get me wrong I love the tech videos and tests .
There's got to be a test on all 3 bikes . Cyclo-cross v Gravel v Road
On all 3 terrains .
With roughly the same tyre widths on all 3 ?
Can one bike do all 3 or do you need 2 or 3 ?
Hi Kurt, the small gap between the two really surprised me. As I said in the conclusion, I'm a huge fan of the CX bike, but it has to be said, gravel bikes have moved the game on for most people, and the ability to run 40mm+ tyres is a huge part of that. Cheers, Si
@@gcn thanks Si for the reply .
I own a On One pickenflick titanium which I use for gravel rides up to 100 miles but can be converted to CX very easy .
Keep up the good work Si and the GCN team
That crop circle looks like fun to ride through 😂
Well, my only “road bike” for the past 3 years has been a Trek Crockett, which is also my CX race bike. I swap to real CX tires for race season, but have run 700x40 tires for gravel and plain road tires for tarmac. I’ve been thinking hard about this year replacing it - get another CX bike like the Boone or go for a gravel bike like the Checkpoint. One thing I do miss for sure on the road is a second ring - the 1x11 setup can feel limited on longer rides. Maybe a 2x crankset for off-season would fix that, who knows
Trek. The company that sued Greg LeMond because Lance Armstrong said to.
I bought my Kona JtS new in 2000, and immediately slapped road tires on it. It's been my favorite bike since, and yes, I'm still riding it now. :)
I’m a moutain biker, at some point, wouldn’t you just get on a cross country mountain bike? Most of the innovations on the gravel bike in specific came from the MTB side anyway. I guess there is the efficiency to consider. Whenever i look at the prices of road and gravel bikes I’m confused, how does a carbon road or gravel bike cost the same as a full suspension carbon mountain bike with Suspension, hydraulic brakes, a derailer with a clutch, 175mm dropper and high POE hubs? Maybe i’m missing something but I don’t quite understand. Please explain.
That flat labyrinth section of the course is super cool! Would love to go there. I use my gravel bike for everything other than full mountain biking, including road and the occasional cross race. I have three wheelsets to facilitate riding the same bike in different situations.
Cyclocross racers call it a pinwheel.
My 2011 , CX Cube X-Race Pro has been doing almost everything a bit of Road , a bit of Gravel and also the main Indoor Training Bike , All i need to do is just swap the wheels and go go go lol
I got a 2021 Cube Cross Race. Even though a CX bike, it easily fits 42 mm tires and I love it. More sporty than a gravel bike, more comfortable than a road bike, especially with those tires. For me it's the perfect allrounder.
شكرا جزيلا على هذه المقارنة العظيمة وهذا العمل الجبار ... متابعكم من تونس ❤️
Glad to see a video on this. Asked plenty of roadie mates the same question and after initially answering “they’re different” they generally have no idea how!
I guess I'm on the minority here, but I deliberately bought a CX bike instead of a gravel bike for my do it all. Most of my riding is commuting through field tracks, farm roads and towns in Bavaria, and then road rides during the weekend so a CX bike that I can change tyres and turn into a road bike made more sense to me. Horses for courses I reckon
The claim "Do it all" is much exaggerated - there is not such bike. Every bike we buy is the compromise.
My view is...
if riding on the road: 25-28c tires, drop bar and rim brakes.
if riding off road, anything rougher than on smooth dirt or paved road: wider tires, flat bar and disc brakes.
Years of experience with both. My conclusion.
I never liked a drop bar off road and love a dropbar on road. So where does that leave me? With neither a dropbar cyclocross or gravel bike. I want the lightest, fastest hardtail on the planet for shredding off road.
The bike I have now is a Cube Cross Race Pro, & I absolutely love it!. I have road tyres on now to commute& road riding, but love putting the wider tyres on& heading down the dirt tracks, woods or fields for offroad fun!. Versatility is great!
Have the same Cube (mine is a 2019) and love it too. Only increased to 35mm for road but thought I could go to 38 or 40 at a squeeze. How wide have you found to fit? Thanks.
Si showing his dirt riding chops! I love to see him pumping the whoops and sliding the rear wheel around. It's, dare I say, Sagan-esque? Bravo!
A gravel bike is an updated touring bike.