As mountain bikes became bigger, burlier and more complex, bikes that resemble old mountain bikes popped up on the market as gravel bikes. Now that gravel bikes are becoming bigger and burlier too, with 50mm tires and suspension, more "classic style" gravel bikes are coming back as all-road bikes. They're just selling us the same shit over and over again.
Next up we'll be getting Gravel Country bikes, shortly followed by Gravel Trail, or as I like to call them "Grail" bikes. After that we'll see them going down to 26" wheels to be lighter and more agile.
I just think they're pretty decent multi-purpose bikes. Only have 2 bikes in my garage. An all mountain mtb and a gravel bike. Any kind of singletrack, I'm riding my MTB. All other riding scenarios, I have my gravel bike.
After people buy one of every model, don’t ride them, and have them sitting in a rusty shed. From an industry perspective, job done. Because the industry only cares that you buy. They don’t give a toss whether you ride the best bike for conditions.
I think that a short-travel full-sus XC mountain bike bike (like the Trek Supercaliber or the Specialized Epic World Cup) with drop bars and very fast rolling tires (like the 29x2.2 Continental Race Kings) would be the best gravel bike. Gravel bikes with wider ties and suspension are just over the horizon.
Honestly most people who buy gravel bikes would be better off with a hardtail, they're the true do it all bike and always have been. So many of the bridleways around me are so rough a gravel bike would be awful.
One can draw athletes from another and in case of calendar clash we won't get as spectacular contend. If anything, enduro threatens downhill and does so for quite a while.
I really liked hearing about the AXS seatpost adapter. As a heavier rider, when the seat is pushed all the way back in the seatpost, the rails get flexy, and this could help with having the seat more to the back while grabbing the seat more in the middle of the rails making the seat feel more sturdy. So thank you very much Owen! I just hope they have other materials for cheaper. Will take a look.
I'm down to one bike after selling my hardtail... My 12kg flatbar gravel bike has basically the same geometry as my all steel 1992 GT Timberline. The only major differences are the carbon fibre fork and handlebar along with the disc brakes and of course the bigger wheels.
I live in an area with thousands of miles of gravel roads but only a few miles of mt bike trails. I have a mt bike that is rarely ridden and two gravel bikes ridden almost daily: a conventional gravel bike with fenders for wet weather riding and a hardtail XC mt bike with drop bars for dry season riding and racing. The drop bar mt bike is way more fun and generally faster than a conventional gravel bike.
I am not a gravel hater, as anything that brings more people to cycling is a good thing. Yes it would seem that MTB tech is merely trickling down to gravel, but I just wish we could get some standardisation so, we can swap and mix components.
Yes! I feel your right - overall gravel is gateway drug to get more riders off-road - and thats great - as hopefully they'll morph into MTB riders too! Cheers Owen
Gravel isn’t threatening the sport of mountainbiking but it does threaten the bike sales. Loads of people have been riding xc mtbs on gravel roads and mild singletracks, who are now switching to gravelbikes which are the best tool for the job.
That Vivo mech looks absolutely dope. I'd love to see a vid with Owen and/or Anna going into ridiculous detail about it and maybe even taking it apart into all its pieces? 😇
I have a coworker that is thinking on getting into gravel and he asked me ideas on what to get. I thought about it and just said get a bike from a MTB company and you can't go wrong.
Agreed - if brands can create a good MTB then mostly likely their Gravel offering will work too -more perhaps better yet get them an XC MTB hardtail! Have you been tempted to try a gravel bike or have you got one already? Cheers Owen
Airing down and back up the old fashioned way works for me. Yup, I still carry a pump for emergencies but just use it for adding pressure for the ride to and from the trails.
If gravel bikes are borrowing tech from MTN bikes, then we also have to give dirt bikes/motorcycles credit for the borrowing of tech from the MTN bike world. Mtn bikes borrowed lots of info/tech about suspension, disc brakes of course were part of the equation and don't forget tires. Tire info was "borrowed"along with tread patterns of tires. I'm sure I'm also forgetting something else here, but I do remember employees of dirt bike companies moving into the bike industry. LoVE the new tech stuff, might have to think which I want first HA! Thanks for sharing!!
Missy Giove rode on a FOES I think on Global. There were a bunch of great riders on that team. Sean Mccaroll, Saner, Berchtold, Lehikoinen, Mick Hannah, etc...
@@OwenBikeNerd it definitely could but the gravel bike with the drops could open up to road as well with a change if tyres. But I would still keep my dual suspension.
I have a 20 year old frame full suspended bike (26" of course) upgraded with the best components you would get in 2016. Love it. I have a 2023 hard tail All mountain bike (29"). Love it. I have a gravel bike for 6 months. Love it. With those 3 frames I cover all of the spectrum and the most important thing is: I am having fun.
#quiz - the Global Racing 'star' at the time when Greg joined was Missy Giove and when the team first started (before they opted for Orange) they where allowed to choose their bikes and both Greg and Missy where on Foes.
I haven't ridden a gravel bike yet, but while geo and amount of suspension travel are basically a spectrum with gravel on one end (0 to little travel, steep head angle etc.) DH on the other, for me the main differentiator MTB vs. Gravel is the drop bar, isn't it? And aren't people building "monster gravel bikes" by putting a drop bar on an MTB HT frame (with wireless shifting, you don't even have the compatibility issues that are between road/gravel and MTB group sets, an AXS drop shifter allegedly shifts an MTB rear mech just fine)
@@HilltopZombieShop it seems most have given up mtb to ride e-mtb I’m not ready to give up peddling just yet so A gravel bike is perfect for fitness , I have multiple bikes an enduro, a trail , xc/trail hardtail and hardcore hardtail , the gravel bike gets ridden the most
Interesting insights... Not boasting - but I can do all three on a gravel bike - ok the jumping not great but - heck I know some roadie's that can boss bunny hops & wheelies - so yep not sure if its drop bar specific - but yep if thats what you've seen thats what you've seen! Also even if your a mountain biker that can't bunny hop or wheelie or jump thats still cool its still MTB! But yep interesting insights! Cheers Owen
I really don’t get how gravel bike can help with its rigid fork while descending along the hill slopes at least during one hour. I just forgot to unblock my suspension fork and spent 45 minutes going down hill. Guys it was insane actually. Gravel bikes with rigid forks? Seriously? No way.
no one would disagree with this simple truth, that there are trails and jumps the majority of people will never attempt on a gravel bike. It's a niche and will never replace MTB or Road.
I can't get my magura brakes to stob rubbing! I've bled using the 2 syringe method multiple times and reset the pistons, worked the pistons in and out one at a time (tho I didnt clean them while they were extended), centered the caliper body to the rotor, made sure the rotor was straight, but as soon as I take up slack and pump the lever a few times the pads start rubbing and I no matter what I do I cant stop it. Happening only on the rear of my mt trail sports. The front is perfect. Though I will say, despite my pads having plenty of life the brakes just dont seem as strong as when they were new. Anyone know whats going on? Rotors have plenty of life too (storm hc)
Try syringe and funnel method. Between two syringes you can move a very limited amount of fluid, also you add pressure that helps air be left dissolved in the oil.
Someone that ride MTB, Gravel and road.. Personally I think the GB is the perfect bike for anyone who rides nothing more than country parks and canal tow paths .. These have traditionally been ridden on MTBs .. I take the Micky out of a mate who has a multi 1000 pound full sus bike but never does more than a couple of meters of elevation on his canal rides and tactfully remind him that a "mountain " bike is for bumps and climbing, decending NOT cruising on the flat!!
Next big thing for gravel bikes, will be front suspension and thicker tyres, for comfort off road, then it’ll be smaller tyres around 26” for better manoeuvring off road ? It’s all nonsense and the bike industry is eating itself with overpricing and pointless tech, more sensible bikes for transport is the way we need to go. That adjustable tyre pressures system is just something else to go wrong in the middle of nowhere that’ll cost a fortune to replace
Mtb gearing is for up and down. They don't really suit mile munching rides like a Gravel bike can. I think they are filling in the gap made by mtb 1x gears
@@LukaszMielczarek thanks for the insights - yep i've ridden the first edition EKAR - extra cog - 13 speed - is nice - on the cassette on the bike in the workshop the range wasn't any bigger than the 11 or 12 speed groups - but the step's between were smoother I feel you'll know already - Shimano and Sram both have similar gravel drop bar one bar groups - although potentially not quite as pretty they are low cost and function very well! Again thanks for the insights! Cheers Owen
On real US gravel roads, not the dusty tarmac they call gravel at the World Championships, gravel bikes can be pretty miserable. Gravel bikes are becoming more and more just XC mountain bikes with drop handlebars. A good example would be the Leadville 100 where you are starting to see drop handlebars on mountain bikes. I use my hardtail mountain bike as my gravel bike now and just ordered new tires to turn my gravel bike into a bombproof road bike, Fire roads that I feel like I might die on, on steep downhill sections, are a blast on the mountain bike. The real question is, will all mountain bikes have drop handlebars in the future, as the sports merge?
They (Gravel bikes) are a threat to market share of XC style bikes, those cheap recreational ones too. Not to a MTB industry as whole. Brands must play along, if they want to survive. Otherwise you loose huge (ATM) market share. Just like a car industry non of the brads can survive without a SUV in their lineup. Just think about it: Porsche has SUV, Lamborghini has SUV... FFS even Ferrari has SUV...
Short (I am called Smith, she is called Short, we have dogs), a Wyoming native (but not that kind of native), would like you to know the town is pronounced Shy Anne. Like the Native American Tribe.
Gravel and mtb are been pitted against each out unnecessarily and this whole discussion is a bit pointless. More people are buying gravel bikes, meaning companies can use that revenue/profits from those gravel bikes on gravel related R&D. Same with mtb, companies can use the money they bring in from MTB sales for R&D MTB products. It is not stealing money from one or one is "threatened"
Gravel seems to be somewhat of a snowball effect... Gravel is taking over what used to be XC, XCis taking over trail, trail to Enduro, and so on down the line... Just my .02¢
a large tyre gravel bike will have a better pedalling platform and is more aero then a hardtail. it will be more enjoyable to ride in flat areas and tarmac by a large margin.
Interesting insights I can completely agree on the aero gains that a gravel could have - assuming the bars were set low and they were narrow - but I'm not 100% sure that a gravel bike would have a better pedalling platform over an XC hardtail - but agreed for mellow trails and more tarmac than trail they'd have some advantages! Again interesting insights! Cheers Owen
For non-competition riders like myself (the majority of riders) I could care less about gravel bikes. I'm not about to go out and buy one just to be one of the cool kids on the block.
18:45 @AshtonBikes I'd say you have a failed seal on the master cylinder piston, so the fluid escapes from inside the cylinder back to the reservoir as you pull the lever. I'm sure Owen will fix it for you. Might as well make a video out of it too, then you're both getting paid to fix your own bike, and we get to watch more great entertainment.
The MTB industry screwed itself by putting lousy and heavy suspension forks on lower level bikes. The bikes are awful. I’d take a cheaper gravel bike any day of the week.
Oooo now thats an interesting take - I've ridden some good rigid forks - that agreed depsite zero suspension can ride better than some basic suspension units - but yep those sadly rarely come on entry MTB's. Interesting insights! Cheers Owen
If only gravel bikes were actually cheaper! Drop bar shifters are about the cost of mid-tier fork. Guess, a rigid fitness bike is your only option then
My old Kona hardtail with project 2 forks and hard pack tyres will do a better job than a gravel bike unless it’s open straight road. It’s just re inventing what already existed from 1994. Drop bars are useless in comparison if it’s winding single track or bumpy. Just keep the road bike, ditch the gravel bike and get a lightweight xc mtb and have the best of both worlds.
#askgmbntech I see that Neko is playing with a idler mounted to his bottom bracket.. is this the next trend for racers after the Ochain (obviously on bikes which don't already have an idler)?
People are lemmings. If companies comped bikes with motorcycle tires to influencers, the lbs would be fully stocked with those bikes. The great thing about bike specialization is that it allows people to better match a bike and conditions. This presumes that people can stop selecting bikes based on image and influence, instead of focusing on functionality. The market WAS divided into road bikes and mountain bikes. The same market now has CHOICE… road, mountain, gravel, XC, commuter, recreational, hybrids. LBS then start doing stupid stuff, like mountain bike tires on a gravel bike. Good for business because the customer will tire of this combo… just like an 18-20mm racing tire will fatigue a recreational road cyclist.
Look I'm not a jumper down hill backflippy guy... I have places I want to go, as fast as possible, and some of those places happen to be similar to mountain bike places. So I ride gravel bikes... I love my gravel bike 🤷🏼♂️ all bike stuff or a lot of it comes from MTB. So mountain biking isn't going anywhere
I really don't care if someone spends a million quid on a gravel bike and their tech, hopefully it suits their needs/skills and terrain. I'm absolutely sure I won't see them in my grounds (steep, loose and very tech), their skinny tyres just won't cut it there. And like Ferrari/Lamborghini/(insert-your-expensive-AF-brand-here) most probably they have more money than skills, and manufacturers take advantage of that. It's their money, their life and problem. Myself, wouldn't have one, they make no sense on my terrain.
They're different horses for different courses. My gravel bike is an amazing all rounder and much faster and efficient than a mountain bike on easy trails/gravel and roads, but it is not a mountain bike. I wouldn't take it on an Mtb trail the mountain bike is far superior there.
As mountain bikes became bigger, burlier and more complex, bikes that resemble old mountain bikes popped up on the market as gravel bikes. Now that gravel bikes are becoming bigger and burlier too, with 50mm tires and suspension, more "classic style" gravel bikes are coming back as all-road bikes. They're just selling us the same shit over and over again.
Next up we'll be getting Gravel Country bikes, shortly followed by Gravel Trail, or as I like to call them "Grail" bikes.
After that we'll see them going down to 26" wheels to be lighter and more agile.
I just think they're pretty decent multi-purpose bikes. Only have 2 bikes in my garage. An all mountain mtb and a gravel bike.
Any kind of singletrack, I'm riding my MTB.
All other riding scenarios, I have my gravel bike.
If a gravel bike is a threat to your mountain bike, you aren't riding your mountain bike properly.
The biggest threat to the mountain bike industry is the mountain bike industry
Gravel, super gravel, race xc, xc, downcountry, light trail, trail, all mountain, enduro, freestyle, slopestyle, bike park... When will it end?
'tis but a mere fraction of all cycling you listed! Don't be so narrow-minded
After people buy one of every model, don’t ride them, and have them sitting in a rusty shed. From an industry perspective, job done. Because the industry only cares that you buy. They don’t give a toss whether you ride the best bike for conditions.
If everyone emptied out their garages in Europe and in the USA and all the bicycles were put in a single pile, would the shadow be seen on Jupiter?
as soon as people stop wanting to be individual ;DDD
fixed gear XC MTB ;)
when they have all the money.. making new categories to get people to buy new shit.,🤦🏻♂️
I think that a short-travel full-sus XC mountain bike bike (like the Trek Supercaliber or the Specialized Epic World Cup) with drop bars and very fast rolling tires (like the 29x2.2 Continental Race Kings) would be the best gravel bike. Gravel bikes with wider ties and suspension are just over the horizon.
Absolutely not 😂😂😂😂 mtbs still the best
Honestly most people who buy gravel bikes would be better off with a hardtail, they're the true do it all bike and always have been. So many of the bridleways around me are so rough a gravel bike would be awful.
I don't think one discipline threatens the other. They are different things. There is some overlap but both have unique jobs and types of trails.
Yup ruddy spots especially... I have a MTB just because some places need the control of a MTB 🤷🏼♂️🤣
One can draw athletes from another and in case of calendar clash we won't get as spectacular contend. If anything, enduro threatens downhill and does so for quite a while.
@@feedbackzaloop only relevant to people who compete or follow the sport.
@@BaldKiwi117 exactly the people carrying about "disciplines", amirite? 🤷♂️
@@feedbackzaloop my point is that those are the minority. Most people just ride casually and don't follow the sport.
I really liked hearing about the AXS seatpost adapter. As a heavier rider, when the seat is pushed all the way back in the seatpost, the rails get flexy, and this could help with having the seat more to the back while grabbing the seat more in the middle of the rails making the seat feel more sturdy. So thank you very much Owen!
I just hope they have other materials for cheaper. Will take a look.
I'm down to one bike after selling my hardtail... My 12kg flatbar gravel bike has basically the same geometry as my all steel 1992 GT Timberline. The only major differences are the carbon fibre fork and handlebar along with the disc brakes and of course the bigger wheels.
I live in an area with thousands of miles of gravel roads but only a few miles of mt bike trails. I have a mt bike that is rarely ridden and two gravel bikes ridden almost daily: a conventional gravel bike with fenders for wet weather riding and a hardtail XC mt bike with drop bars for dry season riding and racing. The drop bar mt bike is way more fun and generally faster than a conventional gravel bike.
I am not a gravel hater, as anything that brings more people to cycling is a good thing. Yes it would seem that MTB tech is merely trickling down to gravel, but I just wish we could get some standardisation so, we can swap and mix components.
Bang up show Owen & Martin 🤟🏽. Love the tech stuff!
Thank you!
Plenty more tech coming!
Cheers
Owen
Gravel is a gateway drug for roadies to get off road and out of lycra!
More people getting on to dirt can only be good for the mountain bike industry.
Yes!
I feel your right - overall gravel is gateway drug to get more riders off-road - and thats great - as hopefully they'll morph into MTB riders too!
Cheers
Owen
@@OwenBikeNerdthat’s what happened to me! Now a fully reformed roadie - mainly mountain bike now, some gravel.
Gravel isn’t threatening the sport of mountainbiking but it does threaten the bike sales. Loads of people have been riding xc mtbs on gravel roads and mild singletracks, who are now switching to gravelbikes which are the best tool for the job.
Anybody that knocks gravel bikes has clearly never owned one & perhaps has never even ridden one. They are incredibly versatile, fast & fun.
That Vivo mech looks absolutely dope. I'd love to see a vid with Owen and/or Anna going into ridiculous detail about it and maybe even taking it apart into all its pieces? 😇
That sounds like a great idea - lets see if we can make it happen!
Cheers
Owen
I have a coworker that is thinking on getting into gravel and he asked me ideas on what to get. I thought about it and just said get a bike from a MTB company and you can't go wrong.
Agreed - if brands can create a good MTB then mostly likely their Gravel offering will work too -more perhaps better yet get them an XC MTB hardtail!
Have you been tempted to try a gravel bike or have you got one already?
Cheers
Owen
@@OwenBikeNerd I have a gravel bike, a "downcountry" bike and an enduro bike.
Airing down and back up the old fashioned way works for me. Yup, I still carry a pump for emergencies but just use it for adding pressure for the ride to and from the trails.
I so look forward to DH gravel biking. A great spectator sport for sure.
Love to see polished aluminium making a comeback ❤
If gravel bikes are borrowing tech from MTN bikes, then we also have to give dirt bikes/motorcycles credit for the borrowing of tech from the MTN bike world. Mtn bikes borrowed lots of info/tech about suspension, disc brakes of course were part of the equation and don't forget tires. Tire info was "borrowed"along with tread patterns of tires. I'm sure I'm also forgetting something else here, but I do remember employees of dirt bike companies moving into the bike industry. LoVE the new tech stuff, might have to think which I want first HA! Thanks for sharing!!
😍😍that lawhill leader fork that was shown is so beautiful, I'm so glad I was able to score one for myself to put on my old Mantis.
Missy Giove rode on a FOES I think on Global. There were a bunch of great riders on that team. Sean Mccaroll, Saner, Berchtold, Lehikoinen, Mick Hannah, etc...
In my case yes. I ride a 120mm dual suspension mountainbike but in the area I live 95% of my riding will be more suited to a gravel bike.
But could a Hardtail XC bike open up more riding than a gravel bike?
Cheers
Owen
@@OwenBikeNerd it definitely could but the gravel bike with the drops could open up to road as well with a change if tyres. But I would still keep my dual suspension.
I have a 20 year old frame full suspended bike (26" of course) upgraded with the best components you would get in 2016. Love it. I have a 2023 hard tail All mountain bike (29"). Love it. I have a gravel bike for 6 months. Love it. With those 3 frames I cover all of the spectrum and the most important thing is: I am having fun.
@@p.c.9714 brilliant!
#quiz - the Global Racing 'star' at the time when Greg joined was Missy Giove and when the team first started (before they opted for Orange) they where allowed to choose their bikes and both Greg and Missy where on Foes.
I haven't ridden a gravel bike yet, but while geo and amount of suspension travel are basically a spectrum with gravel on one end (0 to little travel, steep head angle etc.) DH on the other, for me the main differentiator MTB vs. Gravel is the drop bar, isn't it?
And aren't people building "monster gravel bikes" by putting a drop bar on an MTB HT frame (with wireless shifting, you don't even have the compatibility issues that are between road/gravel and MTB group sets, an AXS drop shifter allegedly shifts an MTB rear mech just fine)
Gravel bikes are for people that can't bunny hop, wheelie, and jump.
You can do all 3 on a gravel bike 😆
@@jamessmith-jx8eo Sure, but people that can't give up mountain biking to ride gravel bikes.
@@HilltopZombieShop it seems most have given up mtb to ride e-mtb I’m not ready to give up peddling just yet so A gravel bike is perfect for fitness , I have multiple bikes an enduro, a trail , xc/trail hardtail and hardcore hardtail , the gravel bike gets ridden the most
Interesting insights...
Not boasting - but I can do all three on a gravel bike - ok the jumping not great but - heck I know some roadie's that can boss bunny hops & wheelies - so yep not sure if its drop bar specific - but yep if thats what you've seen thats what you've seen!
Also even if your a mountain biker that can't bunny hop or wheelie or jump thats still cool its still MTB!
But yep interesting insights!
Cheers
Owen
You mean enduro? Guys be loaded up to the brim with spare derailleurs and hydration systems no place for skill left.
Where in Wyoming? 😅 Love you guys. Good effort!!
Martyn and Owen are holding down all the shows this week. Is the rest of the gang on holiday? And no thanks on the gravel bike.
4:39 holy shit i used to have one of those quad legged forks
Recently bought a gravel bike to see what all the fuss was about and now I'm 100% convinced that they are no where near as much fun as a MTB.
Is my 90s fully rigid Fat Chance Yo Eddy now a gravel bike?! What goes around comes around...
I really don’t get how gravel bike can help with its rigid fork while descending along the hill slopes at least during one hour. I just forgot to unblock my suspension fork and spent 45 minutes going down hill. Guys it was insane actually. Gravel bikes with rigid forks? Seriously? No way.
Gravel bikes feel like a throwback to 90s mtbs. Just buy a 90s cannondale with a headshok and stick some drop bars on it
Gravel is not a threat to MTB it's an addition. I have just build a super expensive Gravel but won't probably ride it more than my Enduro.
gravel bike is just the road bike I actually wanted.
There are gravel bikes that can take 100mm suspension, like the Cotic Cascade and the popular Salsa Cutthroat.
I've just bought a Lux Trail as I keep getting shaken to bits on my gravel bike, so I think gravel will sell more XC bikes in the long term.
no one would disagree with this simple truth, that there are trails and jumps the majority of people will never attempt on a gravel bike. It's a niche and will never replace MTB or Road.
I can't get my magura brakes to stob rubbing! I've bled using the 2 syringe method multiple times and reset the pistons, worked the pistons in and out one at a time (tho I didnt clean them while they were extended), centered the caliper body to the rotor, made sure the rotor was straight, but as soon as I take up slack and pump the lever a few times the pads start rubbing and I no matter what I do I cant stop it. Happening only on the rear of my mt trail sports. The front is perfect. Though I will say, despite my pads having plenty of life the brakes just dont seem as strong as when they were new. Anyone know whats going on? Rotors have plenty of life too (storm hc)
Try syringe and funnel method. Between two syringes you can move a very limited amount of fluid, also you add pressure that helps air be left dissolved in the oil.
Double Mention Mania
Realy Nice the possible rebuild derailer!! Good idea but would be better t type style.
Someone that ride MTB, Gravel and road.. Personally I think the GB is the perfect bike for anyone who rides nothing more than country parks and canal tow paths .. These have traditionally been ridden on MTBs .. I take the Micky out of a mate who has a multi 1000 pound full sus bike but never does more than a couple of meters of elevation on his canal rides and tactfully remind him that a "mountain " bike is for bumps and climbing, decending NOT cruising on the flat!!
I do have one question tho. Why oh why do mtb clothes makers think everyone is built like a twig?
Next big thing for gravel bikes, will be front suspension and thicker tyres, for comfort off road, then it’ll be smaller tyres around 26” for better manoeuvring off road ?
It’s all nonsense and the bike industry is eating itself with overpricing and pointless tech, more sensible bikes for transport is the way we need to go.
That adjustable tyre pressures system is just something else to go wrong in the middle of nowhere that’ll cost a fortune to replace
Mtb gearing is for up and down. They don't really suit mile munching rides like a Gravel bike can. I think they are filling in the gap made by mtb 1x gears
Interesting insights - lots of gravel bikes are 1X too?
could an xc hardtail work as well as gravel bike?
again thanks for the insights!
Cheers
Owen
@OwenBikeNerd gravel bikes have huge chainrings compared to mtb.
I had a norco 29 3x10 and I did 140 mile rides on it.
@@OwenBikeNerdyou should check campagnolo ekar GT casette 10-44t and look how smart gears are set. For 1x is the best option between road and gravel
@@LukaszMielczarek thanks for the insights
- yep i've ridden the first edition EKAR - extra cog - 13 speed - is nice - on the cassette on the bike in the workshop the range wasn't any bigger than the 11 or 12 speed groups - but the step's between were smoother I feel you'll know already - Shimano and Sram both have similar gravel drop bar one bar groups - although potentially not quite as pretty they are low cost and function very well!
Again thanks for the insights!
Cheers
Owen
#QUIZ. I am going for a wild guess this week and name Missy Grove riding a Yeti is what you guys are looking for. Fingers crossed
On real US gravel roads, not the dusty tarmac they call gravel at the World Championships, gravel bikes can be pretty miserable. Gravel bikes are becoming more and more just XC mountain bikes with drop handlebars. A good example would be the Leadville 100 where you are starting to see drop handlebars on mountain bikes. I use my hardtail mountain bike as my gravel bike now and just ordered new tires to turn my gravel bike into a bombproof road bike, Fire roads that I feel like I might die on, on steep downhill sections, are a blast on the mountain bike. The real question is, will all mountain bikes have drop handlebars in the future, as the sports merge?
They (Gravel bikes) are a threat to market share of XC style bikes, those cheap recreational ones too. Not to a MTB industry as whole.
Brands must play along, if they want to survive. Otherwise you loose huge (ATM) market share.
Just like a car industry non of the brads can survive without a SUV in their lineup. Just think about it: Porsche has SUV, Lamborghini has SUV... FFS even Ferrari has SUV...
Short (I am called Smith, she is called Short, we have dogs), a Wyoming native (but not that kind of native), would like you to know the town is pronounced Shy Anne.
Like the Native American Tribe.
Thanks for the correction - sorry for the mispronunciation.
Cheers
Owen
I want the ability to raise and lower my dropper post without my butt on the seat. And I want it to be fast and reliable.
Quiz: Missy Giove
What if the end game of biking was a full-sus road-like bike ? 😬
Gravel and mtb are been pitted against each out unnecessarily and this whole discussion is a bit pointless. More people are buying gravel bikes, meaning companies can use that revenue/profits from those gravel bikes on gravel related R&D. Same with mtb, companies can use the money they bring in from MTB sales for R&D MTB products. It is not stealing money from one or one is "threatened"
Why don't flat shoes have boa?
Great question!
There are quite a few Flat pedal shoes with BOA now available - including - Shimano's awesome winter ready - GF800 GTX
Cheers
Owen
I think its more of a threat to road cycling tbh. Gravel gives them the option to get their tyres dirty for a change.
Just stop this nonsense, they're road bikes with slacker angles.
And more tire clearance...
@@grummbeerbauer3527 Oh yeah, let's not forget that...
Gravel seems to be somewhat of a snowball effect... Gravel is taking over what used to be XC, XCis taking over trail, trail to Enduro, and so on down the line... Just my .02¢
a large tyre gravel bike will have a better pedalling platform and is more aero then a hardtail. it will be more enjoyable to ride in flat areas and tarmac by a large margin.
Interesting insights
I can completely agree on the aero gains that a gravel could have - assuming the bars were set low and they were narrow - but I'm not 100% sure that a gravel bike would have a better pedalling platform over an XC hardtail - but agreed for mellow trails and more tarmac than trail they'd have some advantages!
Again interesting insights!
Cheers
Owen
Just marketing. Sell moar bikes
USE Co2 carts and RC servos. I had this idea long time back playing with RC cars and Co2 bb guns 😅
I prefer being overbiked than underbiked so I don't think I'll ever have a gravel bike.
For non-competition riders like myself (the majority of riders) I could care less about gravel bikes. I'm not about to go out and buy one just to be one of the cool kids on the block.
18:45 @AshtonBikes I'd say you have a failed seal on the master cylinder piston, so the fluid escapes from inside the cylinder back to the reservoir as you pull the lever. I'm sure Owen will fix it for you. Might as well make a video out of it too, then you're both getting paid to fix your own bike, and we get to watch more great entertainment.
Air in the brakelines
The MTB industry screwed itself by putting lousy and heavy suspension forks on lower level bikes. The bikes are awful. I’d take a cheaper gravel bike any day of the week.
Oooo now thats an interesting take - I've ridden some good rigid forks - that agreed depsite zero suspension can ride better than some basic suspension units - but yep those sadly rarely come on entry MTB's.
Interesting insights!
Cheers
Owen
If only gravel bikes were actually cheaper! Drop bar shifters are about the cost of mid-tier fork. Guess, a rigid fitness bike is your only option then
Give me big tyres and full suspension every time
Looking forward to a down gravel bike.😂 It's all good.🎉
Enduro gravel?
Well that said some of the most fun events I've ridden were gravel "enduro" rides - fun on an MTB or a Gravel bike!
Cheers
Owen
My old Kona hardtail with project 2 forks and hard pack tyres will do a better job than a gravel bike unless it’s open straight road. It’s just re inventing what already existed from 1994. Drop bars are useless in comparison if it’s winding single track or bumpy. Just keep the road bike, ditch the gravel bike and get a lightweight xc mtb and have the best of both worlds.
The cycle industry/ media are always biased towards drop bar bikes........
#askgmbntech I see that Neko is playing with a idler mounted to his bottom bracket.. is this the next trend for racers after the Ochain (obviously on bikes which don't already have an idler)?
#Brendogwasrobbed
Para mim é mais uma tentativa da indústria de introduzir um produto diferente do que uma onda que surgiu do público (como o moutain bike)
People are lemmings. If companies comped bikes with motorcycle tires to influencers, the lbs would be fully stocked with those bikes.
The great thing about bike specialization is that it allows people to better match a bike and conditions. This presumes that people can stop selecting bikes based on image and influence, instead of focusing on functionality.
The market WAS divided into road bikes and mountain bikes. The same market now has CHOICE… road, mountain, gravel, XC, commuter, recreational, hybrids.
LBS then start doing stupid stuff, like mountain bike tires on a gravel bike. Good for business because the customer will tire of this combo… just like an 18-20mm racing tire will fatigue a recreational road cyclist.
#Quiz Missy Giove on a Custom Foes
grava system ive never heard of that. ummmm you did a show yesterday about it.
Gravel is absolutely boring, compared to mountain biking 👊
So I can now add pressure or reduce my tyre pressure on the fly and it’s only going cost £4000 for the kit 😂😂😂
Look I'm not a jumper down hill backflippy guy... I have places I want to go, as fast as possible, and some of those places happen to be similar to mountain bike places. So I ride gravel bikes... I love my gravel bike 🤷🏼♂️ all bike stuff or a lot of it comes from MTB. So mountain biking isn't going anywhere
gravel bikes are for people in their 40s
@@juliogumeta5313 I'm 48 and almost exclusively ride MTB. I started mountain biking as a teenager.
And 50’s, 60’s and 70’s!
@@juliogumeta5313 it seems even e-bikes are for the youth
I’ll keep the thousands of pounds and instead stop press my valve to reduce pressure and use my mini pump to increase pressure…….quids in👍🏾
No, next question.
I really don't care if someone spends a million quid on a gravel bike and their tech, hopefully it suits their needs/skills and terrain.
I'm absolutely sure I won't see them in my grounds (steep, loose and very tech), their skinny tyres just won't cut it there.
And like Ferrari/Lamborghini/(insert-your-expensive-AF-brand-here) most probably they have more money than skills, and manufacturers take advantage of that. It's their money, their life and problem.
Myself, wouldn't have one, they make no sense on my terrain.
My mountain bikes have got a bit too good for regular xc trails hence love riding a gravel bike unless it’s proper downhill MTBing
No change 😂😅
Why? Who said what to who? 😅
No way 😂
They're different horses for different courses. My gravel bike is an amazing all rounder and much faster and efficient than a mountain bike on easy trails/gravel and roads, but it is not a mountain bike. I wouldn't take it on an Mtb trail the mountain bike is far superior there.
Gravel bikes are just 90s mtbs
Hahaha...
Miyata
milk the cow as long as you can. ...^^
Gravel bikes are for off roadies.
No.
Gravel! Completely pointless and ridiculous
Dylan Jawnson gravels on an mtb, so nah.
dont like gravel bikes not for me they look great
It's just another way to take mtbk back to the beginning and making all that money again off what is a racer.