Two low cost starter options - 90s steel framed hybrids are dirt cheap, robust, low geared and take tyres up to 42c, mine was £50 - low spec 29er hard tail, my GT was £90 3*8 allows 22T on front with 34T on rear. Not at all fashionable but I have done some great trips across Dartmoor on them. Of the two the hybrid is my favourite.
I’ve both an MTB and a gravel and have bikepacked on both but for rough routes and/or when I’m loaded for camping I prefer the MTB. Comfier and far more capable when descending on anything other than tarmac/smooth gravel.
Frontier owner here too, love it....MTB all the way for me, don't like drop bars and just find the MTB far more comfy and can be ridden all year. I'm not fussed about speed really.
I chose a touring bike. Recently bought a Giant Toughroad SLR2. Mountain Bike for stunts and enduro riding. A gravel bike for high-speed, semi-sporty off-road driving. And for traveling, it is better to have a comfortable fit, a long wheelbase for stability, and high reliability of the structure in order to hang equipment on it. Just my opinion.
Great info. I've been looking at moving from my heavy steel touring bike to a gravel bike since, although I do tour a bit, most of my riding is just day to day. One gravel bike that may make a true all-rounder is the Giant Revolt X. It has 40mm front forks and a drop seat post with 30mm of suspension. Definitely not a low cost starter but looks very intriguing as a potential do-it-all. All the best from Atlantic Canada, eh!
XC (cross-country) MTB for me, light, fast, but most of all you can ride it anywhere, contrary to gravel bikes, and also in very steep places the gearing is much easier, not to mention that the suspension makes you go much faster on rough descents and on the rough flat
Would prefer one of each😂 currently have a Cube e-mtb which I love and completed the Trans Pennine Trail on last summer. Planning the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway and a LEJOG soon-hence the interest in the gravel option!
I've chosen a bike, and it has 26x4.80" tires. More known as "fat bike". I live in Sweden and we have that white stuff on the ground called "snow" some months every year. I don't have any other bikes than fat bikes, simply because I don't want skinny tires or narrower than 3.80". For bike packing, a fat bike is in my opinion the best choice because you can ride it all year no matter what terrain. We all are different, my choice may not be the same as your. Besides that, I enjoy bike packing videos no matter what bike is used because I am interested to see what other bike packers have in their bags (gear, camping stuff and so on).
Interesting I agree with most of what you said but I run 700x 45 on my titanium gravel bike and could go bigger, I have ridden it mostly off road all year and with the right tyres it pretty much copes with anything and I have a 36;46 gear set up which gets me up most things even at 67. I regularly ride in the lakes, and Yorkshire Dales on what would have been considered xc routes. That said I have been thinking about a hardtail like a Cotic Solaris, or a Moxie Sirius so I have the option of plotting some really rough routes where grip control and comfort become a factor. Also in that terrain overall speed is less important and probably going down hill you will clear obstacles better and go quicker. In winter you definitely need more kit especially if your are a bit more remote just from a safety and comfort perspective. I think the lines are blurring and some new bikes like those made by Pace offer drop bar, carbon fork or flat bar / 120mm fork for the same frame. Also you can hoon around local trails on the suspension bike. I am waiting to see if my bank balance allows for an extra bike as already have , road, full suspension and gravel bike but deep down I would like another.
I definitely agree it matters where and how you want to ride, for me drop bars are so much more comfortable for my hands-so I found a gravel bike that will take up to 700x50 tires and going to 650's would increase that clearance
I think both bikes are good for bike packing. Like you I got a mountain bike for rough terrain touring. This keeps my gravel touring bike from getting ruined for the longer haul highway tours. Right tool for the job is the moto I follow. Excellent video.
Nice presentation Tom and I used a Ridgeback hybrid when I did the Coast 2 Coast. Great for clocking up the miles on the tarmac but murder on my arms going cross country. I'll be doing the King Alfred Way on my MTB in May because, as you say, the front suspension will protect my hands and wrists. Cheers.
Thank you for the review. I have both types and recently upgraded my MTB from Schwinn (Walmart yes I know hangs head low) to a Giant Yukon with Deore components. Like you said, I love the flexibility of the gravel bike and I do ride it in Winter months up to a certain extent before I have to put it away and get out my old steel commuter with the twist shifters (blah!) After a few years of this twist and pull, I bought a used Giant Yukon and am loving it. Best part is that it's an MTB and can take a beating on any surface. Since the Winter has been mild this year, I'm curious how the 26" tires handle snow since I struggled with anything above 6" on the ground. Speed isn't a concern on snow surface for me. Not like I'm racing anyone out there when I'm by myself lol.
The second set of (smaller, better rolling) tyres on an MTB will do for road touring/bikepacking. Regular 29er can fit any gravel tyre just fine. With those, speed is identical to gravel, counting all the stuff we carry with us.
@@Cycling366 well, each bike is a compromise of sorts :) Your point is absolutely valid, I just wanted to point out that not every MTB has to be that fatbike/gnarly/trail oriented machine.
Literally just today traded my gravel bike in for a hard tail MTB it just wasn't capable enough and uncomfortable on anything rougher than a smooth towpath and sketchy af in damp muddy conditions.
When I first started thinking about travel with my bike I had a road bike and I got my touring bike a Dawes Super Galaxy triple chain set fullracks and panniers which was handy at all times as I did on call in a hospital and needed to carry a fair bit. I now have two road bikes, a gravel bike and two MTB. I would go touring on my road bikes and I did do the Great Glen Way on one of them. I then got my Gravel bike with 650b wheels and quite aggressive tyres for up here in Scotland they are a bit of a bind on tarmac so it does strictly gravel. The MTB’s are for winter the old one is a triple chain set and is pretty much an ornament. I was having it fully serviced and ended up buying a new MTB I forgot just how comfy they were and as you say the gears will go up anything and the tyres over anything and I’d probably be quite happy using it for off road touring. I also quite like the simplicity of just having a single chain set. Gravel and MTB are great up here in Scotland as out roads aren’t that great and even when I got my latest road bike which wears 32’s the difference for up here comfort wise was so much better. If I was however only going to have one bike to most things it would be a gravel bike ( don’t tell my ProjectOne Domane though)😂
Great video. Thank you. My take away for me based on what you shared is that the gravel is lighter and faster, MTB is heavier and slower. Tell me which one is more fun to ride with less headaches. I would pick the MTB based on two things you said. The MTB is more comfortable (ride further and probably slower) and the MTB is more durable (like a pack mule 😂). If I get some where faster (gravel) that means less time on the very thing I enjoy doing RIDING. That being said you helped me make my choice on the bike I will purchase. Hope to see you riding out and about in Texas some day. Right on Ride on!!
Excellent video mate! I'm hoping the industry comes up with an "affordable " suspension gravel bike at some point. That, or I have to buy an mtb and tweak it to be faster..
A drop bar titanium MTB would be the ultimate compromise between the two mentioned. Great tyre clearance with drop bar comfort, add in 100mm travel and you get most of the best features from both. And titanium is a lot easier to look after, I have a 2 year old carbon gravel bike and it's showing signs of wear already, and it's only a little lighter than a titanium equivalent.
To me the gearing is the main differentiator. You can always get fatter tires on a gravel bike (of course not as fat as on a MTB) or skinnier tires on a MTB so there are a lot of overlap in the terrain/roads they'll handle, but where I live I always appreciate the gearing of a MTB even when in shape. Anywhere with lots of steep gravel roads a MTB will shine. Of course if you live in Denmark, the Netherlands or somewhere else with mostly flat terrain then the gearing and design of a gravel bike is more suited.
Great video! I agree it totally depends on what kind of terrain you plan to ride, and whether you can afford multiple bikes. For me I ride almost exclusively off-road on rough terrain so the mountain bike makes a lot more sense.
Thanks for pointing out that Arctic Norway is, in fact, *extreme.* I was born in the north, grew up in the north, spent a few years in early adulthood down west, then came back to the north. I have been in the north for a few years now, and winters are making me more miserable for every passing year. Complaining is frowned upon, "you know where you live" is the phrase of choice, and people plow through winter with tight-lipped stoicism. Honestly, I spent 8 months living in the UK, and I'd take your rainy, mild winters over the windy, bone-chilling Arctic Norway *any day.* I'm spending *one* more winter here, and then I'm getting out. I don't want to need mountain bikes and expedition grade sleeping bags and skis and heavy, bulky, expensive winter clothing in order to go outside. It's all too much. Maybe that's okay. Maybe that doesn't make me weak. Maybe I actually do live in an *extreme* place. Maybe it's okay to only want a gravel bike and above freezing temperatures and rain instead of northern lights.
Be careful of drop position and no suspension set ups as your wrists can take a beating. I did the Canaries last year on cx bike with 40c tyres and I was a broken man (I'm 61 now so maybe that had a bearing). You can get suspension handlebar bits but then you are adding money.
I would think a hard tail mtb is in that sweet spot of price, dependability, and off-road comfort. It's hard for me to picture where a gravel bike excels, but probably car camping spots in national forests since you'll spend a lot of your time on pavement or packed gravel roads while never wishing you had a suspension of any kind. So-called touring bikes seem better suited to Europe where camping is contained in a narrower band of conditions and where sites are far more developed and less wild.
There is no better. ‘Bikepacking’ == ‘Cycle Touring’. It’s simply been rebranded! Gravel bikes are certainly quicker than a hard tail 29er, but you choose the right bike for the event. I binned my underseat bag, and run a pannier rack with low rider 12.5 litre panniers on the back. Having ridden the Tour Aotearoa and the Divide, I’d always choose my HT 29er. I love my gravel bike, but the 2.4” tyres really make it more comfortable.
Yes i think grsvel bike is the way 2 go. Especially if you have something like specialized diverge thst im lucky e have as that has s touch of front suspension not much but it definitely helps
Relatively flat and fast = Gravel bike. Hilly/slower and not chunky and not to much single track = Drop bar MTB or Gravel Bike with a gravel fork with ~30-40mm of travel. If you use a gravel bike, use a 1x + a 500%+ cassette. The looser the terrain, the more you should lean toward the MTB for better tire clearance. Hilly and a bit chunky but not to much single track = Drop bar MTB with a fork with ~100mm of travel. e.g., GDMBR Lots of single track = Flat bar MTB. e.g., Colorado Trail
As someone in their sixties with neck problems I find dropbar bikes uncomfortable for prolonged periods although I was once younger where I did not ride anything but dropbar bikes!
mtb with 100mm of travel all the way, bigger tires, more options,, more comfort, i have an 8bar tflsberg, its amazing, great steel frame, great geometry. old mtbs have crap geometry, better to buy a new frame and build it up or get an atb designed for long hours in the saddle.
I just got a gravel bike and a set of Ortlieb back roller classics. I looked at the Topeak you’re rolling with but I can’t imagine being able to take enough stuff. Winter gear? What do you think? I want to bring my 2lb tent and 1lb sleeping, and other stuff and as it’ll be long way….and I’ll bring my drone and maybe laptop.
Nice! Well I use mine for all seasons and I carry all of those things (minus the laptop) I do use a big 65l dry bag on the front though for the deep winter bags etc
Thanks mate! I actually have done a whole video on this bike and how I see it up here: My New Bikepacking Bike - Sonder Frontier th-cam.com/video/xpGWSNCQcv0/w-d-xo.html
MTB's used to be sort of about perfect, with bosses for racks, super strong frames, gears for any hill and cadence and sturdy 26 inch wheel sets, they have gone to mode specific now and are not adaptable in the same way. For me a s a shorter heavy rider I would end up adapting an entry level mountain bike,as some still have rack bosses . Or a fully custom build £€$!
I prefer a all terrain bike like my Olsen Pinion Lamb ,they are more expensive but you only need one bike ,I never now use any of my other bikes .I also have a suspension stem & seat post .
Another point when putting weight onto your bike... all of your baggage on a gravel bike will be unsprung mass and potentially impact your handling. Don't wanna find out what momentum my mounted bags can carry after going through a washout that may not have been an issue on an unladen gravel bike... the mtb doesn'T care
Hi, great video, me and the wife both have Sonder Frontiers, may I just ask which rear rack you have fitted? We have the Ortlieb quick racks but the mount on the seat tube seems a little flimsy!
@@Cycling366great videos can I ask what mtb you are using please looks a robust machine and is it stock bike or have you done some upgrades on it please
@@stuartharkin-rl6uf It's the Sonder Frontier linked above :) I built it up so it's not stock. But it's also not that high end so could easily be replicated. Check that video out for a closer look.
but what if I put a Dropbar and some fast gravel tires like the Schwalbe G-One RS with 40mm on it. While running tubeless with the right carbon wheelset?
So if you take a new pinion gravelbike which have mostly bigger tires these days and can be used with suspention you would have the best of both worlds?
@@Cycling366 that would be strange since the gearbox requires less maintenance then a regular SRAM or Shimano setup with only a yearly oil change. And all the other parts are the same as on the mountainbike. Ok indeed an extra kg would be added to the weight due to the gearbox but most people have more to gain on their own weight then on their bikes ;-) Also the framework is in general heavier on a mountainbike.
Depends! Fat bikes are better for sand and snow and in theory can carry more luggage. Tend to have rigid forks mostly but they’re still a great option for rough stuff in my opinion
Yeah i imagine it’s down to not being able to fit rear racks or decent sized frame bags due to the rear shock. Also probably not worth it for road sections!
I don’t get all of the venom about what to call it, touring vs bike packing and the what the bikes are called or the type of bags used. Would you call an overnight backpacking trip touring?? In the end, WTF does it matter?
Don't tell people that a gravel bike is good for almost everything. As soon as the gravel road gets a little. damaged and there's some mud and sand, the fun is over. The only real advantage of gravel is speed
Gravel ? lol 😂 We use to call those touring bikes until the eighties MTB came along . then the gravel bike suddenly had two origins. question- if i ride my MTB or any bike for that matter on Multiple surfaces , am i gravel riding or am i just riding my bike on multiple surfaces ? 😂
If you're bike packing on easy terrain then the gravel bike but if you're doing serious off road miles a gravel bike is as useful as a chocolate watch.
@@Cycling366 Can you control the ads on your TH-cam videos? As a creator, you can block certain ads from appearing on or next to your TH-cam content and channel, with blocking controls in TH-cam Studio. Blocking ads can have a negative effect on your earnings, so it's important to choose the control that balances your earning goals with your blocking requirements. ... wrong answer dude. I know cool channels that don't need ads and you can enjoy their content. We don't need to sell all, support true culture
Forget this crap about "bike packing". I have been bike touring for 40 years, get a touring bike and get out there, throw away all those rediculous bags and get a set of panniers, some decent camping gear and get on with it. Forget the dictates of the fashion/cycling industry and get engaged with the reality of living outdoors on a bike. I have cycled thousands of miles thro Europe etc, doing it with a "bikepacking" setup is total nonsense.
@@BiKEnBiTESbecause it's about the journey, you miss out on so much by driving. You miss out on the solitude, the me time, the time to think, to realise that you're not that important and not to stress too much about life. Cyclists are happier people.
Glad you’re getting out there but for me the adventure begins off road. No fancy gear required, but it sure is convenient; you know, like a good pair of panniers. But I agree, just get out there.
@@Cycling366 Typical tunnel vision cyclist. The only thing matters is speed, even though you aren't in a race. Don't forget your skinsuit and aero socks.
For those of you saying Touring bike... :D th-cam.com/video/1NDJZKyZDz0/w-d-xo.html
Two low cost starter options - 90s steel framed hybrids are dirt cheap, robust, low geared and take tyres up to 42c, mine was £50 - low spec 29er hard tail, my GT was £90 3*8 allows 22T on front with 34T on rear. Not at all fashionable but I have done some great trips across Dartmoor on them. Of the two the hybrid is my favourite.
Sounds cool! I like a good old school MTB build too
I’ve both an MTB and a gravel and have bikepacked on both but for rough routes and/or when I’m loaded for camping I prefer the MTB.
Comfier and far more capable when descending on anything other than tarmac/smooth gravel.
Completely agree with that!
Which is more comfortable drop bar or flat bar? Thanks!
@@Paulklampeepsflat bar
I'm converting a 1980s steel frame MTB into a tourer that can handle a bit of offroad. As for going fast, if I want to go fast I'll get in the van.
Nice! Bet that’ll be a beast when it’s done
yup, ive got a 1987 raleigh ozark will dump on any gravel bike!
Frontier owner here too, love it....MTB all the way for me, don't like drop bars and just find the MTB far more comfy and can be ridden all year. I'm not fussed about speed really.
Nice! Yeah I get that, it’s a decent bike for all terrain stuff so I can see why you’d want to use it all the time haha
I chose a touring bike. Recently bought a Giant Toughroad SLR2. Mountain Bike for stunts and enduro riding. A gravel bike for high-speed, semi-sporty off-road driving. And for traveling, it is better to have a comfortable fit, a long wheelbase for stability, and high reliability of the structure in order to hang equipment on it. Just my opinion.
Yeah nice! Touring bikes are in a different league for some things
Great video with clear explanations, and I love how you take the time to respond to every comment - keep it up!
Cheers! Will do 🙏
Great info. I've been looking at moving from my heavy steel touring bike to a gravel bike since, although I do tour a bit, most of my riding is just day to day. One gravel bike that may make a true all-rounder is the Giant Revolt X. It has 40mm front forks and a drop seat post with 30mm of suspension. Definitely not a low cost starter but looks very intriguing as a potential do-it-all. All the best from Atlantic Canada, eh!
Thanks mate! Sounds great :) I like the super short travel suspension forks concept
XC (cross-country) MTB for me, light, fast, but most of all you can ride it anywhere, contrary to gravel bikes, and also in very steep places the gearing is much easier, not to mention that the suspension makes you go much faster on rough descents and on the rough flat
Good shout 👏
Would prefer one of each😂 currently have a Cube e-mtb which I love and completed the Trans Pennine Trail on last summer. Planning the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway and a LEJOG soon-hence the interest in the gravel option!
Haha can never have too many bikes 😃 Sounds great! LEJOG is an awesome challenge
I've chosen a bike, and it has 26x4.80" tires. More known as "fat bike". I live in Sweden and we have that white stuff on the ground called "snow" some months every year. I don't have any other bikes than fat bikes, simply because I don't want skinny tires or narrower than 3.80". For bike packing, a fat bike is in my opinion the best choice because you can ride it all year no matter what terrain. We all are different, my choice may not be the same as your.
Besides that, I enjoy bike packing videos no matter what bike is used because I am interested to see what other bike packers have in their bags (gear, camping stuff and so on).
Nice! I do like a good fat bike for all terrain bikepacking. Not owned one myself but wish I did!
Interesting I agree with most of what you said but I run 700x 45 on my titanium gravel bike and could go bigger, I have ridden it mostly off road all year and with the right tyres it pretty much copes with anything and I have a 36;46 gear set up which gets me up most things even at 67. I regularly ride in the lakes, and Yorkshire Dales on what would have been considered xc routes. That said I have been thinking about a hardtail like a Cotic Solaris, or a Moxie Sirius so I have the option of plotting some really rough routes where grip control and comfort become a factor. Also in that terrain overall speed is less important and probably going down hill you will clear obstacles better and go quicker. In winter you definitely need more kit especially if your are a bit more remote just from a safety and comfort perspective. I think the lines are blurring and some new bikes like those made by Pace offer drop bar, carbon fork or flat bar / 120mm fork for the same frame. Also you can hoon around local trails on the suspension bike. I am waiting to see if my bank balance allows for an extra bike as already have , road, full suspension and gravel bike but deep down I would like another.
Sounds cool! Always room for more bikes for different stuff :)
I definitely agree it matters where and how you want to ride, for me drop bars are so much more comfortable for my hands-so I found a gravel bike that will take up to 700x50 tires and going to 650's would increase that clearance
Definitely! Two wheelsets is a good shout :)
I think both bikes are good for bike packing. Like you I got a mountain bike for rough terrain touring. This keeps my gravel touring bike from getting ruined for the longer haul highway tours. Right tool for the job is the moto I follow. Excellent video.
Cheers! Yeah absolutely, in an ideal world you have both :)
Nice presentation Tom and I used a Ridgeback hybrid when I did the Coast 2 Coast. Great for clocking up the miles on the tarmac but murder on my arms going cross country. I'll be doing the King Alfred Way on my MTB in May because, as you say, the front suspension will protect my hands and wrists. Cheers.
Cheers! Nice one, I agree with the MTB move for the KAW. Sounds like a great adventure
Let me know your preferred bike in the comments :) thanks for watching 🙏
Thank you for the review. I have both types and recently upgraded my MTB from Schwinn (Walmart yes I know hangs head low) to a Giant Yukon with Deore components. Like you said, I love the flexibility of the gravel bike and I do ride it in Winter months up to a certain extent before I have to put it away and get out my old steel commuter with the twist shifters (blah!) After a few years of this twist and pull, I bought a used Giant Yukon and am loving it. Best part is that it's an MTB and can take a beating on any surface. Since the Winter has been mild this year, I'm curious how the 26" tires handle snow since I struggled with anything above 6" on the ground. Speed isn't a concern on snow surface for me. Not like I'm racing anyone out there when I'm by myself lol.
Haha awesome. Thanks! Nice to hear others use a mix of different bikes as well
I have a bike that does the heavy and the easy stuff: Idworx All Rohler. But everbody should decide what works the best. Happy trails!
Nice! Absolutely, everyone is different :)
The second set of (smaller, better rolling) tyres on an MTB will do for road touring/bikepacking. Regular 29er can fit any gravel tyre just fine. With those, speed is identical to gravel, counting all the stuff we carry with us.
Yes you can definitely do that, but then again, riding position will not be ideal for speed on the MTB but good shout
@@Cycling366 well, each bike is a compromise of sorts :) Your point is absolutely valid, I just wanted to point out that not every MTB has to be that fatbike/gnarly/trail oriented machine.
Literally just today traded my gravel bike in for a hard tail MTB it just wasn't capable enough and uncomfortable on anything rougher than a smooth towpath and sketchy af in damp muddy conditions.
Nice! Yeah nice to have that stability on the wet descents for sure
When I first started thinking about travel with my bike I had a road bike and I got my touring bike a Dawes Super Galaxy triple chain set fullracks and panniers which was handy at all times as I did on call in a hospital and needed to carry a fair bit.
I now have two road bikes, a gravel bike and two MTB. I would go touring on my road bikes and I did do the Great Glen Way on one of them. I then got my Gravel bike with 650b wheels and quite aggressive tyres for up here in Scotland they are a bit of a bind on tarmac so it does strictly gravel. The MTB’s are for winter the old one is a triple chain set and is pretty much an ornament. I was having it fully serviced and ended up buying a new MTB I forgot just how comfy they were and as you say the gears will go up anything and the tyres over anything and I’d probably be quite happy using it for off road touring. I also quite like the simplicity of just having a single chain set.
Gravel and MTB are great up here in Scotland as out roads aren’t that great and even when I got my latest road bike which wears 32’s the difference for up here comfort wise was so much better.
If I was however only going to have one bike to most things it would be a gravel bike ( don’t tell my ProjectOne Domane though)😂
Nice! Always nice to have options really. Especially on Bonnie Scotland
Great video. Thank you. My take away for me based on what you shared is that the gravel is lighter and faster, MTB is heavier and slower. Tell me which one is more fun to ride with less headaches. I would pick the MTB based on two things you said. The MTB is more comfortable (ride further and probably slower) and the MTB is more durable (like a pack mule 😂). If I get some where faster (gravel) that means less time on the very thing I enjoy doing RIDING.
That being said you helped me make my choice on the bike I will purchase. Hope to see you riding out and about in Texas some day. Right on Ride on!!
Thanks David! Hope you enjoy the new machine :)
Almost like asking: “Is a chisel better than a hammer?”
They’re both tools that do different things.
A hammer - always 🔨
Excellent video mate! I'm hoping the industry comes up with an "affordable " suspension gravel bike at some point. That, or I have to buy an mtb and tweak it to be faster..
Thanks very much! Yeah that sounds like something that’s coming down the pipeline I’m sure
What you're describing is just an xc mtb
Love my 100mm travel hardtail MTB for our rough roads/trails!!
Same!
A drop bar titanium MTB would be the ultimate compromise between the two mentioned. Great tyre clearance with drop bar comfort, add in 100mm travel and you get most of the best features from both. And titanium is a lot easier to look after, I have a 2 year old carbon gravel bike and it's showing signs of wear already, and it's only a little lighter than a titanium equivalent.
Yeah definitely. The ultimate compromise but quite costly of course!
To me the gearing is the main differentiator. You can always get fatter tires on a gravel bike (of course not as fat as on a MTB) or skinnier tires on a MTB so there are a lot of overlap in the terrain/roads they'll handle, but where I live I always appreciate the gearing of a MTB even when in shape. Anywhere with lots of steep gravel roads a MTB will shine. Of course if you live in Denmark, the Netherlands or somewhere else with mostly flat terrain then the gearing and design of a gravel bike is more suited.
Yeah gearing is a big factor in bike choice in my opinion!
Great video! I agree it totally depends on what kind of terrain you plan to ride, and whether you can afford multiple bikes. For me I ride almost exclusively off-road on rough terrain so the mountain bike makes a lot more sense.
Absolutely!
Thanks for pointing out that Arctic Norway is, in fact, *extreme.* I was born in the north, grew up in the north, spent a few years in early adulthood down west, then came back to the north. I have been in the north for a few years now, and winters are making me more miserable for every passing year. Complaining is frowned upon, "you know where you live" is the phrase of choice, and people plow through winter with tight-lipped stoicism. Honestly, I spent 8 months living in the UK, and I'd take your rainy, mild winters over the windy, bone-chilling Arctic Norway *any day.* I'm spending *one* more winter here, and then I'm getting out. I don't want to need mountain bikes and expedition grade sleeping bags and skis and heavy, bulky, expensive winter clothing in order to go outside. It's all too much. Maybe that's okay. Maybe that doesn't make me weak. Maybe I actually do live in an *extreme* place. Maybe it's okay to only want a gravel bike and above freezing temperatures and rain instead of northern lights.
Yeah it’s definitely extreme. Anywhere where it’s mostly snow for several months is extreme in my opinion 😂
Be careful of drop position and no suspension set ups as your wrists can take a beating. I did the Canaries last year on cx bike with 40c tyres and I was a broken man (I'm 61 now so maybe that had a bearing). You can get suspension handlebar bits but then you are adding money.
Yeah definitely, got to work within your limits :)
I would think a hard tail mtb is in that sweet spot of price, dependability, and off-road comfort. It's hard for me to picture where a gravel bike excels, but probably car camping spots in national forests since you'll spend a lot of your time on pavement or packed gravel roads while never wishing you had a suspension of any kind.
So-called touring bikes seem better suited to Europe where camping is contained in a narrower band of conditions and where sites are far more developed and less wild.
Good points!
There is no better. ‘Bikepacking’ == ‘Cycle Touring’. It’s simply been rebranded! Gravel bikes are certainly quicker than a hard tail 29er, but you choose the right bike for the event. I binned my underseat bag, and run a pannier rack with low rider 12.5 litre panniers on the back. Having ridden the Tour Aotearoa and the Divide, I’d always choose my HT 29er. I love my gravel bike, but the 2.4” tyres really make it more comfortable.
Agreed! People get worked up about the differences but it’s the same thing in my book!
@@Cycling366 Amen to that.
Yes i think grsvel bike is the way 2 go. Especially if you have something like specialized diverge thst im lucky e have as that has s touch of front suspension not much but it definitely helps
Yeah that’s my go-to normally as well. Not got any suspension on it but maybe in the future!
Relatively flat and fast = Gravel bike.
Hilly/slower and not chunky and not to much single track = Drop bar MTB or Gravel Bike with a gravel fork with ~30-40mm of travel. If you use a gravel bike, use a 1x + a 500%+ cassette. The looser the terrain, the more you should lean toward the MTB for better tire clearance.
Hilly and a bit chunky but not to much single track = Drop bar MTB with a fork with ~100mm of travel. e.g., GDMBR
Lots of single track = Flat bar MTB. e.g., Colorado Trail
Good idea 👍
Agree on everything you said and I’m one of those privileged ones who has a couple of bikes to choose from, cheers from Norway 🇳🇴 😎
Thanks mate! Love Norway 🇳🇴 🥰
I just returned from a month cycling trip and now confused as I don’t know whether I toured, bike packed or just cycled ?
Let me know when you’ve worked it out 👀
i using trekking bike cicling around australia
Cool 😎
As someone in their sixties with neck problems I find dropbar bikes uncomfortable for prolonged periods although I was once younger where I did not ride anything but dropbar bikes!
Yeah I get that, nicer to be more upright for neck or back issues. Got to do what you can! Thanks for watching :)
mtb with 100mm of travel all the way, bigger tires, more options,, more comfort, i have an 8bar tflsberg, its amazing, great steel frame, great geometry. old mtbs have crap geometry, better to buy a new frame and build it up or get an atb designed for long hours in the saddle.
Yeah I do like a short travel MTB
I just got a gravel bike and a set of Ortlieb back roller classics. I looked at the Topeak you’re rolling with but I can’t imagine being able to take enough stuff. Winter gear?
What do you think? I want to bring my 2lb tent and 1lb sleeping, and other stuff and as it’ll be long way….and I’ll bring my drone and maybe laptop.
Nice! Well I use mine for all seasons and I carry all of those things (minus the laptop) I do use a big 65l dry bag on the front though for the deep winter bags etc
Nice video and subscribed. How did you mount the bags on the suspension front forks?
Thanks mate! I actually have done a whole video on this bike and how I see it up here: My New Bikepacking Bike - Sonder Frontier
th-cam.com/video/xpGWSNCQcv0/w-d-xo.html
MTB's used to be sort of about perfect, with bosses for racks, super strong frames, gears for any hill and cadence and sturdy 26 inch wheel sets, they have gone to mode specific now and are not adaptable in the same way. For me a s a shorter heavy rider I would end up adapting an entry level mountain bike,as some still have rack bosses . Or a fully custom build £€$!
Yeah agree, there was something nice about triple chanters and sturdy frames
I prefer a all terrain bike like my Olsen Pinion Lamb ,they are more expensive but you only need one bike ,I never now use any of my other bikes .I also have a suspension stem & seat post .
Yeah nice bike! One bike to do it all sounds ace.
Great information. What front racks do you use on your MTB?
Cheers! This one: m.th-cam.com/video/LWpO6w2HlJI/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUQdG9wZWFrIHRldHJhcmFjaw%3D%3D
Another point when putting weight onto your bike... all of your baggage on a gravel bike will be unsprung mass and potentially impact your handling. Don't wanna find out what momentum my mounted bags can carry after going through a washout that may not have been an issue on an unladen gravel bike... the mtb doesn'T care
Good point
Hardtail mtb for me. Mind you its the only bike i have.
Got to go with what you got! :)
Hi, great video, me and the wife both have Sonder Frontiers, may I just ask which rear rack you have fitted? We have the Ortlieb quick racks but the mount on the seat tube seems a little flimsy!
Cheers mate! It’s a Topeak MTX rack. All details about that bike are in this video: m.th-cam.com/video/xpGWSNCQcv0/w-d-xo.html
@@Cycling366great videos can I ask what mtb you are using please looks a robust machine and is it stock bike or have you done some upgrades on it please
@@stuartharkin-rl6uf It's the Sonder Frontier linked above :) I built it up so it's not stock. But it's also not that high end so could easily be replicated. Check that video out for a closer look.
Can you explain about the elliptical front sprocket
I’ll do a Q&A video on that at some point
but what if I put a Dropbar and some fast gravel tires like the Schwalbe G-One RS with 40mm on it. While running tubeless with the right carbon wheelset?
We could play the ‘what if’ game all day…
So if you take a new pinion gravelbike which have mostly bigger tires these days and can be used with suspention you would have the best of both worlds?
Potentially, would just be heavy I suppose and more components to maintain or things to go wrong
@@Cycling366 that would be strange since the gearbox requires less maintenance then a regular SRAM or Shimano setup with only a yearly oil change. And all the other parts are the same as on the mountainbike. Ok indeed an extra kg would be added to the weight due to the gearbox but most people have more to gain on their own weight then on their bikes ;-) Also the framework is in general heavier on a mountainbike.
Do you ever feel any worries when you are out on longer trips that the frame (sonder) might fail or does it feel solid? fully packed?
Nope not really. Both my bikes are aluminium frames and never had an issue loading them up. I just don’t do any jumps on it while loaded 😛
Gravel as my commuter and for Audax.
Same here
Excellent video...thanks! The more videos I watch the greater the cost of my first MTB or Gravel bike gets...lol
Haha, that’s the way!
What about fat bike? Between MTB and fat bike which would be better for trekking for offroad?
Depends! Fat bikes are better for sand and snow and in theory can carry more luggage. Tend to have rigid forks mostly but they’re still a great option for rough stuff in my opinion
I see few bikepacking with rear suspension. Why is that? Wouldn't it make the right much more comfortable? Thanks!
Yeah i imagine it’s down to not being able to fit rear racks or decent sized frame bags due to the rear shock. Also probably not worth it for road sections!
if i was going to cycle across europe what would be the best choice?
You should watch this: m.th-cam.com/video/1NDJZKyZDz0/w-d-xo.html 😂 😜
Holy cow, that dry bag is huge.
Yep! Got to be to fit the Arctic sleeping gear!
Could someone turn the drop bars up for more comfortability?
Yes but it’s not pretty or ideal!
What rack do you have on the front of the mountain bike with suspension please ?
Topeak Tetrarack - My New Bikepacking Bike - Sonder Frontier
th-cam.com/video/xpGWSNCQcv0/w-d-xo.html
cant beat a good reynolds 531 atb, with a girvin flex stem ;)
Sounds ideal
Any mtb with 29ers is gonna be a good ride if u want to go faster just put less aggressive tyres on it
Indeed
Is that Drax power station .
Yep!
is that Drax in the background?
Yeah 👍
Funnily enough I’ve got the same model Topstone, but hadn’t thought of running it as 650b. How does it ride - a noticeable difference?
Cool! No noticeable difference in honesty! Been riding mostly 650bs on it for the last two years and it’s been great
I have a MTB dont mountain bike and im getting a beach cruiser and no beach
😅😅
Haha bikes for the sake of it! Always ok!
@@Cycling366 yes 😁
Well said, sir. Thank you.
No worries :) thanks
Instant sub
Cheers dude
very helpful thank you!
No worries thank you :)
I think England is best for bike packing, no predators 😅
Watch out for those mad scotch people, we are coming for you.
Haha not that I’m aware of… just roaming haggis across the border
@@garyboyle695 😅
@@Cycling366 I'm American what's a haggis 🤨
I don’t get all of the venom about what to call it, touring vs bike packing and the what the bikes are called or the type of bags used. Would you call an overnight backpacking trip touring?? In the end, WTF does it matter?
100%. Not got time for people who moan about names. Just get out there on your bike and enjoy it haha
Don't tell people that a gravel bike is good for almost everything. As soon as the gravel road gets a little. damaged and there's some mud and sand, the fun is over.
The only real advantage of gravel is speed
So it can’t do muddy sandy roads… but everything else? So “almost everything” 🫤 🤔
Ive seen this guy on a different youtube channel, what is it, my head is done in thinking of it 😂
You’ll have to be more specific, I’ve been on many channels now 😬
Please explain the stylistic voice of placing a nuclear reactor in the background of your video.
It’s a power station not nuclear. And I fancied a change of scenery 😛
I love MTB
🙏
@Cycling366 the best bicycle
in the middle is ATB
Indeed
drop bars give me backache...my mtbs have bmx bars...LOL
😛 got to do what’s best for you man!
Gravel ? lol 😂
We use to call those touring bikes until the eighties MTB came along . then the gravel bike suddenly had two origins.
question- if i ride my MTB or any bike for that matter on Multiple surfaces , am i gravel riding or am i just riding my bike on multiple surfaces ? 😂
You know I didn’t name these bikes? I don’t have a preference what you call your bike, just get out and ride it!
Touring bikes are the best option.
Sounds good
If you're bike packing on easy terrain then the gravel bike but if you're doing serious off road miles a gravel bike is as useful as a chocolate watch.
Absolutely!
Get any surly in any color you want 😁
I’d love to!
Too much commercials on your channel dont have the patient to watch you.
m.th-cam.com/users/premium
And… you do realise I don’t control how many ads you see don’t you?
@@Cycling366 Can you control the ads on your TH-cam videos?
As a creator, you can block certain ads from appearing on or next to your TH-cam content and channel, with blocking controls in TH-cam Studio. Blocking ads can have a negative effect on your earnings, so it's important to choose the control that balances your earning goals with your blocking requirements.
... wrong answer dude. I know cool channels that don't need ads and you can enjoy their content. We don't need to sell all, support true culture
Forget this crap about "bike packing". I have been bike touring for 40 years, get a touring bike and get out there, throw away all those rediculous bags and get a set of panniers, some decent camping gear and get on with it. Forget the dictates of the fashion/cycling industry and get engaged with the reality of living outdoors on a bike. I have cycled thousands of miles thro Europe etc, doing it with a "bikepacking" setup is total nonsense.
Ya but you're always on a road so why not just drive 😅
@@BiKEnBiTESbecause it's about the journey, you miss out on so much by driving. You miss out on the solitude, the me time, the time to think, to realise that you're not that important and not to stress too much about life. Cyclists are happier people.
@@BiKEnBiTESidtent
Glad you’re getting out there but for me the adventure begins off road. No fancy gear required, but it sure is convenient; you know, like a good pair of panniers. But I agree, just get out there.
No thanks. I don't trust car drivers. I want to be as far from cars and pollution as possible. Single track and fire trails for me please.
You're doing bikepacking holiday trip, right? You aren't doing The Tour Divide race. Why would you prioritize "faster", as you keep mention it?
Why not…
@@Cycling366 Typical tunnel vision cyclist. The only thing matters is speed, even though you aren't in a race. Don't forget your skinsuit and aero socks.
😂 😂 😂
I tour on a cube fat bike and a mtb
How’d you find the fatty?