650b Gravel Bikes or Hardtail MTB?
Discussion
I'm going to be spending 4 months on Ascension Island next winter and it may be an ideal opportunity to justify N+1.
Although road biking on Ascension is possible having a bike which could cope with rougher surfaces would be preferable
Over the last year I've had thoughts of going back to my MTB roots and buying a bike that would enable me to explore local bridleways, natural trails and out on to the Yorkshire Dales.
I've also fallen for the marketing of 650b wheels on a road biased frame and the associated increase in comfort as well as the abilty for mild off roading.
Which leads me to two (potential) choices.
The Gravel Bike with 650b wheels has the appeal of being able to replace my current Genesis winter bike but I fear that even with the slickest of tyres, it may feel too 'sticky' on the road.
The MTB is super appealing but would incur a greater purchase price as i wouldn't be selling the Genesis and storage could be problematic.
Although road biking on Ascension is possible having a bike which could cope with rougher surfaces would be preferable
Over the last year I've had thoughts of going back to my MTB roots and buying a bike that would enable me to explore local bridleways, natural trails and out on to the Yorkshire Dales.
I've also fallen for the marketing of 650b wheels on a road biased frame and the associated increase in comfort as well as the abilty for mild off roading.
Which leads me to two (potential) choices.
The Gravel Bike with 650b wheels has the appeal of being able to replace my current Genesis winter bike but I fear that even with the slickest of tyres, it may feel too 'sticky' on the road.
The MTB is super appealing but would incur a greater purchase price as i wouldn't be selling the Genesis and storage could be problematic.
TheFungle said:
I'm going to be spending 4 months on Ascension Island next winter and it may be an ideal opportunity to justify N+1.
Although road biking on Ascension is possible having a bike which could cope with rougher surfaces would be preferable
Over the last year I've had thoughts of going back to my MTB roots and buying a bike that would enable me to explore local bridleways, natural trails and out on to the Yorkshire Dales.
I've also fallen for the marketing of 650b wheels on a road biased frame and the associated increase in comfort as well as the abilty for mild off roading.
Which leads me to two (potential) choices.
The Gravel Bike with 650b wheels has the appeal of being able to replace my current Genesis winter bike but I fear that even with the slickest of tyres, it may feel too 'sticky' on the road.
The MTB is super appealing but would incur a greater purchase price as i wouldn't be selling the Genesis and storage could be problematic.
I've had a similar decision to make, I have a new job starting soon with a 13 mile commute and want to do it a good part, by bike.Although road biking on Ascension is possible having a bike which could cope with rougher surfaces would be preferable
Over the last year I've had thoughts of going back to my MTB roots and buying a bike that would enable me to explore local bridleways, natural trails and out on to the Yorkshire Dales.
I've also fallen for the marketing of 650b wheels on a road biased frame and the associated increase in comfort as well as the abilty for mild off roading.
Which leads me to two (potential) choices.
The Gravel Bike with 650b wheels has the appeal of being able to replace my current Genesis winter bike but I fear that even with the slickest of tyres, it may feel too 'sticky' on the road.
The MTB is super appealing but would incur a greater purchase price as i wouldn't be selling the Genesis and storage could be problematic.
My current bike which I use for commuting and for general MTB is a 14.5kg, 140/150mm travel full suspension bike, with 2.4/2.5" knobbies. Not good for what will be a good 60-70% tarmac commute.
I've wanted to build a lightweight hardtail for a while, titanium frame and a burly build but still coming in at about 11kgs in 'lightweight mode' with a carbon seatpost, and 500g xc tyres. It could then get used in proper mtb mode with a dropper and some 2.6" rubber at the weekends.
However, after cycling the commute route, a 650b, 47mm WTB horizon shod, carbon gravelbike (Vitus Substance CRX, or possibly the On One Space chicken) is going to be the best tool for the job - much faster rolling tyres (the 47mm 650b tyres aren't much slower than normal road tyres), enough comfort for the unsurfaced roads and bridleways, nice and light at 9.5kgs, and much more aero than a big wide 780mm mtb bar. And it'll be perfect for local riding where there's not much in the way of proper singletrack, but lots of exploring that I can do.
I will have an MTB alongside it too, that's key for me. Decide how important road riding is vs offroad. a 650b gravel bike will be good on the road, and OK on light offroad, but terrible on anything 'proper' offroad. An MTB hardtail will be terrible on the road, OK on light offroad, and good on proper offroad.
Having pretty much ridden a gravel bike exclusively for the last 12 months over all kinds of terrain I feel I'm qualified to answer this.
If you prefer comfort then unless the trails are smooth bridleways a hardtail is a better option. Don't be fooled by the promise of comfort on 650b tyres with low pressures. You will still feel every single bump. I have a Diverge that has some travel at the front and it helps but its no substitute for 110mm of plush travel.
If there are any kind of descents involved then an MTB wins hands down but you knew this.
If rides involve tarmac then the gravel bike will be quicker on tarmac and less tiring over longer distances, 650 40+mm tyres will feel no better than a 29er with 2.1 tyres though.
The gravel bike is quicker going up unless the trail is really gnarly. You need to pick lines carefully and you simply cannot smash through obstacles like you can on MTB. This can be rewarding and tiring in equal measures.
I have two off road loops that I do on a regular basis. One is 38 miles and fairly flat with no really challenging sections and the other around 36 miles with 3000 ft of elevation and descent but the elevation is back loaded and all comes in the last 12 miles. I am significantly quicker over both loops on the gravel bike but I have more fun doing the last loop on my MTB and I hate doing the flat loop on the MTB.
If you prefer comfort then unless the trails are smooth bridleways a hardtail is a better option. Don't be fooled by the promise of comfort on 650b tyres with low pressures. You will still feel every single bump. I have a Diverge that has some travel at the front and it helps but its no substitute for 110mm of plush travel.
If there are any kind of descents involved then an MTB wins hands down but you knew this.
If rides involve tarmac then the gravel bike will be quicker on tarmac and less tiring over longer distances, 650 40+mm tyres will feel no better than a 29er with 2.1 tyres though.
The gravel bike is quicker going up unless the trail is really gnarly. You need to pick lines carefully and you simply cannot smash through obstacles like you can on MTB. This can be rewarding and tiring in equal measures.
I have two off road loops that I do on a regular basis. One is 38 miles and fairly flat with no really challenging sections and the other around 36 miles with 3000 ft of elevation and descent but the elevation is back loaded and all comes in the last 12 miles. I am significantly quicker over both loops on the gravel bike but I have more fun doing the last loop on my MTB and I hate doing the flat loop on the MTB.
All very good points.
The more I read into 650b for road use, the more I think they would be a compromise too far.
I ride with 28mm tyres on my Genesis and TBH I don't suffer too badly with the road surfaces.
Perhaps squeezing 32 or even 35mm tyres on my existing bike is what I need to try.
The more I read into 650b for road use, the more I think they would be a compromise too far.
I ride with 28mm tyres on my Genesis and TBH I don't suffer too badly with the road surfaces.
Perhaps squeezing 32 or even 35mm tyres on my existing bike is what I need to try.
alfa phil said:
I have both, if you are thinking of going any where near a bridleway, its Mountain bike all the way.
If you want to compare a rigid mtb with a gravel bike, it is much fairer, so us kids of the late 80s (formative riding years) will be able to relate best. But as I found on my 650x47b gravel machine that it's not the rough treatment of the hands and arms by itself, more the fact that drop bars are near impossible to grip the brake (from the hoods) while receiving some substantial vibrations. I didn't realise how bad this would be compared to the mtb palms on-top a flat bar position.
I wasn't brave enough to compare it to the drops.
As soon as front suspension is added to the mtb, it's a no-brainer and I am severely thinking of trialling a dampening stem.
Depends how bad and muddy the offroad bits are
If it rains where you use it and want offroad then buy a MTB
If its quite rough and bumpy dry offroad you might be better with an MTB
Road based off road bikes are great until it gets very bumpy or pretty muddy
I love my CX bike on fast gravel roads, smooth (ish) bridleways, sections of mud, broken roads etc. On really rough hard stuff its a bit of a pain to ride as every vibration goes through you, its fine for short sections, I wouldn't fancy it day in day out.
As said above think back to the rigid days of mountain biking, if you rode back then.
I love my CX though, I can get a decent pace on roads and then dive off down a gravel cycle way, then climb a path up a field to the woods. I have found its hard work when it gets deep mud and you arent racing!
If it rains where you use it and want offroad then buy a MTB
If its quite rough and bumpy dry offroad you might be better with an MTB
Road based off road bikes are great until it gets very bumpy or pretty muddy
I love my CX bike on fast gravel roads, smooth (ish) bridleways, sections of mud, broken roads etc. On really rough hard stuff its a bit of a pain to ride as every vibration goes through you, its fine for short sections, I wouldn't fancy it day in day out.
As said above think back to the rigid days of mountain biking, if you rode back then.
I love my CX though, I can get a decent pace on roads and then dive off down a gravel cycle way, then climb a path up a field to the woods. I have found its hard work when it gets deep mud and you arent racing!
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