Gravel bikes??
Discussion
Due to some very poor planning, or lack of and relying on Google maps I ended up doing some quite long off road sections on a ride today. I was on my Giant TCR so not really suited for gravel but it seemed to lap it up, admittedly most of the trails were dry and gravelly rather than muddy or rocky but even so.. just left me thinking are gravel bikes a bit of a marketing “thing”?
No, not in my opinion. I've gone on gravel roads with my very light CF road bike, 23mm wheels. It coped ok, but I wouldn't make it a habit... Apart from the geometry, you can't fit big tyres on a road bike, and that makes a huge difference.
MTB can go on the road but they are slow, similarly for road bikes on gravel/off road. Gravel bikes can do all at a good level.
MTB can go on the road but they are slow, similarly for road bikes on gravel/off road. Gravel bikes can do all at a good level.
I have yet to get a gravel bike, but just did the Badger Divide on a cyclo cross bike with 33mm tyres and it was "fun".
The slacker geometry and ability to run 40mm plus tyres makes a gravel bike a much more comfortable ride than a CX or road bike. Low pressure wider tyres takes a huge amount of trail buzz out of the system.
That said, like all bikes right now, I am not sure a £4k gravel bike is doing anything better than a £2k one. Apart from using Di2, which will fail on you in the rain, miles from anywhere, just for s
t and giggles, it's all a bit hyped and over priced. The bike industry has created another niche and is milking it, gravel bikes are just slightly beefed up road bikes with greater clearance and slacker geo.
That being said, they're probably the most versitile bike out there ... with a set of road and gravel wheels, they're all the bike you'd ever need. I use mine throughout the year on and off road, so you kind of feel like you're getting good useage/value from it, where as the race bike gets used from April till Sept.
I've had mine 2 years, should have bought one two years earlier tho!
That being said, they're probably the most versitile bike out there ... with a set of road and gravel wheels, they're all the bike you'd ever need. I use mine throughout the year on and off road, so you kind of feel like you're getting good useage/value from it, where as the race bike gets used from April till Sept.
I've had mine 2 years, should have bought one two years earlier tho!
JEA1K said:
The bike industry has created another niche and is milking it, gravel bikes are just slightly beefed up road bikes with greater clearance and slacker geo.
That being said, they're probably the most versitile bike out there ... with a set of road and gravel wheels, they're all the bike you'd ever need. I use mine throughout the year on and off road, so you kind of feel like you're getting good useage/value from it, where as the race bike gets used from April till Sept.
I've had mine 2 years, should have bought one two years earlier tho!
I'd say that the 27.5" wheels were a new niche that they tried to milk, gravel bikes are the all-rounder that was probably missing from the range.That being said, they're probably the most versitile bike out there ... with a set of road and gravel wheels, they're all the bike you'd ever need. I use mine throughout the year on and off road, so you kind of feel like you're getting good useage/value from it, where as the race bike gets used from April till Sept.
I've had mine 2 years, should have bought one two years earlier tho!
Those who have never ridden the gravel bike with claim they are a manufacturer invented niche.
Those who have ridden a gravel bike (properly) know they are immense fun and very different to Road and Mountain bikes.
I sat in the former camp. Decided to buy a gravel bike as a winter hack, largely as the frame was an almost give away despite being a hand-built titanium. Took it on a gravel ride, then another, then a full day gravel event and became hooked.
It's now got a justifiable position in a multi-bike garage and the second most used bike in there (and only 500km behind the most used).
Those who have ridden a gravel bike (properly) know they are immense fun and very different to Road and Mountain bikes.
I sat in the former camp. Decided to buy a gravel bike as a winter hack, largely as the frame was an almost give away despite being a hand-built titanium. Took it on a gravel ride, then another, then a full day gravel event and became hooked.
It's now got a justifiable position in a multi-bike garage and the second most used bike in there (and only 500km behind the most used).
Of course anything is possible, depends on skill level, mechanical sympathy and depends on the 'gravel'
Smooth converted railway lines no sweat on a road bike. Although then I'd be careful about punctures.
Start riding slightly rougher gravel forestry tracks in Wales and a gravel bike with 40mm+ tyres makes a lot more sense.
Slacker geometry with lower bottom brackets give more stability when off road. I got back on my road bike after 10 months of only riding gravel & mountain bikes and was surprised how twitchy it felt.
And they're more comfy on rough surfaces
Smooth converted railway lines no sweat on a road bike. Although then I'd be careful about punctures.
Start riding slightly rougher gravel forestry tracks in Wales and a gravel bike with 40mm+ tyres makes a lot more sense.
Slacker geometry with lower bottom brackets give more stability when off road. I got back on my road bike after 10 months of only riding gravel & mountain bikes and was surprised how twitchy it felt.
And they're more comfy on rough surfaces
My road bike, Canyon Ultimate CFR, won the gravel world championships a few years ago. Having said that it wasn't a very rough course...
Road bikes have become a lot more "gravel like" in the last few years. My old rim road bike looks tight for 25mm tyres, the new one will take gravel tyres.
I'll stick to taking my gravel bike off road though, it was a LOT cheaper!
Road bikes have become a lot more "gravel like" in the last few years. My old rim road bike looks tight for 25mm tyres, the new one will take gravel tyres.
I'll stick to taking my gravel bike off road though, it was a LOT cheaper!
As a mountain biker I see gravel bikes as a fun way of training and getting the miles in without being mind numbing monotonous road riding.
I have a 'kind of' gravel bike in a Cotic Cascade and it's a right laugh, much faster on the road bits than my mtb's and a weird mix of fun and terrifying when you take it off road.
Stuff that you'd cruise on a mountain bike becomes a bit more challenging and sketchy which to me is fun. The fun you have riding a gravel bike is the same fun that made mountain bikes take off in the first place, adrenaline.
I have a 'kind of' gravel bike in a Cotic Cascade and it's a right laugh, much faster on the road bits than my mtb's and a weird mix of fun and terrifying when you take it off road.
Stuff that you'd cruise on a mountain bike becomes a bit more challenging and sketchy which to me is fun. The fun you have riding a gravel bike is the same fun that made mountain bikes take off in the first place, adrenaline.
Chap in Halfords (don’t laugh) described gravel vs. hybrid as follows:
Hybrid: will get you along medium-rough trails in comfort.
Gravel: will get you along medium-rough trails faster.
I’m considering hybrid (maybe with front suspension) as a single bike to plod along for weekend countryside rides.
Hybrid: will get you along medium-rough trails in comfort.
Gravel: will get you along medium-rough trails faster.
I’m considering hybrid (maybe with front suspension) as a single bike to plod along for weekend countryside rides.
bobbo89 said:
As a mountain biker I see gravel bikes as a fun way of training and getting the miles in without being mind numbing monotonous road riding.
I have a 'kind of' gravel bike in a Cotic Cascade and it's a right laugh, much faster on the road bits than my mtb's and a weird mix of fun and terrifying when you take it off road.
Stuff that you'd cruise on a mountain bike becomes a bit more challenging and sketchy which to me is fun. The fun you have riding a gravel bike is the same fun that made mountain bikes take off in the first place, adrenaline.
This pretty much sums my gravel bike experience too. I bought a cheaper end Genesis Fugio 3 1/2 years ago and it very quickly got under my skin for those very reasons. I have a 'kind of' gravel bike in a Cotic Cascade and it's a right laugh, much faster on the road bits than my mtb's and a weird mix of fun and terrifying when you take it off road.
Stuff that you'd cruise on a mountain bike becomes a bit more challenging and sketchy which to me is fun. The fun you have riding a gravel bike is the same fun that made mountain bikes take off in the first place, adrenaline.
bobbo89 said:
As a mountain biker I see gravel bikes as a fun way of training and getting the miles in without being mind numbing monotonous road riding.
I have a 'kind of' gravel bike in a Cotic Cascade and it's a right laugh, much faster on the road bits than my mtb's and a weird mix of fun and terrifying when you take it off road.
Stuff that you'd cruise on a mountain bike becomes a bit more challenging and sketchy which to me is fun. The fun you have riding a gravel bike is the same fun that made mountain bikes take off in the first place, adrenaline.
I have been using my CX bike like a mountain bike for several years. It is really good fun, having to really work the bike - like riding an old school hard tail with 80mm Quadras up front. Flying down the Wrekin dressed as Lycra Grandad catches a few of the grommets on full sussers out I have a 'kind of' gravel bike in a Cotic Cascade and it's a right laugh, much faster on the road bits than my mtb's and a weird mix of fun and terrifying when you take it off road.
Stuff that you'd cruise on a mountain bike becomes a bit more challenging and sketchy which to me is fun. The fun you have riding a gravel bike is the same fun that made mountain bikes take off in the first place, adrenaline.
I regularly take it into the hills - use it as Llandegla or Nant y Arian on the red runs.
A decent gravel or CX bike can take a lot of punishment - I often tink they are wasted just rambling around forest roads....
Still Mulling said:
Chap in Halfords (don’t laugh) described gravel vs. hybrid as follows:
Hybrid: will get you along medium-rough trails in comfort.
Gravel: will get you along medium-rough trails faster.
I’m considering hybrid (maybe with front suspension) as a single bike to plod along for weekend countryside rides.
Halfords, through the Boardman brand actually do one; the TRVL 8.9 - a flat bar gravel bike, with 40mm of front suspension. I'd class it as an old style 90s ATB......Hybrid: will get you along medium-rough trails in comfort.
Gravel: will get you along medium-rough trails faster.
I’m considering hybrid (maybe with front suspension) as a single bike to plod along for weekend countryside rides.
I'm very pleased with m Boardman ADV 8.9. On the road, where I do most miles, it's much faster than my flat bar hybrid, it's drop handlebars but not extreme, quite upright and flared so quite a relaxed riding position, the wider tyres mean it's miles more comfortable than an out and our road bike but because the tread is quite smooth (Schwalbe G One), not a huge amount slower, and I can go along the canal path or similar with a mix of surfaces without issue.
It works for me.
It works for me.
I tried a few gravel bikes, but the descents on my local gravel roads/trails are super sketchy without decent front suspension. So I bought a 29“ XC hardtail with very fast rolling tyres. I fitted thumb grips, and narrowed the handlebars. It feels pretty racy and quick, not sure how much slower it would be than a gravel bike, or if it would be slower at all.
Tim Cognito said:
I think you'd be surprised how much slower it is. Riding a 29er with 2.2"+ tyres at over about 20mph on the road requires a lot more watts than a gravel bike running some sensible width/tread tyres.
I hardly ride my XC bike on the road, I ride it on gravel/not extreme trails. I also didn’t buy it to set new PB‘s, but I am pleased that it doesn’t feel sluggish on gravel, the absolute pace isn’t the point of it for me.I have two road bikes for the road.
Kawasicki said:
Tim Cognito said:
I think you'd be surprised how much slower it is. Riding a 29er with 2.2"+ tyres at over about 20mph on the road requires a lot more watts than a gravel bike running some sensible width/tread tyres.
I hardly ride my XC bike on the road, I ride it on gravel/not extreme trails. I also didn’t buy it to set new PB‘s, but I am pleased that it doesn’t feel sluggish on gravel, the absolute pace isn’t the point of it for me.I have two road bikes for the road.
Kawasicki said:
I hardly ride my XC bike on the road, I ride it on gravel/not extreme trails. I also didn’t buy it to set new PB‘s, but I am pleased that it doesn’t feel sluggish on gravel, the absolute pace isn’t the point of it for me.
I have two road bikes for the road.
Fair enough, all I know is my legs feel very much to the worse after a 50k ride on my gravel bike Vs xc. I have two road bikes for the road.
Both good fun and have their place
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