GRAVEL BIKES are WORTHLESS...but I bought one anyway. Here is why!

Cervelo Aspero - bit.ly/3t9DqKH
Gravel bikes are the worst of mountain biking with the worst of road biking combined. I have been against them from the beginning but I actually bought one. This video is explaining why I bought the Cervelo Aspero gravel bike.
#gravelbike #gravelriding #roadbike #mountainbike
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[@Bike198]

Don't forget to check out our t-shirt line! shop.bike198.com

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Worst part about road biking is traffic and cars. A bike that facilitates getting off road without the technical skill needed for mountain biking sounds pretty good to me.

[@frankhammond9909]

Agree! And also gravel bikes are almost completely necessary in some parts of the world or the U.S. where many of the roads turn to dirt or gravel as soon as you leave the center of town. I live in Kansas and it is the only bike you need! Also, burlier gravel bikes are great for bikepacking.

[@bramblejazz5940]

This!

[@SteelR4t]

Narrower bars make the front more responsive and twitchy, which aint great on a loose surface. Narrower tyres probably bite better than a wider one on gravel, but other than that riding on gravel on a gravel bike probably needs more skill than an MTB, so i'm not sure I agree with that assessment.

[@topaz_climber]

He simultaneously made the argument for why gravel bikes absolutely have a purpose while - without a hint of irony - telling his audience that gravel bikes have no purpose... Go figure.

[@chrisprice5895]

It's hybrid riding 100%

[@MichalBrat]

I can only have one bike. Gravel is the one that offers the most possibilities for me while also being reasonably comfortable. Also, it's not just gravel roads. Many times on a shitty broken road disguised as tarmac I am really glad I went for a gravel bike. And then there's city commuting, ofc. All in all, I love my GT Grade.

[@KNURKonesur]

Wrong! You should start with Strava before you even get a bicycle, get a power meter immediately, slam the stem, only talk about shedding weight, being more aero and getting a higher FTP and average speed and laugh at disc brakes and people who are even remotely interested in any other style of cycling!

[@MichalBrat]

@@KNURKonesur you know what, I did start with a Zwift-connected spinning bicycle during one particularly long lockdown, hope this still counts 😁

[@KNURKonesur]

@@MichalBrat cheeky! :D

[@thompson121]

oh great, another GT temptation :( may have to buy one myself

[@MichalBrat]

@@thompson121 this temptation comes with a recommendation 👍

[@ZwergDesign]

The purpose of a gravel bike in my opinion is the adventure. Going out, explore, travel - without being restricted to tarmac or single trails.

[@swinsworth]

Yes. Exactly.

[@ravenone6255]

It's another form of a touring bike but better?

[@ZwergDesign]

@@ravenone6255 Well better not necessarily, but its faster and "sportier". If you cycle for weeks or months then a normal touring bike is propably the better choice.

[@2715jedi]

spot on

[@Exgrmbl]

@@ravenone6255 it is really just a modern rebranding of the randonneur. Look up some examples from back in the day - the nobby tires, bigger clearance, even the flared handlebars are not new at all but date back to the early 20th century.

[@theymademepickaname1248]

People say, "it's the bike industry trying to force another bike on us!" No one is forcing you to buy anything. If you are in the market for a new bike, having a lot of styles and options is a good thing.

[@joeuser2360]

When he started off with that being a reason why he was against gravel bikes, I almost ended it right there. Jump past the anger rant to about 2:55 and get to the part about buying a gravel bike. So now he's OK with people liking gravel bikes, "if they're using them for the same purpose I am." Which leaves the question, is it OK to like them for different reasons?

[@onenotesolo256]

This comment should be pinned to every gravel bike video on KZbin, and works for pretty much every hobby. If you think the “[insert luxury goods type] industry” is trying to steal your money, don’t buy one!

[@dustinflores2469]

Exactly, also gravel bikes will be expensive only if a buyer will buy high end parts

[@iknowzeverything2740]

@@CounterSpice What road bike can easily be used on actual gravel? Mine definitely can't.

[@joeuser2360]

@@CounterSpice Great! Grab your Madone or Roubaix and join me on the trails. Because I would never abuse my Madone that way.

[@chefsize]

Here’s the deal, bro. I got into serious cycling in the early 90’s when mountain biking was all the rage - so I had one. And, I rode a lot - technical single track, log jumps, ripping through streams, etc. And, you know what? I was terrible at it. I was always falling & getting hurt. However, I had immense fitness, and my dad was a road biker in the 80’s. I transitioned, and I loved it & still do to this day. By far, I am a road racer through & through. However, I do miss some of the incredible vistas & that feeling of being alone out in the middle of the woods that I could get on the mountain bike. THIS is precisely the gap that gravel bikes fill & what most people misunderstand about them. It’s not about missing the thrill of the speed & racing of a road bike, or the adrenaline rush of bombing down a technical descent on a mtb. It’s about being able to get off the beaten path, just as a backpacker would do & spend some time chilling out in the solace of nature. In this sense, I actually think gravel bikes complement one of the other two disciplines more than they do each other. A roadie can have a road bike for racing & a gravel bike for chilling out in the woods. A mtb biker can have a mtb bike for thrashing trails & a gravel bike for a more relaxed scenic ride. Go check out SAFA Brian’s gravel rides out in the emptiness of the CA woodlands all up and down the coast & you’ll get it. That’s the beauty of gravel riding. And I say this, not even owning a gravel bike - though I surely want to pick one up.

[@knovikain]

I compare gravel to over landers

[@dusty_five_2]

If your build is light like pencil chopstick, with some skill a gravel bike does just fine. A 200+ lbs big shoulder built person would have a difficult time on trails if their bikes aren't beef up. SAFA Brian I'd recommend to wear better apparel against rocks, thorns, and pavements. I'm certain the guy gets cut up all the time. Your blood, sweat, and pain will be with your bike, so don't let others choose for you.

[@HighlanderNorth1]

☑️ Exactly! That's why I'm inventing a new "hybrid" bike. It'll be a cross between a cross country bike and a gravel bike. I'll call it "GravelCross". Now, I do realize that this new design may be a bit too specific for many people, so I'm also inventing a hybrid of a hybrid. It's a cross between my new GravelCross bike and a cross country bike. I call it "CrossGravelCross"....

[@fellspoint9364]

Man, now I’m really confused by the double cross. Can f(x) and derivatives be far behind?

[@kaylafanning3928]

@@HighlanderNorth1 🤣😅

[@rickreyn9242]

At 68 and a road biker I needed a more stable alternative going forward. I tried "gravel" biking last weekend and really enjoyed it, and was able to do some wooded trails as well. The suspension on the Diverge Expert works very well. I was riding a Cannondale Synapse SE Endurance Bike on 32 tires. These are 42.

[@MrRunfluid]

I love my gravel bike. It allows me to leave the pavement behind. I was thinking about perspective as I watched your video. The parts of cycling you call “boring” are exactly what I love, so I guess that’s why the gravel bike concept really works for me. For me, cycling is how I stay in shape and explore areas away from paved roads. Single track and downhill holds zero interest for me on a bike (I love to trail run single track though!). I appreciate your ability to think outside your normal parameters and look at gravel bikes from a fresh perspective. Shows that you have an open mind! Looking forward to viewing more of your videos

[@Bike198]

Thanks Doug! I definitely try to keep an open mind or at least try things before going all in on a thought. Worked out this time for sure.

[@Temporalplace]

Why do you people overcomplicate things ? If you ride different terrain like road , woods and gravel in the same ride then its best to choose gravel bike, simple as that. If i take road bike i can't ride in forest or gravel and if i take mountan bike then i hate to ride tarmac with it.

[@jimboach]

I've been a bike commuter for a decade and loved it, but got married, a house , a truck plus old and fat with kids and sold the bikes. Later picked up an old 1980-something Trek 800 and had a blast but was reminded of how dangerous it is out there. I snapped up a Trek Checkpoint SL5 to lose weight and recapture my glory days. The owner of my LBS explained it was quick enough for a non racer, could feel great on grass, mud, and of course gravel or unpaved roads. The feeling was new and amazing to a guy who only knew skinny tires and aero riding. I never knew how fun it could be tearing up the trails and I love blasting down my local tarmac and hopping on the grass of if I feel a driver is a little too close. I have my family to think about but this strikes an awesome balance of fun and safety. The gravel bike, with the low bottom bracket and huge clearance for wide tires but my sweet 105 group means I have the best of both worlds, not the worst of two bikes.

[@SjaakSchulteis]

Well, I live in Thailand and when I was looking for a bike, I needed one that was fast enough on the streets, but I could also use on gravel and off-road or other places where the roads are not good. When I was looking, I came to the conclusion that I was searching for a gravel bike. I didn't even know that those kind of bikes existed.

[@SkyYukiGuy]

Same, I live in Thailand too. I already own MTB but it feels too sluggish. I would like a road bike but I know Thai roads are not that good so I am looking for a gravel bike.

[@bullfrogboss8008]

In my opinion the worst part of mountain biking is how slow and inefficient MTB on paved road is. A gravel bike solves that exact issue - it doesn't feel like wasted energy while riding roads. I actually do enjoy riding my hardtail mountain bike on gravel roads ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ What I also enjoy is riding 60 km/h on downhill tarmac... on my gravel bike. Which is safer than a road bike. Because wider tires are less likely to be instantly stopped by tiny rock laying on the road. Or a pothole

[@Bike198]

My mountain bike rarely/if ever sees tarmac so that is why the gravel bike is great. I can hit a combination of low traffic roads and gravel. I don’t think I would ever take my mountain bike to the mountains (or the gravel bike for that matter) just to ride gravel. If I am traveling in the car…I am mountain biking on specific mountain bike trails.

[@BPal75]

As a brand new cyclist in search of his first bike - I just bought a gravel bike largely for the reasons you mentioned. I love the ability to safely take it on unpaved trails aware from distracted drivers, yet also have the ability to do some road riding when I want, even potentially going so far as swapping out the wheels/tires with thinner, more road-worthy ones. At 46 years old I am not under any illusions that I would be super speedy or trying to win road races anyway, so this is the perfect bike for me. Thanks for the video.

[@erlendsteren9466]

I like to ride trough the forest and buy a vaffel at a forestcafe (Kikutstua has fantastic vaffels). The gravel is much more course than on this video, so I chose fulldamped gravelbike. This Cannondale Topstone lefty 2 is probably heavier and slower than rigid gravelbikes, but softer too. It doesnt scream "ride hard and fast" and the easy climbgear 40front 42 rear is so light that it s almost like riding an e-bike except for the steepclimbspeed is 5km/t , not 20. It feels very safe going on big 44mm tyres. The bike says to me, dont hurry, be happy. Enjoy the woods. I think its good for me to slow down a bit, avoiding risky adrenalineriding. Back inn 2003 I bought a cyclodross, Rocky Mountain Rail. That bike is much faster, and want high speed. It is also much more shaking on the gravel. something between road bike and gravel bike.

[@mistagregory]

I ride an OPEN U.P. as both road and gravel with two different wheelsets. It's unbelievably good at both jobs. The slightly longer chainstays make it very stable on fast descents, but still an agile climber. Slightly slacker geometry makes it very comfortable for long rides too, on both road and gravel.

[@ivanboesky1520]

That’s because all it is is a road bike designed to handle larger tires. If you ride it with your “road” wheelset on the gravel it will ride like shit and if you ride it with your “gravel” wheelset on the road it will be sluggish as hell compared to an actual road set up. Their marketing BS worked great with many gullible fools. 😀😀

[@geoffbogie3884]

The man just said he uses one bike and two wheel sets to get the best of both worlds. Unclear how OPEN’s marketing is BS?

[@99thObsidian]

I'm a road rider who lives in Loudoun County VA which is know for its vast network of scenic gravel roads. For this reason I bought a endurance bike that could accommodate 32mm gravel tires. This setup is brilliant for the flat C&O canal towpath along the Potomac river. I completed the Loudoun 1757 Gravel Grinder event recently on the endurance bike and wish I had rode my Fuji carbon hardtail instead. Main reason is that 20-30% of event route was steep (4000 ft gain over 50 mi). 32mm not enough float to safely bomb descents. So time I made on flats and climbs was lost crawling down hills trying to avoid potholes and washing out front wheel. Despite my caution I still hit a pothole while on my hoods. The force of the impact slid both Di2 hoods an inch down on the bar. I thought the whole bar was toast. I suspect my hardtail with a lockout fork (for climbing and flats) and 2" 650b knobbies would have handled the gravel more confidently. Will see next time I go out. Still, I'm considering buying a gravel nonetheless and save my endurance bike for pavement.

[@jd-lv6gi]

Up until 2 weeks ago, I hadn't ridden a bike in over 20 years. Last bike I had was an old Schwinn 10 speed lol. Bought a Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 a couple weeks ago and absolutely love it. Around here the roads aren't the greatest and it terrifies me to even think about road riding with everyone so focused on their phones while driving. The gravel bike is just a good all around bike and fits my style well. I can cruise around the neighborhood with my grandson and still be able to take those longer rides on the trails, some of which are partly gravel, and can commute to work in comfort if I choose. I know I'm giving up speed compared to a dedicated road bike but, I'm not in it to break any speed records. I'm just loving being out riding again.

[@PrinceCbass]

I have 4 bikes. First, a cheap grocery getter city bike with a rack, fat seat, suspension seatpost, adjustable stem, fenders, lights, panniers and a basket. Then I have my real bikes. A carbon Specialized Enduro, Litespeed Ti gravel, and a carbon Ridley Fenix SL. I ultimately purchased the Litespeed gravel for a do it all setup. It is "comfortable" compared to the racier Ridley. It is more durable for rough terrain and the occasional fall. It is titanium so it doesn't scratch or dent or crack like other materials. It has clearance for up to 2.1 inch wide tires on 650b/27.5 wheels. It has the ability to hold fenders, racks, multiple water bottles, fork mounts for additional carriers. I have flared drop bars for added stability at speed, a redshift "cushioned stem for little forgiveness on the bars, fizik 3d printed seat for the bum and fat 47 c tires that can run down to 25-30 psi (tubeless) and still be 'OK' on the tarmac sections but forgiving on trails and gravel. I have multiple frame/bar/seat packs for bikepacking or longer more endurance rides. I have 2 wheelsets, one with more of a road tire and one with an knobby tire...both 47c on 650b. My Ridley sees the least seat time. I love it's speed and precise handling but it requires me to be on the road and the road must be somewhat smooth and clean. Here in Germany the roads are not perfect and many places I ride have paver stone paths, bike paths with transitions that must be dealt with judiciously, or roads that are not in the best condition for the small tires, stiff frame and 80+psi tire pressures. The roads are also narrow, cars travel faster and there is very little room outside the painted lines for emergency runoff. I prefer mountain biking but it feels like an elephant when on gravel roads which I have plenty of where I live in Germany. Like you the gravel bike has given me a great choice of both worlds. Epic scenery, faster on gravel roads, capable of tarmac, gravel and offroad but still a fun bike no matter the situation. At 22-23 lbs it is 12lbs lighter than my enduro and only about 2 lbs heavier than my Ridley.

[@TysRides]

EXACT same reason I got my Cervelo! I've had mine almost 3 months. Got about 2,500 miles on it and absolutely love it. Nice video!

[@Bike198]

It has ended up being the perfect bike for the job for sure!

[@marcs4091]

I just bought a gravel bike is usually followed by "ja😂haha sucker"

[@type1fun476]

My husband and I did something similar. We found we were not comfortable road riding anymore but mountain biking wasn’t enough either as it is a good amount of driving to get to the trails. Living right next to a National Forest we have access to a huge number of backroads and forest fire roads and it adds a lot of fun to our “road” rides. There is some older, easier singletrack that we can jump on too and we don’t have to worry about our kids while we ride as well as we almost always have them riding with us.

[@andystone5425]

I have an early generation gravel bike, a 2016 GT Grade with aluminum frame and all Shimano 105, and it has been the best bike I've ever owned (and I've owned over 20 bikes in my life). Plenty fast on the road with 28 mm slick road tires, but also very at home on the limited number of smooth gravel roads I encounter in eastern PA. It only accepts up to 35 mm tires, but that really is more than enough. And, it has road gearing which is perfect for a bike that spends the vast majority of time on paved roads. If I want to do a gravel event, I have a second set of wheels with 35 mm tires. I do find myself tempted from time to time to get a more aggressive gravel bike (i.e. one that could run 40 mm tires or wider), but I think I'd find myself in the same situation I'm in with my MTB - trying to find places to ride it, and having to put the bike on my car to get to those places, rather than ride out my door.

[@robertomalatesta6604]

A gravel bike , a seat post bag, mountain bike shoes with flat to the sole clips, normal stretch hiking trousers, so I can enjoy a road and if the road intersect some interesting path, I can pursue it, then stop in the main square of a perhaps nice small town and have a coffee or whatever without feeling conspicuous; that's my idea of bike fun. Oh I sport a 52/39 and 42 tyres, so I can keep my pace in plenty of confort...

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

My friend, yes, you may be right... gravel bike is just another piece of crap they want us to buy. However, the bikiign community is very big with lots of different riders with different needs and tastes. What about those riders? What about people who don't want all the speed of a road bike or all the trail capability of a mountain bike? Gravle bikes are perfect for someone... even if not yourself.

[@Caldermologist]

My gravelbike is my only vehicle. I use it for commuting to work, and save 90 minutes each day. I also use it for some local, but not nearby shopping, and for the occasional visit to the closest larger town West of here.

[@jasonanderson1480]

I just bought a Cervelo Aspero RX810 with the 48/31 2X. I haven’t been able to ride it yet, but am planning to finally do so this weekend.

[@duckmanduckfairy8010]

A gravel bike can really hang with most road bikes unless you’re riding cat 6 groups, and it’s just as easy to get a second wheel set for road use! Tires will also transform a gravel bike into a very quick road bike also with off-road capability, the industry has developed numerous designs that roll fast on tarmac and grip great on gravel!

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

Exactly!

[@goku445]

Would you think my hybrid commuter bike with slick 28 road tires can also become a gravel bike if I fit it with gravel tires? I found the geometry rather similar.

[@duckmanduckfairy8010]

@@goku445 they are very similar and probably fine for light gravel riding but not super for chunky rough stuff

[@goku445]

@@duckmanduckfairy8010 Yea, thanks. It's still not as harden as a gravel bike.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

@@goku445 Sure! If it has straight bars, it could be marginally slower in headwinds (could feel more so when riding it), but otherwise it would make for a gravel bike alright.

[@ShredTactix]

I bought an “All Road” bike and outfitted it with 25mm internal width wheels and 38c tires and it really is a very light, quick, capable comfortable bike that will go most any place I want and fills the same need for me that yours is for you. Leaving from my house and going for a ride on multiple surfaces and doing fairly well on most of them. As a mountain biker it has been a fairly easy transition for me, as opposed to a full on road bike.

[@solitaryrefinement6787]

All Road>Gravel

[@skiMTB]

Well stated. I am an avid mountain biker, and new to the road/gravel bike scene. I gotta admit, I like the speeds gotten from riding on roads, but I do NOT like sharing with CARS. I think fire roads are the perfect happy medium.

[@Bike198]

It really is the only way to enjoy skinny tires safely these days.

[@sci-fyguy7767]

I ride mtn, road & gravel & gravel riding is a nice break from cars. 🤘🔥🚴🏻‍♂️🔥🤘

[@litespeed65]

"Gravel" bikes are only relevant on very specific grades of back roads. Here in the Canadian prairies, gravel roads are treeless with large-sized & very dusty gravel and are essentially elevated and slippery superhighways for farmers in their pickup trucks-NO.

[@thompson121]

that's the same way in southern illinois, long straight ways for bigfoot trucks. only 12 of them passes you an hour, but it's no fun breathing dust. 😂😂

[@earlthomas7517]

I don't know about central Florida, but in South Florida, a gravel bike makes so much sense cuz there are long gravel paths along side the everglade, the Levee, no cars allowed on it, it's flat, no climbs, there's like 300+ miles of this, probably even more, tbh

[@everthealtruist]

One of the best things about getting into cycling for me has been hearing the different kinds of value different people get and look for in the bikes and the activity.

[@marvinn6044]

I get your points, but what if someone is new to biking and wants to do a bit of everything? What if I want to commute to work, but need to take shortcuts across rougher roads sometimes. A road bike might not be safe enough, and a mountainbike not well suited for city roads. Gravel bikes were always marketed as a "jack of all trades, master of none" so just comparing it to the extremes will leave you disappointed naturally.

[@Bike198]

I almost wonder in that case if a light hard tail might be better. I am not sure I want drop bars in a mountain biking situation. If you can only get one bike…there are some gravel bikes that dip into that a little bit more than the one I got (suspension and other more MTB related components).

[@fragasm726]

I bought a Trek Checkpoint gravel bike for commuting and pavement/trail riding. Normally I'd have bought a straight road bike but here in Minnesota the roads and trails are pretty rough (potholes, cracks, rutts). So my gravel bike is basically just a really rugged road bike, and that's how I use it. As a plus, I can take it off road when I need to and I don't have to worry about beating the hell out of my tires on gravel too much. Sure it's not as potentially fast as a road bike, but it has served me very well thus far!

[@Bike198]

We pay to ride and don't get paid to...so the best fit is better. I think some riders forget that sometimes.

[@zubayrbhyat8077]

I basically ride this way too. It's so enjoyable being able to mount a kerb without worrying about your rim.

[@frankthomas3780]

I wanted one bike for gravel and road, to invest in great frame, DI2 shifting, 2 sets of nice wheels. Aspero was my choice and it has been awesome

[@Bike198]

It does pull double duty really well!

[@outsidersbicycleclub]

Thanks for your opinion, not sure why this was on my home feed or why I clicked it, I love all types of riding and respect them. Do whatever makes you happy!

[@rudyelizondo1935]

Why did you get the aspero and not the caladonia bike? The caladonia is faster and you can fit some big tires on it also for gravel? Good vid What size tires are you using?

[@Bike198]

Availability was a huge problem when I was looking. This one was in stock and on my list.

[@MortenProm]

In Norway, the few roads we have, are narrow and filled with cars. I've ridden single tracks on 150mm full suspension for years. After a major crash, where only the back protector kept me out of a wheelchair, I'm no longer finding joy in mountain biking. Gravel biking is now my choice, yes gravel is kinda boring, but it gets me out there :) RIding a Canyon Grizl with a Rock Shox Rudy form with 30mm travel.

[@onenotesolo256]

Nice video. Agree with you on the marketing (although I have no issues with bike companies doing this - that’s their job) and I also went for an Aspero to do double duty. Based on the frame being the same for all of them, I took the same approach by getting the cheapest available one for components (Apex 1x and alu wheels, which frankly wasn’t much more $ than the bare frame) and have upgraded to a mullet with SRAM Red 1x up front and Eagle XX1 mech and cassette at the back, Easton carbon bars and stem and carbon wheels. Bike weights 8.1kg with pedals, cages and mounts and goes up tarmac hills pretty happily. I have a set of Zipp 303 Firecrests running 32mm semi slicks for road, and some Reynolds 650B with 47mm gravel tires for off road. Clearly it wouldn’t be perfect for a fast group ride on tarmac, but it’s as fast as my road bike on rolling terrain - the limitations being my fitness, not the gear.

[@Bike198]

Love the upgrades. The wheels are going to be my first to get. I just haven't decided on which ones yet. The ones that come with it are very entry level for sure.

[@kelvingay8765]

I do not own any bike but due to the COVID restrictions, got myself a gravel bike, I didn't enjoy riding on road as of safety issue. But I love bringing my gravel bike to local single tracks or gravel trails and pushes it to its limit.

[@christopherharmon9336]

Great video! For the reasons you mentioned, I often like to get out and ride my old hardtail. Residential roads, multi-use paths, and hard pack paths are not a problem. Yes, you lose some speed, but a hardtail will take you anywhere you want to go.

[@Bike198]

I used to do that as well when I had HT's laying around. It's hard to do with the heavier bikes.

[@theymademepickaname1248]

@@Bike198 having an ultralight bike is overrated unless you are racing competitively and seconds matter. Be in shape and have tires to match the terrain you're riding on. A couple extra lbs of bike weight is negligible.

[@duxxling103]

What make me excited everytime I go for a ride are the side trips and unplanned path which I can only do anytime with HT MTB without any reservation

[@shaunoleary8740]

I have a Norco Search XR and I love it. The only down side is how at risk it is of being stolen in Vancouver...I always have to keep an eye on it, even when it's locked.

[@MTBAlex]

Good point. I just acquired one, and upgrading to anotherone pretty soon. Roads are dangerous with people on their phones and many times, in my area, there is not even bike lanes.

[@larrygross1248]

Just finished building my first gravel bike, which will replace my road bike. I've only ridden 150 miles so far, but I love this machine. It's just a more comfortable ride. I traded some low bike weight benefits for the comfort. For the sake of a few extra pounds, it was absolutely worth it.

[@Bike198]

I agree on the weight front. Just a little extra weight on a gravel bike is definitely worth it. I am not out there to break records anymore anyways.

[@samt.1369]

Way to go! I'll be working on my first gravel bike built too. I'm just waiting to get my wheels so I can start working on it.

[@larrygross1248]

@@samt.1369 Just a little postscript, Sam: Now that the weather's turned, I've put about 250 miles on the gravel bike so far. After yesterday's ride, I'm convinced it's the best bike I've ever owned, including "name brand" bikes. Keep building.

[@joshuabarnett8152]

This video encapsulates everything I have experienced with a gravel bike. I am a former rode racer that switched to riding MTB. LOVE riding MTB now and hated riding my road bike on busy roads. I bought the same bike you have and now I love riding it on the empty gravel roads and gravel paths around my home.

[@9890878758]

Yes I am using a GT gravel - Grade. Absolutely loving the comfort and the handling.

[@f1fnatik]

Most comfortable and capable bike I’ve ever ridden!

[@xosece]

sry to hear about the hits in the roads near you. As of recently I found my dream bike, the Canyon Roadlite 6 (7 too). More than a gravel bike, my dream bike was one that mixes the nimbleness of a road bike and the easy gears of a MTB on a 1X drivetrain. The Roadlite 6 is the perfect bike for me in that sense, since it has a 1X (1x12) drivetrain, with a 46T chainring and a 10-51T cassette. This means that it is faster than my 2X (48-34T 11-34T) Decathlon road bike (46-10T of the Roadlite 6 vs 48-11T of my road bike) and with the easy gears of my a 3X MTB (22-30-40T 11-34T), 'cos I live in a very hilly region and my MTB's middle chainring (30T) along with the largest sprocket (34T) makes climbing possible in most hills here (some are very tough), so 30-34T of my MTB vs 46-51T of my Roadlite 6 is a very similar ratio and it's a bike that's going to work well anywhere, specially with wide tyres (so I could use it on gravel too)

[@joshweston5981]

I have that same model bike, I personally prefer the gravel for commuting. It allows me to use more routes and not have to worry about some of the areas with horrible road conditions. I like not feeling limited where I can ride

[@alphatruckhouse8223]

Thanks Man ! I just bought the same bike ! @ 66yrs . I left NJ and the beautiful horse farm country area and have been out west , CO , AZ , UT , SD etc. Tons of gravel roads that interchange with Tarmac. Love ridin & racing . A guy with an iphone , now 5 bikes !! , livin my best life in a truck . ~peace~ ( gotta ship my TT & 1 rode bike back to NJ)

[@alexandert4252]

When you have gravel roads like that (or any gravel roads for that matter) i guess it's really great to have one. It's when you DON'T (and want to get away from roads where possible) then choosing between gravel and MTB is much more complicated...

[@LastAphelion]

This. My choice for a bike is so conflicted, I'm isolated in the country, yet I'm not surrounded by nice places to ride. There are no shoulder roads to ride road, and even if you dared to you'd want a MTB to avoid folding your wheels in our pot holes. I would kill to have all those lovely isolated gravel roads and trails I see all the time on riding channels to warrant just having a gravel bike... People think because people live in the country like me that there must be lots of places to ride, but you end up having to drive an hour or more just to get to somewhere decent. I'd be better off with a monster E fat tire/enduro to ride locally in the woods. The town bike shop thought I was insane seeking suspension, because they live in a town and only ride paved block lol

[@alexbpunkt1875]

@@LastAphelion I have the same problem :P I like both actually and I need to figure out which one I should buy.

[@sherab2078]

I think a lot depends on the rider's attitude. I myself, I do like the feel of being fast on a tarmac, but this is surely not my main motivation for riding. For me, this is more about enjoyment from physical effort. I want to train to keep my body fit and lose some weight (sitting work). And this passion came to me just recently, because the first was rather a local trekking. Hence, I bought a (budget) gravel bike because, I'll be honest, I think they look really cool and at the same time, bring everything to the table for me, what I do need. I don't have real single tracks or XC-type routes in my neighbourhood, so I don't really need an MTB. I spend most of the time on the tarmac. Still, having those broader tires than in a typical road bike, I feel more confident I won't have an accidental puncture, and when I want, I gen get off the tarmac and go some field or forest roads. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I would achieve my goals with an MTB too. So I partially agree with the statement that gravel bikes are not really needed as another type of bike because most of their jobs (aside from speed on the proper surface) could be fulfilled by a hardtail MTB. But since they are there, then why not ride them? They are nonetheless different from both, road bikes and MTB. My new bike gives me a real joy of riding. And that's the point, isn't it?

[@chriskim7060]

Your video really pushes me to consider buying a Cervelo Aspero. I agree with your idea of a gravel bike that can be converted to a road bike if needed. I've owned road, hardtail and cyclocross bikes over the years, but I want a dedicated gravel bike.

[@Bike198]

It is one of the ones that does that well. There seems to be a wide spectrum of gravel bikes out there as the market kind of finds it's way.

[@TysRides]

You WILL NOT regret the Aspero! Just buy it. Trust me.

[@LarryRichelli]

@@TysRides Just curious, how much does the Aspero weigh? Thanks

[@TysRides]

@@LarryRichelli I'm not sure of the exact weight honestly. It feels pretty light though...

[@Francis-qj2yf]

Thinking of picking up an Aspero Apex 1 myself. How has your long-term experience been with the Apex 1x drivetrain? I know the internet is quick to bash it as the entry-level groupset. I'm not particularly bothered by the perception, but care more about how it's held up in practical use (quality, durability, riding limitations, etc.).

[@Bike198]

The reality is that entry level group sets are better than top of the line even a little while ago. It has been solid. Are there better ones? Sure. I'd rather upgrade wheels, tires and brakes in that order. That is the best bang for the buck on upgrading over shifting.

[@own3dv1ru5]

Part of your 1st point is actually why a lot of people enjoy gravel. Riding 3 wide to chat isn't really possible on road bikes. I think because of this reason most road rides, even when advertised as endurance rides, devolve into PP measuring contests. Gravel is more social because you can own the road and there's no pressure to measure genitals thus an endurance ride will actually stay at that pace

[@Bike198]

Jimmy, that is a very good point. You get the social aspect of mountain biking in a road biking like format.

[@j.b.2769]

I bought a lower end Gravel bike a couple years ago and never rode it. I put 650b road tires "slicks" and now have a road bike feel and do quite well with it. Because of the road feel I'm really appreciating the gravel aspect of it and often change tires and have come to really like boh road and gravel in the same bike.

[@maxsievers8251]

The gravel bike is an all-road bike or randonneur of former times. Since the original safety bike there was a need for these bikes that were fast on long rides on any surface road.

[@da3rdman]

I crashed badly on a sportive and had several months to think of a new bike while recovering. The idea of more relaxed riding - as opposed to racing - lead me to buy a very light gravel/all-road bike with carbon frame, wheels and other components as well as a 1x group-set and disc brakes (an OPEN U.P.P.E.R. fitted with Campagnolo Ekar and boutique components. I continue riding on the same fast-paced group rides as I used to on my race bikes. It’s just so much more pleasurable though thanks to the 40mm supple and slick tires. I do occasionally ride on gravel and even some single track, including a long day with a group of mountain bikers. The bike performs well in most situations - often better than a MTB - rough terrain being the exception due to the lack of suspension. In my humble opinion, this is the way to go for anyone looking to own only one bike.

[@deanblackwell2090]

You're right about the roads. They just feel dangerous now and they never used to. My gravel bike solves the problem because it rides well on the road and paths and unsealed roads

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

I live in Paris. You can say that I am crazy for cycling there and enjoying it. The terrain there is very diverse with forest parks, roads, gravel trails etc... And not a single street is flat, so I am cycling up slopes all day long. Cruiser bikes are terrible at going up slopes, so they're out of the picture. I would love a gravel bike, but it would cost me around 1000€. And I can't justify that when my dirt cheap 90s mountain bike gets me everywhere and rides smoothly with slicker tires. I do 15, 20km rides with an 18 km/h average. That's not impressive, but consider that urban cycling requires a lot of stopping for traffic. The 90s mountain bike is just noticeably slower than a modern road bike. But I am not worried about getting this bike stolen, and it's tougher than nails. I guess I haven't tasted the feeling of riding a modern well-equipped road/gravel bike. I am just put-off by your privileged attitude. It's okay to not have the fastest ride. You could just ride a cheap 90s mountain bike everywhere. Their geometry is closer to road bikes than more modern mountain bikes. It's really not that bad.

[@DaveCM]

I love my gravel bike. It is the best tool for the job. It is much faster in thee majority of situations than a mtn bike and handles some roads that would destroy my road bike. Plus, the road bike would be slower on a chunky gravel descent.

[@braggybones9372]

Roadie to gravel bike. Im really enjoying my Cervelo Aspero, I ride it like a road bike and I don’t have to worry about the little potholes and road cracks anymore.

[@Bike198]

You can also ride closer to the edge of the road with the wider tires. It's always annoying to hear non-riders say you should ride on the other side of the white line when they have never seen how many rocks and debris is over there. Doesn't work on a road bike. Much better on a gravel bike.

[@lomicwind]

I love gravel bike because it removes boundaries. With my roadbike, I can't ride with pleasure on bad roads, and very very limited on trails, forest paths and so on. With my MTB I have very bad aero, and tyres rolling resistance is really noticeable, so I am "limited" to slow routes in the woods (which I enjoy a lot but don't want to be limited too all the time). I can go everywhere (except technical descents) with the gravel, and as mentionned in the video, I can go on "roads" where the traffic is very very low, which I enjoy a lot. While not being too slow or having to use a lot or energy to maintain some speed.

[@harris7412]

The versatility of a gravel bike is what sold me. I too don't have any trails near my home and it's not easy for me to access them so with a gravel bike I can ride safely on roads with no traffic and if I want to go fast just swap the tyres and it's just like a road bike( yeah the geometry is not super aero but I am not doing hardcore racing with it so it's not a big deal, with a proper aero road bike I could probably go 1-3 km/h quicker but the versatility that a gravel bike has is worth the cost for me)

[@chassbunnbuildingllc7231]

I think the endurance bikes check a lot of boxes especially with some offering up to 30 mm or 32mm tires. You can do light gravel on a 32 and not give up the pavement handling. Especially tubeless.

[@jasonhymes3984]

I agree 100% with this comment. I currently have a Masi Vivo Due endurance bike. I have 32mm tires mounted and will be riding 65 mile gravel ride this week. The gearin is awesome and I can climb anything. Clearance for upto a 35mm tire. I will be looking for a 2nd wheel so I can swap between slicks and knobbies easily.

[@pierreheim4695]

Very enlightening vid and comments. My question is : could/should my actual and planned respective % of road (80-95 %) vs light gravel riding be a good starting point to -finally- discriminate between a new ultra endurance (for the comfort) disk bike with clearance for 32 mm tires and a gravel bike ? (With two sets of tires and maybe cassette) 🤔 Currently planning at 65 to tour beautiful Iceland 🇮🇸 on its circle road and solo/pack ride roads and Alps climbs in my 🇨🇭 I’ve been commuting on a road bike for years and doing popular short distance 🏊🏼🚴🏼🏃🏻 Merci d’avance pour vos précieux avis

[@OliverReilly1]

Never seen the point in gravel bikes at all. I think they’re stupid. I should also add I got one last night 😂

[@Bike198]

So you went down the same road I did!

[@timdixo]

Like you,sold my road bikes,now down to a Spesh Diverge and a Hardtail. The Diverge get 90% of my use. Any surface on the pie chart is fair game. Gravel is the bomb for safety and sense of adventure vs road.

[@chesterthomas5093]

It’s also about where you live. I’m in northeastern Vermont, and a skinny tire road bike is useless here. The pavement options are limited, and most of the paved roads are in worse condition than the gravel ones. If I try to do an all paved route, it still ends up being 10-20% gravel getting to and from those roads. I’m lucky enough to have a Ritte steel road bike with hydro discs and 32mm tires (for when I’m feelin roadie), and an Orbea Terra gravel bike with 40mm tires for most rides. Also, people with carpal tunnel or other issues can find flat bar bikes excruciating to ride. So long live the gravel bike. I don’t think it’s hype at all. I think it’s great to have choices that are not dictated by racing (after all, MOST cyclists are not, and never will be, racers), and it gets more people on bikes.

[@downundermtb4744]

Backroads safer 👍 I’m a mountain biker and I love gravelling when it’s to wet or to far to travel for some different trails..The Diverge I have breaks up the boredom for me.I can see me taking this bike on holidays to do rail trails which are getting far more popular in Australia now ..

[@martialgerolami2192]

I can see your point of vue somewhat. I am a pretty dedicated roadie and I feel your pain when it comes to unruly motorist that don’t give you space. This is why I have bought a gravel bike. We have a lot of gravel country roads in my area which are a bit to tough to negotiate on a road bike with 25mm tires so the gravel with say 40mm tires really makes it more enjoyable to ride. I still do a fair amount of road riding but usually in groups of 2 or more so we are a bit more noticeable on the road and we all have Garmin radar with bright tail and head lights. I do wear very bright colours when on the hard top and sometimes my riding buddies make a bit of fun with that but my motto is see and be seen. I tried mountain biking and enjoyed it but not being a very seasoned MTB rider found it challenging. So the Gravel bike allows me to do some, not so challenging, trail riding that gets me out into the serenity of nature and allows me to ride in the open air as well.

[@andrzejplocki6438]

I love my gravel bike. I’ve used it for loads of things inc light touring. It’s a pretty my much do everything bike. I don’t feel pressured into buying it, if I did then I wouldn’t have bothered.

[@randolphhaluza-delay5144]

I'm looking at a bike for touring and thinking that a gravel bike is best for me. I love riding the rough off the Beaten Track roads. But I want to go for weeks or a couple months oh, so I'm still wondering if I should get a solid Touring bike rather than a gravel bike for that kind of riding. What do you think-would you take your gravel bike on a long tour?

[@andrzejplocki6438]

@@randolphhaluza-delay5144 Personally, if I was looking at long tours, I'd be looking at a solid touring bike with off road capabilities. I use my gravel bike for light touring, but would look at something more bespoke for anything more.

[@aliensporebomb]

I went with a gravel bike for my most recent purchase because my road bike dated to the mid 2003 timeframe and technology had progressed quite a bit since those days. I have a dual squish mountain bike but I wanted something that was more durable than a standard Road Bike (mine was beer can thin aluminum) yet not so fragile as some of the super light carbon road rides and faster than a mountain bike. So I ended up with an Orbea Terra, a carbon bike that was a bit sturdier than your average road frame with the capability of running road wheels and or gravel wheels. It feels fast like a road bike but has the ability of riding on gravel or other off-road situations where a road bike might not be able to hack that. Also given that I am a heavier rider having a sturdier bike is a good thing for me. At any rate so far this is proving to be a good solution for me because it can fit multiple situations. I have tried road tires on the current wheel set and it is pretty fast. Yet the stock gravel tires give it a cross country mountain bike feel but fast. I think what really has happened here is that the bike industry has figured out a way to leverage the strength and capabilities of both road bikes and off-road in a single bike. I have noticed a recent trend in the last eight or nine months however that seem to be focusing on turning the gravel bike into more of a mountain bike as opposed to a dual purpose road/mountain bike which I think may be less successful overall: why not just get a mountain bike then?

[@chrisblanchard4938]

I love my gravel bike and prefer it over my road bike any day.

[@markhay1664]

I Gave up road biking for the same reason. Switched back to mountain bike ( off road riding there is no mountains we’re I live ). I have been tempted to go grave bike. But don’t think I could go back to being bent over smashing my back on a full ridged bike again.

[@itsalukas2]

So you’ve always hated gravel bikes without ever riding one or going on some gravel trails? And now that you have one, you like them? It sounds to me that you’re just not very open to new things.

[@jazzfan7491]

Those are all good points but I see it a little differently. A true road bike is simply not practical at all. So having pushed very impractical bikes which are, not coincidentally, very expensive, the industry turns around and says oops, here's something you can actually ride in your neighborhood since you're unlikely to be riding in the Tour de France anytime soon.

[@carlrichards9333]

So I take it a "Gravel Bike" is just a standard road bike with thicker tyres or have they reinvented the wheel here ????????🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@spiderboyjosh]

I think the integration is a nice take on bikes because you either have a mountain bike or road bike that each have limits. It may not be for everyone, but to have a bike that allows you to ride on the road and off road is the best of both. Usually or at least for me fitness was my main focus for cycling in the first place. I suffered a fall on my bike going down a hill and losing control so speed is less a factor for me because I still get nervous when I approach an area that may make me tumble from the speed and debris or holes in the road. The heavy weight of the bike helps in excelling your fitness needs. I have a specialized gravel bike and have never had a better experience with a bike before. I've had mountain bikes and road bikes with my first being an 80s Cannondale. That bike was smooth and my first experience with drop down bars and feeling like a real cyclist, but now having my specialized I think this bike far exceeds what my expectations were. I would assume having one bike that does both is better then having a mess of bikes that you have to switch for whatever level of riding you choose and it really limits what you can do. You have to plan your trail or road around the bike you use vs having the option mid ride to change your mind. It's a no Brainer that gravel bikes are popular.

[@markreams3192]

I think a gravel bike is like a Swiss Army knife. It does most things well. With a change of wheels with fast road tires you have a fairly fast road bike. Most gravel bikes are endurance road bike geometry with clearance for bigger tires. There are outliers that have radically slack geometry like an enduro bike but those are the exception rather than the rule. Cycle cross bikes are purpose built for one thing. Cycle cross! They have steeper geometry, high bottom brackets, limited tire clearance because of UCI tire size limits and are not really good for road or gravel. I have a Sage Titanium Barlow. This bike rides as good as any road bike I’ve ever had in a wide variety of surfaces. I’ve been riding for 48 years and have owned many bikes including steel, aluminum, carbon and now titanium. I’ve had Masi, Pinarello, Paramount, Trek and Speciaized carbon and custom built steel from Co Motion. I’m probably forgetting a few. This titanium gravel bike rides as well or better than any of them and I’m not limited to paved road surfaces. To say you don’t understand why they exist is rather short sighted. There’s a sense of adventure that comes with a gravel bike. Horizons are widened! It’s kind of like a kid when he gets his first bike. New places and new things are open that weren’t previously. Gravel bikes tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people! That’s why they exist! Yes, there’s a certain amount of marketing here but the marketers struck a chord that sounded good to a lot of ears. It’s not unlike a few guys in Northern California in the 70’s that took some old clunker bikes, put gears an derailleurs on them and started riding on Mt Tam in Marin county. A few of them started building these fat tired bikes from scratch including an upstart company called Specialized and marketed them as mountain bikes! The mountain bike was born! There was a sense of adventure in being able to ride a bike in places that were previously off limits. I guess it caught on as gravel is catching on today! Enjoy your new bike! Maybe in time you’ll consider it the best bike purchase you’ve made!

[@Bike198]

Mark, thank you go for taking the time to share your experience. You are actually making a lot of the points that I made in the last half of the video. It does check a lot of the boxes and replaces a road bike for me. Best of all…it gets me road riding back without having to be in traffic.

[@dimitriosstagkos8298]

Stoked to see you back uploading again! Keep the videos coming !!

[@Bike198]

Thanks! More coming for sure!

[@cosmicheretic8129]

I just bought an all carbon low spec model gravel bike for the exact same reason as you. I can upgrade the frame as time goes on. Also, instead of road cycling I was into road motorcycles and sold them for the same reason you sold your road bikes. I have seen some test comparisons that show there isn't a huge speed difference in road and gravel bikes with similar wheels/tires. I want a year round bike when the mtb trails are too wet or snowy to ride in winter. Good video!

[@PG-xr4uh]

So how does a gravel bike differ from a hybrid? Besides the handlebars? Does that make a gravel faster? Also, being older, I'm concerned about a drop-bar bike giving me back or neck pain.

[@Bike198]

The geometry is completely different. A gravel bike is closer to road bike geometry than a hybrid.

[@PatrickDelorenzi]

Great video haha. I actually like the fact you can head out and both send it fast on the road and on the gravel, getting some good training in. Oh and getting off the roads is always a plus to me! I also got an aspero, but ordered in august and still waiting on it damn!

[@Bike198]

Has it come in? The wait for bikes is still insane.

[@evanboogaart9772]

Very interesting point road safety. I am lucky to have multiple bike paths near where I live but there is often a 2-5km stretch on the busiest roads which sucks. My reason to get a gravel bike is versatility: I want to be able to do on and off-road even if I will lose some functionality (abt 2km/h slower on road and geometry unsuited to mountain biking)

[@bugeyesprite119]

I'm 71 and a gravel bike is perfect for me. I will not ride on busy roads due to the risk of injury. I'm lucky enough to have a paved bike trail a block from my house and some gravel trails not too far away. Due to arthritis in my neck, back, hands, hips, and knees I can't ride on skinny road bike tires and 35 to 45 mm tires are a necessity, even on a paved bike path. The suspension on my Domane and Diverge also really smooth out a ride. I agree with those who have said that more choice is a good thing. If you think gravel bikes are useless or you simply don't want one, don't buy one. I wouldn't buy a minivan, but that doesn't mean that no one else should.

[@Bike198]

I am with you on the mini van thing. 100%

[@TheBluehornz01]

My VAAST A/1 is a quiver killer. I use it on roads w/ 28mm road tires, slap gravel tires on it to venture off the tarmac, and I do cyclocross with it. Super versatile!

[@nerigarcia7116]

I come from road riding since the 80s and like you I found it getting more dangerous, plus I got tired of my same club rides and just wanted to mix it up. I got a gravel bike to explore the trails around my area and it renewed my love for riding, plus you are out in nature with no cars. It was a win/win. Living in Southern CA where it's a concrete jungle it was just nice to get out and see some hills and natural scenery. Now gravel riding is quite different from road, you're not going to be riding as fast but there are other things to enjoy about it like I mentioned above. I have a Bombtrack Tension 2 which is listed as a CX bike on their site but some of the geometry lies in between a race CX and something a little slacker found in gravel bikes, so it's the best of both worlds. Coming from road bike geometry I was used to a more aggressive position of a CX and what a lot of pure gravel cyclists will call twitchiness. Being a roadie I think a CX bike feels most roadlike off road. And the thing about gravel riding is it doesn't matter what you ride out there as long as it works for you. There are so many combinations of bikes, parts, geometry within the gravel scene that whatever gets you rolling and makes you comfortable is what works. I may benefit from something a little more slack but my bike works for me as it feels closest to my road bike and a lot of the trails in my area are technical so having a bike that is more responsive makes sense. Plus it'll hold 42s so that's plenty of cush for what I need. With gravel racing becoming a thing I'm sure you'll see more aggressive geometries coming to the market. The transition won't be as drastic as you'd think.

[@Bike198]

I have no interest in the group rides I used to do in the past either. They ultimately turned into a suffer fest as everyone was looking to out due the other. The gravel rides are nothing like that and a nice change of pace…and no cars. There were always one or two guys that would run stop signs and piss off all of the drivers around us. It would get dangerous at times.

[@nerigarcia7116]

@@Bike198 Yeah, like I said gravel renewed my love for cycling. It is definitely more chill than road riding and especially group rides where you have to be alert all the time. When I ride gravel I'm actually able to enjoy the ride. I'm not hanging onto a wheel, silently competing with the next guy, or trying not to get hit by cars. I'm just out there enjoying riding my bike. And that's what it's all about. That is the appeal. I doubted it too but enjoy it now. It's a lot slower pace but then again I'm old and can't ride fast anyway. 😁

[@abandonedbrain]

I rode a mountain bike as a bad hybrid for over a decade. I live in a very rural area and the roads are filled with trucks running from farm to farm (MI). These people don't give a crap about bicyclists. All I want to do is keep in shape; I'm a Clydesdale and have a hard time justifying a road bike in an area where I may get run over. BUT, there are gravel roads aplenty, and thank goodness for Fredrick Meijer's family buying up the old railways in our area to hand over to the conservationists. I picked up a Cannondale Topstone during lockdown because my 20-year old mountain bike was just too damn heavy, and it's changed how I look at riding completely. Rail trails are perfect for gravel bikes to run on! I am a 240# wannabe bicyclist; there's no way I could keep up with a group, but when I hit that trail, I feel like a monster. The bike is perfect for me (though I still have a bit of fitting to do), and I am so happy I'm not riding a hybrid. Light, quick, tactile, it's the best thing I could pick up for what I wanted to do: keep in shape but not look like a lumbering fool doing so. Gravel bikes may mean different things to different riders, but for me it's an expression of freedom I didn't have even with a MTB.

[@soloist777]

For most part, I agree with you. For a no. of years I thought gravel bikes were a gimmick, and a marketing ploy to get cyclists to buy 'another' bike. However, after asking a couple of serious local cyclists who had gotten into gravel biking what they thought, their enthusiasm for them was infectious. And so 12months ago, I got one. I live in a rural area where traffic isn't much of a concern so it's not particularly dangerous on a road bike, and we have some serious trails for mtn biking as well as plenty of of gravel and dirt roads as well. Depending on where I want to ride, it will determine what bike I use. I don't regret buying my gravel bike because it's a lot of fun on the forest roads and light trails in my area. I'm not sure as some KZbinrs say..."A gravel bike is the only bike you really need" because I enjoy riding all 3.

[@Bike198]

Completely agree. It is definitely not a replacement for my mountain bike. I couldn’t ride it on trails that I enjoy riding at all. Maybe for the light hard tail/short travel guys that are more into endurance/xc? But for my riding style…not even close. I don’t see any bike as a “only bike you need” for sure. My mountain bike is not fun at all on gravel either due to travel and weight.

[@42Porter]

It’s taken me 3 years to mostly recover from the last time a careless driver hit me. I haven’t ridden on the road much since, but you’ve just opened my eyes to a new way to enjoy road riding without the constant fear of getting knocked off ruining my fun.

[@reinmutuc8999]

Living in the country, it's the best way to get around. Especially with the rising fuel cost.Was against it at first, ended up coverting on old hybrid to a would be gravel bike. It has become my daily rider.

[@michaeldennis2630]

Agree about everything unfortunately I hate drop bars. Actually considered a hybrid that I could fit bigger tires on. I could still get more speed than my mountain bikes for gravel trails and still have my flat bars. I agree about the roads - scarier all the time but I need them to get to fire roads and the trails I have near me. Unfortunately gravel or hybrid works for some of them but not the rougher jeep trails, not much single track near me.

[@kevinmach730]

Distracted drivers and some more scenery / seclusion are what got me off the road and into my MTB and Fat tire bike over the last 7 years. However, after a while, a few drawbacks started to rear their head. 1. As beautiful as they are, single tracks start to look the same from a scenery and lack a little bit of the exploration aspect. 2. Single tracks have a way of dictating how hard you work by way of punchy hills and technical terrain, where you have a fair amount more say on smoother surfaces or trails. Sometimes, you don't want to hammer it, you just want to get out and get some exercise and not over do it on a given day. 3. We have a fair amount of rails to trails in my area, that stop a cities along the way, things to see and do- more the "adventure" or "bike packing" type of cycling= stop and have a cocktail, check out a town, and move on. There are more reasons than that for me, but those are some of the things that have me thinking about getting a gravel bike.

[@Klunker1]

Sold my road bikes a few years ago, sold my Aspero last month. Luckily I live in SW Colorado and can mountain bike from my house. Own 2 hardtails, one geared one SS. Road riding just got too scary and lost it’s thrill after 50 years. I’m old but still love to ride especially on dirt roads and trails.

[@manabiker]

I got a Light Touring bike in 2017, sold my road bike, for the traffic reason too, gravel bikes are still evolving, I've altered my steel bike, with narrow flat bars, getting rid of those finicky RS505's, I ride with Bar Mitts in winter, I couldn't shift, or brake well, I really like the 640mm 50mm rise bars, trigger shifters, and real seperate brake levers, with freeze thaw our gravel roads look like mine fields at times, I've suspended mine with Red Shift stem/seatpost, its now a gravel/mile eating monster..its not a race bike, it a ride bike. I love my Epic EVO, but it won't be on the gravel, and the Sequoia won't be on the trails.. gravel has wildlife, so not like roads with texters.. Happy Trails

[@alisavas9526]

I don't do hard core mountain biking but I owned one anyhow. When I moved up to the countryside in Cheshire UK, I swapped it with a road bike thinking that in this posh part of the country I would be riding my heart out whizzing on quite country roads. Huge mistake! The condition most of the roads up here is absolutely terrible! Roads haven't been maintained properly for decades and even patches have patches! Even the main roads are full of pot holes, debris and whatnot, it's nion impossible to enjoy riding a road bike, let alone it's quite dangerous. Every so often, you also damage the fork or the wheels or the tyres and get punctures! I'm now thinking of swapping the road bike with a gravel bike, because it would be much better on bad road surfaces, as well as it would open up the foot paths & dirt tracks to me, which I cannot use with a road bike. And when you hit the good part of the road, you can enjoy a bit of road biking as well. I'll give it a try anyhow because I'm not enjoying my road bike anymore up & down the same patch with a half decent tarmac on it.

[@timhull8664]

The only difference between gravel and road is increased clearance in the front forks, longer chain stays for the same reason.. this additional clearance facilitates the fitting of larger tyre widths, mudguards. Lots of the also have pannier lugs four backpacking.

[@anthonyharris483]

Converted my Reynolds 853 Kona Explosif with drop bar, 650b wheels, carbon suspension seatpost, 1x10 Microshift drivetrain, and it's a blast. It's what works for you to enjoy cycling.

[@gwynnlyell2539]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and getting out on some gravel roads is nice, sorry. As for geometry. Cervelo Asperger’s 71 degree head angle, length 83cm, the R5 HTA 71, HTL 93, that means one is more tucked on the Aspero. In fact the Specialized Diverge is the slackest at 70 degrees. So they aren’t all that slack, and the Tarmac (high end road bike) the HTA is 70.5. I really enjoy my gravel bike, and there are a couple of places where I have to get out on the road and I find it minimally slower. I also know that I could put a set of regular road tires and be able to rip down roads and zipping around corners. I just choose not to. How do you feel about tubeless tires?

[@michaelhawes7185]

Im just trying to find a bike lol sheesh. I'm not racing , might go off trail once and a while just a bike, nothing complicated .

[@muzkat101]

Gravel bikes came out of the sport of tour bikes or touring bikes, and first used in Europe. In the 80's, touring bikes were very popular, and I'm sure they still are today, but different in design. As I too had a touring bike back in the 80's, only Bridgestone bicycles had an official 'hybrid' road/gravel bike design; basically, a road bike with slightly wider 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" slightly knobby 27" tires. HOWEVER, before I discovered this Bridgestone bike, I had already began using my Schwinn Voyageur SP touring bike for a bit of off-roading, however, on 1-1/4" road tires... I saw the potential here; better tires for gravel and bike touring could hit the unpaved trails far better, as I had already been doing, but without modifications. It was not until the early 90's when I got my first hybrid bike that I truly began to enjoy both road and dirt, and that was with a GT Continuum bike I bought for about $480 new; it came with 700D 1-1/2" tires, and a lightweight frame design that made it far better handling and nimbler on the trails. Keeping in mind, this was not an attempt to be a Mountain Bike, but a bike suited for the occasional recreational city street and off-road courses without having to compromise on either in a pinch. Since the vast majority of my riding was on street and about 10% was off-road, it was perfect. That's what a Gravel Bike is made for; it is not a replacement to a Mountain Bike nor a replacement to a Road Bike, but a convenient Hybrid for some, perhaps many everyday riders who want a bit of both for recreational fun... even for touring. If by chance I want to hit the trails hard, I'll use a Mtn Bike, and if I want to hit the road hard, I'll use a road bike, but occasionally I like to do a bit of both with the same bike, and a hybrid of the two is perfect and NOT worthless.

[@jtalley8191]

I bought a Trek checkpoint gravel bike. I didn't like the gravel tires because I ride mostly on tarmac. But I didn't want to swap out the tires everytime I was planning a strictly gravel ride. So I just bought a second set of wheels. My gravel wheels are tubeless with gravel tires and my road wheels the same with road tires. Most of my riding is on tarmac, but I enjoy a decent gravel ride and with this I get the best of both worlds without having to own 2 bikes. And I agree its a little crazy out there on roads today, but I try to find least traveled roads or 4 lane roads with lots of room for cars to pass. I also got a garmin varia, a radar tail light that lets me know when cars are coming up behind me. Cheers

[@Bike198]

I love the second set of wheels idea for these bikes. My days of trying to lead an A group are gone so I don’t need bikes like I had in the past that were just all about speed. The Cervelo would be great with a set of road oriented wheels/tires as well.

[@duraath]

i worked in a bike shop pushing sales, and the most i sold are gravel bikes to the newcomers during covid, reasons are, most are not really into lycra and speed, they just want to ride, explore and working out. a road bike is really not for them, knowing the stereotype of being a roadie etc. a mtb is a bit too advance for them as they don't have the technicality and skills offroading a trail, they are prone to accidents. a modern gravel bike is a do-it-all bike for these people, like a hybrid, a touring, a cx, u name it. your points are legit. thanks for sharing your experience.

[@Bike198]

I can see that being a huge selling point for newer riders for sure. Thanks for sharing that.