Do You Need A Gravel Bike? Does Anyone?

[@ralph17p]

Bit of a step down from Lord of the Rings for Sam and Frodo.

[@VideoNOLA]

One chainring to rule them all!

[@wdadwawdadawdwdwa4133]

@@VideoNOLA These guys ironically do not promote a one by setup iirc

[@8Junio76]

🤣

[@GregGrude]

Ralph Pickering Good one. Made my belly-laugh.

[@DesertRunner602]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@M1K3R0LPH]

I think scepticism towards 'the next big thing' in the cycle industry is healthy and probably overdue. To me gravel bikes are a jack of all trades and a master of none, and I mean that in the best of ways. How many of us actually race at an elite level where the difference in all these subgenres justifies another purchase? I personally think the fairly recent shift towards more functional cycling is brilliant, it's made cycling more fun with a less elite vibe which hopefully gets more people pedalling!

[@wonkylommiter6364]

Well said! ;-)

[@jackblack5246]

"Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one'' ? :)

[@bigjohnnygee123]

Spot on. Mudguard clearance, comfy riding position, and the choice to fire on plenty of different tyres makes them a clear choice for most folk. I reckon I'll get a "gravel" bike for my next "road" bike.

[@Cannulae]

Yes, well said.

[@ShermanSitter]

I agree with all these comments! I have a "go anywhere" bicycle, but pretty sure some would call it a gravel bike. it lets me do things that I would not want to do with my other children. :) I have masters of one AND a jack of all trades ready to roll!

[@natural9743]

This is clickbait none of these bikes are made of gravel

[@bikeradar]

Well played!

[@elcolessio5767]

If gravel contains coal. I guess it may be used to build carbon bikes too! Considering their price - literally money is lying on the street ...

[@SquarebobSpongepants]

right? and a cross bike is def not for Jesus

[@remondodemont7364]

But what about an all terrain bike? How would you combine the different materials? It’s a nightmare!

[@spambryan17]

@@SquarebobSpongepants wut the actual fuccckkkk. I diedd laffffffiinngggg

[@Joecoolboyz]

Lets quit calling them gravel bikes and instead call them what they are. It's called a sport utility bike. SUB for short. They are perfect for about 80% of riders. They handle tough terrain adequately. Pavement is tackled easily no mater the distance. And the geometry is perfect for the average person who doesn't need to set a 40km TT record. Multiple wheelsets expand the utility.

[@runningwithshemp]

Ditto and calling them SUB is excellent idea, looking at the delineation of pure CX vs gravel vs monster cross from preceptive of competitive or experienced rider is pointless. Anyone who can put out 200-250 watts for hours on end or 350-400 for CX or XC race is going fine on any of the said variations in geometry, rim diameter and tire size of these confirmations (e.g. Nino Schurter could win CX race on XC bike or vice versa against field of competitive amateurs). When I worked at bike shop about 2003-2004 it was for example really hard to sell a Big S Roubaix when everyone wanted a Tarmac because it looked sleek. They didn't want to seen as old, slow or inexperienced. The few people I could convince to buy an entry level Kona Jake rode those into the ground and had fun vs most people stopped riding the Tarmac or TT bike because fit too aggressive. Or later we'd have put on 50-80 mm stems or +30 degree rises so people necks and backs didn't hurt, never mind the harshness of cheapo 23 mm tire. Also a one-by with 40 T up to 48 T with up to 11-50 in back is easier to manager vs a 50x34 by 11-28 and just ride around less then 10 mph around a 34 in the 11 or 12 with chain rubbing on front mech. Finally there's the safety factor it's easier to stay up right on 35 mm plus tire vs 28mm or less for most riders

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Totally agree. Just not a fan of the term SUB.

[@W1DO]

Confusing when thats sarah ulmer bikes brand tho... SUB

[@Vanadium]

So guys if I want to get back from the awesome MTB world to get ONE type of roadbike, should I buy the SUB?

[@DavidvdGulik]

Kyle Doberer many people have no interest in riding off road, so I'm not so sure about "perfect for 80 percent of people"

[@DonLinker]

So I made the plunge and bought a gravel bike about a month ago and love it. I had gone on gravel rides with my MTB hardtail and found I couldn't keep up with the group on the tarmac sections. I can use my gravel bike on the road, but choose not to. So I have a road bike for road, MTB for mountain and gravel for gravel. I'm a happy camper

[@GunslingerKFG]

I think u guys should take into account, that a Gravel bike provides a completly different experience. Riding fireoads on my fully MTB is kinda boring, while on a gravelbike everything that is a bit rougher, is more fun and challenging and i think the experience and fun you have on a bike is the most important thing! Like if u guys think so too, greatings from germany :)

[@sebastianjost]

I certainly agree. It's very hard to find MTB worthy trails where I live. Therefor my gravel bike does get a lot of use. Nevertheless I still ride the more expensive bike more often. And that recently changed when I got a new XC Hardtail.

[@MidWesti]

EXTREMELY helpful! coming from a hardtail MTB in Colorado My new bike will be a 2x gravel bike. Doing a lot more commuting with light trail riding. Thank you guys!

[@hiro111]

I agree with many of the points here, but this is a somewhat UK centric video. Many countries have lots of fairly smooth dirt and gravel roads that a gravel bike is ideally suited for. This does not seem to be the case in the UK. As a result, many UK based cyclists seem to understandably struggle to understand gravel bikes. Come here to the Midwest of the USA where there are hundreds of miles of traffic free, easy to access and beautiful gravel roads to ride and gravel bikes will make a lot of sense. Overall, ignore the labels manufacturers put on bikes and buy what will work best for the type of riding you do.

[@whenhen]

hiro111 it would be interesting to have Ben, the US editor, throw his weight into this debate. Colorado has a large number of these rural gravel roads which are ideal for this kind of riding.

[@TomMarvin1]

we'd have loved to get Ben's view on this, but trans-atlantic video production can prove tricky at times! we're working on it though

[@zmjone2992]

colorado is somewhat unique in that there are tons of very smooth dirt roads that you can ride on a proper road bike. many other states (i've lived in pennsylvania and washington) more or less demand a gravel, cx, or mtb.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

It's all about where you live and what you like to ride, right? A downhill mountain bike doesn't make any sense for me, for example, as a roadie in Colorado. Similarly, a rider in London might not get a lot of use out of a gravel bike. But somebody in, say, Montana, where there are hundreds and hundreds of miles of gravel roads? Pretty ideal.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

There are heaps and heaps of 'gravel' roads in the UK. They are not called that and are ignored by roadies because they too rough and ignored by MTBers because they are too smooth. Hence the false perception they don't exist here. In the UK we have dirt tracks, fire roads, farmer's roads, greenways, byways, bridleways, rail trails, RUPPs and BOATs - many of which would be called gravel elsewhere. Not to mention many of our country back roads are crap condition and often have a layer of gravel or even grass growing down the middle. I'm currently riding ALL the area around where I live and a gravel/cx bike is the perfect bike by far for the job because I'm constantly riding 'gravel' roads.

[@edgarstudillo5649]

i was going to buy a gravel bike but managed to fit 32mm tires on my vintage steel road bike, it handles very well on gravel and sandy roads, that is the best upgrade i've made to that bike, soon ill be changing to 44cm handlebars with flare an probably a shorter stem for more control

[@paulojrg]

Be careful with the shorter stem it may render your bike very twitchy.

[@jayblankenbiller5385]

Edgar, That's it ! What the British cyclo tourist used to call "Rough Stuff". They managed quite well with the machines you and I are riding today. I'm riding a 74 Gitane Interclub with bar ends , 32's and a compact crank set to go where so many have been told that they need a "Gravel" bike to get there. Been doing it for decades .

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Road bikes are derived from road racing. The XC bike is derived from mountain bike racing. The "gravel" bike is the bike for the rest of us that like to do spirited rides in comfort with no intent of racing and have fenders for gods sake.

[@Metal-Possum]

Back in the day we'd call them a touring or randoneurring bike, just not exactly loaded up with racks and bags. They had to be dependable, bigger tyres (650b) and more comfort. More recently Hybrids were a big deal, until the 29er came along, but I still think the gravel bike is nothing new, and nothing special, and certainly not at all necessary.

[@CanIHasThisName]

Actually, gravel bike is derived from gravel racing/sport events.

[@mistacoz]

That's probably the best explaination I've read tbh. I was struggling to see the reason for them until I read that haha

[@fredricknietzsche7316]

thats right, the ergo benifts of tried and true rodies and the comfy benifts of off road sized tires as options is the killer app of transport.

[@allgoo1964]

Alex Paulsen says: "but I still think the gravel bike is nothing new, and nothing special, and certainly not at all necessary." == Gravel bikes maybe not new but bikes before always had some short coming or sacrifice to fit in THEIR idea of marketable bikes. Gravel bikes are the one that everybody wanted in their sub conscious but they couldn't visualize until someone put together. (Before this, I loved the idea of so called "sports bike", usually you could find under bottom of the line road racing bikes which come equipped with all the eyelets ready for anything maybe except ability to fit the fatter tires.) Now that the makers got the basic message, I'm expecting to see slight difference among each makers competing who can come up with the best idea. From this on, I'll consider having two bikes for everything, one folding bike for train and bus travel and a gravel bike for everything else.

[@Smt_Glaive]

Do I need it? NO Do i WANT IT​??? HELL YEAH

[@Vaaxol]

ME TOO :d

[@wonkylommiter6364]

Yes, this pretty much sums it up! I have no problem with people buying a niche bike that they think they need but could probably do without, if it gets you off your arse and out riding thats great, and if it keeps your car on the drive even once a week then that's great. I have more bikes than I strictly need but love them all.

[@peternewton2200]

Wonky Lommiter that’s not possible. You can’t have more bikes than you need

[@MrJoseafi]

I started with a road bike now i got a niner rlt9 a specialized diverge expert and a specialized camber mountain bike, but now it takes me 30 minutes to decide which bike to ride.

[@donmichigan8201]

N+1 I've got 16 too many. I need an intervention

[@zmjone2992]

i have to ride 15-20 miles to get to the good dirt/gravel and i hate driving. riding an xc bike this distance would be miserable. a gravel bike is the only way to go for this.

[@taufikabidin412]

Zachary Jones good point, I've always think a true biker should ride home to home, not using a car to travel

[@tapdq]

You weak as fuck, thats why u miserable! 60-100 km easy on my hardtail.

[@YamiKisara]

@@tapdq exactly! I have an older cross bike and I easily travel 100+ km a day on it. The only fatique is from the lack of training or maybe the wrong type of saddle, everything else is just excuses.

[@gboyspeed]

I casually ride about 30-50km with my xc bike , didn't think about efficiency on gravel over xc or something , just love whatever bike u have

[@pahouseholder]

I don’t even need to watch the video to answer: YES! Granted, I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, the home of the unofficial Gravel Worlds & can be on wonderful rolling gravel just two miles from my house near the edge of town. Yet, a gravel bike can extend your riding season & create more riding fun. Before getting a CX bike I set up for gravel, I’d installed the biggest tires I could on my endurance road bike, 28s, & ran the pressures in the 70s-80s. It worked-sorta-but it was rough. For gravel now I've got a Specialized CruX with discs that I run 38mm Challenge Gravel Grinder Race tires and I love it. Bringing the balance to the discussion, however, any other rider would need to evaluate their own accessibility to gravel & desire to give it a go. Personally, I'm so glad I invested the money & get to grind gravel regularly.

[@RevelCris]

crux is a cross bike.... the diverge is their gravel

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I love my gravel bike. I built mine though.

[@busoptr]

Saw that video , thanks for the instructional, that cannondale looks awesome im planning to do that too on my mtb but i dont know if my hydraulic brakes would work on those dropbar levers, might need to go mechanical disc brakes?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@busoptr You can't use mechanical brake levers with hydraulic brakes. You will either need special hydraulic levers, or switch to mechanical disc brakes.

[@busoptr]

@@RJTheBikeGuy thanks

[@fernando1998al]

@@busoptr isn't there a giant stem that adapts cable pull brakes to be used with hydraulic brakes. Or get one of those hybrid disc brakes from sphyre

[@zoid88]

Does your average Mr or Mrs Lycra really need a super aero road bike then? A bike that you can take anywhere is far more use to most people than a bike that is perfect for one thing. Add to that the variable quality of roads you will encounter and a gravel type bike makes more sense. I have a GT grade (yes not full gravel but same sort of thing) with some 35mm tyres on and I can go pretty much anywhere. I won’t beat many strava times but it’s certainly good fun doing it

[@pastagreyhound]

I agree. I think many people new to cycling went out and bought an aggressive road bike only to find that it did not suit them and sort of put them off riding. I also have a GT Grade (well, I have a stable of 18 GTs, actually) and I absolutely love it. I've done plenty of centuries on it as well as gravel. The geometry is perfect for an old guy like me. Is it as light as my Ti or carbon road bike? No, but I'm not a racer and the group that I ride with isn't all that fast. We just want to have a good time!

[@busoptr]

My dream bike is that GT grade with the floating rear stays.

[@andrewduncanduncan7387]

I agree. I like having a gravel bike which I can fit out for light touring with panniers, take the rack off and go bikepacking, take everything off and do a fast (ish) run, get the shopping, look at least a bit cool (I am 68 after all). I have two wheelsets which means I can do most things that would usually require a garage full of bikes (er indoors might get tetchy).

[@andrewduncanduncan7387]

Incidentally, I like mechanical disk brakes as a busted hydraulic line might get rather inconvenient and Scwalbe Marathons, which lose on speed but save on puncture repairs in the rain in the dark (which are not my idea of even type 2 fun!)

[@chadashton7029]

Why not have them? I rode a pure road bike of one brand/model or another for years. Grabbed up my first gravel bike two years ago (Jamis Renegade Elite) and promptly unloaded my road bike. The gravel bike does everything the road bike did and more. Now of course the gravel bike probably won't be the best choice for everyone. But a gravel bike can definitely fill the need for MANY people.

[@markedconn2]

Thats true because except for more tire clearance and slight geometry changes, they are almost the same. If one puts skinny tires on a gravel bike, the difference is minimal.

[@marcelhnr4263]

I've just purchased my first gravel bike, I used it to ride with the kids at weekends, commute to work, and use it to go out by myself to keep fit, what I enjoyed most about it, is the different grip position I get on the handlebar. I certainly enjoy more than my specialised hybrid bike.

[@standingsideways85]

For sure in the Midwest.

[@normanzielke6108]

One issue that is missing is gearing. Most cross bikes come with 46:36 crankset. This is great for attacking short steep hills, but for longer ascents e.g. in the alps most folks need lower gears. For instance a 46:30 crankset paired with 11-34 cassette.

[@caperider1160]

29er Hardtail xc does it all I will keep my hardtail with the option to change into narrower tires and rigid fork and perhaps a mini aero handlebar extension for versatility

[@busoptr]

So doable. YES!

[@deviceology9251]

I bought a gravel bike . Did I need it - YES! Do i also need a hardtail - YES! do I also need my tcr adv - YES! do I need my cross bike - YES! do I need my runaround lock anywhere bike - YES! do I need any more bikes - at least one YES

[@richardm9688]

Now, you should get a horse as well.

[@rj-gd3pc]

Hahaha you need to much dude ✌🏻

[@jemma_19988]

such material consumption can be bad for the environment

[@TheFabFoo]

@@jemma_19988 Cars are worse ;)

[@theGiver3]

Haha you're thr embodiment of the n+1 formula and i think that's amazing

[@originalkontrol]

Great vid guys! I am def a gravel bike lover. I’ve been fortunate enough to own several bikes at once, and broke enough to only have one. Currently, I’m on the fortune side with gravel, Fixie, and trail bikes, and an eye on a TT bike for road only. The one I chose to keep when I could only afford one? Gravel. It’s done 70+ mile days on road rides with 25c roadie tires, somewhat techy trails, dirt jumps (seriously) and everything in between. If I could only have one... I’ll have the jack of all trades, master of none. Hopefully that never happens again though, lol!

[@markreams3192]

If you need another hand position you can always consider bar ends for a mountain bike. They’re definitely old school but do offer another hand position for long distance comfort. Specialized still offers carbon bar ends on their website.

[@garrys1973]

I have a 2017 specialized Roubaix, I have 3 sets of wheels. I have the DT Swiss wheels that the bike came with a set of continental 4s 28c tyres, I bought a set of Hunt 4 Season wheels which I put some 32 c tyres and just got a set of 650b’s with some serious 40 gravel tyres. To be honest I am going to sell the Hunt wheels as the bike is as good as any gravel bike with the 650b’s and the 28cc tyres on the original wheels are great on the road. You don’t need a gravel bike if you have a good endurance setup.

[@garrys1973]

Hi, I have a Mavic Crossride wheels from evans and Swchalbe Marathon tyres, wheels were cheap. When i get home i will look at my email reciept and give you details. Roll surprisingly well and superb with offroad. I had to by new discs for the wheels.

[@MelbourneFisho]

Did you also buy new cassettes for each set of wheels also? Would be pretty annoying having to change the cassette over each time also

[@garrys1973]

I bought a Shimano 105 11/30 for just under £40 with delivery for the additional wheels. I only have a cassette on my Hunt and 650b's not the DT Swiss You can get some decent deals and if you look on ebay even cheaper. www.evanscycles.com/shimano-105-5800-11-speed-road-cassette-EV219234

[@millmoormichael6630]

Have you done Dirty Kanza?

[@PolyglotBikepacker]

@@garrys1973 So you're saying that 650x40mm fits on the Specialized Roubaix 2017? Front AND rear? How is the tire clearance then? I'm very interested in doing this as well...

[@modarm]

Mountain bike with 680mm bars and bar ends with a longer stem and bang aero position and the ability to move your hands around but still maintain the added control.

[@spoudaois]

Yes because some are light and you can use wide tires. They now have thin fast bigger tires like compass tires so its also really good for the road

[@chrismarcan195]

For me my gravel bike is all about the loops and routes. It is way more fun, scenic, relaxing to be able to leave the house and go for a road ride but do a huge variety of different routes because I can now do sections of logging roads, gravel paths, and short trails to connect the different sections of road together.

[@matthewbenger8355]

I think being from the UK there is very limited "gravel" roads and our gravel rides tend to be more suited to xc mountain bikes. But for that smooth hard packed lovely gravel roads you get in the US (Colarado looking at you) I definitely think gravel bikes are great perfect

[@stevendeckert6373]

And the upper midwest. MN, WI, ND, SD, Iowa all have great gravel.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

There are heaps and heaps of 'gravel' roads in the UK. They are just not called that here, plus they and are ignored by roadies because they too rough and ignored by MTBers because they are too smooth. Hence the false perception they don't exist here. In the UK we have dirt tracks, fire roads, farmer's roads, greenways, byways, bridleways, rail trails, RUPPs and BOATs - many of which would be called gravel elsewhere. Not to mention many of our country back roads are crap condition and often have a layer of gravel or even grass growing down the middle. Actually some of our main roads are rougher than off road trails. I'm currently riding ALL the area around where I live [South Yorkshire] and a gravel/cx bike is the perfect bike by far for the job because I'm constantly riding 'gravel' roads.

[@georgeshoemaker6872]

Thanks for the info Frodo & Sam

[@bikeradar]

Haha, glad you noticed from Joe and Tom!

[@peterweber4094]

Just bought a gravel bike (Kona Rove) as an one bike does it all. I love it. I used to race fairly seriously but now ride mostly for fun and adventure, and my Rove fits the bill perfectly - might even enter a gravel bike race once I get my fitness up again.

[@plantfuelled8912]

It's simply matching the bike to the conditions. You wouldn't ride a Suzuki Hyabusa for Motocross and you wouldn't ride a BMX in the Tour de France.

[@sebastianjost]

Of course not. I would ride a Trials bike in the Tour de France xD (you're probably better off walking)

[@azoique]

In my last 4 bikes i've gradually gone from a 25mm tyred road bike, to 28mm, to 35mm and now to one with 650b 48mm capability. I still do group rides with my local club and keep up with no problem. But when they usually turn around because of running into rougher roads, i comfortably keep on with the same pace but still feeling like a roadbike. They are so forgiving and versatile i wish i would have had one 10 years ago. During winter i can fit 40mm studded tires and mudguards. In the summer 35mm tubeless. They're perfect for the type of riding i do.

[@DHTCF]

Just got a GT Grade. Had stopped enjoying my mtb, but didn't want the extreme position of a road bike and wanted some off-road potential. Am delighted with it - like rediscovering the joy of riding a bike again.

[@philg6757]

I converted my MTB with drop bars,road shifters and a compatible front mech(pull ratio is different MTB v road). It`s a great machine and handles really well. l had a ride on a proper gravel bike,it didn't handle as well and felt uncertain at times. l recommend the MTB conversion myself.

[@CrazyCyclingVlogger]

Drop bar mountain bikes designed from the ground up exist. Check out the Salsa Fargo and Salsa Cuthroat...

[@xavcarmic0686]

Did the same with my old cannondale rush except I use bar end shifters and 29er wheels. Works a treat but heavier than a new made for gravel bike.

[@macdaddy1617]

CrazyCyclingVlogger you took the words right out of my mouth! 👍

[@W1DO]

CrazyCyclingVlogger are they really mtbs? As in can you ride a rocky trail at 30-40kph on them without replacing spokes and frames every few rides?

[@chickenlittle567]

Phil G it’s because you are use to your bike, it happens I hopped onto a MTB and it felt disgusting 😂

[@front4]

Here in Vermont, we have a lot of Class 4 roads ( heavily compacted dirt and/or gravel). Many will include serious climbing. I’ve ridden these roads on a Domane with the biggest tires I could fit (scared the crap out of me on descents). I’ve ridden them on a Crux and the gearing is just not right for long, sustained, steep climbs (at least for me). Solution is the Specialized Diverge Comp. It can handle all the crappy roads I throw at it and I can still hang with my roadbike buddies.

[@H3avyHaul3r]

love the idea of a gravel bike, spent 6 yrs on a carbon 29r mtnbike HT with dedicated 32mm cx tyres... my next gravel bike is a 2018 sc blur 29r with the same tyre setup.. my back doesn’t like harsh jolts from the HT anymore, besides i can lock out the suspension when i need to... plenty of backroads to explore in life which only a gravel bike can do efficiently...

[@aaron___6014]

You're a voice for the industry. We had all purpose bikes 60 years ago that were sub 20-25# and fast.

[@billslicer3203]

Add bar ends on your hard tail for different hand positions

[@nickadams8952]

Gravel bikes are the perfect all rounder - You can use them for long distance bikepacking on or off road, you can stick a rack on them and do your shopping and if you stick skinnier tyres on them you can easily keep up on a road club ride.

[@ratoneJR]

Put thinner tires on the MTB you already own, add bar ends for more hand positions. Keep your $1000+. There you go.

[@sebastianjost]

Drop bars a a LOT more fun on smooth surfaces though. The riding position on a mountainbike is just too unaerodynamic. I have an XC Hardtail and a gravel bike. I have swapped their wheels in the past. It does improve the Mountainbikes capabilities on smooth roads but it's still far from a road or gravel bike. (Also skinny tires look really silly on Mountainbikes there is too much empty space around them.)

[@sebastianjost]

@Carbon Proksi you're right, it's personal preference. I personally find mountainbikes on the road feel slow and boring. Especially since I know that I could be going quite a bit faster if I had a road bike. Therefor I could get further with the same amount of time and effort. And as I usually only ride for fun, stress relief, or to get somewhere, I always prefer going faster. I don't usually ride for the training although that's a very nice side effect of riding a lot.

[@busoptr]

Sounds good! Planning to do this.

[@mahmam3128]

@Carbon Proksi i don't know why people always seem to forget or disregard the fitness hybrid, they are light, easy on the body, better braking than any road bike, fantastic gearing and you can have a decent one for half the price of a gravel bike

[@StarEssences]

Gravel bikes are also good for long distance bike touring; some of them are set up with all the necessary mounts with also three water cage bottle mounts. Great for back country bike tour traveling.

[@bikebudha01]

I tried a mountain bike on gravel courses. THE issue is gearing. You don't have enough on a mt. bike, I even put a 46 up front. You just can't keep up on the road sections vs. road/gravel bikes with a 54 up front.

[@bikebudha01]

Not what I've found. The 'ah ha' moment came on a 12 mile fairly gradual gravel decent, I was spun out on my hardtail 29er (with the 46 ring), and people on cross and gravel bikes were gently walking away from me. Not to mention how hard it is to hang on the flat asphalt sections. It's why I got a gravel bike. Although, I'm still messing with 'perfection'. Thinking about putting a flat bar on it - as many of the courses we ride have 10-25 mile descents down mountain fire roads, of which some are not in very good shape. The narrow bars and trying to break with 'road hood brake's is not conducive to higher speeds.

[@rasmusriemann6557]

you have to be on the drops whem breaking at high speeds..

[@the.communist]

U guys must have legs the size of tree trunks

[@donmichigan8201]

I ride single speed only.

[@zerocooljpn]

you can just change the chainring and add a gear

[@mwinner101]

My Cannondale CAADX has fender and rack mounts. Works well for CX and gravel. I can probably squeeze up to 38s if I had to, but the 33s work well. Cheap and fun bike.

[@jorgecuenca9175]

mwinner101 which one? 105? I don't like the mechanical brakes but that looks interesting

[@SteelR4t]

This is actually a pretty spot on video with a pretty accurate conclusion. "A gravel bike can do anything you could reasonably expect a drop barred bike to do".. very carefully worded, as were the use cases.. "road rider wanting to dabble in a bit of off road, then yes, but a mountain biker with an XC hard tail, not a lot of point". Refreshingly honest.

[@DavidvdGulik]

Paris Roubaix is done by a large part of the peloton on an aero bike. Just put on some wider tires on your road bike and you're fine in my eyes

[@dominicwalker9947]

I pulled the trigger on a midnight special, oh and it's surly. I can't wait to get my fitness in order. So I can really get the speed out of it.

[@nootnoot1463]

If you don’t race and have appropriate trails, tracks and rough roads nearby then they’re a great thing to have. Personally I race my road bike and don’t have many gravel roads around so it’s almost useless

[@northman77]

I have a full suspenson cross country racing bike, an aero road bike and now a gravel bike. It's kind of ''in the middle'' and will be very good to blend my training routine. I only have 4th and 3th category mountains here and it's a gravel road. The bike fit will be really close to my road bike, I will be aero and have a road bike handlebar with relax frame and wide tire. Another tool to torture my legs!

[@robertnorris8295]

I purchased a specialized sequoia a couple of months ago and have found that I ride it more often than I thought I would. It doesn't replace my road bike or mountain bike if I set out to do a specific ride, but I love the versatility and having the option to go somewhere on a whim. I have also found that it can make trails that I ride a lot more interesting because I have to be more selective about my line... It's all good! 😀

[@vaughnbeckman9291]

One reason that many of my roadie friends are switching, is that they are finding they can get just as many miles on dirt roads, rail trails, gravel paths, and not have to fight cars on the road. It's the reason I haven't touched my Cervelo in months, and put 90% of my miles on my RLT. I no longer have to think about the next car being drunk/on their phone/80 years old/etc. It's just more fun. Who cares if you're not as fast?

[@bryanshull7976]

Gravel bikes are awesome. Back in the day I had a cross bike with off road tires. I had a ball riding between gravel and dirt roads now the dirt roads are few and far between.the Midwest is a hotspot for gravel racing. Gravel travel is cool. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@erwinroman4217]

I'm holding out for the grass bike craze. Then the sub classification of wet Bermuda grass and dry clover. Frame geometry is a deciding factor, especially in dandelion season. Until then I'll ride my old HardRock with three front chainwheels and shale tyres. 😀

[@johnlindsay7301]

I have a hard tail XC MB, a road bike, an all mountain full suspension MB, and a gravel bike, and my gravel bike is my favourite. It gets the most use and I have the most fun on it. It is a great experience. Definitely a worth while bike.

[@jhanna9901]

Five years ago I bought a cross bike instead of a traditional road bike just because I wanted the option of going on gravel roads in addition to regular roads. And while I mostly ride regular roads with road tires I enjoy that option. I wish these gravel bikes were bigger back then because I would've bought one of them instead. The cross bike isn't the most comfortable bike for those 3-5 hour rides whereas gravel bikes have a more relaxed geometry like endurance road bikes.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

Use tubeless tyres, wider rims and reduce tyre pressure and your CX bike will be just fine. I use my Crux for all days rides, going on and off road. Most folk ride with too high a pressure set.

[@jhanna9901]

I use 28's at about 95-100 psi (they're rated up to 110). I've often thought about going tubeless for the reason you mention... lower pressure.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

Tubeless is the the best thing to happen to bikes this century. It makes such an incredible difference to one's riding. No more pinch flats, loads of grip, way more comfortable and still darn fast on and off road. I now use a mere 40 psi with Sector 28s on [wide] SL25 rims and 50PSI with my stock Rovals which are a bit narrower. that's for 75kg of rider. Any harder and bike gets bouncy and markedly less comfy. No need for fancy flexy road frames, just ride a sensible pressure instead. :D

[@kas9633]

I`m going to buy my first bike. Should I go for gravel or cyclocross ? It is going to be my only bike. HELP =]

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

Depends on what you are going to use it for. A gravel bike is usually a bit more versatile for tyre choice, particularly wider tyres which may be a squeeze in a CX frame.

[@1afterthep]

I loathe riding tarmac on my xc mtb and I feel stupid riding forest freeways and no trails too. But the forest freeways are there and so are the gravel paths I see while riding my road bike. I hope the canyon inflite while solve that problem and expand my riding terrain.

[@gregsullivan7408]

I'm just a recreational rider, and have just ordered a gravel bike, with the view to having just one bike - I'd sell my road and MTB. It has the GRX groupset, and there's one little feature of the GRX that I think could help a lot with tricky descents - the ability to add a SECOND set of brakes, on the top bars. I'll see how I go without that, but I have a feeling it might just be the feature that allows me to get rid of the MTB. There's another thing though - gearing. Gravel bikes are typically geared higher than MTBs, and that's another problem for rough tricky terrain. My bike has the 2X GRX, which has pretty low gearing (and very good high gearing), but as standard, it doesn't go quite low enough. So, I'll run the unsupported 2X config, with the large 11-42 cassette, to truly get the very low gears. I've been told by someone in the know that this works, as long as the rider avoids cross-chaining the small chainring with the smaller cogs.

[@superflycatchermtb]

My Norco Search XR, with tire/wheel changes, is in one bike; a gravel demon, an awesome adventure/bikepacking bike, an awesome endurance road/century bike, an outstanding commuter, a sporty tourer/pannier rig, a decent single track bike, and an acceptable occasional cross racer.

[@michapachocki9093]

For me 29er XC bike with narrower bar + bar ends, longer stem, 2.0 tires seems a perfect recipe.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

I have a Specialized Crux which is my favourite bike ever, mostly ridden with Sector 28 road tyres [run tubeless at 40psi] on all sorts of terrain. Including technical off road in the Peaks and lots of brutal gravel roads in the North of England. Often long all day rides. So, so much better than using my XC hardtail, which I'm now thinking of selling. If it's rough enough to need my XC, then I'd rather use my full sus. However if I could afford the £7k+ FS Cannondale Scalpel which supposedly weighs marginally less than my CX bike....that with dropper bars could be the ultimate gravel racing bike. I tried one a while back. It's the ideal XC MTB for me. But I do wish the Crux had a few mm more tyre clearance so my Nano 40mm had a bit more breathing room for mud. If that would then makes it a gravel bike, so be it.

[@neologisticzand]

I ended up going a similar route. About to get a crux (for all surfaces that aren't mtb) in this week and have a 2018 tallboy (suits my local trails better than a hightower).

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

A good combo of bikes to have. Prepare to have lots of fun on the Crux - but get it setup tubeless and drop tyre pressures, it makes a world of difference to handling, grip and comfort. Not to mention no pinch flats. I used a mere 50PSI with 28mm slicks on the supplied Roval rims, but when I upgraded wheels I dropped pressure to 40psi as the Pacenti SL25 rims are wider, so more air volume. 30-35psi with 32m tyres.This for a weight of 75kg BTW. My Sector 28s also cope with offroad riding way, way better than you would think. The Crux is pretty awesome for trails that most would consider very definitely MTB territory. I live on edge of Peak District and most riding is quite technical in these parts, but I have some of my fastest strava segment times on my favourite singletracks [only real way to really compare bikes accurately] on my Crux. However if pointing down a steep or big rocky DH then a full sus MTB will simply leave it for dust. I test rode one at a demo weekend when looking for a a new FS bike. Last ride of the weekend and I spotted it in the corner, thought 'why not?' and it was more fun and faster than the FS bikes I'd been testing [bar the steep or very rough DHs which are brutal even on a FS]. Left most of those on FS bikes behind too on the not exactly smooth Roman Road - s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/36/30/1363014_be8cbcd2.jpg I ride Sherwood Pines Trail Centre on it occasionally and overtaking folk on their FS trail bikes with massive tyres riding a bike with skinny 28mm road tyres and no suspension is very entertaining. Though the braking bumps can be hard on the hands.But the main benefit is that all surfaces are fun on this bike, unlike with a road or MTB. Both of which aren't much fun at offroad and on road riding respectively. Oh and for winter get some Crud, Roadracer MkIII mudguards. So nice to got for a ride and not come back wet and mucky from filthy trails/roads.

[@stevewhiteley9249]

I settled on a gravel bike (Orange RX9 Pro) and found the right kind of bike for me. I still have a hardtail mountain bike and would use it on more demanding off road trails. However, I found a race focussed road bike was not right for me on the roads round here which are potholed and rough; the gravel bike gives a much better ride, I feel more comfortable. less fatigued and more confident and if anything go a bit faster. The layout seems more relaxed too, I'm not quite sure how it's different but I feel my upper body stretched out enough even though the bike overall seems more compact. The great thing is I can just turn off on to a bridleway or farm track and mix it up a bit. I'm not a fast rider and don't aspire to be one so a gravel bike seems to be the right kind of bike for the roads I ride on. The old road bike is going to go, though, I can't see I need I any more.

[@BlokHed75]

I'm looking at gravel bikes because I currently have a hybrid haro for computing and I race on an xc hard tale cannondale. The haro can't handle the training required for my races. it's a really fun and chuck able commuter but if I hit a rough section the wheels come loose, it's a 3 by so turbo training is impossible and I can't go for long rides because of the flat bars. I think it will fill the gap from stationary trying to long adventures and I can chuck my cannondale through technical single track all day and night

[@ingrainedcyclist3311]

Gravel bikes are my favorite type. I love off-road road bikes. I've seen some cross and even touring bikes used quite successfully as gravel bikes. I love my gravel bike cause it can do all I need. It's my Urban commuter with rack and fenders. I take those off and put some knobby tires on and I'm ready for some fast gravel riding. Or I put on some 28mm slicks on and I'm good with the Roadies. If it's a bike that's good on gravel even without the name, chances are I like it lol. I'm riding a trek crossrip 1 right now. Looking to make an overbuilt fire road type bike by drop baring a surly karate monkey. Gravel, cross, touring, adventure bikes. These are a few of my favorite things :p

[@michaelmccaughey5762]

Group ride on the road, hit some gravel roads away from traffic, cut through an area on a mtb trail, head for home on a rail trail....that’s what I have been since I got a slate and have totally been loving it. I feel gravel bike is a master of none... but can do all things.

[@thetheflyinghawaiian]

Honestly I just like big wheels on my cyclocross bike on our crappily paved road. Watts are watts. At least I'm training comfortably.

[@NickDpernia]

I just finished a very hilly gravel race and used my cross bike with a rear 34 and front 32mm tire and pull breaks. I was terrified during the descents. That single fact has me looking into trading up for a gravel bike. The confidence I saw in gravel bike riders was very noticeable. I’m positive I would have been much faster on a gravel bike with disc breaks and 38-42 tires.

[@elisteiger6909]

I sold my Cervelo one year after I got my gravel bike. I have a full suspension MTB too. I do not race or chase KOMs but I have a ton of fun. I can not imagine riding 25 mm tires ever again!

[@garyolson2676]

I'm almost 70, prefer riding drop bars, prioritize comfort, next stability, I live in Duluth, MN and the asphalt roads have buckets of sand along the edges every spring, potholes galore. I like 11 speeds, disc brakes, clipless pedals. I love steel frames. I had a mountain bike, have a road bike, but gave away my Specialized (don't do single track any more - too much falling for an old man) and only ride my road bike indoors on a trainer in the winter. My Raleigh Tamland was $1,500 US, met all of my needs equipment-wise and is.a total joy to ride on anything. I've put 4,000 miles on it with zero issues. I did one great gravel race, and I actually love riding on gravel. I have to finish by saying how much I missed steel frames, though I've only ridden steel and aluminum, not carbon. And my first racing bike was a Raleigh Professional, so I have some nostalgia for the brand. Go gravel bikes!!

[@VideoNOLA]

I cannot sanction riding drop handlebars over rough terrain. Don't relish going ass over teakettle when I hit a chuckhole!

[@SmevMev]

After doing a 50 mile gravel ride on a hardtail, the first thing that sprung to mind was putting some bar ends on the inside of my brake levers - that way you have the hardtail capability and something closer to a road position for grinding out the miles. I'd recommend any sort of drop-bar, 35c tyre bike to someone looking for fun in tamer terrain though - the same sort of local, gravelly/muddy farm track rides that are boring on a hardtail quickly become much more exciting with no suspension, skinnier tyres and a sky-high saddle

[@andypaul999]

SmevMev thats what i did with my xc 29 hardtail, bar ends or even ergo grips make a big difference on long distance off road rides

[@eniojurko]

Gravel bike my first choice, xc/trail second, and one endurance road bike third choice is the ultimate solution as far as im concerned!

[@matthewoppen1602]

I was in a similar situation where my "nice" bike was a surly fatbike and my commuter bike is a 3 speed internal gear/coaster brake townie bike. I couldn't justify another bike to my significant other so I sold my fatbike and bought a budget gravel bike for basically what I sold the fatbike for. I don't regret it all and I've actually converted it into a more road oriented bike with 28mm road tires and an upgraded wheelset with clipless pedals. I've been very satisfied with the result and I know I can always switch back to gravel mode with little more than a tire swap. Gravel bikes definitely have the most bang for buck and if you can only have one "nice" bike or one bike period it's hard to argue against them.

[@glennoc8585]

If you dont road race but like to do fast group rides your hravel bike will have you hanging on the back until you eventually drop, ive seen it. If you go onto seriously rugged off road not pine forest access roads or dedicated mtb parks but clip out rock gardens then your drop bars arent going to cut it. Hard tail mtbs were the bastard of a bmx and a skid kid ttack bike. Gravel bikes are actually a specific bike, gravel endurance or racing is the design purpose. The hybrid flat bar commuter or a road bike with 25c or 28c cross country touring tyres with guards is an option. A compact crankset with upto a 42 cassette will rake you up the steepest of roads.

[@mitchypoo117]

I ride a full suspension enduro bike 90% of the time. For me a gravel bike is the perfect fit when I’m commuting, riding roads or even on light trail rides. Feels more comfortable and natural than a road bike, also beats the hell out of 29”x2.5” mtb tires on pavement.

[@chickenlittle567]

Do you like to go on any road surface.. and do you like to ride fast on the road then buy a Triban 100 .. easy 700x32, bunny hopping over curbs and doing step jumps on huge curbs

[@gingermattb]

From the industry perspective I am sure they are hoping there IS something unique about gravel/adventure bikes... They might be the first drop bar bike to have appeal to die hard mountain bikers. I will never want to grind out road miles on a club sportive, but a mixed surface 3hr 50 miler or unsupported overnight adventure ride with friends? Yeah, sounds good to me.

[@TomMarvin1]

gingermattb me too, exactly!

[@grandad1982]

This is exactly why I'm getting my first drop bar and its a gravel frame.

[@jaujud]

Exactly why I'm looking into gravel bikes more and more. I already have and FS mtb and looking for a second bike to expand my arsenal. Where I live, road quality isn't that great so road bike is probably not optimal. I also love to stray off the beaten path (gravel roads, dirt roads and anything in between). Gravel bikes are also appealing to me because of bike packs mounting options. Really nice when you are going on those few days epics. One question though. Do you think I would be able to keep up with roadies on all day (60-100 miles) rides on a gravel bike?

[@ivyroux4528]

@@jaujud +1

[@glennoc8585]

Ok ill put a set if drop bars and skinnier tyres on my 29er oh plus uts 2x si I'll just change my crankset and chain. I have external routing so east job to swap. I agree though if you are not a road racer best to get a gravel or cx bike with two sets of wheels and another crankset. You can get a less aggressive cx bike ir just shim up with spacers.

[@garyives1218]

It took a long time for me to decide between a gravel bike or an MTB. I'm very glad the gravel category now exists because: I enjoy 4+ hour rides and a flat bar for even just 3 hrs, for me, really sucks. I'm too much of a woos to try the really gnarly stuff here in AZ. We have some amazing gravel routes near me. I'm ecstatic that I just discovered tons of mellow trails and single track just a 12 mile ride from me that are so fun and just the right amount of technical for the gravel bike. For me I don't want to try to ride anything scarier than that which would require an MTB

[@MrTheSkiper]

You should consider to do a video about gravel bike vs xc/endurance hardtail bike. Comparison on the different type od gravel climbs. Long climbs, step climbs, climbs mixed asphalt and gravel. You now like the climbs in EU. Where you can pedal up on asphaltto to ski resort and then still can pedal up on the gravel till the top of the mountain.

[@Brookesy03]

I sold my road bike and bought a cyclocross bike for a few reasons. 1. The geo was more suited to the way I ride. 2. I can ride it on any road in a 150km radius of my house without worrying about how capable it is. 3. It has disc brakes, coming from an MTB background disc brakes are the norm and they really should be on a road bike if you ride down any winding descents. 4. It has a 1x drivetrain which like disc brakes is the future, if you get the ratio right you can ride up anything and still ride 42km/h on the flats. Call it what you want but a 'gravel' bike is just better in every way than a traditional road bike unless you are racing.

[@adminwrh]

I have a Diverge, but can't seem to appreciate it on anything rougher than fresh asphalt. I put the OEM 700 x 30 tires back on and think of it as a comfy road machine. I've been too conditioned by my original "gravel" bike, an old Rockhopper with Michelin ProTek tires and a suspension on the front.

[@pavmentsurfer13]

a gravel bike for me was perfect because I have a full suspension mountain bike for anything off road. But I wanted something to ride on road for training purposes but where i live, the roads are pretty rough. Even the paved roads are rough. I didnt want a road bike with tiny tires... I wanted something that could give me a slightly more comfortable ride with a bit less likelyhood of getting flats. And, I wanted a more comfortable riding position. I have NO plans to race any kind of cross style race ever... so the gravel bike was pretty much the perfect choice. I put a set of 35c road tires on it and it does everything I wanted/needed it to do. I only own two bikes... and all bases are covered.

[@someguy9520]

I personally don't have a gravel bike but i currently got a rigid XC singlespeed. Final weight with new wheels and lighter tires should be under 8kgs.That's light enough for me. Sure gravel roads feel seriously tame with the 29 x 2.2in tires, but singletrack is so much fun with it. My roadbike is a very cheap entry level one but it works just fine. Plan to either convert the hardtail into drop bar or even sell it to get a aero disc brake fat tire road bike with clearance of up to 700 x 40c or 650b x 2.1in tires. carbon 3 spoke wheels for that bombproof reliability and awsome look, 160mm rotors and i can be aero or rough

[@kylecouture1917]

Was torn between cx or gravel. Ended up going with cx bcuz i do want to race in the fall. And i do centuries on my tarmac so im used to the aggressive position. So if i do want to do a long gravel ride i think i would be okay. I got a 2014 ridley xnight disc with sram force x1. Actually hets delivered today. So pumped. I have been using my dads ridley xfire so im firmiliar with the brand.

[@TheCmcyclist]

I don't. The last thing I want to do is drive to a gravel road to ride my bike. There are no local gravel roads of any decent length where I live. I'd just assume load up my mountain bike and hit the trails if I had to travel to a riding location. And it handles the gravel quite well on the forest service roads I might cross. I certainly don't need to blow extra cash for the gravel specialty.

[@MD-qp8gj]

Its the opposite for me because i have to do gravel before i get to pavement. So i guess there is a gravel bike market for people who live in the flat prairies.

[@tomolonotron]

My mate and I rode 100miles on the south downs way using cyclo cross bikes. Both survived... I'd agree it wasn't safe descending, would've been better on a hardtail.

[@zuluflor4]

I search for a bike to replace my old citybike with a touch of cross geometrie. And I think in a gravelbike, I have found the best option for long comutes in the city. A bike with a road-bike like frame, 2 inch slick tires, and no suspension is all I need for the rough streets in my city.

[@smurfendrek4791]

Great video, i think a nice setup for people that just ride for fun would be a mountainbike (full suspension or hardtail depending on where you live) and a gravel bike, with two or maby three sets of tires. This would cover everything from mountainbiking to gravel events and century rides on mixed terrain.

[@MrAndrew1953]

I think the difference for me is riding long distances in comfort as they're not as stiff as a cross bike. I don't want to do any Cross competition riding. Just long day runs.

[@Cuzzazbuzz]

My gravel bike with Tri-bars let’s you ride all day and be aero with it. Not used my TT, Road, MTB since getting the gravel and spare wheels over 1 year ago. Picked up a few road KOM’s on descents too!

[@NathanBudd]

I'm looking at getting rid of my Giant TCR as I want something a bit more relaxed, with discs and mud guard mounts. I've also got a Giant Roam, which I use for pottering around, commuting in bad weather and some trail riding. I'm was looking at something like a Defy, but I'm now moving more towards the AnyRoad or ToughRoad.

[@keithkowalski8763]

my gravel bike is a jamis koda converted to single speed with 32c tires.

[@martinkrautter8325]

I have been riding gravel for all my life, i.e. over 4 decades now. I just had no idea it was called "gravel", I just tried to get anywhere near or far without using roads full of car traffic. I have been abusing all kind of bikes on this purpose, to more or less success. Finally finally finally, the industry offers bikes for this style of riding. I am very happy about this and yes, I bought one. I love it. It is the bike I would keep if I was allowed to own only one ;-)

[@davidbunner6708]

I want to get one of the gravel bikes that will take the super fat tires for winter riding.

[@allgoo1964]

I suspect many gravel grinder bike buyers bought it as high performance touring bike or high performance commuter bike. Versatile and can be converted for any purpose with minimal mods.

[@mrtnknrr]

The gravel bike is the ultimate adventure bike. It takes you places a road bike won't and it's still fun and fast enough on places where a XC hardtail is too slow, which usually is the majority of the ammount of km's in my case. It may not get you any KOMs, but it's the bike that puts a big smile on your face.

[@davidbraun2923]

I own but do not need a gravel bike, what I need is a bike that has drop bars because of aero position when it is very windy, will take a rack, has hydro disc brakes, mudguards and 35mm tyres (because I commute in the rain), is made from carbon and has 50-34 chainrings. No tourers, racers (a gravel bike is a road bike too), mtb's or CXers can offer this but my Gravel bike can. A Gravel/Adventure bike suits many purposes that others do not. If I shed the rack it is a great winter trainer, shed the mudguards a great summer trainer, use 28mm tyres a great sportive bike, use 40mm tyres is great for CX or mild trails - Nuff said!

[@TheRyguy79]

My gravel bike is not only my gravel bike, its also my road bike and my commuter. Its just versatile and functional. Can't believe it took you 11+ minutes to talk through it!

[@ritikdhame]

I think every serious rider in India needs it cause roads are really bad!!

[@richardm9688]

Get a horse.

[@ya-rx8nd]

Richard M Horses have feet injuries too.

[@reinismartinsons]

send bob and vagene

[@Blittsplitt5]

Richard M Wrong idiot

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

hahahahaha....so true bhai, but every bike in India is a gravel bike by default...hero jet and atlas included!

[@joen3992]

4:11 my thoughts exactly: I'd take a gravel bike like say a Trek Crocket. And set it up with large mountain bike bars...and ride like that. I do this with vintage 700 Raleigh and Norco bikes made of steel anyways. ha ha

[@testbed5290]

Excellent discussion. Covered all use cases very well.