Drop Bar Vs Flat Bar: Have We Been Doing Gravel Bikes All Wrong?

Gravel bikes have come under more and more scrutiny in recent years; are they just mountain bikes with drop handlebar bikes? After all, in the 1990s, the legendary John Tomac rode his MTB with drop handlebars too! Should we be taking a leaf from mountain biker's books and have flat handlebars on gravel bikes? Si and Doddy find out which is better, a drop bar mountain bike, or a flat bar gravel bike!
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Which would you rather have, a drop bar mountain bike, or a flat bar gravel bike? Let us know in the comments below!
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[@gcn]

Which would you rather have, a drop bar mountain bike, or a flat bar gravel bike?

[@dpgrenfree]

There's no such thing as either 🤣 A friend made a 29er into a mullet drivetrain 'drop bar mtb' with a Wolftooth adapter to fix the issue with road STi and MTB rear derailleurs. This video makes me glad I bought a gravel bike.

[@GeekonaBike]

I actually run a drop bar rigid MtB & we call them "MonsterCross" bikes here in the USA Mountian West. Slow & Fun w/ 650b+ 3" tires

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Drop bars all the way on whatever for more hand positions and general versatility.

[@Pionirish]

My drop bar gravel bike has front suspension, so does that make it a drop bar mountain bike? 🤔

[@stickyprickle]

Flat bars all day, thank you GCN, never have I felt more of a mountain biker watching GCN.

[@MBC-vz4hm]

I don't think you can do gravel wrong, you could be going for a gentle spin or racing, but no matter what gravel is meant to be fun and ride whatever you like as long as it makes you happy and leaves you smiling at the end. Have a great day everyone, from Australia.

[@k1lcho213]

I really like your comment :D

[@jurgislingys4920]

Join the dark side. Thats what 99.999% of mountainbiking is. Not many ppl care about racing, we just go out and have fun.

[@nk-dw2hm]

I disagree to the extent that riding with poorly suited tires can be the wrong way, since that can compromise safety

[@brettneale]

You certainly can do gravel wrong - look at Si's pants!

[@johanreberg4872]

That is so true!

[@Seppster58]

Having Doddy and Si do a shared video brings the fun factor for sure. Add several fun points for Si's clown pants as well!! Love it. Great video guys. I enjoyed the comparisons of these two builds.

[@freeffree4133]

Do you know the brand?

[@keithnewton1966]

I built a flat bar gravel bike a couple years ago with a single chain ring up front and two sets of wheels. One with 2” 29ers for off rode and one with 33c gravel tires for everything else. It’s my favorite bike I’ve ever owned

[@thedownunderverse]

Totally. Me too. Every bit this. And then some. Plus some more. U got it.

[@mediumrick7667]

1987 (I think), I was at the NORBA mountain bike races in Mammoth Lakes, California. There was a dude doing some incredible nose wheelies around the parking lot before the races. Later that day I learned it was John Tomac after he demolished the field in his race. The guy was an amazing bike rider.

[@alexnz2024]

So finally we are back where I started cycling. On a frame without suspension and flatbars. Well done bicycle industry. 👏

[@uweclaunitzer7170]

Well said!

@@svenlima I enjoy a modern mountain bike with 10 gears quite a lot. Zee is a lot cheaper than XTR and as long as you're not racing, just as capable. Also, they're much more niche components, they weren't impacted by the big bike parts shortage as much as others.

[@adambrickley1119]

Yes, perplexing they refuse to call that rigid framed mountain bike a mountain bike.

[@The_Real_JN]

Doddy has suspension...

@@svenlima I'm close to 5000km without any complaints so far. Do you know any resources where these components are tested for longevity?

[@Chris-0703]

What we really need are bars that transform from flat to drop when needed. People (myself) included are literally buying 5 or more bikes to optimize very specific conditions. Heck, I have a flat-tail just to get 2 seconds on my dual suspension when sketchy descents aren’t involved. Sometimes gravel is severe enough that I wish I had a flat bar, but I don’t want that bar for the 15-mile road ride to get to the gravel trail. Yes, transformer bikes, that is the answer.

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

I’ve got a flat bar’d gravel bike - wouldn’t change it - predominately my background is road, so I love just mixing it up !!

[@apm9507]

I love my fat tire bike but I had to add horns to the ends of my bars so I can adjust my grip on long rides. The drop bars give my hands different grip options on my gravel bike.

[@sadburai1]

A flat bar with barends and aerobars is perfect for both road and offroad.

[@apuldram]

Brakes?

[@funkycoldm3dina]

Hi to everyone. I have to say this much @4:28 I don't know what is more goofier..those goofier joypants and/or that hilariously joyful grin/smile that Si pulls off. That smile is such a wonderful smile it can make a bad day just joyous.

[@marvintpandroid2213]

Needs some bar ends, preferably in purple anodised aluminium.

[@richardbridges7664]

And max 600mm bars ;-)

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

All we need is some grip shifters and a Flexstem and we’ve come full circle.

[@robbchastain3036]

and bar ends, too, gotta have a little pair parallel to the ground for serious uphill torque.

[@chrispictures]

If you don't think there are flexstems then you haven't been paying attention to gravel.

[@DrAlafro]

I believe your experiment is biased. Seeing SI in these colourful bibs would make you laugh in any occasion 😂

[@robbchastain3036]

Si can always say, sun's out, tights out. And who knows, maybe he wears 'em like pajamas to the grocery store. :)

[@beigemaster]

Think ultimately it’s going to come down to how much (if any) road sections you have on your gravel rides. For me, I have to ride at least 5 miles of road before I get to any decent off road trails which is a doddle on the drop bars. I guess I love the fact that I can link up all the sections with road if I need to, also love the fact I can put some slicks on and turn it into a sportive road bike

[@The2808erik]

Just use bar ends or even better aero bars for touring or longer road sections. My road bike has flatbars with Aero bars as well. Dropbars are outdated in my opinion and are only held relevant by the UCI.

[@bikemike1118]

@@The2808erik I do agree that bar ends are really GREAT …still love them on my 1993 Litespeed XC Mountainbike. Curious when the industry does rediscover them eventually!

[@The2808erik]

@@bikemike1118 People make the argument that they are unsafe and you can jab yourself with them. Just use some that don't protrude more than the brake levers.

[@bikemike1118]

@@The2808erik …Never heard that before. I also never had the feeling that they can injure myself in a crash - although I had several crashs - minor ones and one more severe one …the bar ends were never part of a problem …not in the least! In my experience this fear is BS 🤷🏻

[@The2808erik]

@@bikemike1118 Yeah probably true.

[@SteveKimbo]

I'm a recent gravel convert, at the road end of gravel. 700x38 tyres and a 50/34 Tiagra group. I absolutely can't stop raving about it. On my Spectral I've got maybe three route options before I have to get in the car and travel. On the Tifosi I can leave my house and be buzzing my t*ts off almost immediately. I can punt it down byways, bridleways and towpaths and it makes the most tame forest track feel like BPW. I love it. The thrills are much more accessible than attempting to justify 160mm of travel 🤣

[@freddyem]

That’s my lockdown summed up. Although… I never truly feel in love with drops hence the change to flat/riser bars. Can’t wait to smash my local gravel loops and feel the difference.

[@danielbender4327]

I wonder if the suspension on the mountain bike contributed to it feeling dodgy? I know if I were leaning down on the drops the very last thing I would want is a soft front end.

[@patangelo8695]

Hi CGN Thanks for the fun video. I have one weird handelbar: flat bar with aero bars :) Some times ago, you post a video about "all-in-on" bike: I made mine. I bought a Look gravel which has GRX equipment. I changed the cassette to a 11-42 and rear derailleur to a XT one. Unfortunately GRX shifter cannot handle an XT rear derailleur so I have to change to XT shifter meaning changing drop handlebar to flat handlebar. As you said , changing from drop to flat means a different position, thus I changed as well the stem for a longer one. And to improve 'aerodynamic', I put aero bars on the flat handlebar. This is quite weird indeed: seems like a modern bow like this )=. I hope that shimano will propose shifter for drop handlebar able to handle xt derailleur. Anyway, I have my "all-in-on" bike with 3 pairs of wheels: 700x28 with road tyres, (all-in-one and most versatile) 700x33 with gravel tyres and finally 650x50 with mountain tyres. Ok all in one is not good in all but simply works for all except downhill with jumps and stones which I do not like. Thus works and is enjoyable for me !

[@The--Ghostspider66]

I love it when you guys do challenges together This should be interesting

[@Greg-zr4wm]

I actually have converted a Trek roscoe to a drop bar, for my winter commute. The trick is to modify the mountain bike brake levers to fit on the flat part of the bars. Then I mounted some cheap areo bars and mounted the shifters on them. It works awesome for commuting around town in snow ice and all. It takes a bit to get use to but works great mountain biking. But then I'm not a professional so if im a little slower I dont mind. I seem to be able to keep up with my friends so im happy

[@Kristian_Saile]

Man I clearly remember the sound of Tomac’s bike racing in the Grundig WC locally back in the day. That rear disc wheel had such a distinctive sound. It was the same spec as that vintage stomach bike you showed. Good memories.

[@mikelacross]

I've been riding a Boardman hybrid for about 6 years now, bought it to do the Dirty Reiver, which I've done twice now, although only managed the 130! But did finish quite high up in both. Have also done a 900 mile bike pack on it, loads of road riding & go off road about 20% of the time. £550 brand new too 😍

[@anguscowie6043]

Too used to flat bars from mtbing.... so bought a lightweight hybrid and stuck gravel tires on it to gravel race...cheaper conversion and still pretty speedy with 52 up front! Admittedly put tribars on too for roads... only 10kg bike but can ride most blue mtb trails on it without suspension... foam grips help dampen vibrations! 😉

[@vongdong10]

Damn, doddy's bike looks effing amazing with those flared drop bars

[@NessieJapan]

Always a pleasure to see the riders having so much fun.

[@DaveCM]

I was in a gravel race today. I was surprised to see several gravel bikes with flat bars and aero extensions.

[@EzequielBaltazar]

That's my style....

[@UenoLocker54]

Flats offer less overall comfort but are better for control.

[@DaveCM]

@@UenoLocker54 which in that race, didn't matter at all. It was the Croatan Buck Fifty. It is flat as can be on the coast of North Carolina. Wind is the biggest issue in that race.

[@Leo-gt1bx]

Flat bar!

[@willian.direction6740]

Doddy and Si apply the theory into practice is going to be fun any day. Thanks great video.

[@DemonicVelocity]

"Are you having fun?" "No, it's terrifying!" Now this is the spirit of mountainbiking :D

[@shyguy8240]

I'm more comfortable and have a better steering with flat bar than drop. I am sticking with a flat bar gravel bike and will add bull horns and aero. Best custom.

[@grahamriley8124]

Saw a lovely mountain bike with drops last summer: it was a Klein Attitude and I had to stop and talk to the owner I liked the look of it so much.

[@Jez.Von.Franco]

I love my flat bar gravel bike and is certainly faster than my mountain bikes on smoother sections of the mountain trials I ride , the mountain bike comes into its own when it’s muddy and rocky ,thanks for vid from the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@tongotongo3143]

Bicycles aren’t about which is faster, because all bicycles are fast enough when pedalled by physically conditioned rider. Bicycles all about fun and exercise, besides transportation.

[@MultiCose]

I have both a flat bar and a drop. I like them both I think for longer distances I like drop, but for short or rougher terrain I like the flat.

[@JitinMisra]

I rented a drop bar, I didn’t like the braking, and all main position, puts lot of weight on the ulnar nerve

[@ScoobyDo2009]

The biggest advantage to a drop bar gravel bike (at least, right now) is that you can run Shimano 1x12 drivetrain as-is! It really opens up the 1x capabilities and is much less expensive than a 'mullet' AXS build! Also, the braking performance is MUCH better with flat-bar levers on rough terrain. It's just much easier to stop when you're bouncing around a lot. Additionally, I think the flat bar opens up more real estate for a set of Aero bars (which normally would obscure most of the top of a standard drop bar). I built my current gravel bike with drop bars, and after riding it quite a lot, I can honestly say that I would go back and build it as a flat bar bike if I could do it again.

[@Leo-gt1bx]

I still prefer my 2x flat bar. The 1x just seemed to limited for my riding style.

[@jgarcia1925]

Since I am basically a poor, I converted my old hybrid bike to a drop bar gravel grinder. Only downside is tire clearance. Mine was a “sporty”. Sesión of the Fuji absolute so I can fit max 38c on them. Oh and no disc brakes. Which have been a bummer at times. Either way it’s worked great!

[@endianAphones]

At the moment my perfect gravel bike is more of an all road bike. Road agility, gravel / endurance confort (or lack of it), dropper post for extra fun, and 1x because I like it.

[@lerico536]

Haha! "Retro MTBs with brakes that actually work." I love it! My first MTB was a late 1980s Trek steel frame. There was no suspension back then. My current bike is a Trek Dual Sport 3 Gen 5 - fat tires, flat bars, no suspension (but carbon forks). Everything old is new again.

[@SjedniJedan]

The test would be better if you included an XC/hard tail mountain bike. It would provide a good baseline, since it's built for this sort of raiding. It would for sure be faster and more fun to ride than any of those two you had in the video.

[@picasticks]

Yup, I guess this video proved the world's manufacturers know a thing or two when they build a XC mountain bike. Here's what I'd like to see. This video was about goofball frankenbikes facing off on XC trails and I loved it. For a stock vs. stock battle, how about the XC/hardtail bike against a fitness bike? Just mount the same tires -- not sure Canyon Roadlite will fit wider tires but others can.

[@whateverbikes]

It would be faster probably, but not more fun per se. A modern, suspension mtb on not too gnarly trails is like riding a tank over a twig. It’s easy… and boring as hell. I converted my ‘94 mtb to a monster cross bike (dirt drop handlebar, higher stem, faster tires), and I’ve never had more fun on it in the 28 years that I’ve owned it. It demands my full attention, it’s agile, feels blazing fast, and it’s super fun even in not so special trails.

[@ArchonSG1]

You guys should do it the other way around. Get a Hybrid, swap out the suspension fork to a Rigid fork, Flat Bar, and put in a 50x36 front Drivetrain paired with a 11-42 (10 -12 speed). Bike Geometry is less twitchy than a gravel bike with flatbars and much much more responsive (And less terrifying) than a MTB with a dropbar. I find a rigid frame/fork hybrid to be the perfect balance of the two, easily hitting 40kmph -50kmph on the road while able to tackle gravel paths and novice to mid level trails. Technical trails are a real challenge though and aren't that much fun, at least for my skill level with this bike.

[@freddyem]

I’ve recently rebuilt an old gravel frame with flat (riser) bars, coming from an MTB background it’s made me realise how much I didn’t enjoy drops as soon as the surface wasn’t a road and lacked confidence around town. I’m looking forward to putting more miles on flat bars, but so far it’s made more smiles so I don’t think the drops will be coming back but a longer stem might be.

[@cjohnson3836]

I've yet to find a set of drop bars, or a position on them, that gets alone with me. I have a fully rigid I use for commuting/bikepacking that I have an 800mm motocross inspired riser bar on. I'm thinking gravel bike + some sort of alt bar is probably peak gravel performance.

[@ashleydarby3652]

When I was a kid in the 80's we used to buy old "racers" from 2nd hand shops and put knobbly tyres on them and cow-horns, and we called them "trackers". My brother even had one with a Sturmey Archer back wheel at one point

[@havefunandbikestuff]

That was awesome 👌 i really enjoy the gcn gmbn collaborations! And doing either diciplines in a contrast way. MORE LIKE THIS please 🙏 🙏

[@duncanvanderaar4480]

Drop bar MTB all the way! I own a 2017 Koga Beachracer, which is basically a 29er Mountainbike with drop handlebars and rigid fork. So they do make it and I love it! It can do anything from Tarmac to MTB XC trail as-well-as race on the Dutch beaches off course. Best bike I own.

[@bcmtnbka]

can't wait to see SRAM reintroduce Gripshift again

[@ZeroSeriesMMX]

I'll want to grab a flared drop bar, for whichever frame I'll choose. For frames, I'll choose a rigid, light XC frame of any material, and a hydroformed, triple-butted aluminium frame. But the local bike shops near me have run their supplies of metal flared drop bars out of stock... so that'll lead me to grab a comfortable set of bar tape by next week, first.

[@jonathanzappala]

My bike 15 years ago, a GT avalanche, was shod in Michelin country rock tires, basically 45mm wide mostly slick rubber. Apart from the 3x7 and the suspension fork, it was a modern gravel bike. I bought it because it had disc brakes.

[@maxab7e63s5]

I put some dropped bars on an old mtb frame and that thing is super fun, completely converted bike to a whole lot of fun. Big smiles when I ride it.

[@gcn]

That's what it's all about!!

[@beakerbiker3033]

Love the collabs. Fun vid guys, thanks.

[@gcn]

We love doing them too - glad you enjoyed it!

[@wickedmanny]

Hi GCN, can we please make a video/instructions about how you went about using the Xt shifter with Grx RD? Really interested in this set up and would like to use this to convert my drop bar to a flat bar gravel bike!! Great Video, love the pants SI.

[@jamesdubben3687]

Wow, Tomac, Missy the Missile and Tinker. That brings back memories. Riding my ridged Fuji Mt. Limited in Moab back in the 90s

[@babaggaley7594]

I have a Sara English levarg which is a gravel bike, drop bars and 40mm fro the suspension, and I love it...

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Si's 90's lycra has been added to my list of things that can't be unseen!

[@gildc79]

By far the funniest video I have seen on GCN. The face footage looks like a cartoon meme.

[@plepgeat]

Great vid, gentlemen! My wife has a Salsa Journeyman flatbar and she loves it; I've got a dropbar Diverge Comp E5 and I love it.

[@gcn]

Good stuff!

[@Mike-vd2qt]

The problem with this comparison is that the Old School Mtn Bike with drop bars has the wrong geometry for the drops. Shorten the Top Tube, and shorten the wheelbase, add the drop bars and then you have the right combination of geometry and drop bars.

[@richardedward123]

Joy pants! We should all have a pair. At least one. 🤣

[@billmccaffrey1977]

Si, those paints confirm many things I've thought about you in the past. Absolutely confirmed!

[@ReneHoffmann194]

Awesome that's what I always thought about and wanted to try out!

[@tylerreid1789]

I made a drop bar mountain bike. I used shimano RS505 levers connected to SLX post mount calipers, and a full slx groupset with a wolftooth tanpan to make the rear derailleur work with the road shifters. Works flawlessly.

[@k04s4]

My Salsa Fargo is the ultimate gravel bike, 29x2.4 tire tubeless and 1x with 11-48 casette. Go anywhere and ride all day comfort. Not as fast as my Parlee Chebacco but way more fun, riding a steel frame.

[@cjohnson3836]

Fargo is indeed a nice frame. I feel like its almost a drop bar cousin of my surly ogre. If I didn't have that, I'd consider picking one up. That said, I would really like to get my hands on a cutthroat if I can ever someday get a carbon fiber bank account.

[@petersteadman841]

What a cool video. Messing around with bike builds is fun. Hay mtb's wouldn't exist without the early days of adapting and experimentation with road bikes to fit the purpose. F conventional, pioneering is progression. ✌️

[@TheGizmoGarage]

After spending thousands of dollars on my first Gravel bike with expensive Carbon wheels and an alternative wheelset for road riding, and many hours tinkering with internal cabling and hydraulic disc maintenance, I finally realized Gravel bike is a huge bicycle industry marketing scheme to sell something that is totally unnecessary. Selling my Gravel bike and keeping my endurance bike for the road and MTB for the trails. Flat bar or Drop bar, No grabel bikes beats a dedicated road bike or MTB, unless you ride "Gravel" trails 100%

[@Pure-Luck447]

Anything can ride gravel, depending how fast and efficient you want to be. My.bike was used £80 carrera Crossfire disc hybrid, it does everything just not to the extremes

[@ericcioffi7309]

Love my flat bar Lauf...inspired by your earlier video.

[@AmieWea]

Well said Doddy. Little bit of everything!

[@Jacob99174]

Man I feel sold on that Canyon gravel bike

[@tristan14aric]

Hoping you guys can check the Corner Bar... I would love to hear your thoughts on it ! !

[@mindofmission]

The gravel bike reminds me of the older mountain bikes in the 80-99’s with a one-size-fits-all frame. I always felt very top heavy on frames with geometry of that proportion. Thank you, Doddy, for the John Tomac homage. The GOAT legacy lives on in his son, Eli, currently leading in the AMA Supercross Championship in the 450 class. His forte, though, is Motocross.

[@kaffeetasse2461]

reinventing the wheel. what comes next on race gravel bikes? drop bar goes riser bar? fat tires, then suspension fork then full suspension? then again reset and again reinventing the wheel. same with cranksets on mountainbikes, years ago it was 3x7 speed, 3x8...now it is 1x12...with monster big and expensive cassettes, next is 2x11...then again reset to 3x7 and reinventing the wheel again. and in between some singlespeed bikes. in the early 90s it was so cool to have an ultra small handlebar with 580mm width on the mtb. today the mtb handlebars are ultrawide crazy 800mm which look funny because no one can handle it usefully in this much width.

[@callielou7]

Specialized Diverge Expert E5 EVO, I LOVE MINE! I don't like drop bars on gravel, flats are much more comfortable and fun!

[@Skyflier11]

Great video! So, drop bar vs flat Bar bike packing edition next? Although maybe change Doddy's bike for one of (what seems like a growing number of) drop bar MTB/gravel+/adventure bikes like the Cotic Cascade, Kona sutra LTD or Moots Baxter (to name a few). It could be interesting to see how they not only ride on different terrain but also comfort on longer rides and even bar bag selection.

[@marcstolk6682]

Check out the Marin DSX series. I have one and are really fun, quick, nippy and capable.

[@yeojlazirrobles9580]

Godbless you guys I am having fun while watching you!!

[@VizualizeIt]

Great watch guys. I was terrified when I first went to drops on a MTB but now prefer them over flats. You guys should try and compare modern geometry though for the drop bar MTB. Give a Salsa Fargo a try

[@kevinclark9176]

Interesting but it would have been more informative to see that flat bar Canyon go against a stock drop bar version. Then maybe take a modern XC hardtail and put a rigid fork on but leave it as a flat bar. That’s what I’m doing. Currently still has the Fox 32 but gravel tires. And I’m switching to a 740mm, 16-degree bar (currently 720mm, 8-degree) with Innerbarends. Trying to get some of the drop bar speeds but with the comfort and confidence/capability of the MTB when the going gets rough. Oh, and a dropper post.

[@robertusmaharyady2810]

I transform my mtb into gravel bike with corner bar... And that just great for me.. Cause the drop is not overreach and we can still use a longer stem for aerodynamic gain... .

[@bonzainutter]

Hilarious, that camera angle made you two look like avatars

[@fentuz]

On the MTB, if the fork travel was reduced, then the headset would be “lower” so the headset angle would be stepper. With a headset angle closer to 71 rather than 69, would it steer better?

[@apm9507]

Those pants ROCK! Great for commuting! Everyone will see those pants!

[@Kingsoupturbo]

I"m mostly a MTB guy, but isn't gravel riding a bit more about grinding long distances on back roads? Drop bars with the aero advantage and multiple hand places should have quite an advantage in this department, ripping around a short XC course in the mountains, well the lighter bike is more fun right? I"d like to know the advantage of a sensitive fork on long gravel rides, I know the guy who wins the dirty Kanza runs a suspension fork, test it! better then a light rigid?

[@danielhedo6628]

That was fun to watch, would be interesting to swop bars again and o the same....

[@ivanmahusay4080]

because stem on mtb is so short whick makes handling like jello put atleast 60-70mm stem and youll be convinced that mtb gravel is the way to go

[@brendanschiemer1276]

I’m curious to see Di2 GRX with the leaf spring seat post in the Canyon. When I asked them they told me it was incompatible with Di2.

[@plasot]

Yes and no - definitely flat bar would give nice MTBish feel especially on descents but nothing beats integrated shifter/levers on climbs

[@anthonyharris483]

Retro bikes only with brakes that really work.🤣🤣

[@Zirael0]

I use 520 mm riser with bar ends - and for me it is great i my MBK

[@christianj252]

Trek recenrly released a dual sport gen 5. It's got no suspension, thicc 50mm 27.5 inch tires, and a MTB-like frame geo. But still a hybrid. I thouht it was pointless until I saw this video.

[@angrypenguin956]

I am all for flat bar, for me it’s a matter of confort for my poor back which has been giving problem for the last few years.

[@whatwelearned]

Si I've instructed my lawyers to contact GCN after your leggings gave me an epileptic fit

[@ppphenom]

Doddy likes the flat bar gravel bike because it's really just a mountain bike!

[@ichor20]

Flat bar for my on my poseidon x gravel bike. At 37, I do have a tweaked back, so no drops for me.

[@Cutebone]

What brand shorts is Doddy wearing? I don’t recognize the logo.

[@olliebodman9771]

I can’t see the point in a gravel bike 🚴🏽 If you want to ride road get a road bike if you want to ride off road get a mountain bike if you want to do both get a hybrid with nobbly tyres maybe like the sirrus x for example

[@christopherdean3919]

Where was filmed a think I recognise some of the buildings in the background at the end

[@Tattersail]

are we just going full circle to 90s hardtail mtbs?

[@bergerniklas6647]

Yeah, but with decent breakes, better weight and slightly better ergonomics...

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Who would have thought that there is something in the world of clothing that tops Si in Manon‘s shorts? I would like to see a modern XC MTB against the two.

[@fukawitribe]

A modern XC MTB versus Si's tights and Manon's shorts ? That would be quite the video....

[@sventice]

My big takeaway from this video is that drop bar mountain bikes are a worse idea than flat bar gravel bikes, but both are ill advised. I don't do hard core-mountain biking anymore (I'm 60, fer Christ's sake), but I love gravel bikes, and I'm sticking to drop bars, thank you very much. What other monstrosities do you have in mind? Dropper posts on road bikes?

[@TheTricky66]

Great video, can you tell me what pedals you use on those bikes? As I've just put some clipless on my new gravel bike an regretting it. 😬🤦‍♂️

[@thetimkatt819]

You guys need to get Blake Sampson onto that drop bar bike.

[@triggamusician]

The whole point of having a gravel bike is to have an excuse to wear lycra while going offroad. If you put a flat bar on a gravel bike it virtually becomes a hardtail mtb and then you really shouldn't wear lycra anymore. So eventually your bar choice comes down to your wardrobe :D

[@XEinstein]

Why wouldn't you wear lycra on a MTB? And what would you wear instead?

[@Realciderreviews]

“Like riding a car-horse” a totally relatable experience

[@gcn]

You mean you've never done that?? 😂

[@simonrichardson5259]

Haha, “cart horse”!

[@lee-annmurphy9237]

So should I make my hybrid a flat bar gravel bike instead of a drop bar gravel bike then 🤔