Monster Gravel Bike Vs Gravel Bike: How Different Can They be?

Gravel bikes come in many different shapes and sizes. Tyres can range from 35mm all the way up to full on mountain bike rubber, drop bars can be flared or straight, groupsets can be 1x or 2x, there's so many different variations! In this video, Alex and Si take to opposite ends of the Gravel Bike spectrum to compare a super light racey gravel build to a truly rowdy monster bike!
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Leave us a comment below!

[@gcn]

Which gravel bike would you choose? Racey or rowdy? Let us know in the comments below!

[@davondoliente554]

Rowdy

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Racey, it's just more practical and versatile. The "Rowdy" is in effect a MTB with drop bars and you'd be spinning like a mad hamster on a wheel most of the time.

[@Paganiproductions84]

Rowdy of course

[@panzerveps]

Neither. If I go on a gravel ride, I either bring my CX or mountainbike.

[@maartends6051]

Racey, i dont know why but i dont like the look of rowdy.

[@BeerMatt96]

I can see the GMBN team watching this and crying with laughter, from the dainty umbrellas to the screaming going downhill! Nice work, gents.

[@scottcampbell4429]

Awesome video...it really captures the feeling. My mates and I were out riding our "gravel" bikes and we finally realized why we like them so much. These bikes are just bikes, not road, not mountain but fast bikes you can take anywhere. We are finding ourselves going 50-100 miles on the road and keeping pace with the rest of our skinny tire race crew, then heading off the pavement...and just having more fun. It is like magic...or that we are 10 years old again and rediscovered the freedom bikes can give. Thanks for all you do, Scott Campbell, Seattle

[@burkeculligan4756]

i've stitched together so many amazing routes here in N. California that combine a little bit of everything tarmac, fire road, singletrack, backyard trails, horse trails, etc. -- and i think that's a big part of the 'gravel/adventure bike' appeal. Adventure rides -- yes they could all be done on any bike, but instead of being limited to just going for a 'road ride' or 'mtb ride' -- the answer is just "yes - let's do it" -- totally changes the way i look at maps and potential routes - stitching together routes that not many others consider. Go anywhere - ride anything. Maybe we could just call it a "mountain road bike". (although i prefer "AV: Adventure Bike)

[@stinkyfungus]

Totally agree. You get it. Mixed surface riding is hilarious good fun. I wouldn't want to take my epic pro on a 62 mile mixed surface ride... and my emonda simply CAN'T do it. But my Surly crosscheck can... and with 50mm WTB ventures on it - it's pretty capable off road... and no slouch on road. The custom Ti monstercross rig I'm building (inspired by the Kona Raijin MTB frame, but optimized for a drop bar) will be even better.

[@grandbuba]

That's basically my take on it as well. Somewhat studded 33mm tires at a somewhat lower (not much) pressure allow me to just ride pretty much everywhere. Traction on grass, mud, gravel, sand (meh), and bike paths (which are horrible here anyway). You just open Komoot and go "I will ride there today and not worry about anything". I can do that on an MTB as well (got an old 26" and a 29" emtb as well), but the road parts will be boring and slow.

[@wetporkchops420]

I live in a rural area in the desert and could only afford one bike, so I got a Poseidon Redwood with 2.6s. Works for everything from exploring abandoned mines to commuting in the street.

[@charlificity]

Si - the only person who wears white shoes on a gravel bike in muddy conditions.

[@nikveldkamp8630]

him and MVDP.

[@izi941]

@@nikveldkamp8630 you’ve beat me to it 😅

[@leadsled213]

That was my first thought.....

[@Quevallyn]

Another quality presenter pairing from GCN: Alex and Si are excellent together.

[@eccehomer8182]

I wasn't totally convinced by Alex when he started. But now that he is finding himself in the role, he's quickly becoming one of my favourites. You're right, he's great with Si and also a great foil for Ollie as well. My 3 favourite presenters, but in truth, I love them all. Still missing Matt though.

[@robinseeberg3715]

Yeah, i agree. But Si is good with everyone isn’t he?

[@robinseeberg3715]

@@eccehomer8182 What about Dan - he’s a bloody legend too. Si and Dan are my faves

[@Quevallyn]

@@robinseeberg3715 totally.

[@Quevallyn]

@@robinseeberg3715 not denying the greatness of Dan, simply showing the love for Si; it’s not an either/or question.

[@chemistry9942]

Si is the rowdiest

[@three33three33]

It's because He's an ex Cross Country MTB Pro athlete.. What a chad.

[@GasmanA]

I had Analog Cycles in VT build me a rowdy one, All City Gorilla Monsoon frame with Spank rims and handlebars, Onyx rear hub (etched w the wrestlers face!) and Schwalbe Thunderburt 650B x 2.25 tires. If you aren’t trying to win a road race you can ride this comfortably anywhere. I ride 5-10 miles of road to the singletrack instead of driving now. Ride the gravel roads & singletrack then ride the road home. It DOESN’T replace my road or FS MTB just compliments them. Anytime I’m pedaling I’m having fun, fast or slow and muddy!! Great vid @GCN, love to see you guys having fun!!

[@mithral999]

The hills are alive with the sound of squealing disc brakes

[@shaun_canada]

Well it was sponsored by Shimano afterall.

[@janfrancis2583]

Just watched this, a year late! I bought the bombtrack beyond about a year ago, this bike leans very much towards the mason insearchof. Came with big knobbly wtb ranger tyres on it. I nearly cried at the rolling resistance on tarmac, regardless of how long or short it was on tarmac. Two weeks later I put a pair of 50mm panaracer gravelkings on, tubeless, and I've loved it ever since. I'd looked at more sporty gravelbikes but changed my mind when I saw my bombtrack. It's a beast and it can go anywhere.

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

I'm with Si on having a generic gravel bike for all terrain. Yesterday I cycled a snowy forest road with just 28mm tires (temporary spares for punctured 35mm tire) and it was great fun going slow! 😅

[@dlevi67]

As long as slow slick skiddy doesn't turn into slam slaughter, all is good

[@rogercmerriman]

Yeah, I have a decent if I guess slightly dated MTB that is lovely beastie and more than copes once it gets rowdy, the Gravel with somewhat smaller tyres though is a jack of all trades, it’s quite happy on the club run, or some rough farmers lanes, and bridle way bashing, does suffer and bit in the slop, but it’s fun slip sliding, the MTB though is hilarious faster on rougher trails. I love the Gravel versatility, something more Monster Cross I suspect would feel less versatile?

[@Shlumpen]

I was half expecting Si to go "Leisurely ride, *beep* *beep* *beep* *BEEEP*"

[@rah4981]

The length some road bike riders will go to avoid buying an mountain bike starting to look ridiculous.

[@nebnollock5198]

Ikr 😂

[@izi941]

I understand CX bikes with wider (35-37mm) tires...but that frankenbike Alex is riding is just a step too far..a hardtail would beat it in every challenge, even those in favor of normal gravel (or CX) bikes.

[@nebnollock5198]

@@izi941 you'd be horrified by the 2.6" tyres I run on my mtb then 😂

[@Jacob99174]

Bingo

[@alexkerrison411]

Was thinking the same.Just build a carbon CX hardtail with 42t chain ring.

[@bnzboy]

4:15. Come on Simon, the last time you went on a leisurely a ride was with Manon hugging trees

[@Digi20]

I always see the gravel bike as something you can absolutely tailor to your needs without beeing "right" or "wrong". It can be a road focused steel long range tourer to conquer the world with luggage. it can be a lightweight carbon sportsmachine that is only marginaly slower and less agile than a pure road bike but way more comfy and enables you to choose hardpack forest roads and less maintained b-roads on top of your normal road riding. It can be a 2.35" mtb tire adventure machine for long days in the saddle on epic mixed surfaces where speed is not the important factor, yet it will still eat the road/hardpack miles more easy than an MTB it can be anything you want it to be, because its not focused on pure road or pure trails. it does not have to be as fast or as capable. its for anything between. when you get that you will see the beauty of it.

[@anthonyshillingford848]

I always considered that the beauty of "Gravel bikes", was the ability to start my adventure from my door, ride road and (to some degree) off road. The Mason seems so directed to off road riding that I wonder how effective it would be on tarmac. It seems to me that Mason have simply crossed the fine dividing line between gravel and mtb, and created something that is useless on road and merely adequate off road as long as things don't get too rowdy. If I was in the market for a bike like the Mason, I'd just go and get a decent hardtail mtb.

[@jamessher6956]

Totally agree. I see no point with the Mason. I have a Cotic hardtail for trails and a Cervelo Aspero for road and hard dirt/gravel we have here in SW Colorado. Covers everything but bikepacking.

[@leesaunders7232]

The ISO was developed by Mason and Josh Ibbett to be raced at events like Tour Divide and GBDuro. 😊

[@thecappy]

I have this same Warbird! I put a set of Hunt35 x-wide rims with conti terra speed wheels, 11-40 cassette and ritchey 52cm handle bars. It is my do everything bike.

[@account505]

I’m a MTBer that started riding road last year and got myself a gravel bike because I knew I would ride it on crappy roads and dirt paths as I just enjoy exploring places on a bike. I was riding my gravel bike the other day blasting around on some muddy bridleways and footpaths similar to what you were doing and having so much fun, it even felt like some of the corners I was two wheel drifting. Then I got to my local trails that I’ve ridden for the last 15 years on my mtb and I went down the tamest one. It was pretty fun but by the bottom I was longing to do it again except on my mtb which would have allowed me to hit all the features and go way faster. I agree with Si and Mike Levy that being under biked off road is a great thrill but I have to wonder how extreme the monster gravel bike can get before its just going to feel like a crappy mtb. I think as an adventure/bike backing bike that bike makes a lot of sense but without riding it I’m not sure I would want one as a general purpose gravel bike. I fear it sits perfectly in between a road bike and a hard tail mtb but in doing so only delivers 50% of the enjoyment that each discipline offers. I’m curious what (mix of) terrain you enjoy riding that monster gravel bike on, what distances/hours you would normally ride on it and how you would compare it to a lightweight mtb like an Epic?

[@tvolkmeier]

More gravel please. Super fun on my salsa cutthroat with 2.2 tires. Great video guys.

[@RudiDwiHartanto]

The man the myth the legend si richardson

[@andrearossi6012]

that "oh my god" was really well fitted with that block party ripoff background track

[@willpickett6522]

After all those throwbacks of Si in Pink T-Shirt, he has now added the Pink Umbrella to his resume of videos clips to relive!

[@liefyergensen9575]

6:28 could have employed the seths bike hacks “a little bit different, but kinda the same”

[@Inceptor71]

Rowdy! Go anywhere Adventure. Thoroughly enjoy my Salsa Vaya with 43mm tires.

[@kwestak]

Time to start a Gravel channel...

[@qinli3280]

I thought GCN was short for Gravel Cycling Network?

[@C.Medina]

Ditto ☝

[@mrvwbug4423]

don't give them any ideas haha

[@scottwatson7844]

Love my gravel bike its a superb bit of kit more designed for covering ground quickly whether its road or gravel much like Simon's warbird but the monster gravel I'm sorry lads but wouldn't an actual xc mountain bike be a better choice for the majority of people.

[@gcn]

You need to get over to GMBN with that kind of talk. We will never admit to such things. 😂

[@romansokolov6893]

Not that many hand-positions on a XC bike plus a suspension you may not want or even need. Me and a friend of mine tried similar bikes with 37 and 50mm tires and there was no difference in speed.

[@Quevallyn]

The ISO was mainly designed with long-range, off-road touring/racing in mind. Not sure many XC MTBs are designed to be ridden for more then a few hours at time.

[@andrewh3216]

The ISO’s purpose is long distance all terrain adventure riding, hence the (21 !!) fixing bolts to attach racks, bottles, front mudguard and front rack and various other pieces of luggage. It’s a fabulous ride and a fairly unique proposition. This is similar to a soft roader / 4x4 comparison.

[@mazevx2451]

Today's xc mtb aren't nice to drive, they are tailored to the xc race course so much that they have lost their versatility. And drop bars are much more comfortable to ride.

[@jamesalexander7540]

My "urban assault vehicle" since 1991 has been a 1987 Raleigh Olympia. It is a 700c touring bicycle with downtube shifters, 3*7 drivetrain, Bridgestone Moustache Bar, and Continental Top Touring tires in a 47mm width. This has worked great for the lousy roads in Metropolitan Detroit, unmaintained gravel shoulders, and light trail riding. Unfortunately it is in a P.O.D.S. unit because I thought that I was moving to Pennsylvania for a job and the offer was retracted.

[@PrzemyslawSliwinski]

The clip's colors, contrast and saturation are all amazingly surreal!

[@mrvwbug4423]

brought to you by, winter in the UK

[@thomasarnold6348]

With using words like gnarly, rowdy and extreme you guys from GCN are a flat bar away from becoming GMBN!

[@movieman6588]

I was a road rider that completely swung the other way to DH mountain biking within a 10 year period. I just spend my first season on a Cannondale Slate which is a gravel bike designed to handle single track. I absolutely love this bike because it handles pretty much everything from pavement to intermediate single track and even some easy DH trails. My bike is slower than a road bike on roads and not as specialized for technical sections on single track, but unless you are trying to impress your friends I don't know if it matters. As Si said in this video, learning how to manage your bike is just as much fun as going fast. I have a little bit of front suspension but I do not have a drop seat post because I can't get one yet for the size of my bike. I use a quick release which is ok. I road my first 3 seasons on a XC bike with no drop post so I have a sense of how to manage without one. I also use DH pedals on my bike just because if I do need to dismount on Single track it is quick and easy. This is a bit of a disadvantage on roads so I may bump up to a hybrid pedal. One thing I really love is the 650 wheels. I have a two road bikes and this size of wheel just feels better for me. I am a small rider so that could be why.

[@mengusprime]

I can’t believe I’m finally seeing a salsa on here.

[@simonfarr8670]

you’d think they could compare a Fargo/Cutthroat to that Warbird! ah, if only

[@joshuabrown9398]

@@simonfarr8670 yes the fargo is a stunning machine and extremely popular as a touring bike. It also doesn't seem to attract the ire of the mtb crowd for being a drop bar with big tyre clearance

[@erick_fernandez_78910]

Please do more videos on Gravel Bikes vs MTB's. That would be such an easy way to come up with a series of videos and it's unchartered territory since Gravel Bikes are so diverse. (For those on the fence between a purebred XC hardtail MTB and a Gravel Bike.) I'll never forget my top time on my Grail CF SL with 45 mil terra speeds, was only 6 seconds slower than my Fuse with 3 inch tires on a 12 minute segment. I've sold my grail but, can only wonder since my bike handling skills have gotten so much better...which one would be faster now?!?

[@jackievampanda2254]

Si's umbrella suits him damn well XD

[@Kimberly_Sparkles]

Somewhere a small girl is annoyed. It goes on the dolly pram for when it rains.

[@martintramuntbikemallorcak481]

and yet another quick reminder on why I moved away from the UK... thanks lads!

[@dbossstha]

winters with rain

[@xtrailz]

It stopped raining today

[@brendonnoble5227]

I moved to Spain, unfortunately to the wettest part, so still muddy.

[@martintramuntbikemallorcak481]

@@brendonnoble5227 Oh dear... should've went to Specsavers... (I mean Mallorca!) lol

[@alexkerrison411]

Totally Agree . Moved uk to Canada. we have either sunshine with perfect dry trails or snow with fun fat biking!

[@SIvers-or2ke]

Always been a Salsa guy, then I see the Mason..... Either way they spell FUN !!!!! Love them

[@tychoMX]

I so wanted one of the older Salsa titanium warbirds!

[@danjdavison]

I have a Salsa Journeyman “monster” gravel bike, and I absolutely love it. It’s a huge plus that the geometry is more comfortable than regular gravel bikes too. It also has a tonne of pack mounts in case I want to take it bikepacking. More bike brands should lean towards “monster” gravel bikes.

[@puntoycoma47]

They exist since 80's. They were called hardtails.

[@georgegande1779]

@@puntoycoma47 for all the fuss they go to to make an aggressive gravel bike you way as well buy an xc hard tail

[@thegefster1988]

If Si puts 650b wheels and 48 to 2.1 tires on them he has the best of both worlds and vice versa

[@raybarber9526]

When I was a kid in the Scouts, we use to camp in the field at the far end of Shearwater. Skip wouldn't let us walk along the road to the shop, so my mate and I made a raft, took orders and swam the length of the lake, got the tuck and swam back. Ten years later, on a hot day, I dived in and a guy in a boat had a right go at me, asking me if I knew how dangerous the currents were? We also used to cycle the 8 miles or so from Westbury to Longleat to see the Stones and the other bands that appeared there. Happy days :)

[@stephankyle6460]

I'm going to wait for the inevitable down gravel variant.

[@izi941]

You mean like full-sus gravel bike? Niner makes those..

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@izi941 Yup, the MCR, the one trick pony. A gravel bike for singletrack or 4x4 road intensive gravel race courses. On gravel roads it gets dropped by traditional gravel bikes, on technical singletrack it gets dropped by XC bikes.

[@stephankyle6460]

@@izi941 needs to be slacker. 😆

[@TheZweric]

prepare for 6cm sus forks and 'flex-stays'

[@camaroblackmatte]

call it a 29er with road bars and call it a day ! this will never end :)) if you're happy on your unicycle go with it :))

[@billinhouston3291]

But on a 29er you could get a double or triple. While on drop bars somehow it is physically impossible...

[@MicheleOngaro]

So tired of people on social media telling you that gravel is not a thing: "just buy a mtb/roadie". They can't live without telling you what you should do

[@Cyclist18]

I love the look on the MTB's faces when I am going down the single tracks on my gravel bike. I also get loads more time to relax when I have to wait for the MTB's at the top of every climb.

[@shadytrane]

And they are waiting you at the end of every downhill singletrack.

[@aleclowry7654]

I've actually been wanting to build something like this for years. Perfect for taking newbies riding and still having fun

[@lancebiddle3883]

Run 27.5" mountain tires on the Mason and there will be less of a compromise with nimble handling.

[@MarcoFiat16]

After many years on the road and 2 road bikes for different purposes (light and aero), I decided to go gravel and buy a carbon bike with GRX. Adventure's great, you can keep a decent pace that I don't think you can have on a MTB, I got to know tubeless (which I then started to use on my road bikes as well) and I feel the only terrains these ones suffer on are rocky ones, or technical downhills. The only thing I mind of adventure in general is how my gravel bike looked after 500kms: despite a good wash and lube after every ride and no major falls, there were small scratches and dents all over the frame and wheels. My road bike with 20000km on looks just out of the box in comparison :) But again, adventure is great and a good way to get diversion from road cycling.

[@robbchastain3036]

Gravel and monster gravel and it is all good to me and a steel-frame bike with big tires and gears is the stuff of legend and adventure. Thanks for showing us these bikes, gentlemen, and how very kind of Manon to lend Si her parasol.

[@agunlogisteam]

Monster Gravel! Now i got idea to modify my old XC bike!

[@vgjhlgjhfuyfjhfjkhgyghj]

I did it! No regrets. Fun as all hell. 2020 stumpjumper saved for bike parks.

[@agunlogisteam]

@@vgjhlgjhfuyfjhfjkhgyghj put rigid forks and dropbar, right?

[@turn1210]

Yes! Do it

[@vgjhlgjhfuyfjhfjkhgyghj]

Indeed. Carbon rigid And salsa cowchipper. It's a 2012 Trek mamba

[@agunlogisteam]

@@vgjhlgjhfuyfjhfjkhgyghj gotta try. Thanks for the heads up. 🤟

[@panjiprivan7134]

I suggest using triple crankset with 48-36-26T chainring like Shimano XT T8000. When I want to go fast on tarmac or smooth gravel I use the 48T chainring. On tougher off-road shift down to 36T or even 26T chainring. That way I can be as fast as gravel bike when needed but still true nimble as MTB.

[@johnhilton1360]

I use my gravel bike for the road mainly (don't own a road bike). with all the potholes and rough surfaces .... 1x and 30mm fast rolling tyres love it.... I do have mountain bikes (xc hardtail and full suspension) for that type of thing

[@MosesPlays]

I'm loving watching these vids, but I don't think I will ever be sold on gravel bike. MTB or Road for me :)

[@Vokunos]

jUsT bUy a MoUntAiNbiKE... No seriously, Gravelbikes saved my riding career. i probably would have quit cycling by now if i havent discovered Gravel Bikes (feel like germany just recently joined the bandwagon, thank god). I thought Roadbikes are the best. but i always felt like missing the "adventure factor" so i tried mountainbiking with a XC Hardtail, but that was just overkill for what i wanted to do, big Tyres, Suspension, and a Rather slow Gear ratio. yeah was great on the offroads but i didnt do jumps, rock gardens or really extrem terrain and when the time for pavement came i was slow and didnt really felt efficent. now i am looking forward to my first gravel event... well if corona allows it of course...

[@mango9087]

If gravel bikes saved your career, you have drunk the corporate koolaid. What would have stopped you from putting a lower gear range on your road bike, experimenting with bigger tires, etc... before the "gravel bike" became a marketing name? You CAN think for yourself, you know. You don't always have to buy what the bike buisness tells you to.

[@Vokunos]

@@mango9087 i am not really a good mechanic and just want to enjoy riding my bike, but if that makes me a sheep than i want to be the biggest sheep around... i guess

[@metamurph]

I do have a few 100k road days logged on the XC bike which is the one I tend to haul on vacations to Utah. In general, bikes are just awesome, my wife still isn't sure how I need more than one 😄

[@Zsebtetu]

The same ride, 4 riders with Neil and Blake joining this duo on gravel bikes too ... That would be a treat.

[@singlespeedguy]

I set up a mountain bike back in the 90’s aka John Tomac. As I recall the drop bar brake levers didn’t work that well and I had to fabricate a shift lever set up. Now I have fatties on my cross bike. Cheers

[@shaneburke9352]

This has got to be one of my favourite GCN videos, and that includes GMBN videos, really enjoyed the build vid as well!

[@mango9087]

Im 100% behind the idea that by putting big tires on a road bike, you have a super versatile bike. While master of none, it will allow you to cruise on roads and tackle gravel farm paths. But what on earth is the point of Alex's bike? It's just a worse mountain bike, I don't understand why you would still want drop bars, rigid fork, etc... When your bike is that off-road focused there isnt any road performance to salvage.

[@kieranrae]

coming from GMBN, Si and Alex are fantastic presenters, great video thoroughly enjoyed

[@MichaelFitzpatrick17]

I have a TCX Advanced and run 2.2 650B tires, 700x33 cross tires and 700x28 road tires on 3 wheelsets. I don't need any other bike unless I want to get back into DH

[@danielfulop]

what is exactly the difference between a MTB and a gravel bike? Is it only the steering rod?

[@turn1210]

Great video chaps 😉 I have a Cannondale Slate and purposely bought a size up and adjusted the stem/bars to be more suited to gravel riding. It can only take a 42mm tire in the rear but up front can go right up to MTB sized tires as it has a lefty. I’m thinking I’ll go for a 42mm rear and 47mm front to hopefully get her a bit more off road friendly.

[@sudduthjonathan]

Great timing of this video. I’m considering building up a bike just like the one Si has to supplement road riding but on the relatively smooth dirt roads in the country. I’m thinking essentially a road bike setup with some minor mods but with larger tires. The thing I like about something like the Warbird is I could have one frame and different wheels/tires for a variety of uses. If it’s light enough, maybe even use it for some CX events (casually trying it out without having to buy a CX dedicated bike)

[@adamabbas8876]

I think the industry has done the calculation for us. Less than 50mm is road / gravel and greater than 50mm is mtb. I reckon you need the higher front end and wider bars with steep / deep / dirty terrain.

[@rickhurst9058]

I think it's just the names which trigger people! It's obvious from looking at a bike what kind of riding it will suit - add drop bars to any bike to get more hand positions for long rides and make yourself more aero for efficient road riding. Also make it handle worse off-road. I swap between a 29er hardtail and a gravel bike - the hardtail feels like a tractor on the road, down to both the tyres and the riding position. With a tyre change and bar ends/ aero bars i'd take the hardtail on a long road ride, but I sure as hell wouldn't take my gravel bike for an uplift day at Bike park Wales :)

[@amrgardner]

The white one is a 90s mountain bike with curly handlebars. Period.

[@biking261]

I cycled past when you were filming the outro for this, that was a cold and wet day

[@bboxxstance]

i got a gravel frame with 105 groupset. im having fun both on and off road.

[@recumbentrocks2929]

Great video as always guys. Personally I prefer the straight wide bars on a mountain bike as they give you more control. I do love my gravel bike though and feel more confident on our rough potholed roads in the UK. What I can't work out is how you both kept clean faces?!? My guess is the camera man came with washing equipment. First thing I would do is fit mudguards.

[@eagleace67]

They are both fast on their respectable land surfaces so no comparison which is faster but the rowdy can go "Anywhere" where the racey can't go. Depends on your riding style. I like to go ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE. Rowdy it is!

[@christopheracat7089]

Excellent! and thank you for this walk in the rain! Nice end of year video gift! - Regarding the choice of bike ... between the two should be fine!

[@elachichai]

Racey Gravel bikes but with more flared handlebars. Something like Trek Checkpoint or Specialized Diverge. For chipped, and bumpy bike lanes unlike your videos and confident leaning in a downhill descent. Racey gravel is a sweet spot if you want to ever own only 1 bike. Touring, Bike Packing (Lower Gears, Mounts), some Country roads, Road rides, etc. Just have a spare wheel set if need to tune closer to road bike feel as the aero dynamics is still close to road bike on racey gravel bikes. Most people are not pros not have the time to bike often and reach only 22 Mph. So 48-32 or even a 46-30 beats 50-34 for uphill as well as bike backing if not touring. For longer touring, may be swap out carbon forks to Aluminium to accommodate racks on the front. Flared handlebars also allow longer handlebar bags. And swap out for smaller chain rings (easy as that? Or derailleur change needed? Please make a video on compatibility within Shimano sets) Besides a preference to stay clean ... on road.

[@kiltymacbagpipe]

My mtb has 2.4” tires. Having big chunky tires will smooth out the ride and add to the comfort off road. I think we will see gravel specific suspension components before long which will no doubt get all sorts of people mad, but it seems the logical next step.

[@shadytrane]

Then evolve to a new trend in 2030, the MTB, when roady will assume they prefer mud than road 😅

[@JustAGlitchFL]

They should have had the Niner MCR for the rowdy gravel bike. It is literally a full suspension.

[@tanjanitschke2974]

So delighted to see the new Warbird in its natural habitat 💕 Mine is a a few years older but still super fun.

[@bellabenet7409]

I have both. I have the less expensive combo of these bikes, a felt f55x cross bike that also wears 32mm tubeless road tires when I feel like it, and a surly ogre i built with a similar deore/grx combo running 40mm tires. Both are delightful for different reasons, though I actually prefer the cross bike on singletrack because it's so much more nimble. It's also a whole 12 pounds lighter lol so it's really fun to jump on after riding the surly for all my commuting needs.

[@Sklouchechi]

I ran both Mtb and Gravel, I'd choose gravel anyday.

[@rolfaalto]

Just drop bars on a 90's MB. For a fraction of the price of a new bike you can pick up a lovely titanium 90s hardtail and upgrade the components to perfection.

[@alistairmartin13]

Bought a specialized epic evo - seems a better bit of kit for this type of stuff

[@thomasjousse2427]

The Mason bikes really are things of beauty, the Bokeh is gorgeous. The whole aluminium shtick might be a bit intimidating, but once you plop 40+mm tyres on them, comfort really doesn't change from one material to the other.

[@Avioto]

I love how the build video is longer than this one. Like true cycling nerds😋

[@thegefster1988]

Interesting how Mtb'ers in general never use or seem to get/understand the term under biking which is a ton of fun.

[@edscottdotblog]

Only bike you need! I rode LEJOG on my Genesis Vagabond, just by swapping the tires out for something more road-friendly. Pop some 29 × 2.25s back on and you're good to go anywhere you want.

[@torchmark66]

Wasn't Si's last leisurely ride the 3 vs 1 TT challenge?

[@karlisjansons7234]

Please explain: why would you ever wear white shoes in these conditions? And, why would you not wear booties over the shoes to keep your feet cleaner, drier and warmer. Don't tell me style? Another great video. Well done guys.

[@mandemonKet]

Love riding through slop like this on drop bars, nothing more fun than hitting a root that sends you into the mud realm

[@woodywoodverchecker]

Waiting for the gravel fatbike.

[@neilbaquiran643]

Tbh that already exist. I got like 3 friends in calgary that has a fat bike with drop bars. 2 of them using a fat boy, 1 mukluk and im using a blizzard 30( also had an older motobecane but i transfered the parts to my blizzard) tell you what, you would think they would look funky but theyre actually really cool they look a bit wierd with compact road bars though, road bars with flares make them look really good. Theres also a guy who lives in Kelowna BC that has a bucksaw with drop bars . I thought it would look silly but it was such an eyecandy

[@legostopmotionbybarrelprod3523]

Bearclaw bicycles

[@mrvwbug4423]

That would probably work fairly decently on groomed snow surface

[@colinb8327]

I made up a gravel based on a Specialized Diverge frame, 50 tooth single speed, SRAM AXS, with an Eagle rear derailleur and 50-10 cassette, Zipp 303 wheels, I made it for a winter training bike. Would be interesting to see Si rag it on a course against his own build (much as I hate the idea of ANYONE riding it), it would give it a fair comparison. How about it GCN presenter V viewer bike?

[@Jacob99174]

Being a mtb’er, this is hilarious to see the struggle. Just grab a suspension mtb for thousands less than those machines and call it good

[@dlevi67]

You can buy a gravel bike for thousand less than those too. And you can easily spend as much as those on an MTB.

[@magnum405]

Yes but thats the point because it challenges you. Sure we could all buy fully suspended bikes but it wouldnt be that fun.

[@shoeonhead]

@@magnum405 then just get a Hardtail. Gravel bikes are being touted as a great thing but they’re just a fad that a tiny percentage of people would actually buy.

[@puntoycoma47]

@@magnum405 There's a thing we call "XC Hartail"

[@magnum405]

@@shoeonhead you clearly dont get it. A suspended fork makes such terrain much easier.

[@aaronpropes9134]

I think this is the first time I'm seen GCN spec a steel-framed bike. I think my head just exploded.

[@Omgndrong]

hello I am Hendra from Indonesia, my goal is to become a professional cyclist, and I really like your roadbike with solid and sturdy materials, I really want to ride your bike🙏 and my prayers that this channel will continue to grow and be blessed. Amen

[@XavierBetoN]

I would chose none, but if black one had more angled fork like the white, I'd love it!

[@F1ll1nTh3Blanks]

Given the season, I suppose it only makes sense that gravel bikes are taking over. I used to feel like the difference between gravel and cyclo was that gravel was more road endurance geometry with more rough terrain ready wheel and groupsets but.. These days the frames change so dramatically it's harder to tell.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Gravel makes perfect sense for a UK/Western Europe winter bike. For North America, our winters are either much colder and snowier, or mild and mostly dry. The closest climate to the UK in North America is the PNW, which is just the western 1/3 of Oregon and Washington, and the SW corner of British Columbia plus Vancouver Island.

[@pasha_houston]

Nice salsa! Oh and that MTB is pretty cool too

[@OperationDarkside]

That forest is gorgeous.

[@weeki_wachee]

I would have expected the Mason ISO to come with internal routing? Was it just for the seat post perhaps?

[@bradsanders6954]

The bigger the tire,the closer it gets to a rigid frame mt bike . A light dual suspension XC bike is what the bomb is. Intense Sniper is what I use for gravel.

[@sircrackien]

Mason ISO meet your father the Salsa Fargo. I have both a Warbird and a Fargo and they really dont overlap much in my use, I use the Warbird as a road, to dirt road bike, where the Fargo is more like an 800 pound gorilla as it can just go anywhere and would run circles around the Mason but can still keep a decent speed on the road.

[@wazzup105]

No, I clearly remember Si going on an easy ride last year. I remember him contemplating life and hugging trees or something.

[@roadyeti3697]

Racey. We've already rolled our eyes at hybrids and Tomac did the drop bar hardtail thing in the nineties

[@user-hg9dz7xv4w]

Since I discovered a possibility of buying a 9.2 kg full suspension Cannondale Scalpel I seriously doubt a need even for a road bike.

[@danfresca8033]

Just ride whatever makes you happy. For me if I had one bike it would be a cx bike. Although I like the idea of an mtb cassette for the steepest trails.