Pros and Cons Gravel Bike on South Downs Way

What are the pros and cons of using a gravel bike on the South Downs Way? I take my Orro Terra C gravel bike while my buddy is on a mountain bike as I find out.
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[@Dutcharmytent]

I have tried both types of bike and the Mountain Bike came out tops for the South Downs way. The Gravel bike is best on disused railway track.

[@michaeldoise8672]

Very useful video for someone who's preparing to do the South Downs Way with a group of 20 students!

[@themuddycyclist]

Wow, that adds in some extra challenge!

[@charliejolly6022]

This seems like a fair summary. All bikes have pros and cons. Think I'd take comfort over speed on these trails but would like to try out a gravel bike so I can get my own thoughts.

[@themuddycyclist]

Thanks Charlie, there are pros and cons for both gravel and mountain bikes. In an ideal you would have both.

[@nishiki7047]

Really interesting and helpful , thankyou

[@themuddycyclist]

Pleased you enjoyed it 👍

[@jhbouhbouhbouhbouhbo]

Thanks for this. I did SDW on my hardtail MTB last year, and funnily enough I recently bought the same bike you have, the Orro Terra, so wanting to try it out this summer on that

[@themuddycyclist]

Have fun, just stay off the really gnarly stuff

[@deezkayx1441]

Thanks for the vid, very relevant to me. I'm riding the SDW in late August on either 40mm Mondials or my 26" hardtail with 2.1" Nobby Nic tyres. Haven't been on the SDW but have ridden the Ridgeway loads, which looks pretty similar. You can do the Ridgeway on a gravel bike but you'll spend most of the ride picking a line, the hardtail isn't much slower and you can take in more of the views and definitly have more fun. Buddy's will be on a 650b plus gravel bike and a 29er. I'm expecting it to be a proper slog on the 26er but way more fun too.

[@themuddycyclist]

Good luck with the SDW, I always prioritise comfort over speed on long rides but that’s just me

[@rubikzcuberuss7404]

The sdw is my back yard so i ride it all the time on different bikes,my fastest time 2023 in july was 8h45min on hard carbon hardtail but with solid carbon forks, i now 51 and felt really battered by the end of it. The flint and roughness is not to be underestimated, tyres and body take a real battering, also my mountain bike is 17lb so climbs really well. I know own a gravel so will attempt to beat my fastest run. Thanks for the video

[@themuddycyclist]

No problem, great effort on the SDW. The best I did it was over 2 days, not sure of the time but it nearly killed me! Think doing the whole of SDW on a gravel bike would be pretty uncomfortable.

[@darrenking8349]

I definitely prefer a mountain bike. Where I live near Salisbury, it's like the south downs way. Big climbs and big descents, a gravel bike is fantastic for climbing but it shakes the hell out of you on decent's & even fast rolling flat. However a mountain bike will not keep up with a gravel bike going uphill. But does that really matter?, personally I'd rather be slower up hills and know I will have a more comfortable ride on a mountain bike.

[@themuddycyclist]

As you say, doesn’t really matter but I’m lucky to have choice of both. Did 2 rides this weekend, one on my gravel bike & one on my MTB.

[@shaunmullen6100]

gravel bike always for trails like that pal, i only use MTB for black runs now, great vid again.

[@themuddycyclist]

Cheers Shaun. I don't attempt many black runs anymore, but take your point!

[@johne1956]

I did the SDW in two days on a Kona hardtail with 26 inch x 2.1 tyres.. I did it the next year on a Specilized Crosstrail with 40mm 700c and it was fine, did it in one day. I'd not like to do it with no suspension at all or on thinner tyres if travelling 50 miles or more in a day. But I'm old and weigh 90kg so for a younger fitter, lighter rider a decent gravel bike should be fine.

[@themuddycyclist]

SDW in a day, that’s impressive. Think you’re right, suspension is what you’d miss most on a gravel bike. On a long ride like this it would become very uncomfortable.

[@gren509]

It looks like the MTB for confort. Maybe short travel forks would help the Gravel. I don't think we've reached the optimum bike spec'n yet for this new discipline.

[@themuddycyclist]

Agreed with that, a gravel bike is definitely not as comfortable as a MTB but does have other advantages. Would say that 'sweet spot' between gravel and MTB probably varies for each rider.

[@seanmorgan4099]

I've ridden along the SDW on a basic quality MTB so basic front suspension and reckon it would not be much quicker than my gravel bike. I ride gravel here in Australia and find the gravel bike is better most of the time - if technical then my dual suspension MTB is way quicker downhill. I find the gravel fine and fun downhill but know the MTB would be way quicker. uphill and flat I'll take the gravel bike always. I have a titanium frame so soaks up the little bumps, 44 mm tyres tubeless and thick handlebar tape so is very comfy. I will be over in Hove in 3 weeks and bring my gravel bike so will test it out on the SDW !

[@themuddycyclist]

Totally agree, a gravel bike is faster on the uphill & flat but on the downhills a MTB is much faster & more comfortable. 44mm tyres much provide some protection though. Good luck when you are over in Hove, I hope the weather has improved by then!

[@jonathanchester5916]

I'd say you're on the wrong gravel setup. Try a 40T upfront and a 44-10 or a 50-10 on the back. Go wider on the tires - 40mm should be more than adequate. If you sit up off the saddle on the downhills the impact will be much less. But this is all speculative - will know better when I ride it in a few weeks. Good video :)

[@themuddycyclist]

Interesting comment, certainly agree with you about the tyres 👍

[@lesgetsohb9927]

Agee with most of that, I think a full suss lightweight xc would probably be best

[@themuddycyclist]

If not a full suss, a hardtail will do the job

[@jonathanalder1206]

Get a red shift flexi stem. The improvement to your ride is literally unbelievable. Like going from doing the 100m sprint in flip flops to doing it in trainers. I also have the Orro Terra C.

[@themuddycyclist]

Thanks for the tip. Sadly my Orro was in my car when I crashed, not confirmed but pretty sure it’s been smashed up ☹️

[@jonathanalder1206]

@@themuddycyclist sorry to hear that. Consider a redshift once you are sorted. 👌

[@themuddycyclist]

@@jonathanalder1206 Will do 👍

[@kerriganwild2996]

I don't entirely agree with the weight and uphill point: my mtbs have very light gears for slopes and my friend certainly doesn't disappear into the distance on his gravel bike.

[@AdamRussellCycling]

Great video! I only have a gravel bike for venturing away from the tarmac so can only speak to my experience, but the SDW ruins my 40mm tyres and I'm yet to ride out on the SDW without needing to plug a hole in my tubeless set up. I've ordered a 45mm tyre for the rear which is the widest it can handle on 700c wheels in the hope this gives me a bit more puncture protection and comfort. What pressures are you running and how have you found puncture protection? Any tyre recommendations?

[@themuddycyclist]

Many thank, sounds like I've been lucky with my 38 tyres. I'm not sure about tyre recommendations, am looking for a wider set myself. I usually head to bikeradar.com for this sort of thing.

[@AdamRussellCycling]

@@themuddycyclist Yep that's what I did, got some Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M on the way based on the bikeradar review 😄

[@lesgetsohb9927]

Just road 2 days including around 80k of SDW & my cinturato m 45mm tyres were faultless (no punctures). Highly Recommend

[@AdamRussellCycling]

@@lesgetsohb9927 110 miles on my 45mm cinturato now on flinty, chalky, gnarly gravel and no issues so far!

[@lesgetsohb9927]

They are great in my experience & don’t roll too bad on the road too when necessary.

[@hughjaars2285]

The joy of running out of clicks on a climb…..then looking down just in case there’s one more gear (there never is). Rough long rides I go for a lightish 29er with a solid carbon fork, for more forgiving rides I go with an old steel hybrid. They hybrid is heavy but happily runs 42c tyres and with 3x9 allows a 22F x 36R that has gotten me up everything it’s needed to so far. Riding a familiar 40k route the 29er is faster (mixed road and bridleway 50/50) by about 2 mph. Would not want to do that route on my 26” bike but might try it now, just to see.

[@themuddycyclist]

Good tips, go for the 26" you might be pleasantly surprised.

[@Richard_Johnson69]

Comfort over speed means MTB for me 😊

[@themuddycyclist]

Fair point, MTB definitely more comfortable

[@jamesclarkley2049]

Have you gone tubeless? What pressure do you run? That makes a massive difference on the rocky descents, have the same bike but different groupset.

[@themuddycyclist]

Not gone tubeless, yet. Run at about 35/40psi. Sure tubeless & lower pressures would help.

[@jamesclarkley2049]

That's a pretty good pressure, I put 40mm tyres on tubeless and run 30-32 psi and it made a huge difference with the comfort.

[@themuddycyclist]

@@jamesclarkley2049 Looking to go tubeless in the winter, but got a big road ride coming up so will be changing to a more slick tyre first.

[@jamesclarkley2049]

I run pirelli cinturato h tyres and use them on road and gravel, they are fast. Not much slower than a slick road tyre! Perfect bike to mix between road and gravel though.

[@Barryens]

You didn't mention weather. If it is wet then MTB all the way. Chalk is so slippery in the wet you want as much rubber as possible.

[@themuddycyclist]

Fair point, I've not had this bike through a winter, just didn't think

[@JC-un4bg]

I don’t think the weight maters if your not a lean guy (me ) 😂 could easily loss the weight of a whole bike . And still be some of me left . I think you have to own both

[@themuddycyclist]

Fair point 👍

[@cow-a-cyclist2545]

I don't know how much my carbon fork can take on the Boardman so I'm careful with bumps and descents. My friend on the other hand, he flies down without a care in the world on his full carbon. Time will tell.

[@themuddycyclist]

You don't want to end up breaking your bike, so go easy out there.

[@darrenelbrow5144]

Did 9000 miles on my Boardman gravel bike, with not issues

[@cow-a-cyclist2545]

@@darrenelbrow5144 Strava says I have 14,000 miles on my ADV and the only issue I have is the fork taking wear from the cable housing. (Electrical tape is working so far).

[@rule3036]

Why? If you are riding off road or unsurfaced roads use an xc hardtail ,better on steep climbs , downhills, and bouncy roads......and are not heavier than a gravel bike which is just a road bike with nobbly tyres.... Ok xc is slower on smooth long roads, but the UK isnt Kansas.

[@themuddycyclist]

I would say an MTB is definitely heavier than a gravel bike and slower on most climbs. But an MTB a better option when the terrain starts getting really steep & gnarly either or down!

[@alwright8715]

I am 60 so an E mountain bike all the way

[@themuddycyclist]

No shame in that, it’s all about having fun