WTF Is An All-Road Bike & Are They Really N+1 Killers?

[@jbandt]

As somebody who's mostly on road but occasionally hits a canal bank or dirt shoulder on the side of the road I like the allroad/endurance category. I was hung up on wanting huge tire clearance, but I've finally realized I don't really need it. For me I really like the giant contend/defy. Clearance for 38mm is plenty for any dirt road riding I'll do.

[@thedownunderverse]

Spot on. 36mm measured is killer

[@ashleyhouse9690]

Having had an "N+1 killer" bike I've come to the conclusion that if you ride regularly i. e. 2+ times a week then you always need a spare bike. Often something needs maintaining or even breaks on bike #1 and the parts you need are not immediatrly available. It's useful then to have a second bike, even if it's a cheaper one, so you can ride. I personally think a gravel bike plus a road bike is the perfect combo.

[@roadcc]

Very true - most of the road.cc team have gone down a similar path

[@TheMachoGabacho]

I have a Trek Domane - it’s their endurance/road/light gravel bike, and I also have a Trek Marlin XC bike. Between those two I can do everything I need to do, and the Marlin is pretty nice on the road if the Domane is out of commission. All together I spent about $3000 for both bikes and I’m more than satisfied.

[@ashurany]

Yup. I keep 3 right now: road, mtb, and a steel flat bar commuter. The utility of my commuter is key though. I use it as a back-up road bike and I have fatter tires on a second wheelset that makes her a serviceable rigid off road bike if my mtb is down.

[@ashurany]

@@TheMachoGabacho I had a marlin 7 for awhile. Quality hardtail on the trails and yup, decent on the road too.

[@GuidoGabriele]

Same thought for me. I don’t have a need for MTB/Gravel (although I wish I did), so I try to keep two different bikes (i.e. one aero, one lightweight)

[@nerigarcia7116]

I'm more of a roadie but wanted to get away from the race geometry of my road bikes. I no longer am concerned with going as fast anymore and let's face it, I'm not as fast as I used to be. Nor was I ever really that fast. So, I just recently had a Speedvagen Rugged Road custom built and set it up as a 1x12 all-road bike with 35c Vittoria Zeros and it gives me all I was looking for in a road bike with the utility of doing much more. Even took it on my club group ride and it kept up fine with all the carbon counterparts. It allows me to have a comfortable bike that can go anywhere I need even though I'll most likely be on the road. Now I don't have to worry about the condition of the road so much and I can just get out there and ride wherever. It's definitely being used more than my carbon race bikes these days. I'm thinking of ditching them and setting up all my bikes as an all-road especially as I'm getting older. 32c tires seem perfect medium between gravel and road.

[@ScreamingMoon]

I bought a Focus Paralane in 2016 with 35mm tire clearance. I convinced myself I needed to upgrade to get wider tires. The industry was pushing gravel bikes hard. Now funny enough, it seems like they are back to pushing bikes like the Paralane. A tad more road focused. I still might get a new bike, but I am questioning if I need anything more than 35 for 80% road. I don't like the constant fussing. Every year it's some new BS from these companies. My frame is light, rides smooth and can fit 35 officially. (More like 38) Im just going to put 35's on it (has 30 now) and call it a day. Ill check on new bikes when I need a new bike moving forward instead of constantly worrying about being "left behind." It's all a mind game. All of this feels so much less important when you are actually out riding. Just ride what feels good for you and stop worrying about this sort of thing all the time. I want to concentrate more on actually riding.

[@zachs6191]

I think the future of all-road is adjustable geometry. Flip chips front and rear means less compromise on either end of the spectrum.

[@MattThomas08]

I think an all-road bike is potentially an “N+1” killer, but I don’t think it kills needing at least two bikes for me. I’m perfectly comfortable having a full suspension mountain bike and an all-road bike. The AR gives me comfortable options for gravel or road (which I rarely do) and the MTB let’s me go rip single track. Also having two means I always have a bike in service I can ride if the other is down for maintenance. For most people, I think having something in the middle area works to cover most riding, unless you really push the envelope racing a specific genre.

[@billhulley]

This sounds like giving a less intimidating more sales friendly name to CX bikes, so people don't feel like they have to use them to race in cold winter mud.

[@danielreynolds5012]

So true! I've been riding my good few year old cross bike as all of my n+1 bikes! 35mm slicks and it's my road bike, 35mm knobbly tyres and it's miraculously become my gravel bike, stock 33mm cross tyres and it's mmm, my all-road??!!! Winter mud is for my hardtail MTB as I'm soft like that!!!

[@regisbrose4117]

Ridley Kanzo fast and two wheelsets owner. One of the best choice of my life

[@Star14trek]

LOL my N+1 is a CX bike it has clearance for nearly 40mm tires on 700c & 42-48mm on 650b depending on slick/file/knobbly tires. Plus full SKS mud guards + 32mm tires and it's a great winter bike 😁. My Kiness Cross light. Well yes I still have summer Carbon bike but it's a CX too ... Trek Boone 😁

[@jonburnell532]

They make perfect sense to me. 35mm tires will work perfectly for canal towpaths and converted railways while still being quick enough on road. If I need wider than that then chances are I'd be better off with the mountain bike. I also don't need the tiny gears on gravel bikes.

[@JBalancio]

I purchased a Litespeed Cherohala last year, definitely replaced everything I have with a clearance of up to 38mm. Can't beat titanium and 2 different wheel sets!

[@Hintonbro.]

I imagine Specialized is preparing the next Roubaix to be an all road. I hope it takes 42mm - basically what the 2nd generation Diverge was. That’d be great

[@roadcc]

We're with you on that one!

[@walcottav]

I have a 2011 Spec Roubaix PRO SL3 - yep, rim brakes, and have 32mm tires on it. During the pandemic parts shortage it was in desperate need of groupset replacement, so a mashup of 105 & GRX from the LBS parts bin for the win - instant all road machine on the cheap. That said, I drool over the latest Domane's tire clearance.

[@c11z]

All road bikes strike me as old school cyclocross racing geometry from 10 years ago before the gravel category was invented.

[@sccxvelo]

Was given 2017 railegh rx 2.0 cx bike from a team friend. 1st disc brake when all the rim brake wheels I had went out just before the pandemic shortage except the lightweight custom alloy race use tubular set. New bike is my general use not just racing/ event bike due to it can up 40 in the rear 45 in fork for dirt with the gearing I needed for most rides. Usually use 28-30 for tarmac. Been using cx bike for years due that reason tight geo that is comfortable with wider tires. Either canti/ v brake or now going into disc.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

changing wheels over every time is a bit of a nightmare as well as the mud and dirt

[@trobbins244]

Best all road with a bit racier geometry is the Factor vista. Put mine together and it’s also a fair bit lighter than most of the road bikes for sale

[@snigs5T5]

Recently got a Giant Revolt A1 for the shoulder seasons, and gravel/all road. First ride on 30c slicks today. Should be awesome!

[@roadcc]

Nice! Enjoy!

[@TomatoDave]

Me too. 32 fr road and 43 for gravel on two wheel sets.

[@robertpreato3891]

awesome, informative and honest video. Great job

[@adrianc6534]

My ibis Hakka does perfectly well for both road and gravel with 45mm deep wheels on 35mm gravelking plus tires

[@k04s4]

They are so much different to me, road comes in race and endurance setup but 2x and 700x32 or so tires slick, then allroad is various materials frame (ti, carbon, aluminum or steel) they can be 1x or 2x with many bolt on options and 700x40 or so (mostly slick) and gravel comes in various forms race to drop handlebar mountain bike (like salsa fargo) with tires 700x42 to 29x2.6 with knobs.

[@soegix8966]

I would say "all-road" is kinda more sexy than a Gravel Bike, & still looks cool like a roadbike... It can fit maybe just 30c to 32c tires without leaving any massive gap clearance on the fork... it can do light gravel, still rolling fast on a tarmac...

[@savagepro9060]

0:59 I smashed the Subscribe Button. Now my monitor is fked up. Jamie, you owe me, big time!

[@morapelimokokomali7907]

This was highly informative fpr someone trying to get into cycling...I want to ride long and explore a bit meaning the occasional off-road

[@a1white]

Love the look of your commute too, by the way.

[@zedddddful]

Gravel and a road bike is the holy grail of bike combos.

[@jonpoon3896]

I might say a all-road bike and an XC bike is the best pair

[@zedddddful]

​@@jonpoon3896 hard to argue against either combo could do pretty much most you'd need.

[@a1white]

Still need another bike with pannier mounts, for commuting, touring and getting my weeks shopping home.

[@YuichiTamaki]

I wish that my Roubaix could take bigger than 33, it would be a very nice all rounder.

[@stevek4382]

2x with 38’s. I’m a tall big guy. I’m not a racer but I love speed with comfort . Lmao

[@markrskinner]

Genesis Datum. Takes 38mm tyres. Relaxed geo. Launched in 2016. I own one.

[@mister_ray]

Or just give a CX bike a new label. Been riding my Trek Boone disc as an all road bike for years. 35mm Schwalbe G-One tubeless tires and now I can ride just about everywhere.

[@bernardo9202]

I want the old madone with 35mm of clearance or the same with the sl7 a likewise crux version of the aethos

[@seanwil545]

For where I live there is nothing but asphalt for days, so a dedicated gravel or allroad bike would be wasted on everyday rides. I'd honestly be better off fitting the widest tires I can fit on my old cyclocross bike and calling it day.

[@prof_hu]

Yeah, I feel all-road is just the old gravel bike from 2-3 years ago, after gravel bikes been pushed into the mountain-bike widths. I actually use my gravel bike with 47 mm 29-er MTB tyres I bough 1,5 decades ago (still wire beaded) for my cross-trekking bike back then. It (the gravel bike) came with 40mil "all-road" tyres, but i found those still too slow on tarmac yet not grippy/cushioned enough on hardpacked dirt/gravel roads. Hence my change to skinny MTB tyres. They're even slower on tarmac, but handle perfectly on dirt roads. Now I only ride tarmac roads with my gravel bike to get to the dirt roads, then I'm off :) I do have an aero road bike (25 mm still) and a winter/commuter CX (also 25mm, but with fenders). Right now I feel my fleet is complete, so no need for an N+1 :) Maybe a TT bike, though?

[@swakemudi8682]

I think the real "N+1 killer" is the 90s mountain bike. you can put 700c tires and rim brakes, or 26 tires with canti/v-brakes. 650b is also possible. drop/flat/rise bar, whatever. but it's rare at this moment

[@gaza4543]

I think the lines have become very blurred. Full on areo bikes that can fit 35mm tyers and so on. I think of them more as relaxed v race and that mostly comes from the geometry. Ie Mason definition vs the spesh allez sprint.

[@Andy_ATB]

I think it's a 'grey area', and a lot of overlap; for example a Domane/Synapse can take about 35mm - that's light gravel territory/ forest fire road = All Road. However, anything more than 35mm, you're probably better with a Hardtail.

[@Brookes79]

Ribble just released their own Allroad bike last week, including an electric road bike version, with Mahle X20 motor system.

[@roadcc]

Look out for it appearing on the channel soon!

[@thesorus]

I have a gravel bike with a pair of slick 35mm tires. I don't need a new bike. As a fat-ass amateur It's good enough for 99% or the roads and gravel paths I ride on.

[@thomaskeenan2208]

Want a compact bike that can pop off front tire and put in hatch or carry on a train. 650B a little more space. Light enough for some carry up stairs over fences / walls. Light trail at slower speeds. Less expensive easier too maintain.

[@cccpkingu]

90s MTB for you then.

[@mellissanash7517]

Ritchey Outback or Swiss Cross in the breakaway version? Or a Crust Lightning in a breakaway version(which uses the same Ritchey derived setup).

[@tiger2too18]

Any recommendations for slick tyres and wheels to transform a ‘gravel’ bike into more of a ‘road’ bike . Ie 45 mm tyres to 32 mm tyres.

[@roadcc]

We’re big fans of the Panaracer gravel king slick tlc. Look out for an alloy wheel super shootout coming to the channel soon or check out our current reviews on the road.cc website

[@andyczarny1]

I have ribble endurance SL with 105 group set and conti 32c tyres and its all I need!!🎉

[@leangrypoulet7523]

It’s clearly not a ‘do it all’ bike, because it doesn’t cover the ‘Pub Bike’ category. That’s the bike you can ride to a pub, leave in the car park unchained, yet without fear of it being nicked, then pick up to cycle home on (or attempt to anyway), before riding into some bushes just 150m from the car park. The pub bike is left entangled in the bushes whilst you walk the rest of the way home, to be recovered the next day undamaged and importantly, not stolen, for future pub escapades. Can’t see many people doing that with the Ridley.

[@bwannasurya1459]

Been riding Curve Belgie Ultra an allroad bike. I can do gravel, road race, long distance ride...this allroad bike is perfect for me. And I think titanium is the best material for this allroad bike.

[@longchampe]

All-road, after watching the video, strikes me as absurd and confusing. There’s nothing stopping you from putting a 32 or 36mm tire on a gravel bike and gravel bikes have plenty of top end gearing for speed.

[@mellissanash7517]

bingo. I have a second wheelset on my gravel bike with 40mm gravel slicks. It really feels nice on the road and I can keep up with my wife on her steel endurance road bike with 38mm tire Rene Herse slicks

[@asim9379]

Love my giant contend AR 1 👍

[@ariffau]

Hello internet, recommendations for the best 35mm slicks please 🙏 I have my eyes on Conti GP5000 AS TR. but they’ve yet to hit my shores.

[@roadcc]

Definitely worth checking out the Panaracer Gravelkings (Slick TLC sounds most like what you're looking for)

[@savagepro9060]

Arif Fau: "35mm, they’ve yet to hit my shores" Answer: God bless you, your shores are bullet proof . . . what's up dude!👊

[@mellissanash7517]

Challenge Strada Bianca if you got the dough or 35mm Vittoria Corsa Next or Pirelli P Zero Race 35mm

[@victordub]

i have an allied echo with two wheelsets.... looooove it. :)

[@roadcc]

Nice!

[@Simon-et3ex]

We are looking at your channel (and others ) because we like “new toys “ so absolutely zero chance that you can have a bike that means you don’t need a new bike!

[@chrispeters2022]

All true. So you can basically go like a gun when needed.

[@achtfuenffuenf]

35-38mm is fine for allroad

[@JogBird]

i have a hybrid as a commuter all road touring bike, a 14lb road bike, and a fs mtb for winter... im done buying bikes

[@babyrabies]

Disc brakes and proprietary one piece cockpit aside, Ive never seen the cycling industry THIS desperate.

[@nassozeebo]

What do you mean by desperate? Desperate for what?

[@myxti3669]

​@@nassozeebo $

[@nassozeebo]

@@myxti3669 He/she has never seen a company want to make money before? I don't understand the statement.

[@savagepro9060]

All I see in the video are Three Grass Bikes!

[@vanw1554]

And then you have garvel aero race bike to mix up everything 😎

[@roadcc]

Next video? Aero gravel vs All-road vs Cyclocross? ;)

[@ariffau]

3T Exploro Race Max 😍

[@LastAphelion]

Gravel Areo vs Gravel Ultra Light vs Gravel Endurance (I swear it was Pinarello I saw offering these segments at once at one point I rolled my eyes so hard I needed new eyes)

[@pongo1372]

Hardly a new idea. Norco Section was called an all road bike a few years back.

[@rowan_my_boat]

It's called a touring bike. Look it up. They've been around forever

[@bonbonflippers4298]

This. Also it's beefed up cousin now called "ATB" All-terrian-Bike. That's what they call touring bikes now...

[@joeuser2360]

No on-bike commentary across different surfaces comparing the feel and effort between the three?

[@fennec13]

N+1 is a dumb concept. For the riding I do I have one bike and it suits my riding. I don't need 3 bikes (minimum) or the wrongful notion of having multiple bikes plus somehow NEEDING another... for what reason.

[@paulabear1987]

Didn't All Road bikes exist even before Gravel bikes?

[@vincefava7929]

Creating another 'need' that doesn't exist. Market place will decide, as always.

[@cjohnson3836]

This type of bike has been around for years. Can the fucktarded conspiracy theorizing.

[@Hangingofgiants]

Hmmm i think my Aspero is an all road bike now..

[@echtogammut]

Road + Gravel = Rovel... it's a marketing shame Specialized is already using that name for their accessories.

[@mrmotomoto]

Trek Domane enters chat

[@christopherwelch5568]

This is absurd. I owned and rode 1 mountain bike for 20 years with minimal maintenance to it. I finally wore it out. 11 years ago I got a city/commuter bike, which I do regular maintenance on and it still runs like a champ. You all should look up the bike culture in the Netherlands and see how ridiculous our bike culture is.

[@Z64025]

Specialized’s new S-works Crux, despite the price, is an almost ideal all-road bike candidate (47c tire clearance). If it was compatible with mechanical 2x groupsets would be even better. If it had dropped rear stays like the Ridley would be a perfect super light N+1 killa

[@tn9274]

manufacturer is happier with the new bike genre jargon. more thing to be sold.

[@diegoeleazar9154]

Find a Endurance road bike that can fit wider tires.

[@ericpmoss]

All those machines look exactly the same -- fast, but dull, and something I'd always worry about chipping. I'd be 2x as happy with a somewhat flexible steel randonneur and steel fork that handles 55mm tires.

[@bonbonflippers4298]

That would be called ATB, all-terrian-bike which I'd also known as touring bikes.

[@the_derpler]

This seems like my ritchey swiss cross.

[@garagesale5948]

An "All Road" bike is a drop bar version of the fitness bike.

[@andrei0525]

*cough* down country MTBs *cough*

[@JMTerry1984]

honestly, think people are just swallowing the marketing bait on so much of this stuff. My 'spare' bike is a Specialized Allez Elite an "entry level" road bike - i've upgraded brakes and tyres that is it and added mud guards. I've been doing all sorts of gravel riding on the 25mm tyres, though mud, river paths etc. up in Scotland in the last couple of months. Had been thinking to trade in and get a gravel bike etc, but really just don't think it is necessary after taking this bike gravelling. On (and slightly "off") the road I have been massively impressed by this bike. Majority of riders will not need a bike that does any more than this, and i bought it new for £1250 18 months ago. On the flats, no - of course this is not going to compete with a super light weight carbon bike with fancy wheels and if the terrain got properly hilly on the offroad no probably not the ideal set up but I very much question whether people on gravel bikes will do this anyway. Showed pictures of the routes I have taken to people, and they have said they've been tackling it using gravel bikes - totally unnecessary. My other bike is worth £8k+ so trust me I know what an expensive bike is like to ride and for the most part (i.e., not racing) it is simply not worth it.

[@mellissanash7517]

it's not marketing bs. Trust me once you move from 25mm to even 32mm tire you will notice a difference in comfort. In fact you might even notice a speed difference as 28mm and 30mm have shown to be faster, use less energy while being more comfortable. You also don't have to spend that much either as you can get a used quality cross bike for under 600 usd, quid or Euro easily.

[@lichray]

I think people should "just" assemble their own bikes.

[@dustinschulz5707]

But you still need the right frame

[@savagepro9060]

0:19 GENRE is a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. It's NEVER to be used outside that context! Was not expecting that from a former Tech WRITER!

[@roadcc]

Is bike design not artistic composition? I think Ridley would claim that their bike is art ;)

[@petef15]

Stop it. Get some help.

[@savagepro9060]

😂😂😂😂😂🤣

[@Thaddeus_Howe]

isn't this just a cyclocross bike?

[@chrisnotyourbusines7739]

tge difference us that gravel bikes look like shit with that angled top tubes

[@tubbytoast2]

Its all just marketing BS

[@cjohnson3836]

These bikes have been around for a while now. Dear Europe, please catch up. And quit pretending when you finally find out about something, that its a new genre.

[@josephreilman8527]

Please. Please stop making up catagories

[@Hjorten93]

Whatever the industry is doing, it works. Now i think my gravel bike is to much gravely and Maybe i should opt for one of these instead 🥲