Should you choose a Gravel or Road bike?

We inadvertently put my Gravel bike up against the rest of the lads Road bikes on a 30 miles ride.
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[@geraldinecoupland4162]

Hubby and I use Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H for winter road riding and also for summer gravel rides. Good rolling resistance we feel. We’ve been pleased with them. Winter off road muddy slop and trail centres it’s MTB’s. Summer bike usually hibernates from Oct onwards. Merry Christmas all 🙌🏻

[@petertreadway]

Cheers Geraldine, I’ll give those a look. I certainly needs something that rolls a little better than the Gravelkings!

[@WheelersAtLarge]

Peter, Riding the gravel bike through the winter 'IS' the training... You'll get the last laugh in the spring 💪👍😁

[@petertreadway]

I hope you're right because right now I don't feel like laughing when I'm riding it! 😂

[@lefizz55]

Loosing a couple of kilos is relatively easy and cheap using aliexpress carbon fork, saddle, saddle stem, tpu inner tubes, etc. I built a Monster gravel bike using an old Orbea 26" frame (€30) with 27.5" Alexrims wheels (€50). Its got huge 2.1" MTB tyres on at the moment but I ride in a lot of sand on the trails here around Madrid. Looks great weights about 11.5kg, cost €300 and is SOOOO much fun. I really don't care how fast I am, its about getting out and doing it and getting fit. Going to build a steel gravel bike soon

[@petertreadway]

That bike sounds awesome and I am a fully paid up member of the AliExpress fan club! 😂

[@stephaniericherphotography5603]

Again, y'all need to do the Clingmans Dome Road while it is closed for the season 12/1 to 4/1. About 488 meters in climb in 7 miles. Great mountain views. Then a ride down . . .

[@stephaniericherphotography5603]

After a bear chases Jimmy ...

[@petertreadway]

veloviewer.com/segments/243607 That looks a decent climb actually. 7.3km long, avg. gradient of 5.3% and a max. gradient of 7.7%. As for the bear, Jimmy wouldn’t be able to resist an outburst of joy! 😂. He loves a bit of nature, does Jimmy.

[@Buzzwindrip]

+1 on gravel tires with more slick centers. I have been running GravelKing SS in various widths, and have to say they roll great on asphalt, and handle well off-road. Great video, as always. I thought my Frankenbike was a heavy beast, but it is a lightweight at 11kg when compared to Big Bertha.

[@petertreadway]

Thanks so much. So it’s actually the Gravelkings I’m running at the moment but I feel like they’re just dragging a bit. I might look at getting something with a much more slick central portion. A quick google shows the Schwalbe G-One RS to be the sort of thing I have in mind. Decisions, decisions! 😉

[@Buzzwindrip]

@@petertreadway I think your GK’s are the SK model. The SS model has a slicker center tread, like a light file pattern. There is a more aggressive tread towards the sidewall. Look for the SS model online, and you’ll see what I mean.

[@petertreadway]

@@Buzzwindrip gotcha! I’ll check the SS ones out. Cheers buddy. 👌🏻

[@peterquest6406]

My 1978 carlton does everything.road and offroad and more.it weighs about 11 kg.

[@petertreadway]

They don't make them like they used too, Peter! I assume it's all steel as well, so that's pretty light considering. 👌

BTW, my gravel Canyon is under 10 kg, and even on 45 mm tires I can keep up with roadies with average speed exceeding 30 km/h w/o problems

[@petertreadway]

What tread pattern are your tyres, Igor? Do they have a slick section running around the middle of the tyre. One of my buddies suggested that my 'nobbly all over' Gravelkings might be part of the problem. I'm considering looking at some others.

@@petertreadway WTB Riddler , 45x700, great for gravel, not the fastest on the road, but I remember the session with two roadies, keeping up with them for cca 20 km and speeds above 30 km/h. And my gravel is the robust one Canyon Grizl... Gravel bikes are great, I love this concept.

[@petertreadway]

@ they look a good tyre, Igor, cheers. 👌🏻 And yes, couldn’t agree more about gravel. The concept of having a bike that can handle multiple terrains is awesome! 💪🏻

[@IanHulme]

"Fat lad at the back" Pete basically insulting most of the males in cycling 🤣

[@petertreadway]

I prefer to think of it more as identifying with my kin! Trying to stay relatable! 😂

[@andrewpearson4772]

Is Jimmys bike still on the stock wheels? I bought some Zonda C17 for my 8.9 in the Halfords sale, and it's transformed the ride no end, tell him.

[@petertreadway]

I believe they are the stock tyres, Andrew, so I’ll pass your comments on. Cheers. 👌🏻

[@stevenfreeman7798]

You were not that far behind lol!!. You will be a racing snake by summer!!.

[@petertreadway]

I think it might be in the dining, Steven, as they were gracious enough to keep letting me catch up... but who knows, maybe I will be smashing past them all in a few months! 😉

[@ronaldallen8604]

For a bigger training effect this winter why not use your fixie? By next spring you'll be dancing past them all on the climbs (honest).

[@petertreadway]

I still need fix the fixie! 🤦🏻‍♂️ But the parts are all inbound, so hopefully not much longer! 🤞🏼

[@ronaldallen8604]

I'm going to give it a whirl; will probably be having knee replacement surgery by February.@@petertreadway

It's great to be riding with buddies 👍

[@petertreadway]

Amen to that! 🙌 Nothing better than a good ride out with great friends!

[@lewisA76]

You'll be flying when you do get back on the Road Bike, Pete. 13kg Wow

[@petertreadway]

Winter miles make summer smiles, Lewis! 😉

[@lewisA76]

100% Peter, that's what I tell myself when I'm collapsing in the pain cave or getting blown about and soaked outside. Also improves your mental attitude which is 75% of being a strong rider

[@petertreadway]

@lewisA76 couldn’t agree more, especially about the mental element. Jimmy has a quote that love: “whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re probably right”. A positive mental attitude is key. 👌🏻

[@richardhall263]

I thought gravel bikes had better gearing for climbing? The bike builder may have cocked up. Great video as always

[@petertreadway]

There's every chance the bike builder screwed this build up, Richard! 😂 I also have an issue at the moment with dropping down in to the small chainring at the front, so that doesn't help! 🤦

[@samgraham4168]

I can't lie, if he'd have been out with us, he'd have been pushed into a hedge and we'd have called a rescue van to take us to bacon... But I also can't lie, I don't have a 13kg gravel bike 😋

[@petertreadway]

Hang on, Sam... who'd have been pushed in to a hedge? Me or Jimmy? 🤣In any case, Bacon is always welcome. 😉

[@samgraham4168]

@@petertreadway Jimmy! Ain't no one gonna make me go up hills relentlessly unless he's buying me bacon!

[@petertreadway]

@samgraham4168 😂

[@zedddddful]

If you are going to be using it on road rides it wouldn't hurt to Stick some faster tyres on it you'll be surprised what a difference it makes.

[@petertreadway]

Funnily enough, I was out on it recently and swapped with my mate who was on his fixie (as he thought I was lying about how heavy and slow I kept saying it was!). He commented that it's probably the rolling resistance of the tyres causing the issues too. May have to invest some gravel tyres with a slick running down the middle of it. Tan walls though, of course! 😉

[@zedddddful]

​@@petertreadwaythat's a plan I reckon with those and your carbon fork that'll help close the gap especially when the weather is nasty 👍

[@petertreadway]

@@zedddddful I’m still dubious about the fork and the weight, but maybe a few gentle rides to ease it in and give it a bit of a test. 😉