The Ultimate Gravel VS Mountain Bike Showdown! | Which Is Faster?

Have we finally got to the bottom of the gravel bike VS mountain bike debate once and for all? Simon is joined by an esteemed mountain biker, Isaac, from our sister channel GMBN for an epic mixed surface 100-mile ride past canals, over gravel, and up and down hills. Which bike will make for an easier ride? 👀🚴
0:00 - Intro
2:27 - The bikes
4:04 - Canal
8:25 - Climbing
12:31 - Descending
14:33 - Straight tarmac
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What do you think is better? Gravel or mountain bike? 👀 Let us know in the comment section below! 💬
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[@gcn]

What would you choose? Gravel or Mtb? 🤔

[@glansberry]

Yes! 😆

[@wojciechgregorkiewicz2415]

I did this course with a mate. Him riding his monster gravel bike and me on my xc full sus mtb. We were obviously going a lot slower than Si and Isaac. At a slower pace of avg 17 kph the differences aren't as stark I'd say. Our respective bikes were probably of similar weight differential albeit both heavier. The gravel bike was on chunky 2in tyres which levelled the playing field a fair bit. I was half expecting to die half way on my mtb having never ridden that far on it. But it was surprisingly comfortable! To me it was a win for the mtb just because I survived.

[@roldo5902]

Mtb with inner bar ends for me👍

[@kilianortmann9979]

Really comes down to the length of the ride, the ones where you plan to ride 120km+ per day are not consistently rough enough to play into the strengths of a Mtb. You can have stretches where an Mtb is the better choice, but that advantage gets lost in the long distances it takes to link up those bits.

[@spick1923]

@@kilianortmann9979 Tell that to sofiane sehili, Marin de Saint-Exupéry, or the late great Mike Hall 😏

[@shaun1900]

The best bike is the one you have for the places you ride, no matter what anybody else says, it's a personal preference. Where I ride, a Gravel bike might be 1-2kph quicker, but a hardtail MTB will be safer, quicker on the descents and 90% as capable everywhere else.

[@andreasb.759]

So true

[@luisquiroga8554]

And better at wheelies and jumps

[@jflaim410]

I really think it come downs to how much road or hard backed gravel your riding vs single track MTB course. As he said in the end on this ride he had only a few min the mountain bike had an advantage, the rest of the time he was working harder to do the same speed. There are many places where that would be reversed. I like that I can ride my gravel bike on group road rides(as long as the pace is comfortable) but not be afraid to hit some gravel or an easy single track that road bikes cannot even consider.

[@shaun1900]

@@jflaim410 Easy single track is a walking path, hardly taxing stuff, even for kids on balance bikes. Gravel bikes on dedicated single tracks are funny to watch, they spend more time pushing than peddling.

[@EstMaRRtin]

Amen

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Only Si can talk about CdA wearing sunglasses the size of a barn door. 😂

[@TenSapphires]

What are those?

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@@TenSapphires POC Devour

[@mgrant6607]

Those are the worst glasses I’ve ever seen. Lordy. @@chrisridesbicycles

[@TenSapphires]

@@chrisridesbicycles thank you. I want to try "barn doors" for myself. I'm riding POC AIM for 3 seasons, happy with them that I haven't look for sunglasses for years but now is time for new.

[@rasyidizulkifli2285]

It might be more aero, kinda like a fairing or those huge tt helmet visors lol

[@FlatSpinMan]

Isaac’s dry sense of humour is great. I loved his line about turning corners.

[@douglaspate9314]

...the ratios aren't there hahahahahahaha

[@gcn]

To be fair to him... corners are hard! He's not used to them without berms 😵‍💫

[@johanrr2412]

@@gcn Didn't he race XC?

[@torchmark66]

"The cream and strawberries are just around the next corner" :)

[@argusauge4812]

Bikers and humor?

[@Intentsrig]

Woulda been interesting to see power numbers. On the flat sections, climb and the pavement. Would like to see how much power Isaac was having to do to keep up.

[@climbslc2281]

This. And total watts/kg burned.

[@serpadu]

Exactly, it's useless with different riders and no power numbers. They should switch bikes and compare power between each bike, for each rider. It's like putting me on a S-works and a pro in the cheapest bike, and comparing our performance. Meaningless.

[@chrishoppe2714]

Thats what I was hoping to see too. @Global Cycling Network

[@raykleiner3151]

The question is not which is faster but which is more fun! The course taken clearly favored gravel, there are other courses bettter suited to MTB. Even so, really enjoy these videos with Simon.

[@Rzarecteh]

Reason I favour MTB to gravel is exploration. You have to plan a gravel ride, you can go anywhere in any weather on a MTB without any planning.

[@gcn]

Great point! Smiles over miles all day long 😎

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

​@@RzarectehI can definitely see gravel being more accessible imo, same for road biking. Trails are far here in Tokyo but almost all scenic mountain climbs are paved with roads so I bought a road bike instead of gravel, but I agree Gravel can be more flexible for exploring on average. I also have an MTB for weekend trail riding, but I use my road bike more due to accessibility. Wallet wasn't happy initially though lol.

[@unasfantoba9844]

​@@Rzarectehabsolutely right, i think the key is exploration

[@electricityofmind6300]

​​@@Rzarecteh yeah but I am still confused why world trekkers prefer gravel. Got any insight?

[@Wolit51]

The funny thing is that mountain bike handlebars were not that wide in the past. That was so that we didn't have to worry about catching on trees when riding singletrack. We also had bar ends attached that allowed for a change of position when climbing. I still ride with this set up

[@feedbackzaloop]

Yes, 750 is even by modern standarts a bit too big for an XC. Graveling, meanwhile, must be done with something around 600. Also, I like older Shimano and Tektro levers with stile of modern Maguras as I can use those like mini barends. Or even like road bar hoods, keeping in mind they are about 450-500mm apart. On that note, I often bring out retro-ish bikes to group rides and recently I was the only not scratched up and bleeding after passing through blackberry shrubs with my 560 bars. Didn't feel nice on the descends though, obviously.

[@chrisbinch800]

yep, just think Rockhopper.

[@christianb.1028]

My hands get numb after like 10 min. on bars wider than 620-640 and even then I need at least 15° back sweep. I could never ride a 700, let alone a 750. My wrists are just not made that way.

[@gcn]

Nothing wrong with those old school set ups! Bar ends are still cool 😎

[@viktorlisikoff]

I've tried an inner bar ends on my hardtail and I don't even think about buying a gravel bike now :)

[@neilsmyth1812]

I love when they are going up hill, how Simon is breathing so heavy and Isaac is right beside him explaining without breaking a sweat. . lol

[@gcn]

We think Isaac could be trouble for us 😬

[@JohnMFlores]

Looking forward to seeing more Isaac. Great addition to the team

[@franmcgowan4068]

GMBN

[@PercyTP5161]

32km/h on a MTB, blimey that guys got legs haha

[@bucketlist.original]

I love chasing road cyclists, or peletons at up to 40km/h on my aluminium hardtail and I am able to keep up with them!

[@davidf2281]

And they were barely breathing hard!

[@AlenRi]

My record on 200km ride is 27 km/h on a mtb, but it is all on road, no way that I could keep that avg speed on a offroad surface

[@myfrequencies1912]

That's really good mate! My fastest over distance was 22km/h over a 30km ride. Maybe about 30% of it was offroad which probably cut it down somewhat. I should do a tarmac only route one day. (When I want to be bored to tears for the sake of better numbers I suppose....)@@AlenRi

[@bucketlist.original]

@@AlenRi probably without breaks, or did you even had some?

[@DavidMackenzie]

Looked like a great ride. Main take away for me was how much of the ride was traffic free. I don't want super gnarly mtb routes but I love being away from the traffic in those liminal spaces Issac mentioned.

[@hansschotterradler3772]

That's why my road bike keeps collecting dust while my gravel bike and MTB are collecting dirt. Might have to sell the road bike.

[@gcn]

Gravel bikes can be great to finding those little hidden gems 🙌 Are you a gravel rider?

[@DavidMackenzie]

@@gcn built up new gravel bike during lockdown. Now I use it more than my roadbike!

[@user-om2fg7yh6s]

I had a gravel bike and a 140mm travel MTB - the gravel bike got sold after a year of owning it. Truth is I was taking both bikes on the same routes and the mountain bike was SO much more fun and comfortable.

[@myfrequencies1912]

Comfort at the sacrifice of a few km/h average speed & no interest in curly bars & brifters is what had me choose an XC hardtail last year. Put aero bars on it & it's more aero than most road set ups now.

[@Morpheus0000]

​@@myfrequencies1912you've got aero bars on your XC bike?

[@gcn]

Sounds like you found the setup for you! The most important thing is to just keep cycling 🙌

[@dpie4859]

MTB all day long for me. Much more comfortable ride, suspension, better grip, better brakes, more robust. And you can go EVERYWHERE.

[@anthonykidd6595]

I guess it's individual opinion but on a 100 mile route like that a mtb would never be the right choice, it's slower, less efficient and you don't have multiple hand positions so way less comfortable (Thats why you rarely see mountain bikers do long distance rides)

[@keithreed5009]

That's why I have bar ends on my MTB

[@erlendsteren9466]

The brakes is an issue. Mtb brakes wwith 180mm discs are very good!

[@anthonykidd6595]

@@irfuel suspension for a ride like that? Lol

[@stujm8376]

I’d try gravel biking, I think any kind of cycling is fantastic and worth having a go, though I’m a mountain biker at heart. Excellent content guys, yet again. We need more crossover vids like this.

[@johanrr2412]

You'll love it. It's amazing for just cruising on gravel roads and forest paths. It is a whole different feeling compared to my trail bike that feels like a tractor as soon as I get off the trails.

[@TheGreenhillsCyclist]

I'm a commuter cyclist through and through! Used to cycle drops 25 years ago, a ladies step-through Raleigh racer. Then I got rear-ended by a car and wound up with a serious slip disc T6-T7. Went back to cycling in February 2020, before all COVID-19 hell broke loose. On a Hybrid Flatbar bike now. I'm 90% lazy 5% life getting in the way & 5% slip disc when it comes to heading out for a cycle. I agree, we need more crossover vids like this! Especially with tips 'n tricks for those who for whatever reason, cannot cycle drops.

[@bravesirmick8463]

​@@TheGreenhillsCyclistI've a stable of bikes, TT, road, mountain, and it's my old hybrid on trails I ride and enjoy the most. And at near 60 it's the most comfortable for a mistreated old body. I'm looking for a not too aggressive geometry gravel bike but I have a feeling I'll go back to my old hybrid.

[@gcn]

We love getting to hang our with our off-road siblings 🙌 Can you think of any cross channel challenges we could do? We here you... All cycling is fun! 🎉

[@johanrr2412]

@@gcn Something similar maybe but with the bikes swapped

[@gilescudmore7325]

I have 29er MTB and gravel and thinking of getting rid of one, but each time I ride I think "this is ace I'll get rid of the other" so still got both!

[@myfrequencies1912]

Flat bars on the MTB & curlies on the gravel? How do you find it switching back & forth? I would love to try curlies but as I'm a one bike type of guy I had to choose flats.

[@gilescudmore7325]

It's fine. Flat bars are simpler but offer less changes of hand position. The bigger difference is the width, MTB isn't quite so nimble as have to slow/stop for tight gaps.

[@lawrencegoodwin2931]

What I learned (again) is that I’d prefer to be on a gravel bike when riding gravel and a mtb when riding big jumps, technical, berms and mtb stuff. This ride was all gravel all the way. I didn’t see one double or table top. A good question might be which type of riding takes more skills. 😊 But the question being asked is “which is faster” one also has to ask what kind of riding are we doing. Clearly, a gravel bike is faster on a gravel surface, but a mtb is faster on mtb stuff.

[@craighoover1495]

Good discussion and WONDERFUL video. I loved seeing the countryside, canals, etc. . Thank you!

[@TiberiusMoon]

The guy in the back thinking @ 1:20 "He has such a nice bike, I need a new one." "Lookt at it" *sigh*

[@cyclingjack]

Saw him too, but i have to admit, if i saw one of those gcn presenters at work , i would look equally stupid st what’s going on and which presenter it is 😅

[@cruachan1191]

This in a nutshell is why I bought a gravel bike, exactly the type of terrain on my local routes (although a bit hillier because I'm in Scotland, but the weather certainly looked familiar!)

[@colinburdon363]

Add SQlabs inner bar ends and a RIDE FARR loop and the MTB would be many times more comfortable on a ride of that duration. Looking at that terrain the gravel bike may still have made more sense as it was not rough (Horse section excluded - they are a pain). Once the terrain gets rougher then the MTB with the additional upgrades to the handlebar would really shine. Can also find flat bars with 12 deg or 16 deg sweep for better wrist ergonomics and retain the control benefits on rough terrain. Great video though - would like to have seen who used the most energy over the ride as this is what I thought they'd do since riding together throughout.

[@runsforcheesecake]

Other than the distance, and despite what we see on KZbin, this is actually what most people in the UK do for “mountain biking”.

[@myfrequencies1912]

100% true! Almost everyone i see on an MTB looks way overbiked.

[@inz_uzi]

​@@myfrequencies1912 But they go gnarly every year or two when they go to the mountains 😂

[@myfrequencies1912]

That was me literally a week ago in Switzerland. Haha@@inz_uzi

[@inz_uzi]

@@myfrequencies1912 😀

[@Dolbouck7]

Add aero bars in the mtb. Did 177 mile ride on a XC mtb with aero bars and it was super comfy.

[@myfrequencies1912]

I have aeros on my giant XTC. Not done more than 60 miles in one go yet, but I will!

[@stevek8829]

Ok, I'll guess the solution is based on the specific route.

[@stefanwagener]

Sure, but I think the point made is that for 80% of riders for 80% of a longer touring trip a MTB is often not really needed. It's the smaller portion of a long trip where you have nice trails in the forests or boulders in the alps and so on where the MTB shines ... for the most part of a long trip the MTB is slowing you down for aerodynamic reasons. I still would prefer the cushion of wider tires and suspension of a MTB over the faster gravel bike even if I "need" it only for 10% of my route.

[@danhasnedl_CZ]

No, the longer route you plan, the less of it will be very technical riding.

[@feedbackzaloop]

@@stefanwagener if you can only walk through the nice forest part or ride with teeth chattering at best, what was the point going that far along those roads in the first place? Unless the road itself was the objective. It must always be picking the bike for the most desired/challenging/interesting part and dealing with consequences, no compromise. I'm still amazed people arguing about it

[@MarianVC57]

I think gravel is a great all around, for those who want to explore outside tarmac it's the best option if you only have one bike. I gravelized my mtb and was the best decision for mi typical use.

[@ThisGuyRides]

Wouldn't it have been better if you sold your MTB and got a dedicated gravel bike instead of gravelizing an MTB?

[@myfrequencies1912]

I know what you mean by "gravelizing" your mtb. Narrower faster rolling rear tyre..... Uh, that's about it really. Curly bars & brifters? Not on my bike!

[@MarianVC57]

@@ThisGuyRides Hey! It was the most affordable way, my bike already had a 1x10 and hydraulic brakes. With a rigid fork and a corner bar (Surly style) it completely transformed the bike. Probably if i sold it, would need to put some money and I'll get a similar drive train but with out the hydraulic brakes. Also, if i didn't like it was easy to be reversed.

[@MarianVC57]

@@myfrequencies1912 Not really, rigid fork and corner bar, kept my hydraulic brakes. I know i don't have the hoods but i don't really mind. Also, I kept the chunky tyres. Gravel has a really broad spectrum, mtb towards road bike (like mine), or road bike towards mtb (same drive train and just a bit more chunky tyre), and yes, everything you could think of in between.

[@myfrequencies1912]

That Surly Corner bar is one of a kind. It's half flats & half drops. Truly this is what gravel bikes should have as standard.@@MarianVC57

[@BH-cy9tb]

This looks like a blast. As long as it’s warm I absolutely love riding in the rain even in heavy downpours. 💪👍

[@bubby372]

Great video . Fun to watch two guys that know how to ride. Excellent scenic countryside. Good chemistry between Si and Issac made for an enjoyable watch.

[@jennifercrosland9352]

I would like to see this challenge but with a few changes. The gravel bikes seem to shift tire sizes but always against a stock mountain bike with 2.2 tires, how about a hardtail, trim down the tires, and narrowed bars with bar ends. I bet the comparison would be closer! I currently ride an old specialized hardrock comp disc set up this way.

[@238949]

Don't own a mountain or gravel bike, don't care, love these kind of GCN videos, could watch them all day 🤩🤩

[@gcn]

This is great! 🙌 We love to entertain!

[@238949]

and you always do :) @@gcn

[@glansberry]

There's a bike for everything and every situation. I currently own a road bike, gravel and mountain bikes but N+1... Amazing trail and scenery! And welcome Isaac!

[@derickcastillo9083]

I really liked this video. Isaac was the right choice to go on this ride! He brings a quality to the game that those other guys don't quite have. I used to love doing rides like this in my younger days. I wish gravel bike existed back then. Great job Si and Isaac.

[@myfrequencies1912]

Not wanting to start an argument but.... They've always existed just under different names! Plenty of videos on GCN asking questions like what's the difference between gravel & cyclocross? Gravel & Randonneur?

[@mikenelson4420]

Great head to head. Funny, sassy & helpful. Makes me want to bike in Summerset.

[@PeteNewman]

Love that Issac is working with you guys, elite level 4x rider before switching to road.

[@Huzub]

Thank you both and team for another wonderful video! For me the answer is in the name. When I ride shorter distances in a more hilly/mountainous area, with more technical single tracks, the MTB is amazing. In the future, I plan on doing multi-day trips here in Germany, and knowing how most long-distance cycling paths are too poorly for my road bike, it will be smarter to ride a gravel bike.

[@fullfat1]

Great vid. The whole area round the Ridgeway, Devizes, Avebury , Roundway and Cherhill Down, even with with that "fun" step descent is pretty much made for Gravel bikes. Really good when dry but also using a gravel bike means that there are lots of options in the winter too when the more exposed off road trails get too slippery/muddy/rutted.

[@abedfo88]

I'm so lucky to live there !

[@petrzaba1197]

Just bought my first gravel bike. This kind od riding is exactly what I do majority of the time. I keep my trusty XC 29 hardtail for the trail trips. Best to have both, every bike has its ups and downs but both are fun in their element. 🚴‍♂️

[@timsmead]

I love grave biking and bikepacking I'm not concerned about speed I love how comfortable they are. I do very little gravel riding nice to know if you hit some dirt or gravel that you are ok. Used to have a road bike but it wasn't as fun to ride. Love the GCN keep it up you guys rock!

[@gcn]

Gravel bikes aren't just good on gravel. For many they offer the perfect bike! Comfortable, reliable and fast... what more could you want?

[@cameronkelly7592]

Big thanks to GCN for pushing gravel! This summer I took the ferry to Brittany and rode my gravel bike across the North coast. It was epic! Perfect for road, trail, and gravel mix, covering 70-100km daily! Gravel bikes rule and perfectly fill this adventure niche! I'd highly encourage you to consider a Brittany gravel adventure feature (of course via the ferry!) Keep inspiring, GCN!

[@davidf2281]

I'll second getting the ferry -- it's an adventure in itself and so much less hassle and stress than flying with your bike

[@CMZPICTURES]

Yeah I love that ferry to Roscoff. Pembroke Dock (SW Wales) to Rosslare in Ireland is another good one.

[@gcn]

Great to hear we inspired some adventure within you! 🙌 Have you got anymore big rides planned? That trip sounds epic.

[@lucassmith8437]

@Cameron Brittany adventure sounds wonderful....how did you go about planning the route? Would love to give it a bash. Thanks

[@F4R182]

I haven’t tried a gravel bike before, just road and MTB but I can’t see myself buying one, simply because the MTB takes me anywhere I want to go whether it’s on a trail, gravel, fields etc. It gives reassurance on any terrain and in any weather

[@richardhaselwood9478]

Fair, but they are a lot of fun for being more versatile

[@br5380]

I was like you too, then I bought one (a cheap one). Perfect tool for just going for a spin. After a couple of years I bought a nicer one and it sits in the garage next to my 170mm FS enduro bike, 120mm FS trail bike and HT backpacking bike. It’s main use is for local 2-4 hour lunch/evening rides from home of back lanes and farm & estate (I live in Scotland) lanes. “When you’ve only a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

[@phillockwood8414]

That was interesting. Good job gentlemen. I have never been a mountain biker but I enjoy riding all year long. I have a Specialized Diverge. In the winter, I put on wider tires and intentionally ride a bit slower because increased speed results in increased cold. Staying in riding shape year round is preferable and has given me the ability to ride faster than other cyclists. Riding more than one way keeps it interesting.

[@jimkear6749]

Good video, I'd always appreciate being able to stay in a racer's tuck, but was impressed how well the gravel bike did on some of the tougher terrain. I think it's just a matter of mood if I wanted to be spontaneous on my pathing.

[@proinseasokiellig4388]

I was a cycle courier in London 30yrs ago, I started on a racing bike and slide out..eventually twisting the frame. I got a mountain bike, the wide handlebars annoyed me , I got a hacksaw and chopped them down, ...this allowed me to fly through standing traffic without clipping their mirrors, it also transformed the riding experience completely. You should try it.

[@myfrequencies1912]

I run 760mm on my xc bike. I wonder about going narrower but I'm not in a city so it'd only be for minimal aero gains.

[@Featinwe]

As usually... it all depends ;) on the route or type of MTB bike - yeah, there is LOTS of them, you weirdly used a full-sus MTB (while I have for example fully rigid MTB). But it was a very interesting comparison, thanks! What kind-of annoys me about gravel bikes is that there is so much hype about them everywhere, they are actually way more expensive that they should be (in my opinion), while you can buy used high-end hard-tail for a fraction of a price of modern high-end gravel bike

[@johnkirkpatrick6032]

Loved this video, the smiles on both your faces said it all.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

I had a great time watching this episode :) A 100 mile on off-road with varied weather conditions, WoW...A Nice comparison & a Super fun video :)

[@hcw199]

It was 120km in the end. Not 100 miles which is 162km.

[@gcn]

Great to hear you enjoyed it! What setup would you have taken? 👀

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

@@gcn a Gravel bike :) , Thanks for asking 🙏🕊

[@PeterVonDanczk]

That's the kind of ride that is available in my location. Backcountry forest paths, a few paved roads and gravel along a river. I used to ride an MTB (like every 1990s kid), but I switched to a gravel/CX bike two years ago and enjoyed the ride more.

[@playmoreguitar5393]

Thank you for another year of enjoyment. The best channel on youtube 🙏

[@Morpheus0000]

I had a gravel and a hardtail bike which I used to swap up on my local 40k cross country loop (mainly bumpy farmers tracks, road and a bit of single track). Eventually put gravel tyres on my hard tail and sold the gravel bike as they covered the ground in the same time, but the mtb was so much more comfortable on the rough bits. On a longer loop with more more road bits, I'd try 35mm gravel kings on my road bike, as it's got the clearance. I love the look of Gravel Bikes, but never really been able to justify the space in my crammed bike shed 😁

[@davidf2281]

2:42 10kg for a full-sus mountain bike. What a world in which we live.

[@ssenssel]

Surreal. My Aluminium Gravel with 28c road tires is around that weight.

[@jamesworley2674]

It's not. Canyon lists it a little over 11KG

[@_Inferis]

@@jamesworley2674 There are such things as upgrades.

2 favourite presenters talking about my most most hated subject gravel bikes. It is sure to be a banger.

[@filipe.portes]

I have a feeling that the CX MTB is perfect for this kind of ride and ready for much more, like some downhill or technical bits, while the gravel is also perfect for this kind of ride, but can't stretch much more to the off-road side... Probably boils down to personal preference and I think I would enjoy more the CX MTB

[@jflaim410]

The gravel bike is much better equipped to hit pavement without sacrificing much to a road bike. The XC bike and gravel bike overlap a lot. I have both. and as you say the mountain bike is far more capable on knarly stuff.

[@erlendsteren9466]

I like this video! I often go 55 km on gravelbike (my picture is from such a ride, stopping in the climb for berries and resting the legs), half asphalt and half the distance is gravel. Its made for such journeys. In my pre-dropbar era my mtb had a short bar with low position which was a good commuting setup. This video inspired me to choose mtb more often, and it pinpoints the fact that the difference between gravel and mtb is not big. It also shows that it doesnt matter much if journeymates has different types of bike. My semi-new mtb has very wide bar, maybe 78 cm. I seriously wonder if I should cut it. Maybe down to 66 cm? I also wonder if I should swop my gravelbar which has a form where the drops are bent out sideways and therefore more wide than optimal aero. And why do I more often choose my gravelbike? The answer is that usually half the journey is on asphalt, and gravelbikes is very good for asphalt with their more narrow bar and more grip positions. If it is a rooty singletracksection I will definitively pick my mtb.

[@thomasspotzl4240]

Put some tri-bars on the mtb or inner bar ends...or ride on a surface that's actually bumpy!

[@myfrequencies1912]

I have aeros on my xc bike. Was a joke at first but they really work for av. speed & even comfort if set up right.

[@K9Manhunters]

This was fun to watch😂 Could be Switzerland, except that we have more hills & mountains. Thanks for the video! I am currently riding a hard tail mtb and seriously thinking about getting a gravel bike some day.

[@JustSayNotoGravel]

'There can't be many people who do 120km mixed surface rides' Genuinely spooky as that was me yesterday. 120kms exactly and 1800m climbing which would have been a killer on my MTB. Included a short tootle down the Blue at Glentress. The looks you get at the cafe when you arrive on touring tyres with bags and aero bars are priceless.

[@andrewcharlesworth2512]

In Yorkshire our bridleways are more rough/muddy so short travel XC mtb is my preference especially all year round- it might be a bit slower but less stressful!

[@steveallen273]

Suppose speed does depend on terrain. Mudguards can make things more fun! Great fun vid. Kennet and Avon Canal a great ride from Reading at Thames jct to Bath/Bristol.

[@dantolo817]

awesome video guys both really enjoyable to watch

[@krehme]

Great job guys! I am an all sports guy, so I have all the bikes. I have done both, rode 2 gravel, rode to trail, and trail 2 road 2 trail. Big fan of all of the above:)

[@matthindman3866]

Yeah when I first bought my gravel bike I worried I would never ride it since I also own a road bike and a MTB. But it wasn't long until I realized that mix surface riding was on a gravel bike I could go much farther and reach trails I could not get to on my MTB. And it's great being able to achieve practically road speed on a gravel bike

[@quacker998]

I think gravel bikes need front suspension, say 60mm to stop the wrist pounding from pot holes and roots

[@myfrequencies1912]

It's starting to become standard equipment on high end G-bikes now. Prices are insane though as with anything new.

[@dcv9460]

It depends on what kind of road you are riding 😎 Awesome Vid! 💯👍

[@gcn]

Or the roads you're not riding 😉

[@paulburton9572]

FYI Isaac, Devizes is in Wiltshire not Somerset. 😀 Despite the slight geographical muddle, what a brilliant video!As a GMBNer first and (very slightly) behind a GCNer, I think Si might be right, Isaac you might never be allowed on GMBN again! 😂 Loved the video, show casing a gorgeous part of the country to ride (and live) and the ‘good old British summer’ showed her character. Keep making the create content. 😀

[@Fredrik00]

what makes a gravel bike great and unique in my opinion is stringing together road and off-road sections better than any other bike.

[@dvs620]

Pretty sure that the off-road stuff in this video that the gravel bike "won" could have easily been done on a road bike. And the road bike would have been much faster on the paved sections. The gravel bike struggled with stairs in the beginning while a short travel MTB had zero issue. And I like how they just left out the part with the horse trails, probably because the gravel bike did a lot of walking in that section.

[@mikedittsche]

​@@dvs620I have the same Canyon Grizl except mine is equipped with Ekar. Stairs are not a problem for it. Bigger stones going down steep hills however are and that is where I would say the limits of gravel bikes are.

[@guythacker6010]

Good Video !!! I'm a roadie, but have a mountian bike as well. Looking into turning my mountain bike into a "Hybridized Gravel Bike" .... you two did an awsome job comparing the two bikes. I guess it really depends on the surface that you will be riding on, the amount of mileage being ridden, and your comfort level. All in all, I like BOTH BIKES. Thank you for taking me alone for the ride !!!!

[@chris_noswe]

Turning your MTB into a proper adventure bike can be done. Google Lael Wilcox and you'll find pictures of her and her custom Specialized Epic.

[@raymond1035]

​@@irfuelcarbon wheels ? That's light!

[@jamesmedlow]

Something that wasn't mentioned was the cost and complexity comparison. I dread to imagine the value of that full suss MTB with the added faff of suspension setup, servicing, and stuff. It'd be lovely to own a fleet of bikes for every genre, and the storage space, but in reality, not many have that luxury. Gravel bikes with large tyres are so versatile, they take on a fast tarmac road that links gravel or bridleways with ease, then can eat gravel miles fast and with no bother. Perfect for long days out on mixed terrain. Riding 'proper' MTB trails or visiting trail centres every weekend, then obviously, it's a different story.👍

[@dtibor5903]

Gravel is good in very specific light offroad conditions, it's terrible on rocky mountain terrain.

[@inz_uzi]

That's why it's called GRAVEL bike, not mountain bike. 🤨

[@andyd.3701]

​@@inz_uzi😂 exactly!

[@iversjesse]

There's a local race near me that does ~20mi of single track, ~20mi of tarmac, and ~60mi of gravel. It's been interesting to see the bike choices each year. Loads of gravel bikes with the widest tires possible, but plenty of flat-bars as well. Every chunky decent I find myself questioning if I should have a suspension, too, as the mountain bikers soar by me while I ride my brakes and clinch my cheeks in fear. As soon as we hit a smoother bit or even a single-track climb, I remember why gravel bikes are awesome.

[@RyanRKJ]

Back in the day, for fun, I ran a race that was typically won on a mountain bike on my CX bike. The race was a mix of single track, road, and gravel. It was hilarious racing against mountain bikes. I’d crush the smooth sections, then the MTB riders would reel me back in on the single track, just for me to pull away on the next smooth section. Over and over.

[@robinsonsadventures2174]

Brilliant episode, maybe do the same again but swap bikes! As a mountain biker since a teenager and now 45 I’ve had a gravel bike for a year and a half now and love it, it’s so much more exciting!

[@FlatSpinMan]

That’s interesting. What is more exciting about it?

[@robinsonsadventures2174]

I think it’s because being on a mountain bike and riding the same trails over and over again things get a little boring I ride a lot of road and and gravel single track on the xc and full suss but since getting the gravel bike I’ve not rode the mtbs at all, it’s hard to explain but as soon as I leave the house on the gravel bike I just have a big grin on my face maybe because it’s just a new thing for me. One thing I do know though as on all my local routes it’s a whole lot faster.

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

​@@robinsonsadventures2174I think partly that's because accessibility of trails is a big factor imo. With a road / gravel you can just grab it and ride while depending where you are a trail might be an hour away or so and there may not be that many near to give variety. I have a full sus MTB and road but use my road bike more since trails are 1h away from Tokyo and thankfully a lot of scenic mountain routes paved. I guess the closest analogy would be MTB trails are like pre prepared maps in games while Road / Gravel is more of a sandbox game where you can aimlessly ride anywhere as long as there's paths to it. If you have a lot of near maps it's great, otherwise Gravel can be more enticing for the exploring aspect.

[@bernardrouan4637]

I appreciate these videos. I own a Orbea Alma and have used it in gravel races and I would stick to a XC bike. The 100mm of travel up front helps with smoothing out those corrugated road. I did put some additional grips on for more hand positions

[@gcn]

It will probably come down to the area you live in the riding you do. Great to hear that the hardtail has helped you try a whole heap of different racing 🙌

[@Mrtallguy76]

Being born in Wiltshire I may be biased but it’s a cracking place to get outdoors ! Thoroughly enjoyed this video.

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

I love my flat bars gravel bike - as I love the fact it’s not the same position as my road bike - a change is as good as a rest

[@juleskayak]

Sorry guys but you need to do another video. This comparison only shows that a mountain bike is at a SLIGHT disadvantage on what was a gravel bike route. If you can repeat the comparison on a mountain bike route, not in the flatlands of the south, but in the lake district or peak district I think you’ll find that the gravel bike is at a HUGE disadvantage. OK wide bars may not be as streamlined but you can hold much closer to the centre when the riding is easy. On serious off road, wide bars are essential for control. By the way did you know that mudguards can be attached to bikes ;-) They may not look cool or macho but are worthwhile to prevent things being thrown up into your face when riding off road. Looking forward to the second video !

[@user-dl1sq6xk7j]

This looks like a blast. As long as it’s warm I absolutely love riding in the rain even in heavy downpours.

[@jamesmarshall2353]

GCN and GMBN bromances galore - Blake ❤ Hank and now Si ❤Isaac (but I think Si, now he is a senior, is more in love with the thought of going out for a ride with a young dude)

[@caveboy9988]

good work chaps. must have been warm rain to be so happy at the end...

[@AmirMaherGlobal]

Amazing video guys, thanks for sharing this

[@MrDaemondays]

Great effort! Very nice Video! Isaac is a beast and do is Si!!!

[@SuperDodoe]

Excellent, Thank You!

[@TheBikeRoom]

Yesterday I rode the Trefil quarry loop in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog National Park) on my new Lapierre ECrosshill gravel bike and was loads more fun than when I rode my full sus XC bike or xc hardtail.

[@1981ricardo]

I have never been to UK, but after watching 10 GCN videos on one day I am thinking how can I get a job there and live there !!! What an amazing landscape

[@doceapares9439]

Maybe in southern England you can choose the one you like best, but in true mountains I think gravel bikes are not an option. MTB hands down. I never see that kind of bikes on my rides; it is simply not possible for them to manage those steep & rocky paths. Regards.

[@MichaelS-pr9qn]

More of these please? I want to visit again and this time use my MTB between Trail centers and B&Bs. At the Pace i plan to pursue a Full Sus will be comfortable for 50+ k gravel rides between B- Rail stops and B&Bs

[@MattyBrad]

Nice watch. However, the weather put me off going on my bike.

[@davidshardlow4369]

That was a great video, Si & Isaac doing great work! Where can we locals access the route file please?

[@matt_m126]

I am a mountain bike convert. Got a gravel bike a few years back, then moved on to also getting a road bike. Now that I have 3 bikes, the gravel bike gets out more than the mountain bike. I just like the long rides on the gravel bike.

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

From my experience a lot of people are way overbiked to the actual areas they ride their bikes. I saw some riding an enduro regularly on trails where a gravel or xc bike would've been fine. I bet a lot of exporation riding most do are suitable for Gravel especially if they tend to do touring more than gnarly trails or bike parks.

[@SHWELL11]

I want to do this exact ride, that was epically perfect! What a Beautiful Ride! Even the Rain!

[@matthewobrien5348]

Always been a roadie with 19-25mm tyres and although it was good fun for a short ride I never really liked going out on my MTB…..However did my first gravel bike ride the other day and bloody loved it. 42mm knobbly tyres & 1 x 11 speed….gravel all the way from now on

[@nicolasremillard3491]

10:25 That moment in a group ride when you're gasping for air while the other one is just casually talking to you.

[@DEUSCATTUS]

well, there are also gravel bikes or hybrids with suspension. I have watched tons of videos to try to decide what to take as I have it mostly for commute and distances, but roads near me have many holes..., I definitely like some gravel path/foot path travel also. So for me it's either some hybrid with suspension or MTB... and I have only space for one. The current MTB does not have a working suspension, is heavy, old, and barely holda together (got it free though) but it rides ok... just not safe as it was cannibalized for parts before and built up enough to live this season. This video and some others showed that the parts I would go to can be handled with a bike without any suspension, so I started to lean more towards hybrid than MTB...I just feel I need some suspension for these bumpy parts, but as long as it can be locked its all good maybe.

[@nagylevi3827]

If this constitutes mountain biking in the UK then I certainly concede to your ruling. That being said, you shouldn't make the mistake of extrapolating your conclusions to the entire world. There are amazing places left, even on our fair continent, where a gravel bike simply won't suffice.

[@inz_uzi]

You mean the actual mountains 🤔

[@HkFinn83]

Where did they say it was mtb-ing?

[@centurn1]

And what about dropbar MTBs? Like classic Salsa Cutthroat. You can even put suspension in there if needed.

[@martinaxe6390]

These are the kind of rides I dream about. Exploring new routes with flats, hills, descents, mixed surfaces and mixed weather.

[@anthonygain7645]

Great to see a comparison over a good distance, rather than the usual “who is faster over a 12 second segment”. It showed well the strengths and weaknesses. Of course it seemed a bit of a gravel biased route, so let’s see Si go over to GMBN next and do a similar ride on a cross country route they pick. The blurred lines that gravel has created is so good for cycling in general.

[@JDRELGOR]

I used to ride that canal toe path, nice pub on that bridge at the beginning. The Fosse way is a long drag but interesting, did you start at the old airfield?

[@spanky590]

I'd like to see this done again on bridleways in Yorkshire

[@LetsGoSid]

I just comleted one of the most difficult routes in the World on my new Scott MTB. It was the Manali - Leh Highway in India, with 500 km+ of riding and climbing a total of 9600 m over 10 days. I was bikepacking with all my camping, cooking and filming gears! It was so comfortable on my Scott Aspect 930, need to try gravel bikes as well though, On a MTB i could manage 15 kmph on a decent climbing day, on gravel I might do it 3-4kmph faster I am guessing! Great Comparison Video guys! 🤩

[@simonm1447]

That's a nice ride, I have not done it yet (but I was in Leh/Ladakh a couple of times) but I also did the Khardungla on an Aspect 750 a couple of years ago. The really rocky roads in Ladakh need proper tires, if they get sliced you cannot just go to a nearby bikeshop since there is none

[@cb6866]

Thanks Si , Isaac , and crew...chapeau to him ! 100 miles on an XC bike slammed ! Sheeesh. , massage please .

[@JEKYLLHYDE123]

Lovely video, fun to watch

[@craigmckinnon242]

Coming from the Seattle area the beautiful scenery in that video you guys did a great job of filming. Cheers?

[@ChrisSmith-bi8hs]

GREAT video. @GCN....I ride a hardtail MTB with 700mm wide flat bars and aerobars in the middle. Its a perfect combination for mixed terrain rides over distance. Depending on the average terrain I just swap between 700c x 43 and 27.5 x 2.6 wheels/tires. Living the dream on a one-bike-does-it -all. 😃