This Guy HATES Gravel Bikes - Can We Change His Mind?

[@gcn]

Do you love gravel bikes? Let us know in the comments below 👇

[@amikamharamikamhar4870]

I like gravel but i am using mtb

[@alinapopescu872]

I do, yes.

[@Gmh6477]

Totally overlooked the alternative of putting gravel, cross, or even “commuter” tyres on a road bike, 99% of that loop could have been easily done on a road bike with burly tyres especially when you take in to account he walked the roughest part of it….gravel bikes are pretty pointless in the uk.

[@josemanuelgarciaotero9393]

I do not dislike them, but where I live it does not make any sense to have one. Better mountain bike and road bike. Besides, they are a bit expensive. I believe it depends of how many km of suitable tracks you have to enjoy them.

[@BRNOOB_]

​@@Phil-bz1kzlmao

[@zedddddful]

Gravel bike's are a solution to the increasingly shocking road conditions gives you options.

[@johnmoore2342]

Tubeless helped to sort that problem for me ... they're happily eating up the rubbish roads I have to put up with nowadays.

[@jamaly77]

My local authorities just repair any road damage that might occur...

[@okantichrist]

@@jamaly77your lucky then 🥳

[@yohansharp3040]

I use my 26mm tyre rim brake carbon road bike on light off road, goes fine

[@codemonkeyalpha9057]

They are great road bikes in the winter when it is wet and muddy out on the country roads. I'm not sure I'd ride mine on anything more offroad than some short smooth gravel stretches between roads though. I have a FS MTB and it is just a lot nicer offroad. The rattling alone is enough to put me off lol, suspension is awesome. Really my gravel bike is just to save my road bike from the weather, I keep that for sunny days only.

[@colinlittlewood9613]

As someone who only has the money and space for one bike, my gravel bike has been perfect. 90% of my riding is on roads (albeit many of them in a poor state), but I can go off-road to have more fun and get away from the traffic.

[@nluisa]

Same here. I also do mostly road riding and I may take me a while to get to the off road sections. MTB are just too slow on the road. Also, MTB are also more costly to maintain, especially full sus. I can service everything on my gravel bike, but I'm not sure I could learn how to service suspension forks or shocks.

[@gcn]

Gravel bikes are a great option if you are looking for on e bike for everything. Do you think you'll ever go for 2 sets of wheels? Road and MTB? The GCN Tech crew think that is the way to go 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKXYiIyfjLeWrac

[@adamerickson3505]

I got a cross bike (canyon inflite) You can ride that thing anywhere.

[@mcl40000]

@@nluisa hardtails...easy solution. obviously a roadbike will be faster, but there are faster rolling tires for mtb´s then doubledown assegai...

[@Aus10c]

I got one bike: A gravel bike. I don’t see myself having 2 separate bikes. If you want the gravel bike to do more road work, throw on road tires. If you want more off road riding, throw on a suspension fork and knobby tires. Unless you are doing some ultra extreme mountain bike jumping….swapping out some parts should cover a majority of riders in a road or off road setting

[@KuanTii]

My wife is not interested in gravel ridding. However she does ride a gravel bike. She uses it like a road bike. She doesn't feel safe on road tires but the wider gravel tires give her a much greater since of security. Just one more reason someone may want a gravel bike . She absolutely loves her gravel bike.

[@SkribbleNL]

Yh a lot of people don't need the fastest bike, just one that is fast enough. So a bit of sturdiness can be a good trade. Less to worry about

[@gcn]

Great point! Gravel bikes do offer less twitchy handling and much more comfortable option.

[@diogo10borges]

​@@gcnI think a gravel bike is an excellent option for people who are starting road cycling before going into a real road bike. Maybe a video suggestion 😉

[@ericb8985]

Sorry, but this sounds delusional. You can also get road bikes in any geometry and road tires offer more grip on asphalt. An endurance road bike, especially the somewhat larger frame size if you are in between two sizes, is probably your most stable option apart from a dutch bike.

[@KuanTii]

@@ericb8985 Wow to use a term of delusional LOL - Are you trolling me? I stopped reading your comment after that one word.

[@nickadams8952]

I am an MTBer and I love my gravel bike for its versatility. Road, gravel, commuting and a bit of gentle trail riding. A comparison between a lightweight XC hardtail vs. gravel bike might be a good follow up video to this one.

[@gcn]

We already have! Check it out here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/moOrmZinlJuSi6c

[@Sir-Kay]

@@gcn I just watched the video and you guys didn't convince anybody with that hot mess excuse of a race. You don't race men against women or at least not against a woman who clearly admitted she's not into mountain bikes.If you guys are in doubt or think we're just being rude, I live in Poland, find your baddest gravel rider and let's see how well he does against me on a 29 hardtail.Make sure he's not 60kg as I'm over 110kg and he shouldn't be a pro rider either as I'm not. Find a regular but bad ass rider and we'll make it happen. Gravel bikes are for posers.

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

A so called gravel bike is pretty crap at all those things

[@blekfut5763]

@@Sir-Kay Gravel bikes are created for the long distances. Do the 100-200-300 and more km trip on gravel roads on your 29er, you'll be much slower and more tired than on a gravel bike. But you're right - gravel bikes are intended for a specific purpose, and bike companies or channels like GCN try to convince us that they are all-purpose and many people fall for it.

[@Sir-Kay]

@@blekfut5763 Thant ain't right. But, guess what? I'll never be able to prove it to you because afterall, we're only talking crap here on the internet right. Gravel bikes serve no purpose they are portraying it to do here in the video if you can only use them on long distances. People are desperately trying to make it look like the do-it-all bike while in all honesty the only thing I can see it doing is a super long bike-packing ride across countries other than that, it's a pretty niche bike and not a do-it-all. Failure to agree just means you're a mindless consumer after this point.

[@inz_uzi]

It's simple. If you love mountain biking then gravel bike is not for you. It simply can't do the stuff you love. However if you just want to ride on quiet countryside gravel roads then gravel bike is perfect. A few years ago I bought an old full suspension bike from a friend just to try it but I really struggled to find any spots where I could really have fun on it in my area. To go on proper trails I would have to drive somewhere and it's too much hassle for me. I prefer to just get out of my house and ride my bike. Riding a full suspension bike on relatively flat gravel roads is just overkill.

[@MrEcted]

That's weird, I love mtb riding but also love riding my gravel bike.

[@inz_uzi]

@@MrEcted Don't be silly. It's perfectly normal 😀. I meant that gravel bike is not for someone who needs to go gnarly and send it on absolutely every ride. 😉 I own a full sus, cyclo-cross, road and TT bikes. I've bought the cyclo-cross bike when no one even heard of gravel 😊 (at least here in Europe).

[@MrEcted]

@@inz_uzi Well yeah, but that is completely and totally obvious. A given.

[@orbeuniversity]

@inz_uzi I totally agree with you. That is my attitude as well, go out and ride, and have the confidence that my bike will be able to handle some dirt trails along the road and not worry about that. On a somewhat separate note, I am struggling to figure out what kind of bike I have. Perhaps, you gentlemen can help me. It is definitely not an MTB nor a Road bike. My bike model is a *Giant Roam Disc-3.* I believe it is a Cross-Country, or Cross-Road but I am not sure about that. It has suspensions at the front and the tires are not as thick as an MTB. Greetings from Canada!

[@inz_uzi]

@@orbeuniversity Sorry but I'm a roadie by heart and I have no idea what the difference between the cross-country and the cross-road bikes is. 🙂

[@tomgilfedder5810]

Less cars = more fun

[@jamaly77]

and better air quality

[@gcn]

SAY IT LOUDER FOR THOSE AT THE BACK 📣

[@birkaster]

THIS. I ride fire roads because there are no cars, period.

[@galenkehler]

How are there less cars? Gravel roads are where all the trucks full of rednecks are, and they don't follow the rules of the road. You'll just get gravel spun off in your face when they do a burnout as they pass.

[@Wings_of_foam]

Sure, but don't ride 3 people side by side on small roads because you have to chat. That sh*t is crazy and selfish. Single line.

[@tsurutom]

Got a gravel bike and a super light hardtail XC. Favorite route is like 50% road, 50% gravel trails, parts of it quite bumpy. I alternate between the two bikes, depending on whether I want to have more fun on the smoother bits or on the bumpier bits. But both are an absolute blast, whereas a pure road bike or a heavier full sus MTB likely wouldn't.

[@gcn]

Sounds like the perfect setup!

[@Jean-jk4zv]

Same 😊

[@Seppster58]

Great video guys. Myself am a Gravel Rider that transitioned to Mountain Biking. Roads aren't too safe here so I mainly stayed on gravel routes. Then I discovered mountain biking and now I mix the two. Mainly gravel riding with my wife but go mountain biking on my own. Best of both worlds for sure.

[@SniperSpec0ps]

In Washington State, we have a Rails to Trails program that turns abandoned railroads into trails for cycling. The most popular being the John Wayne trail, which crosses the entire state, upwards of 300 miles. R to T's are extremely well maintained, and very level because of being railroads. It's as if these were built specifically for Gravel Bikes, they match perfectly to them. Wide, smooth, very long bike dedicated dirt roads, with no need for suspension. Perfect.

[@Jean-jk4zv]

🍿 sounds good 😮

[@shalakabooyaka1480]

Rails to Trails are all over

[@SniperSpec0ps]

@@shalakabooyaka1480 I figured as much, just giving a quick overview and where the JWT is located.

[@shalakabooyaka1480]

@@SniperSpec0ps check out the great American rail trail, it's pretty incredible. It's not complete at the moment, but it goes from WA to MD

[@SniperSpec0ps]

@shalakabooyaka1480 I've read a bit about it, safe to say it's definitely on the bucket list! So awesome, thanks!

[@billmccaffrey1977]

I purchased my first gravel bike last year for only 2 reasons: more relaxed posture that most modern road bikes (12 spinal surgeries); wider tires with better puncture protection. I view the gravel bike as a more relaxed and robust road bike. I road a Trek 950 mountain bike in the 90's and my current gravel bike reminds me of this.

[@gcn]

This! ☝ They're not just great off-road

[@heatherbellbikes]

I have a MTB, gravel and touring bike. No road bike, yet. I went from a hardtail to a touring bike. The touring bike is dreadful on anything but the smoothest gravel, at least for me. You feel every single bump, which is headache inducing. I had a coccyx injury last year and riding my bike became almost impossible. I took part in an Etape and I hired a biked for it. The only thing in my size was a gravel bike but it had road tyres for the event. I had no pain so went straight out and bought a gravel bike. I have to say, I absolutely love it. It is great on the road, it’s really light, it manoeuvres quickly, and it’s great on gravel, rough and smooth. I can nip onto grass as well if I need to. It’s just a great all-rounder. I’m getting a set of road wheels so I can swap out if I want to go on a long road journey. Perhaps in a year or two, I’ll graduate to a road bike. Who knows? For the moment though, my gravel bike is king.

[@nikkismith8750]

I'm with Rich. A lightweight hardtail mountain bike is far more suitable for the terrain, or is that a step too far for the dedicated roadie??

[@liamgallagher7842]

Much slower and less comfortable on the road on longer rides.

[@brendandor]

What about putting gravelly handlebars on a hardtail xc bike... One of the comfort roblems with MTB for long distance riding is the lack of variety in hand positions.

[@Rzarecteh]

@@brendandoryou may as well just get a gravel bike with suspension at that point

[@spanking.gorgeous]

Me too. Drop bars may be more aerodynamic but the stability, control and ease of getting on the brakes make a flat bar far superior on anything but tarmac IMO. Road bike for the roads if there's any gravel, I'd take lightweight XC over a gravel bike any day.

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

Yep - I’ve got a 700c hybrid hard tail (Trek) with gravel tyres which is perfect - The UK has little gravel really - and this is perfect for the mud of winter, and I love the fact it’s a change from my road bike position

[@Moose_of_the_Ages]

I ride a gravel bike because it gives me the versatility I need to deal with city riding. Sidewalks and roads that have need of repair are increasingly common, and my gravel bike allows me to not worry nearly as much about puncturing or damaging a rim while remaining quick and nimble.

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

I mountain bike and gravel bike, and I love both. I can see both Connor's and Rich's perspectives. As mostly an MTBer, gravel riding opens up my options while I'm road riding, and I can choose how spicy I want my options to be while still being able to get back on tarmac to continue my route. I love having variety

[@gcn]

Always good to have the options! 🙌

[@Jaytas88]

As a mountain biker I really love my gravel bike, for the same reason as Rich enjoyed it on the rough/Technical track, something you wouldn't think twice about on an MTB becomes a bit of a challenge, some old school MTB fun. I ride mine in the MTB park quite a bit and it brings some life into the easer/mundane tracks. If I take the wife and kids for an MTB I often take the Gravel bike so we can all have a bit of fun the easer trails that they enjoy. When I need to ride on the hard top stuff it can do that as well.

[@gcn]

You're right! There is some great fun to be had in underbiking 🙌

[@cherriagana]

To me, the gravelbike is the perfect commuter bike :)

[@gcn]

They're so versatile! Having a gravel bike for commuting that you can also shred at the weekend is the perfect choice!

[@Sozzled39]

@@gcn You're not shredding on a gravel bike. You're going over some gentle bumps. Gravel bikes cannot shred. That's my humble (and possibly uninformed!) take anyway.

[@kylehewitt795]

@@Sozzled39shred is relative to the equipment and speed. Gentle bumps on a mtb - not shredding. Gentle bumps on a penny board - serious shredding.

[@jamesmedlow]

I'm the opposite. Gravel has been the gateway drug to drop bars. I've come from 25 years of XC/bridleway 'MTB' and after changing to a 650b 50mm gravel rig, the MTB only gets used for proper MTB stuff like the Lakes, Peaks etc etc. Once a year. I can now shred the endless miles of bridleways, much faster and efficient than before. Then hit some quiet tarmac to link up the next village/town or singletrack or bridleway. I can use the same bike for long road rides or cyclocross or packing. Versitility is king. For me, around here, a wide tyre gravel rig gives me 90% of what my MTB does. The MTB only gives me 15% of what the gravel rig does. Yes, either will do either, but the gravel does it all very well, the MTB does a little bit, very well. It would be a different story if I lived in a more mountainous area, obviously.

[@thsaintful]

Rich's bike handling skills really came out in that hard downhill section!

[@cjharrer01]

Love my gravel bike! I do occasionally take it on some pretty serious single track (I started cycling with a mountain bike and switched to road - now road and gravel). The thing I like about gravel is the freedom and ability to mix trails and tarmac for stops. To each their own, nice video showing the adaptability of Graveling!

[@joeredmond7954]

Really enjoy any of the GCN/GMBN crossover videos. I'd like to know why the humble cyclocross bike never gets a mention? I came to cyclocross from a MTB background, I've ridden my crosser for years doing this kind of thing. The worst thing is these days I feel if people see me they'll think I'm one of those "just jumped on the bandwagon gravel riders" - oh the shame... (P.S. - any bike-packers/tourers feel similar considering the bike industry/media seems to be creating bike-packing as the next fad?)

[@gcn]

Cyclo-what sorry? Only joking we love cyclocross but there are some key differences. You can catch Si putting both head to head here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWmlXqWnpq18e8k

[@saskhiker3935]

I did a 50km ride the other day. 60% gravel, 25% tarmac and 15% double track. The double track section I was under biked, but when you are riding new territory off exploring, a gravel bike can make any route available to you.

[@amishrider]

I use my gravel bike as a road bike in rubbish weather, commuting to london during train strikes and gravel ride events (2 this year) My dad recently bought one and we went for a gravel/off road ride. He fell off 3 times and we didn't get a cafe stop but we had great fun and he wants to do it once a month to mix up our road rides. He got a specialized diverge (aluminium with claris gears) and he loves it. It came with 38mm tyres and after 1 ride he wants to go wider 😀

[@gcn]

Awesome, sounds like he's loving it!

[@Unpreeeedictable]

I took my endurance bike with 28mm tires on three “light” gravel rides earlier this summer. It was the first time riding some of the many rail trails in our area. Although it should have been obvious, the lack of cars was an honest to goodness cycling epiphany. I’m hooked! Just getting my first gravel bike sorted and plan one off-road ride a week for the balance of the summer and then a few a week when the Canadian fall weather comes. Can’t wait.

[@festerofest4374]

I used to be only into road, but close calls with cars on my local narrow, 50-60+mph roads pushed me away from cycling the last few years, UNTIL I got a gravel bike! I have a good amount of dirt roads near me and that's where I'm finding cycling to be fun again.

[@OldClam5]

Gravel biking 100% was a gateway to mtb for me. I ended up selling my gravel bike, since I never used it anymore after getting a mtb. I'd rather throw some comfy alt bars on a hardtail or rigid ATB than ever go back to a drop bar gravel bike.

[@randyhale4181]

I've been a mountain biker since 1994 and I found gravel bike riding in 2017 and haven't looked back since.

[@gcn]

Awesome! Which kind of riding do you prefer?

[@colinricketts1415]

My gravel bike (more a cross bike) gets used for what we would have done 30 years ago with a rigid MTB with one or 1 1/2 inch wide tyres - I don't have amazing off road rides I can do from my house, but mixing bridleways, canals, forest racks and lanes keeps riding fun. And as others have said - the lanes can be in shocking condition in places, so gravel bikes make riding aroud the less busy roads less stressful

[@sarahsanderson6314]

Great video guys. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this channel.

[@cyclingSausage]

I have a road bike, an MTB, and an xc hardtail. For this type of stuff I go out on my xc hardtail and wouldn't consider a gravel bike for this purpose. However, the tarmac roads are so bad I have considered getting a gravel bike to replace my road bike.

[@gcn]

You make a good point!

[@jamiegolden7093]

When I bought my gravel bike (2021 Giant Revolt Advanced 2) in August of 2020 my road bike and mountain bike got lonely. From my house we have tarmac, gravel, dirt, snowmobile trails (wider than single-track but replete with rocks and roots) and mild single-track. I love the Revolt on all of it. This Spring I fit a RedShift suspension stem and I plan to swap the stock rims for a carbon set. It's still my favorite bike and I love that I'm on the road a lot less. I still ride the other bikes in their target (especially the fat bike on snow in Winter) environments but I love gravel riding and my Revolt. At the end of the day, though, anything that gets you outside is the right thing. Rubber side down, my friends!

[@henryhuber1050]

I genuinely believe that the reason gravel bikes push bigger tires and relaxed geo, is because as road bikes continued to chase speed, They lost alot of comfort. So gravel is a road bike that is actually usefull for the average person

[@markmarlatt1105]

I like it for rides that take you to new areas! Having the option to jump off the road if the cars are too close or you find a nice trail to explore.

[@jeffcoulter7181]

Agree, just don’t see the point. They probably make a good replacement for the old touring bike concept.

[@raff5604]

Connor is such a great presenter, love his videos.

[@gcn]

Never a dull day filming with Conor! 🙌

[@leedorney]

He's the best in all honesty

[@NeverTooTiredToRideTwoTyres]

he had rich's energy to bounce off!

[@leedorney]

@@NeverTooTiredToRideTwoTyres Yeh but even on his own he's soo heartfull, Hanks so showy, Oliver - geeky.. Si original and informative, Manon - juries out on her...

[@62north]

I like gravel since it's almost a roadbike but it allows me to ride on roads where there are basically no traffic, that way I get a much more peaceful/enjoyable ride.

[@gcn]

Absolutely! For some more gravel content, you could check out our 'Fastest known time' film on GCN+ 👉 gcn.eu/fkt

[@paulh262]

"If your coming from a road background" isnt an argument. Just buy an MTB and keep your road bike and then you have both options. Unless you don't have the space for two bikes at home it's just a rubbish compromise. Especially in England where those nice "gravel" tracks turn into deep mud for the winter months.

[@simonk337]

I've been an out and out roadie for years, but having just got a gravel bike I'm converted. So much fun, a much harder workout and safer than being on the roads all the time. I'm pleased we have options 💪

[@gcn]

Whoop whoop! Welcome to the gravel club! Do you think it's a stepping stone to the mtb? 👀

[@simonk337]

@@gcn I've got one of those too. Fun sometimes but too slow on the road, which you need to do in order to link the New Forest tracks together 😁

[@alansmith2593]

The best thing about gravel bikes is they make trails feel even more exciting:) You have to proper focus and chose your line wisely and it’s lush :) It might not be what its designed for and it might shake the wheels off but it’s proper raw fun :)

[@blekfut5763]

So maybe you'd try to ride the trails holding the handlebar with one hand or maybe with spoon with the egg on it in your mouth? I'm sure your trails would feel even more exciting...

[@bboyle09]

15 years ago my then-girlfriend (now wife)'s dad asked me for advice on what bike to buy. I steered him toward a cyclocross bike because he lived by a really good tarmac bike path, a ton of good dirt roads, and "trails" that were not technical at all. A cx or gravel bike opens up road riding like centuries and such that you can't do as well on a mountain bike, so that was the main reason I figured a cx bike was better. On the other hand, a guy showed up on the local group ride with a mountain bike a few weeks ago and hung in there pretty well, so maybe hardtail xc bikes are better on the road than we give them credit for!

[@beardsonbikes]

As someone who used to mountainbike, I quite enjoy the gravel bike when getting older and not feeling the crazy mtb trails anymore. Still gives you the feeling of being more in nature than with a road bike, but not having to do crazy sections of trail anymore.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

You could do that route on a road bike and a touring bike , just fit wider tyres. All rides can have a cafe stop not just gravel rides.

[@tsurutom]

I'm guessing most people don't care for switching tyres every other ride though.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

@@tsurutom You may or may not find that some people who buy gravel bikes swap their tyres for thinner ones. The reason for this is they use their gravel bike only on the road and never go gravel. Also road tyres will be able to handle the surfaces in this video apart from the one difficult section. GCN promotes wider tyres for road use as they claim they provide more comfort. I have seen numerous cyclists on road group rides not being able to keep up with their colleagues due to the original gravel tyres fitted.

[@gcn]

Cafe stops are very important

[@bindingcurve]

Well, that's what a lot of gravel bikes are, a road bike with clearance for some fairly fat tires.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

@@bindingcurve then why not call it a road bike in the first place

[@goldenmath4091]

I have both road gravel and MTB, and living near Rich in the Mendips use the gravel the most, I can't do rowberrow, but everything else is awesome, love it

[@ArdGeal-h6c]

Next year Connor and Rich do Megavalanche after Blake and Hanks epic efforts this year....show the big fella how off roading is done Rich!!!

[@Jean-jk4zv]

With gravel bikes.

[@EdNorfield]

Getting a gravel bike has been amazing. Being able to do a mix of road, forests track, bridleway, MTB track on same ride is great fun. Before I was putting the MTB on the car now I can just ride there.

[@scossar]

My main bike is a gravel bike. It's great for linking up single track trails. Basically, it allows for car-free mountain biking. A dropper post and wider handle bars help on gnarlier trails.

[@r10000mips]

Cycled and built bikes for 46 years. Raced road bikes when young, got Cervelo for road now. Had mtb for ever. Got 3 full suss , 1 is ebike. Gravel bikes with road bars is dangerous and pointless. I would fit mtb 760 wide. Safer and comfier. That's my opinion...

[@thedocgonzo88]

I love gravel bikes because you can ride anything on them. You can't go as fast as a road bike - but you can keep up pretty well and even outrun some if you're fit enough. You can't go as fast over dirt roads as you can with a cross-country, but you can ride them without any problems. You can't do everything quite as well as with the specialized bike, but you can do almost everything and do it all relatively well. For me as a small explorer it is simply the most beautiful bike.

[@bikeskimawk670]

Variety in cycling is the spice of life. Ride to the level of your smile. 🚴‍♂️😃

[@xosece]

the GMBN guys always bring me a smile. That gravel bike really passed the test. I like road bikes and MTB bikes equally, albeit I'd like a 1X road bike with the gear philosophy of a mountain bike, love those 10 or 11/52 (or more) sprockets

[@mr.z2618]

Never ending battle. MTB XC, hard tail is the most versatile bike. The END

[@kurre_kallkvist]

Where I live, I've got 3 paved roads to choose from but at least twice as many gravel roads. A gravel bike with wide road tires us perfect, it opens up so many more routes and also gives me a chance to escape the traffic of the 80km/h main roads around here! As an added bonus, 4km of gravel shaves about 2km of my commute to the train station... 😁

[@elliottball9898]

Not a comment about gravel bikes but I have a video idea! Could you do an experiment video comparing typical speed of a narrower rim width and tyre combinations vs a wider rim width and tyre combo. Same rider, bike, wheel depth etc, watts.... and as you usually do just change out the wheel set for a wider set at a lower pressure. Would be interesting to see how the results compare over 2-3 different wheel-tyre combinations :)

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Thoroughly enjoyed this! Thanks Conor and gcn! I think Rich has a veryvalid point. It is a bit tame/boring. Part of the problem is that there really isn't enough 'Gravel' in England. (Perhaps a bit more in Scotland. ) The birthplace of 'Gravel ' i.e. North America, has LOTS of Gravel and a wide variety of gravel road types within that loose category. Take Rich to Unbound when you next do it Conor!

[@geoffreyhoney122]

That said, I love the off road options I can get into with my Kona Sutra Touring Bike! I love Ontario's "Unassumed Road/Use at your own risk" signed backroads! Fun challenge, just att the very threshold of needing a mountain bike.

[@jamesvonvacheresse7888]

Think it's time for another gmbn gcn crossover . MTN bike/offroad skills. Old vid with Connor, Manon and rich was a good watch.

[@CLONisKING]

I'm also a Mountainbiker and a Roadie but I do not have a Gravelbike. But I'm about to turn a old 27,5" Hardtail of mine into one. The reason being, I use it's air suspension fork for my commuter bike now and: When I go on a MTB ride in my area, usually 80% of the way is tarmac, or other flat roads. Yeah the suspension only really comes into play on a very small fraction of the ride. There are only 3 proper trails in close proximity (30k) that I ride with my fully anyway. But if I want to explore some wood roads or gravel paths a gravel bike should be faster and more fun. I think the Gravelbike is the better alternative to the hardtail if there are less rocky or rooty descents on your lokal trails and roads. If the majority of your ride is on flat roads I don't think the extra weight, the aerodynamic loss and decreased stiffness of a front fork is worth it. But for those who choose comfort over speed, the hardtail could still be the better option.

[@jonasvieth]

I admit I was very sceptical about this gravel thing. Going as fast as my legs allow it on a roadbike or sending it down trails on a mountainbike are both so much fun. Trying to combine both surely must be a bad compromise. Or is it? When I am commuting to work the roads are not very peaceful and the family friendly lanes in the forest aren’t very narly. A gravel bike is therefore the fastest option if you want to escape traffic. Also when you can only have one bike it is easy to transfer it to a decent road bike.

[@cokebottles6919]

I love Gravel, but it's very location dependent. Where I live, there are amazing road routes or mountain bike trails. We don't have "gravel" roads, just uncontrolled paths for serious rock crawling 4x4's. I think SRAM and Shimano need to push modular wireless shifting so we can just switch to drop bars for our XC bikes.

[@klaatii]

You gotta love our bicycle community where everybody can find the bike the really like to ride. Not necessary to judge the owner, fall into stereotype traps and sharing personal assumptions on youtube comments. I'm tired of people thinking their bike is the bike..who wants to judge even, Just greet each other out there and enjoy whatever you are up for

[@markclevedon81]

A gravel bike is not a mountain bike but is a superb compromise and a solution to the appalling conditions of the road surfaces in my part of South Wales. Add disk brakes , the option of bigger tyres - up to 38mm on my Specialized and more relaxed geometry and gearing and they make more sense. I now feel more vulnerable when riding my road bike and often grab the gravel bike instead.

[@timcarnes3467]

well done video. My face huts from smiling so much. You gotta bring rich back for more....

[@MrGazzamitch]

My gravel bike is my only bike now. I invested in carbon frame and wheels and ditched my road bike. Why? Being 60 years old here are my reasons - more relaxed riding position, extra couple of gears for spinning up the steepest hills (I am no longer interested in 'setting records' on the flat or downhill), wider tyres for the poor minor roads, wider choice of routes for traffic avoidance and touring (new forest next weekend) - and I'm too crap and scared for the more technical MTB. Most of all, my gravel bike feels fun. I enjoyed my road bike, but it never felt as fun as the gravel. Gravel gets a thumbs up for me - but each to their own. Find your own fun and enjoy it. Learn from others, but don't worry if their fun is not your fun. Life is too short.

[@DatPenguin97]

I'm sort of throwing together a gravel bike out of an old school crossbike thing as a daily commuter to uni, running around town and maybe ride in the park/forest ways we have here. My XC-ish MTB is for the "big" tour and if I ride somewhere else on actual easy trails and it'll be replaced by a DC or a short travel trail bike fairly soon so not having to daily the MTB helps with that decision. The gravel bike is sort of like a road bike for someone used to MTBs in that regard

[@grumpy-dad3701]

I use my trusty hardtail on all surfaces. Can't afford cost or space to have more than 1 bike.

[@gcn]

One bike that works for all your needs is perfect as far as some are concerned!

[@ArnageLM]

Rode some parts of the Amstel Gold Race yesterday and, in the same ride, rode some technical trails with the same (gravel)bike! Not the fastest on both surfaces, but the combination is gold! 🤙

[@paulmiddlemass6465]

This is my Main problem with people in Facebook groups complaining about destroying tyres and wheels on their gravel bikes. They are riding sections like that, which aren't what gravel bikes are for. It's not a fault of the bike or components, it's pushing them past their designed use

[@Kendoji1]

Yes part of the fun of riding my heavy steel gravel bike is the sense of underbiking when I’m on occasional proper mtb trails. Like being back in the 90s.

[@ph1ca]

Looks like a typical gravel ride where I live (Yukon, Canada). Some pavement, gravel, chip seal, double tracks and single track as well. Gravel bikes are great for exploring a little of everything. And yes I ride some of the same trails as I do on my full sus trail bike, underbiking is the term we use here.

[@jaranth]

Great visual demonstration... it really illustrates the capabilities of the gravel bike, and where it is most useful. I have the trifecta: a road, gravel and mountain bike. They're all great... especially in the right environment. Best tool for the job, you know?

[@darrin2382]

Can we get the name changed from 'Mountain Bike' to 'Bit of dirt track in the local woods Bike' as most MTBs have never seen a mountain :) On a serious note...again its GCN jumping on the gravel bike band marmite wagon. If you ONLY had ONE bike, and like to do road/gravel, then choose a bike with drops and plenty of frame clearance. If you mainly choose rough terrain and occasional trails, then choose something with flat bars, suspension and max frame clearance. The best bike is the one you are sat on.

[@sarahsanderson6314]

I’m an MTBer. I’ve considered a gravel bike several times over the years. However, each time I come close, I find another reason not to. My latest theory… Aren’t typical gravel type routes where dog walkers go? Navigating walkers & dog ‘poo’ bags aren’t really my thing. Equally, when considering a road bike - navigating angry drivers & the Highway Code, both would definitely take away any fun I’d have. Hills, big skies, solitude, HIT & adrenaline. That’s what it’s all about for me. Just saying. 🤷‍♀️

[@baloghlcb]

I've looked at gravel and hybrid bikes many times, but just can't justify myself getting one. I just ride my full sus every where lol. If I ride some easy gravel or road I just throw on some less aggressive XC tires and lock out my rear suspension. I'm usually in no hurry to get anywhere and just go at a nice pace. Of course I do get some weird looks from some people though 😅.

[@Celeon999A]

What i dont get about Gravelbikes is, why no suspension forks ? You go for those wheels to give a road bike that extra offroad capability, but then you simply stop ? What about those flimsy, slim 100 mm suspension forks which were and in some cases still are standard on absolute budget XC MTBs ? They certainly do not weigh much. And even that short travel would increase the capabilities and riding comfort of those gravelbikes dramatically, plus you can still lock them when you're riding on the roads. Sure they are anything but "aero". But aeroness was already thrown overboard when the gravel bike was invented.

[@DaveCM]

They have suspension forks designed for gravel. Some bikes come with them. A lot of gravel riders don't want them for a few reasons. They do add weight and complexity. I think another factor is that roadies are reluctant to use suspension because a lot of them are too image driven. Then, depending on the type of gravel ridden, they may not be needed very often. I came extremely close to buying a gravel bike with a suspension fork. It came down between the one I got and one with one. The one I ended up buying was put on sale. So,...

[@Nib1246]

A nice hard tail is just as good for the job, Flat bars = more control (no aero needed here) . Cant blame the bike industry for trying to sell us more bikes I suppose. As long as you get out and ride, whatever your budget, nice vid guys :)

[@gcn]

Getting out and riding is definitely the most important thing, whichever bike you use!

[@bindingcurve]

There are a couple of super light XC bikes that are on the group rides, but they are struggling after 50k or so. Start bombing down a smooth -4% grade and they are screaming "gap gap gap"

[@DaveCM]

A hard tail isn't going to be as fast on gravel. It also doesn't necessarily make it better either.

[@10ktube]

Gravel bikes have almost made the N+1 solution exist for me. I race Time Trial, and singlespeed cyclocross, my TT bike is of course not really rideable in real life day to day, and the SS cross bike I could use, but not really well for a long training ride for example. But all of my other bikes are just because I like bikes. I could get an endurance road/gravel bike, have a set of wheels for road, a set for offroad, and almost be able to do all of my riding on one bike. It'd save space in my garage for sure.....

[@gcn]

Sounds like you've got a pretty sweet garage already!

[@bindingcurve]

This is exactly what I do, I can swap in my road wheels and run in the A groups or put on the gravel wheels and rip up the gravel muti use trails and roads.

[@wiiiLLm]

In our country where most of our roads resemble light trails, bike commuters prefer an MTB, but personally, I would like to have a gravel bike as my very first bike because of its versatility.

[@camerond8176]

A flat bar hybrid bike with some 38+mm tires works great, especially if you have a 50-65mm suspension fork up front with a remote lockout.

[@Dana-gj5hr]

I only have a Gravel (TREK Checkpoint AL5). When riding a road bike this spring in Europe, I turned off a bike path onto a grassy/sand parking field and about lost it. Spoiled by not worrying about terrain.

[@cruachan1191]

I got back in to biking via an MTB that I inherited, but when I came to upgrade to a new bike I very nearly bought another one before discovering gravel bikes. Not for everyone obviously, but my local routes are a mix of a National Cycle Route and some country parks with dirt/gravel trails, so a gravel bike is definitely the best for me. A lot of the cycle paths, even though tarmac, are too rough for a road bike.

[@gcn]

Sounds like you've found the perfect bike!

[@stefanvasilev2013]

I own three bikes: road, gravel, XC hardtail. Love them all. Road for fast, sporty rides, gravel for bikepacking/commutes/underbiking, MTB for trails. Both pure road and pure MTB need their own tool to shine, anything in between is done best on the gravel I think. Also, I've found using the gravel bike to do some trails while underbiked has absolutely nothing to do with the XC experience. Bike geometry, body position on the bike, handling, perception of speed - they're all so wildly different. So the "just do it on your XC bike" argument doesn't really apply. It's a different ride altogether. Swapping tyres (for a set that's not intended for the original use of the bike) is simply a downgrade and I wouldn't do it to a MTB or a road bike since they are at the different ends of the spectrum and they should stay there. If you need to do that, you need a gravel bike. It's made to fit that middle ground perfectly.

[@guythacker6010]

As a "Roadie", I like the idea of a gravel bike. It's a good mixture of road and mountain biking. Good Video .....

[@cletusowns]

I am an MTB rider who rides a gravel bike for zone 2/endurance and to get rowdy because it reminds me of my rigid mountain bike as a kid. Underbiking is fun!

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Most people i know with gravel bikes buy them because the big tyres help with crap roads and the easier gears help with the hills for sure. They for me do not replace a good road or mountain bike for a good cyclist from either discipline but appeal to many beginner cyclists as the geometry is quite relaxed as well. They are easy to ride and for a casual ride on easy terrain good fun.

[@gcn]

Exactly. No one bike will be perfect for everyone so it's great that there's such a range out there now!

[@bindingcurve]

Dude, they are even better once you get into shape. Nothing like bombing down a gravel road at 60 Kph.

[@habbahan]

I just got a gravel bike (never been a fan of riding a road bike), and to me it feels faster and lighter rolling than MTB. It’s a better commuter and allows one to get further than MTB, while still able to ride almost everything except proper jumps, rock gardens and steep downhills

[@GrumpyOldMan9]

The point of gravel bike is simply to allow a road racing bike to follow - without any punctures - a city bike on a tourist trip through the countryside, which often includes benign gravel bike paths.

[@petecaulton9271]

I use to have 2 bikes road and hybrid. Best thing now I have a gravel bike is only 1 bike to store and maintain. Especially as I’m not a top road or mountain biker. Makes cycling to work more interesting.

[@jonmathias6159]

For me it's the versatility of a gravel bike. Mine is a winter road bike (bigger tyres and disc brakes safer on wet greasy roads), a summer tourer and for mild off-road work.

[@thuggooch1776]

Rich your soooo onto it there. Gravel is the gateway for roadies to get into MTB. It eventually happens to most of them. Great video and thank you for sharing.

[@sd3457]

Count me in with the "Gravel? Oh, a 90's MTB with drop bars." crowd.

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

Back in the day, I used to cyclo-cross … the gravel bike IS a rebranded cyclo-cross bike - it’s not ‘new’

[@bindingcurve]

I ride a 90s mountain bike for fun rides. My gravel bike is not even close to being a drop bar version.

[@SecwetGwiwer]

@@JIMMYHIBBS1it’s actually more like how a CX bike would be if it weren’t for UCI rules.

[@joaocastro924]

I still don't see a point in owning a gravel bike. Want to go fast? Road bike! Want to have offroad sections and options for MTB trails, mountain bike! Gravel? Not amazing offroad capabilities + slower on the road. yes it can do both but kinda shite at both

[@antonintopol228]

Finally an honest video about gravel vs XC. Comparing XC bike with gravel (never apples to apples - different gearing, thread) is just ridiculous and unsustainable BS. Just accept gravel as second bike for roadies who have access only to bad tarmac or very smooth forest roads :)

[@strawhorn1]

My first bike when I got back into cycling was a gravel. It has done everything from a sportive to trails suited for a full sus. The point is I like exploring new trails/roads and I know whatever is ahead I should be able to get through it.

[@gcn]

The gravel bike might be the perfect tool for igniting the cycling spark 🔥

[@WillPower46]

That sub 10kg full sus of his would be very very expensive.

[@MTBScotland]

Gravel is basically mountain biking without any of the fun stuff.

[@twatts4436]

Amusingly, gravel bikes make the perfect winter road bike (if you put wide slick tyres on and mudguards).

[@gcn]

Definitely!

[@bikeralemanha]

Gravel bike is versatility. It does tarmac, gravel, single trails (light). It is good for bike packing, or touring with all possible bags. I do all of that with mine. It keeps some qualities of the road bike, like more aero position and drop bars. It is still a fast bike. And I do have a road bike as well for the fast rides. It is the one I ride the most.

[@gigglingchicken8444]

I am a huge fan. I love road riding in theory, except for all of the cars. A gravel bike is a perfect solution to minimize being by cars. Just today I took my gravel bike 80 miles round trip to a brewery. I did single track, country gravel roads, and gravel roads in the foothills for some great climbs and fun downhills. Didnt see many cars, was faster than my mtn bike, and saw some elk. It was just an awesome day. I love my my mtn bike and its so much fun as well but only on single track and technical trails, it can be a slog on gravel and asphalt.

[@vaderlander7122]

I would do this stuff on my hardtail XC bike to be honest. Efficient enough on the gravel sections but can also do that more technical section. Best of both worlds :). To me the gravel bike is obsolete unless you do mega distances perhaps on gravel.

[@HoudiniNL]

I have a road bike and an MTB. I mostly ride on the road but when I want to go off-road I want the rough stuff and not that flat semi tarmac gravel path nonsense. So I'm with (pre-ride) Rich on this.

[@bindingcurve]

Well of course you don't want to ride that stuff, you will probably kill yourself on your road bike and your mountain bike is just going to be a slog. Where I ride, the gravel roads will have loose 10+% grade. Try that on your road wheels 😂😂😂

[@HoudiniNL]

@@bindingcurve You're missing my point. I don't want to because I don't fancy gravel terrain, not because I don't have a gravel bike.

[@bindingcurve]

​@@HoudiniNL And I think you missed mine. You are not going to like gravel much if you don't have the right bike. I live next to a state park with some awesome gravel trails. I used to ride them with my old Cannondale F600, not a lot of fun. I got a Cannondale Trail. It is better, but still lacking for 20+ mile gravel rides, and I would rather run the "rough stuff". I finally got a Checkpoint, and now I LOVE running the trails in the park. With the addition of a road wheelset, I ride with the A21+ ( 34Kph) groups on the road in addition to the A gravel groups. The Cannondale trail is inadequate for mountain bike group rides. The hardtail is fine for solo rides, but can't keep up safely with the full-suspension bikes. So there is another example of not having the right bike that keeps me from "wanting" to do certain kinds of rides.

[@HoudiniNL]

@@bindingcurve I don't believe a gravel bike is going to change my mind about gravel trails, but to each their own.

[@teckendrums]

its like a formula 1 car vs a offroad truck. most people realy need something in between. f.ex. my commute sometimes consists of 40% cobblestone roads, so wide tires are definetly a benefit, but i also like having a bit lighter, smaler, simpler and faster bike for city riding.

[@adventure_biker]

Gravel bike is the only bike i need . I sold all my bikes and bought high-end gravel bikes, and I never regret my decision.

[@gcn]

Awesome! They're so versatile for a variety of terrain!

[@DaveCM]

I have been so tempted to put my road wheels on my gravel bike just to see how they compare on tarmac. I really don't think there will be any difference other than the gearing.