The problem is people trying to categorise everything with these names. It’s not a road bike with wide tyres, it’s not a mountain bike with rigid forks and drop bars, it’s just a bike with a certain geometry, semi slick tyres and drop bars. It suits who it suits. You do you. Would be interested on what you think bikepackers and adventurers should ride?
Move to the UK and you will see the need for gravel bikes - the quickest route anywhere, or just the fun routes to ride, are mixed terrain encompassing narrow roads (really bad condition with potholes), paths covered in leaves, lots of mud, occasional grass, actual pavement (sidewalk), and all of this in pouring rain. Those roads are also often rammed with traffic which does not respect cyclists at all. That's why you can't use a slick road bike in half the country unless you're happy to be pretty uncomfortable and relatively unsafe. (London is an exception here, where the infrastructure is much better... but that's the only exception). Even a lot of the cheap hybrid bikes that get sold here have knobbly tyres - we need stuff that can endure the shitty road conditions caused by our incompetent government. Gravel bikes are just like the drop bar extension of that for people who actually enjoy riding, and want to have more options for getting around than a road bike.
@@lordkambing810 Many Countries in fact don't have nice and smooth roads. I would be interested what you would suggest me to ride for long bikepacking routes through many different countries? I don't see the point why there shouldn't be more and more specific bikes for very specific needs. I mean isn't it great that we don't anymore just have the options between a roadbike and a mountaibike, but can specificly decide what exact bike is perfect for our very individual needs.
I own 5 bikes, and my Domane is my favorite one. I ride it on gravel all the time with 32mm slicks, and it handles just fine. If I could only have one bike, it would be an endurance bike.
there is also a third group and many other groups of people buying gravel bikes. I bought a gravel bike because it's the perfect bike if you can only have one bike. It is good in the city, on asphalt and in light off-road conditions. None of the options previously offered by manufacturers met such needs.
Hot take on gravel bikes for sure. However, I think the categorization of buyers into just two types oversimplifies the diverse reasons cyclists choose gravel bikes. For many, I think it is also about getting away from traffic and exploring those gravel roads you been passing by a 1000 times on your road bike. Also, from my own experience, a gravel bike offer a level of comfort that surpasses even the comfort on endurance road bikes I've had, which is a key factor for me. But yeah, depending on geometry a gravel bike can be less nimble than a road (or CX) bike. I actually ended up using my gravel bike for commuting also. Especially in autumn and winter I appreciated the wider tires. Knobby tires get worn fast for sure, but there are many great options out there with less threads / knobs. Personally, I am keeping my 6 year old road bike as backup, but this season I will mainly be using my gravel bike with dual wheelset.
My reason for buying a gravelbike - im not comfortable with riding on the car roads, and the nicest routes in my area are atleast partially gravel/backroads/offroads. Next bike woud be an endurance bike though, for those longer non offroad tours
I just ride bikes man. I got a trek 7300fx hybrid from 2005 and put 29er tires on that 700c hybrid. lol. oh and my 95 trek 930 now has 27.5 and discs. gravel bike? 3:26 I'd take my Norco Indie 4 with Deore. it has fenders and slick 27.5 the difference is tire casing choices. 120tpi and higher 6:22 90's MTB for sure
I totally understand you. I have an Xc hardtail and an aero roadbike, both race bikes and I told myself, I'm never getting a gravel bike, why get something that's slower than an roadbike and less capable than an mtb. The my wife offered me to buy a 3rd bike cuz I was good. Then I got a gravel bike. And it's all i've been riding for the past month.
That would depend a great deal on what kind of terrain you ride. I live in greater Vancouver, Canada, and you'd have to be insane to ride a gravel bike on almost any trail except for maybe green mtb trails here.
Why is it that the first time they do a UCI championship without UCI saying "You must ride a gravel bike" the pros choose to ride road bikes and take the win on them? And what do we see when they start mandating riding gravel bikes for the pros? Unbound XL (not a pro category, a longer race then the pros oficcially do) was won on an MTB. Which raises some questions to begin with.
Interesting explanation. Makes sense to me, as an owner of two Trek Domanes. What I enjoyed about the video was the nice background landscape. Show less of the host (don’t take that personally), and more of the awesome landscape!
45mm treaded tires, rigid fork. That's the ideal all-purpose set up for a bike that's going to see a roughly equal measure of pavement and rough dirt roads with the occasional trail shortcut thrown in. Is that a "gravel bike"? I don't really care what you call it.
A hundred years ago, the Tour de France had many gravel sections, even on mountain passes. The bike the racers rode was essentially a road bike, which is faster on crushed gravel than a gravel bike is on a smooth pavement. Knobby tires are slower than slick.
And yet road bikes with narrow tires suck on loose anything--gravel, soil and especially sand. Probably the reason mountain bikes happened. But those suck on the road due to the gearing and wide bars are not great in traffic.
Honestly, you never listen to the marketing. LOL. What kind of noob move is that? You look for the bike that has the specs you want, you ride it, and then if you gel with it, you buy one. Easy as. If you don’t get the bike you want, you really only have your own judgement to blame. I’ve been waiting for this “gravel bike” boom for a while, now, so I’m glad I can get one for cheap without having to Frankenbike something from XC and road parts.
I just think the name is dumb. I've ridden on actual exposed gravel for 11 miles uphill and down. Its not really fun in any way and wouldnt be anything to start a whole new genre of bikes over. I think backroads bikes would be a better name.
You hit the nail on the head! I actually switch my wheelset with 2.1 inch tires between my XC hardtail and my gravel bike sometimes. The geometry is a little different, but the gravel bike essentially feels like a drop bar mountain bike.
It's really not. The gearing on mountain bikes isn't quite right for riding alongside cars. A gravel bike works there as well as unpaved roads and alleys where a road bike kinda sucks.
@@CanItAlready this is true I CAN ride my MTB on road I don't want to though as the gearing and geometry is just not right for it and it's too slow you can hear those big 2.4 knobbly tyres drag on tarmac.
I have a Roubaix and a Diverge and I much prefer riding the Roubaix. It's such a fast and comfortable bike. The newer model Roubaix and Defy endurance bikes have wider tire clearance for up to 40mm tires. I hardly ever ride the Diverge anymore so I'll prob sell it.
.... I have (3) bikes ... a (Gen 1) Domane Carbon 5.2 .... a (Gen !) TREK 8.6 DS ... and a Scott "Spark 940" ... ( all are 3X10's) Now why would I take my $7-8K Domane and beat it up on Gravel or trails !!! Most people would not do that to a good "road bike" ... and just buy a cheap 2nd bike as a "beater" ... which would be cheaper then a set of rims ...
Those are really cool bikes but they don’t have the tire clearance of a new Domane. I’m talking to the riders that want to have one bike and lean mostly towards road and distance but want some fire road capability
If you think riding dirt roads is some kind of special occasion that only occurs once or twice a year then you're not really qualified to be speaking on this subject. I have lived all up and down the East Coast, generally in places with good proximity to public land like Northern New England, Upstate NY, and the Southern Appalachians. Poorly maintained dirt roads are the RULE in these areas. A road bike will get you inured very easily. Vermont is the best example of this, so it's funny you mentioned it. You're not going anywhere in Vermont on slick road tires unless you're right in Burlington.
Really you buy a gravel bike to see your girlfriend. Dude you know only what you know...... Look at BWR races and don't think riders spend all that money to go to see their girlfriend. And if you think you know better, you only know what you know.....
Why is it then that the longest version on Unbound was won on an MTB? Nobody made a winner ride it, not a pro category with a mandate to run a sponsored gravel bike and somehow MTB makes sense offroad all of a sudden
The problem is people trying to categorise everything with these names. It’s not a road bike with wide tyres, it’s not a mountain bike with rigid forks and drop bars, it’s just a bike with a certain geometry, semi slick tyres and drop bars. It suits who it suits. You do you. Would be interested on what you think bikepackers and adventurers should ride?
Move to the UK and you will see the need for gravel bikes - the quickest route anywhere, or just the fun routes to ride, are mixed terrain encompassing narrow roads (really bad condition with potholes), paths covered in leaves, lots of mud, occasional grass, actual pavement (sidewalk), and all of this in pouring rain. Those roads are also often rammed with traffic which does not respect cyclists at all. That's why you can't use a slick road bike in half the country unless you're happy to be pretty uncomfortable and relatively unsafe. (London is an exception here, where the infrastructure is much better... but that's the only exception). Even a lot of the cheap hybrid bikes that get sold here have knobbly tyres - we need stuff that can endure the shitty road conditions caused by our incompetent government. Gravel bikes are just like the drop bar extension of that for people who actually enjoy riding, and want to have more options for getting around than a road bike.
most of the World isnt uk though gravel bikes arent needed. FACT
@@lordkambing810 Many Countries in fact don't have nice and smooth roads. I would be interested what you would suggest me to ride for long bikepacking routes through many different countries? I don't see the point why there shouldn't be more and more specific bikes for very specific needs. I mean isn't it great that we don't anymore just have the options between a roadbike and a mountaibike, but can specificly decide what exact bike is perfect for our very individual needs.
ATB
I own 5 bikes, and my Domane is my favorite one. I ride it on gravel all the time with 32mm slicks, and it handles just fine. If I could only have one bike, it would be an endurance bike.
there is also a third group and many other groups of people buying gravel bikes. I bought a gravel bike because it's the perfect bike if you can only have one bike. It is good in the city, on asphalt and in light off-road conditions. None of the options previously offered by manufacturers met such needs.
Touring bikes, urban bikes, ATB bikes, oh good lawd.
Yeah good lawd 😂😊
@@Bernholesurfer had them all still gravel is the best ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hot take on gravel bikes for sure.
However, I think the categorization of buyers into just two types oversimplifies the diverse reasons cyclists choose gravel bikes. For many, I think it is also about getting away from traffic and exploring those gravel roads you been passing by a 1000 times on your road bike.
Also, from my own experience, a gravel bike offer a level of comfort that surpasses even the comfort on endurance road bikes I've had, which is a key factor for me. But yeah, depending on geometry a gravel bike can be less nimble than a road (or CX) bike.
I actually ended up using my gravel bike for commuting also. Especially in autumn and winter I appreciated the wider tires. Knobby tires get worn fast for sure, but there are many great options out there with less threads / knobs.
Personally, I am keeping my 6 year old road bike as backup, but this season I will mainly be using my gravel bike with dual wheelset.
My reason for buying a gravelbike - im not comfortable with riding on the car roads, and the nicest routes in my area are atleast partially gravel/backroads/offroads. Next bike woud be an endurance bike though, for those longer non offroad tours
Great girlfriend analogy 😂
I just ride bikes man. I got a trek 7300fx hybrid from 2005 and put 29er tires on that 700c hybrid. lol. oh and my 95 trek 930 now has 27.5 and discs. gravel bike?
3:26 I'd take my Norco Indie 4 with Deore. it has fenders and slick 27.5
the difference is tire casing choices. 120tpi and higher
6:22 90's MTB for sure
I totally understand you. I have an Xc hardtail and an aero roadbike, both race bikes and I told myself, I'm never getting a gravel bike, why get something that's slower than an roadbike and less capable than an mtb. The my wife offered me to buy a 3rd bike cuz I was good. Then I got a gravel bike. And it's all i've been riding for the past month.
Gravel bike. You don't need both road bikes and mountain bikes.
That would depend a great deal on what kind of terrain you ride. I live in greater Vancouver, Canada, and you'd have to be insane to ride a gravel bike on almost any trail except for maybe green mtb trails here.
Moral of the story! Don’t get a Trek gravel bike. They are tanks!
Why is it that the first time they do a UCI championship without UCI saying "You must ride a gravel bike" the pros choose to ride road bikes and take the win on them?
And what do we see when they start mandating riding gravel bikes for the pros? Unbound XL (not a pro category, a longer race then the pros oficcially do) was won on an MTB. Which raises some questions to begin with.
Personally I enjoy my Cx bikes they can do it all. Especially with the addition of a carbon fork and a good wheelset😊
Interesting explanation. Makes sense to me, as an owner of two Trek Domanes. What I enjoyed about the video was the nice background landscape. Show less of the host (don’t take that personally), and more of the awesome landscape!
45mm treaded tires, rigid fork. That's the ideal all-purpose set up for a bike that's going to see a roughly equal measure of pavement and rough dirt roads with the occasional trail shortcut thrown in. Is that a "gravel bike"? I don't really care what you call it.
That's exactly what I'm looking for
A hundred years ago, the Tour de France had many gravel sections, even on mountain passes. The bike the racers rode was essentially a road bike, which is faster on crushed gravel than a gravel bike is on a smooth pavement. Knobby tires are slower than slick.
Well said mate, but I'm not getting paid for my riding to suffer unpaved mountain passes on a 23mm tyre =)
And yet road bikes with narrow tires suck on loose anything--gravel, soil and especially sand. Probably the reason mountain bikes happened. But those suck on the road due to the gearing and wide bars are not great in traffic.
Honestly, you never listen to the marketing. LOL. What kind of noob move is that? You look for the bike that has the specs you want, you ride it, and then if you gel with it, you buy one. Easy as. If you don’t get the bike you want, you really only have your own judgement to blame.
I’ve been waiting for this “gravel bike” boom for a while, now, so I’m glad I can get one for cheap without having to Frankenbike something from XC and road parts.
I just think the name is dumb. I've ridden on actual exposed gravel for 11 miles uphill and down. Its not really fun in any way and wouldnt be anything to start a whole new genre of bikes over. I think backroads bikes would be a better name.
Gravel is replacement for hardtails and it will end up with 50mm/2.00 inch tires.
You hit the nail on the head! I actually switch my wheelset with 2.1 inch tires between my XC hardtail and my gravel bike sometimes. The geometry is a little different, but the gravel bike essentially feels like a drop bar mountain bike.
It's really not. The gearing on mountain bikes isn't quite right for riding alongside cars. A gravel bike works there as well as unpaved roads and alleys where a road bike kinda sucks.
@@CanItAlready this is true I CAN ride my MTB on road I don't want to though as the gearing and geometry is just not right for it and it's too slow you can hear those big 2.4 knobbly tyres drag on tarmac.
I have a Roubaix and a Diverge and I much prefer riding the Roubaix. It's such a fast and comfortable bike. The newer model Roubaix and Defy endurance bikes have wider tire clearance for up to 40mm tires. I hardly ever ride the Diverge anymore so I'll prob sell it.
.... I have (3) bikes ... a (Gen 1) Domane Carbon 5.2 .... a (Gen !) TREK 8.6 DS ... and a Scott "Spark 940" ... ( all are 3X10's) Now why would I take my $7-8K Domane and beat it up on Gravel or trails !!! Most people would not do that to a good "road bike" ... and just buy a cheap 2nd bike as a "beater" ... which would be cheaper then a set of rims ...
Those are really cool bikes but they don’t have the tire clearance of a new Domane. I’m talking to the riders that want to have one bike and lean mostly towards road and distance but want some fire road capability
If you think riding dirt roads is some kind of special occasion that only occurs once or twice a year then you're not really qualified to be speaking on this subject. I have lived all up and down the East Coast, generally in places with good proximity to public land like Northern New England, Upstate NY, and the Southern Appalachians. Poorly maintained dirt roads are the RULE in these areas. A road bike will get you inured very easily. Vermont is the best example of this, so it's funny you mentioned it. You're not going anywhere in Vermont on slick road tires unless you're right in Burlington.
Why wouldn’t you just ride a hard tail Mtn bike - it does everything the GB does but better
I agree gravel bikes is like driving a ship! Handling is my biggest complaint
Millennials known for being more Discerning?
Or do what I did... buy a gravel frame, build it up as a road bike super comfy geo, (more comfortable than endurance) Also have 5 mtb bikes 😂
There's no 'gravel' in the UK, but there are gravel bikes
Really you buy a gravel bike to see your girlfriend. Dude you know only what you know...... Look at BWR races and don't think riders spend all that money to go to see their girlfriend. And if you think you know better, you only know what you know.....
Why is it then that the longest version on Unbound was won on an MTB? Nobody made a winner ride it, not a pro category with a mandate to run a sponsored gravel bike and somehow MTB makes sense offroad all of a sudden
Road + CX for me.
Gravel just doesn't do it for me. I like my ride agile and nimble
N+1