I am probably well overthinking this. BUT. I have a load of mates who have got into the Gravel thing. I don't have and don't plan on getting a gravel bike as a) I don't want to spend money and b) I don't really have space. So I was thinking of just changing out my tyres on my MTB for some gravel type tyres. Anyone else done this on here? It's that simple? Should be fine then for saving some energy on the road sections?
Is your MTB a hardtail? Just stick a pair of 2.1 mezcals or similar on. Can you lock out your fork as well?
If you're on 1x you'll be spinning like a hamster to keep up if they're on 2x, unless they're nice.
You don't need gravel tyres seeing as a number of top level gravel riders are actually using MTB XC tyres so you can just put on some XC tyres. As above, gearing may be an issue as will headwinds.
Friends will be nice to you, whatever you ride.
If they aren't nice to you, they are no longer friends and the problem is resolved anyway.
Should work ok with the right bike and tyres. My Giant Anthem was insanely good on road for a full suss MTB, which probably explained why it was so shit off road.
Managed 37miles at a measured 17.2mph once, which is only 1mph less than the road bike.
Yeh on a HT and I can lock out the forks. They're a good bunch so should be fine. I have a 1x.
Thanks all!
I've done long gravel rides with pals on gravel bikes and me on my hardtail 29er.
No lock-out and my 29er is 2x with a 38 tooth big ring so I wasn't too under-geared (barely noticed, but it was a long day out so nobody was pushing hard at any point). Also on Mezcals although recently I've been wondering if Barzos are actually any slower! I actually felt bad for the guys on gravel bikes in parts where it got chunky or rough.
In truth for most big days now I'll be more inclined to take the 29er unless I know it will be particularly smooth or fast. Ironically I miss the gravel bike most on tight, smooth singletrack where the 29er just feels cumbersome. Add in some roots or rocks and that quickly changes though!
The majority of my "gravel mates" are primarily roadies (with little to no interest in MTBs) for whom it's kind of the inverse: They've opted into a version of offroad cycling but often find the offroad bits harder than they expected, and bemoan their lack of MTBing background if things get a bit nadgery or rough. Of course they still try to tear you legs off on the next tarmac climb even if you slow things down or wait for them on the rough stuff.
I've found a double is needed, mostly for when the terrain smooths out, but that's because they're a bunch of bastards who won't control the pace on the easy stuff...
As noted above, if the group are nice then your tyres and gearing won't matter and they'll wait/keep the pace sensible. But at some point you'll probably find yourself a little frustrated at not having the most efficient tool for the job (IMO), it's hard to string together a "gravel" ride in the UK that doesn't eventually take in a smoother bridleway or tarmac section.
it's hard to string together a "gravel" ride in the UK that doesn't eventually take in a smoother bridleway or tarmac section.
On most rides though, there will be a mix of gravel/mud/road and sometimes the hardtail will be faster… so, depending on the proportion of each surface, not having hardtail could be a limiting factor as much as not having a gravel bike?
The only issue me and my friends really have on mixed surface/gravel rides on different types of bike is normally on the steeper/techy climbs where those on MTB gearing can winch up things with easier gearing and more traction whereas those on 'Gravel' bikes can't actually climb slow enough and stall out/lose traction.
But you just naturally get into the rhythm over a ride where everyone sorts themselves into order of climbing speed and you avoid the concertina effect and inevitable stalling out/loss of traction.
We have now gravitated towards the same sort of bikes anyway, and a pre-ride text of "Actual Gravel or more MTB today?" between those attending normally gets most people onto the same sort of bikes. We're pretty laidback as a group though so nobody gets left behind if they end up having/wanting to bring a MTB along.
A pair of 2.35" G One Speed Pro will have you flying along the tarmac with crazy low rolling resistance, plus a larger tyre will lower the gearing deficit you will have on a 1x against the 2x gravel bikes. But it will come at the cost of lower grip offroad and increased chance of punctures.
BICYCLEROLLINGRESISTANCE.COM Although you might be in trouble overall against anyone running tanwall 40mm Hutchinson Caracal Races on a 2x, unless the offroad is wet!
On most rides though, there will be a mix of gravel/mud/road and sometimes the hardtail will be faster… so, depending on the proportion of each surface, not having hardtail could be a limiting factor as much as not having a gravel bike?
Absolutely, Surface, conditions and group temperament/behaviour are major factors.
I was obviously talking about a different group, YMWV of course.
I do have the option of a rigid 1x 29er, but I will always take the 2x Gravel bike to ride with them, basically because they're a bunch of over-competitive midlife-Crisis having, roadie gits...
But my point stands; if you keep going out with a group on Gravel bikes and the bias of those rides is towards efficiently covering ground rather than Gnarr and shenanigans, you could well end up becoming a bit "gravel curious" too, it keeps happening IME.
a bunch of over-competitive midlife-Crisis having, roadie gits...
just the sort of people I would want to avoid having a ride out with 🤣 but then I do prefer to go solo!
Suitable tyres.
Locked-out fork.
Inner bar ends to simulate hood position on drop bars.
Crack on.
But it will come at the cost of lower grip offroad and increased chance of punctures.
Riding a hard tail on near slicks it's easy to forget you don't have the grip you'd normally expect and wipe out too 😞
Something that’s often missed in these discussions is that the real key to having a good mixed-bike group is a bit of communication and maturity. Spend a bit of time at the start of the ride figuring out where everyone is at and try and encourage folk to speak up if the pace is too spicy.
As long as you're prepared to spend sometime on the front of the chaingang and not be a wheel sucker, you'll be reet 😉
I have a gravel bike and drop bar MTB as a little experiment and found the most noticeable differences and advantages of the gravel bike are:
1. Riding position more aero.
2. Tyres.
3. Bike weight.
4. Gearing.
Some of those are easy to achieve on an MTB without spending much money.
If its a long travel enduro MTB, I wouldn't even try and keep up with a gravel bike. If it's a lightweight hardtail it could be great.
I've a Ti gravel bike and a Ti HT. Gravel bike currently has quite chunky 45c tyres. The HT currently has a rigid fork and fast XC tyres. On a similar terrain loop, the HT is perhaps an average of 1/1.5kmh slower, but there's very little in it.
You can pick up some very fast (albeit 'sketchy in the corners') XC/Gravel + tyres relatively cheaply; I picked up some Michelin something-or-other from Banana Industries a few months back, and SportsDirect / Evans were doing 2.2 Bonty XR1's for £15 each a few weeks back.
I have a gravel bike and drop bar MTB as a little experiment and found the most noticeable differences and advantages of the gravel bike are:
1. Riding position more aero.
2. Tyres.
3. Bike weight.
4. Gearing.
As a mainly XC rider (no road or gravel bike), im intrigued what makes a gravel bike faster on smoother/gravel surfaces (aside the rider) and I agree with your list but wondered what order of importance?
I had a gravel bike but couldn't get on with drop bars and the low front end no matter how many times I changed bars so swapped it for an XC HT then a light FS set up with a Nobby Nic front and Racing Ralph rear. All three ridden mostly on the same routes.
There's not much in it but on steady terrain the MTB's are/were faster on everything except road. You'll be fine.
Something that’s often missed in these discussions is that the real key to having a good mixed-bike group is a bit of communication and maturity. Spend a bit of time at the start of the ride figuring out where everyone is at and try and encourage folk to speak up if the pace is too spicy.
And then, if they chain gang it along with no regard to the draggier riders, divert them onto the techiest track that your skills will allow. Preferably something that's almost DH level of trail, so that you test the limits of their your semi-slicks and how robust those carbon frames really are. 😀
Evans were doing 2.2 Bonty XR1's for £15 each a few weeks back.
now down to £12 ea or £9.60 with Fraser Plus
