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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.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/mtb-reviews/schwalbe-g-one-speed-pro
Although you might be in trouble overall against anyone running tanwall 40mm Hutchinson Caracal Races on a 2x, unless the offroad is wet!