.. I really like a few of the current models. My 7 year old Boardman CX lives on the turbo tho. It’s done 1000s of KM on there and about 400km in the real world. I do live 20 mins from some okay woods that occasionally I’ll take the Solaris too, but I keep telling myself if I had a ‘gravel’ - whatever that is - bike I’d do loads of exploring.
Mainly it’s because I really like the look of
NukeProof Digger
Ribble CGR - Steel
Raleigh Mustang (just for old times sake)
And the new Akrose..
It’d be absolutely fantastic if you could talk me out of this stupid idea, and then I’d a) save a load of cash and b) stop wasting my time reading reviews!
OK, well here is what I think:
Why not buy a light MTB and do some proper off road exploring, or a decent road bike for some proper road riding.
A gravel bike is a compromise, so its poor at either type of riding. Its will disappoint you on the road and off road.
To me, all the gravel bikes I've looked at seem to be HT Mtb with skinny tyres and drops. Bit like MTB's used to be 10 years ago (apart from the drops, which are a hindrance off road)
If you have to have a compromise, make it just one compromise, not two. A Gravel bike is just two compromises.
But- a gravel bike is better on the roads than a mountain bike and better off road than a road bike. It's win win 😁
All good points. I don’t think I want another HT tho, I could just ride the Solaris. It’s probably just a case of the winter ‘I want’ which’ll go away once everything dries out.
Having said all that, I’d definitely give that ribble shed-room 🙂
I bought a gravel bike coming up four years ago. It's seen gravel a couple of times, but sees rough back lanes on my commute to work that would ruin a road bike. It also has room for proper guards and a pannier rack if I desire too.
I’d just stick with the Solaris. I had a NS RAG for a while and it was good, but not as good as a HT. Can’t speak for the road though as I have no interest in road bikes. When it comes to off road, even mild off road, a HT is always better imo.
A gravel bike is a compromise, so its poor at either type of riding. Its will disappoint you on the road and off road.
It's only a compromise if you see riding as either Road or MTB, rather than just riding. The thing I liked about the first 'gravel' bike I had was that I could ride the lanes without worrying about how poorly 25cs handle bad road surfaces, plus I could use byways that would be dull on an MTB and don't lead to any MTB trails to link those nice roads, skipping the busy unpleasant roads. So for me, a gravel bike makes a far better road bike. They're rubbish on proper MTB trails but fun enough on byways, the Ridgeway, etc. I don't even bother riding my proper road bike now unless it's a few fast hours on a nice summer day.
JFDI Alex...
this is the wrong site for trying to talk yourself out of a gravel bike. Everyone has got one.
Thank Nick 🙂
The point JamesO makes sort of sums it up for me. I’ve no interest in straight road riding. The roads around me are terrible, and when I did have a road bike (for commuting to the station) it scared the whatsit out of me.
I rode my brother’s Mason (not sure which one) with 40mm tyres and I thought it was fantastic fun. Felt more like a MTB and I could just head off down any bridleway that looked interesting. That’s way out of my budget tho.
There are days when I just want to ride. I don’t like riding MTB on my own really but can happily pootle about around here in the spring/summer/autumn as it’s just a fantastic place to be outside in.
I do remember riding the CX off road. It was involving but you did have to pick your trails...
A gravel bike is a compromise, so its poor at either type of riding. Its will disappoint you on the road and off road.
Perhaps, but only really if going absolutely as fast as possible in separate disciplines is your thing. Some folk like to cover both in a single ride and gravel bikes are designed for this (or do you have a support vehicle and trailer allowing you to swap bikes at appropriate points in the ride?).
Perhaps the correct answer is a mountain bike (for off-road), a road bike (for road riding) and a gravel bike (for gravelling); however as a dedicated pootler with limited resources I'm quite happy doing everything on my rather portly Singular Swift (I sometimes do the shopping on it too). I am however regularly overtaken by more committed types on more appropriate hardware.
Whenever I ride the “gravel” cx thing it makes a lot of sense for what I use it for. If I ride the mtb, I stick it in the car and ride trails, but the gravel tool is quite happy riding on the road to the trails.
On the road, in the winter filth I often think back to how I used to do the road 23c thing, avoiding holes, grit, crap and worrying about lack of grip. No more the worry with my 43c “gravel” rubber as it’s just like the mtbs I grew up with. I would not want to go back to riding crap roads on thin tyres - maybe faster ultimately but who really cares?
Off road I find them fun in a different way to mtb. Takes a few mins to adjust and then, you’ve guessed it, it’s back to the eighties and early nineties mtbs I grew up with.
It depends where you live, what you want, what speed you expect to ride stuff, but i like ‘em.
I was tempted a few years back but came to the conclusion that a rigid 29er was a better bet.
Glad I did. I use it all the time for bumpy commuting, bridleways, railways paths and all day xc exploring.
Have a look around. Some lovely options at the moment
The Sundat riding were doing at the moment is between 50-80 miles on mix of road and off-road. We both have drop bar 650b bikes which suit us and have also ridden road and off road multiday bikepacking events on them. I haven't ridden my best road bike since May 2017.
I can see the point of a gravel bike for riding everything below mtb trails - single track roads, bridleways, towpaths etc.
I've got zero interest in road riding, I try and avoid roads when possible on the mtb.
Round me there's very little riding that needs an mtb without driving, but I'll probably go the other way and build a lightweight hardtail with a 150mm fork that I can swap the wheels and post to save a few kg of weight/rolling resistance.
Question is, how much faster on gravel is a gravel bike vs a 22/23lb hardtail with 2.2" XC tyres?
Thank Nick 🙂
Anytime! 😊
I’m tempted myself.. so very keen to see how this pans out.
how much faster on gravel is a gravel bike vs a 22/23lb hardtail with 2.2″ XC tyres?
On 'UK gravel' byways and tracks etc I reckon an XC or rigid 29er will be faster, if the ride is more than a couple of hours at least. A gravel bike can be rapid but you'll be beat up soon enough if the ground isn't really smooth.
My quickest rides along the Ridgeway end to end have been on a 29er, I've done it at a fair rate on the gravel bike and it wasn't that pleasant - wasn't enough tarmac to justify using it but was a good test. 29er or gravel bike, it just depends what proportion of the ride is on road or what mood I'm in. Gravel bikes are good for riding a load of miles out+back just to ride a few miles of great byways that are further from home than the usual range of the 29er.
I ride my gravel bike throughout November to April. It's too muddy for the MTB and it's just better on winter lanes than the road bike. It's pretty much indispensable. I do a lot of recon for new trails that I later visit on the MTB and it keeps me fit for spring. I think more and more road riding is heading into mixed terrain with wider tyres, disc brakes, relaxed geometry and low weight. Go for it.
I love mine, ride from home to the canal, 4 miles down the canal to the country park. followed by loads of trails that are pretty soft for an MTB (but with options for some more testing stuff) through the other side onto cycle paths and a quickish blast back home for about 5 miles. all quick enjoyable on a 'gravel bike' (i've just got the cheap dark peak from calibre) and a proper bike ride on a lot of different surfaces. It also does the station commute brilliantly, nipping to the shops is great.
I am dreaming about getting a better one though but i love it.
I was on my fs today and did some steep muddy stuff at bowhill tomorrow I'll do 8miles with the Mrs on my gravel bike then peel off and come home via forest roads and a disused railway, probably 15miles, it's all fun.
Trekking style hybrid does it all, a useful compromise bike, usually cheaper too. Gravel bikes are just reinventing a busted wheel. BITD nineties xc bikes aped roadbikes and consequently were rubbish off road as heads down bum up with a long stem leads to twitchy unstable bikes but fast. Gravel bikes are the same but approached from the other side, evolutionary dead end.
It’s only a compromise if you see riding as either Road or MTB, rather than just riding.
Spot on.
They're just the perfect all rounder.
I have a Disc Trucker, more of a heavy tourer and Mrs S has an AWOL.
They both get ridden far more than the MTB's or road bikes.
The evolution of the true all rounder.
And fun, pure and simple.
If you obsess over weight or ultimate performance then definitely not for you. If you like riding bikes just for the sheer hell of it, pretty much anywhere you like, then go for it.
I'd want a gravel bike that could take at least 45mm tyres, which is a criteria that seems to becoming more common. There's even the odd one like Salsa Cutthroats that can take 2.35" tyres.
On the road, the more upright position on my Voodoo Wazoo using the 29er wheelset will throw away plenty of Watts due to the extra aero drag, but off road it will cope far better as the terrain gets more gnarly.
It's all about the balance of how far you plan to ride and where you will be riding.
But- a gravel bike is better on the roads than a mountain bike and better off road than a road bike. It’s win win 😁
Tbh road bikes on British roads are grim, a gravel bikes just going back to something that can take more than versatile tyre size road bikes are the niche thing 🙂
Anyway Planet X space chicken 650b and a free bikepacking kit for 1500ishvnot bad for force groupset an carbon.
(I did say a grand before but i must have dreamt that price)
What is the "gravel" bike going to do that your Boardman CX can't?
As a tester for deciding on whether to get a gravel bike i took my Scandal 29er, stuck carbon rigid forks, flat bar with bar ends and 1.75" VeeRubber Rail tyres...i love it and it does way more miles than any other bike but the caveat i suppose is i get no pleasure from road cycling so it only really gets road miles linking up the offroad bits, mostly in winter when certain offroad bits are to boggy to want to be bothered with. Saying that, with the bias been strongly for the offroad, i have swapped back to Racing Ralphs for a bit more comfort & grip.
Maybe try it with the Solaris?
I’m not sure after reading this thread, I’m not much less convinced. I’d rather ride the Solaris than a rigid 29er. If I’m going to buy something I want it to be properly different. As for it being a bit of a throwback to MTBs of the 90s.. well I quite liked those bikes… not sure I’d like them now tho..
What is the “gravel” bike going to do that your Boardman CX can’t?
Not much. I’d like Hydro’s but otherwise it’s basically a love of the shiny 😉
The steel CGR is a thing of beauty, but I'm getting in an early order for the new Arkrose D3 to replace my 5 year old original Arkrose, which has done getting on for 10,000 miles, from local bridleways I used to ride on my hard tail to 200 mile audax events.
The new version, with more tyre clearance including 650B wheels, proper axles, and sub compact gearing makes it pretty much perfect to me!
I ride easy xc and paths on my rigid 1992 Marin bike. Probably not as fast as a gravel bike, but so much fun.
Plenty of good arguments for and against, all I know is that I have a lightweight 29er set up for CX racing and Gravel (so... I change the tyres and take the bar ends on or off the chopped down flat bars).
Point being, I'm still craving a proper gravel bike, I really miss the positions offered by drop bars, and possibly the lower weight.
But I agree with JamesO, not sure I'd part with the suspension forks, the gravel routes I've got planned in Scotland aren't short on stones rather than gravel, not to mention massive puddles.
Rigid 29r would be my preference, something genuinely different (geometry wise)from your Solaris...pinnacle ramin, karate monkey, Genesis longitude. I tried a gravel bike but didn’t find it great to be honest, but obviously attractive for a number of people.
Yeah there’s good reasons both ways, or not at all. Good discussion tho. Co-incidentally I’m looking for a 2019 challenge and the off-road Wales C2C has been mentioned. Did the trans-cumbrian in 2017 and I reckon that would have been find on a cx/gravel bike.
Hello Solution, looking for a problem 🙂
Just my 5c.....
I hate being on a road ride and seeing a bridal way and not being able to go down it, so I built a 'gravel bike' a few years back. I wouldnt have a road bike now. It just gives more options, road, canal path, byway, bridleway.
I'll be out on mine tomorrow.....
Love mine, its fast enough on road to not be a chore, its at home on rough lanes/bridleways, but the best bit is where I would ride round the claggy South Downs on my MTB and end up slithering all over the place and bringing 5kg of mud home with me, the gravel bike just cuts through it all so its faster and lighter in the mud, and more exciting too.
Last ride I stuck it in the car and drove out somewhere with my wife, then rode home taking in some gravel bridleway, road, a steep slushy climb up a lane, and then mud, snow and a tarmac finish. Enjoyed it all 🙂
ride round the claggy South Downs on my MTB and end up slithering all over the place and bringing 5kg of mud home with me, the gravel bike just cuts through it all so its faster and lighter in the mud, and more exciting too.
Dunno about the claggy SD's ... but for me, the gravel bike struggles more on the really sticky stuff. So for me, the advantage in winter is being able to blast along the easiest trails and tracks that hold up better in the weather, and bypass the really boggy bits by using road sections relatively efficiently compared to a MTB.
Like most of the above comments, I love my CX/ gravel bike and it's by far my most used bike. Don't see it as compromised as most of the riding I do is about mixing it up, and the gravel bike is capable-enough for 95% of what I ride. Not that interested in solely tarmac (but have a second set of wheels with 28c slicks for the handful of occasions a year I want to do a purely road ride). When I want just trails, I have two MTBs for that.
Alex
...It’d be absolutely fantastic if you could talk me out of this stupid idea, and then I’d a) save a load of cash and b) stop wasting my time reading reviews!
Just do it.
If you look at the criticism of gravel bikes, it's like someone complaining that a SUV isn't as good as a Ferrari on the road, and not as good as a Unimog offroad.
It's a general purpose comfortable recreational bike, not a road race weapon, nor an audax bike, nor a CX bike, nor a MTB, and for general plootering around they're a great bike.
You'll also be more relaxed on the road because you don't have to worry much about bad surfaces, especially if you go for a model with large volume tyres.
A gravel bike is a compromise,
Actually, they're far less compromised than a road bike or MTB.
I’d have to disagree with Trimix.
I’m not really interested in ‘road’, but my CX bike is far less limiting than my MTBs for general exploring/spinning along BWs etc. My MTBs are set up for more serious off-road conditions- stiffish sus forks, 1x, big tyres, dropper etc. Yes, they can go for a spin down the Trans Pennine or whatever but they’d be slower and more effort than the CX. The cross bike will also (rider permitting) cope happily with non-droppy non-rock garden singletrack quite effectively. Depends what and where you ride whether you have a sensible use for a cx or gravel I think.
I get the ‘draw of the shiney’, but in honesty if you’re uncertain whether it’ll become a clothes airer, then get the Boardman off the turbo for a few weeks at least and see what happens.
I've got a vagabond.
I didn't nessiceraly want a gravel bike but i like my singlespeeds and wanted something with normal tyres and higher gearing for the commute (soon could ditch the silly 32-14 on the cooker).
I wouldn't say a gravel bike is slower than a mountain bike off road, there's a point when the going gets tough at which you can no longer go as fast but upto that point it's no loss. Seeing as 99.9%* of mountainbiking is riding a bridleways round the edge of a field a gravel bike is probably as fast or faster.
On road, the hand positions are nice and you get a bit of a tuck out of the wind, but its not going to keep up on a clubrun without propper tyres and excess fitness.
My local riding is arround the chilterns which tends to mean at most 75% off road, and probably only 10% off that is single track, and almost none of it is more technical than a few 1ft rooty steps. Doing 50-60mile 'gravel' rides is a hoot.
Downside, it really isn't that different to a ridgid flat bar mtb, if it wasnt for needing different ratios it would be very hard to justify both. I also have a propper CX bike, that's different again in terms of speed and ability.
I would say that if you cant motivate yourself to ride the Solaris or the CX on a route, then a gravel bike wont be enough of a change from either to persuade you. But shiny new bikes do have their own mojo boosting properties!
*For every 1 person who has Innerleithen on their doorstep, there's thousands in places like the chilterns, Cotswolds etc.
Watch that video of Hanna island hopping in scotland. If that floats your boat buy a gravel bike. if not dont bother.
I have an Arkose 2 with 45mm tyres on and i love it!!!
If you're not intending on doing many rides with a large amount of road then I'd buy a set of lightweight wheels for the Solaris with some fast XC tyres and possibly a smaller cassette. I'd also drop the stem if it isn't already.
Otherwise I'd get a gravel bike to provide off-road/fun options on a road biased ride whilst not needing to worry about the surface you're riding over. Look at a gravel bike as a flexible road bike.
Or get the Boardman off the turbo and save yourself some cash.
It’s too muddy for the MTB
Does not compute
Look at a gravel bike as a flexible road bike.
Yep, that is what I say. While you can ride a gravel bike on loose single track with roots etc,. it is not fast and not great for it.
Or if you already have a road bike just look at your road bike as a flexible road bike, a road bike doesn't blow up if you ride on gravel roads - you may just need some tougher tyres and the biggest that will fit the better if you need the comfort.
Don't do it
And don't look at the Mason InSearchOf either.............
My gravel bike has made a great winter bike and expand my options for short rides due to the multi terrain scenario. Yes I agree, its a compromised road / CX bike but it is flexible.
It replaced my winter road bike, but I wouldnt shelve an MTB for it, and I kept my summer road bike for carving up the country lanes when the sun is out.
Get one.
This is a great thread, interesting ideas and differing opinions without slagging anyone off.
Just shows you that everyone is different, both in need, ability and desire; so it's just as well there are multiple types of bikes to suit us all.
For every 1 person who has Innerleithen on their doorstep, there’s thousands in places like the chilterns, Cotswolds etc.
I live in S Wales, right in the middle of one of the best locations for MTBing possible in the UK. I can head in any direction (except south - that’s the sea!) and find trails that would stretch my abilities, and I could ride different things every day of the week. Indeed, I could spend today riding from my door and have hours of great, challenging MTB riding, without crossing the city limits.
But if I do that I’d miss out on the ‘easier’ stuff. The long days out on Gower, riding through uttrly gorgeous scenery. The access tracks through the mountains up towards the Beacons and the Black Mountain. The places where a 150mm trail bike is wasted but where there is still good off-road riding. That’s why so many of us around here also have gravel bikes of various descriptions. I’m sure that is the same for Tweed Valley locals as well.
I've got a (flat bar and rigid) Singular Swift as my 'gravel' bike, with 50mm Conti Race King tyres, in addition to a road bike and hardtail. Pretty good compromise for gentle offroad stuff, but still want to fill the gap between that and the road bike with a drop bar gravel / allroad bike. Just because. Lifes too short not to have more bikes! Treat yourself...
It’s too muddy for the MTB
😂
Crikey the mason in search of that Charlie mentioned earlier in the thread can take upto 29 x 2.4 or 650b X 2.8 tyres! That's bigger than I can get on my mountain bikes.
I'd go with the Flexible Road bike definition but then mine is at the 8.5kg end of things quick and nimble, living in Manchester it's a spot on bike as I can get on some great longer rides skipping the worst of the roads, around the peak I can get between some fun and interesting singletrack and make some great loops. Worth so much more to me than a road bike or a XC HT
Hmm, bog snorkeling more like!
I have to admit I'm tempted by one of the super cheap gravel bikes, £500-600ish. That calibre dark peak is £450 which is extremely cheap.
Late to discussion Alex - I'll add my tuppence worth.
Have a Peregrine - after I'd got a road bike but found it the wrong size and handed it back.
TBH up here there are loads of options for mixing things up, plus the back roads can be hard going on kosher road setups - lumpy surfaces - then there are the farm tracks and forest roads that can be included in a ride to give a little bit of peace from road but without heading full tilt downhill.
Have put panniers on and had small trips, make up excuses to do a bit of shopping - all quite within capabilities. It's not the lightest of bikes but feels solid and secure.
It's set up with flared drop bars, and bar-end shifters. I've sent it down and along some pretty tight singletrack and it's a hoot.
Can't see it departing the shed any time soon - just too versatile. And that's with MTB and another road bike in there. Had been running 40mm tyres, currently 35mm as the 40mm wore out.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnOPxT5BDUK/
For the versatility, one bike to do the range of rides make it awesome
It's said that these 'new' bikes are crap on tarmac and crap off road.
Another way to look at them is that they are much better than an MTB on tarmac and way better than a road bike off road. So:
a) if your riding involves a mix of roads and off road
b) you're just out to enjoy the exercise
c) you're not precious about having to have the 'ultimate weapon' from your 'quiver' for what you're riding
then you'll probably love the dirty drop bar thing.
Going back to the OP - liking the look of bikes isn't a reason to buy one, so save your cash.
Can't believe there's still so much hand wringing about them tbh. I'd never buy a two seater sporty convertible or a Range Rover, but I can see why others might - and good luck to them.
It’s said that these ‘new’ bikes are crap on tarmac and crap off road.
On the few times I've been riding around big groups the main comment when somebody comes along is that rolls well on those tyres....
Off road it just keeps going
yeah the crap on road crap off thing is just a bit of bollocks
It’d be absolutely fantastic if you could talk me out of this stupid idea, and then I’d a) save a load of cash and b) stop wasting my time reading reviews!
Dear god, why don't you just set your Boardman free from the turbo and see if you really do go off exploring? As far as I can see, most gravel bikes are basically s****y cross bikes with extra tyre clearance so you can fit whopping great tyres and make it more like a drop-bar 29er.
What do you think a gravel bike will do that your cross bike can't? Mine's been over Cut Gate and I'm still alive. Then again, if you just want to buy a new bike, nothing will stop you 🙂
Seeing as there are a few photos popping up...my aforementioned ride:
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P.S Has anyone got a link to the island hopping video blackflag mentions?
Been out riding all day and came back to all these new posts. Continues to be an interesting discussion. Would seem to break down into
a) don’t be an idiot and buy a 29er riding
b) don’t be an idiot and use your Solaris Max
c) don’t be an idiot and release the CX bike from the turbo
d) don’t be an idiot INVEST IN THE SHINY
The clear message coming through is that I’m an idiot 🙂
Will have a proper read through when I get a min. Obviously I’ll ignore anything that doesn’t align with my world view of ‘things I need in my shed’ !
As always with these sort of questions, you will get lots of opinion/advice and then just do what you wanted anyway which is to buy a gravel bike.
I've never found an MTB to be that limiting on road or easy off road to be honest. Had pretty much every kind of HT, a gravel bike, Roadrat, Escapade, Day One, RAG etc. I'm now riding a Flare in 27.5 and can honestly say it's fine for everything. It's not even that bad on the road over longer distances. Just lock the rear and put more air in the tyres.
Hannah Barnes Island hopping,
Even though I own a Gravel Bike and enjoy riding it, I agree with a lot of these statements.
"I ride my gravel bike throughout November to April. It’s too muddy for the MTB and it’s just better on winter lanes than the road bike."
"On ‘UK gravel’ byways and tracks etc I reckon an XC or rigid 29er will be faster, if the ride is more than a couple of hours at least. A gravel bike can be rapid but you’ll be beat up soon enough if the ground isn’t really smooth.
My quickest rides along the Ridgeway end to end have been on a 29er, "
Done the Same ! and Agree totally
"the advantage in winter is being able to blast along the easiest trails and tracks that hold up better in the weather, and bypass the really boggy bits by using road sections relatively efficiently compared to a MTB."
this is really hitting the nail on the head !!!!
I even have sympathy for this view point.
"A gravel bike is a compromise, so its poor at either type of riding. Its will disappoint you on the road and off road."
Hence why gravel rides HAVE to have ROAD + OFF ROAD sections
"Scandal 29er, stuck carbon rigid forks, flat bar with bar ends and 1.75″ VeeRubber Rail tyres"
Did this too (except with 1.9" tyres) was a great bike to ride like this. dunno why I went and brought a gravel bike really ???
Even owning a Gravel Bike I'd still say a 29er rigid is the ultimate do it all bike. Drop bar bikes are just a bit less good off road, but Im originally a MTBer if I was more on the road side I'd probably say gravel .
I recently bought a gravel bike as a replacement for a crashed SS fixed commuter. I'm pleasantly impressed.
it's a green Vitus with apex 1x11 hydro and not that much heavier than my ali road bike. the tyres will handle rough stuff but don't feel that draggy - ok I've not been on a massive road only ride on it yet.
I'm firmly in the "I bloody love mine" camp.
Picked up a Whyte Gisburn, thrown some bigger tyres on it and treat it like a scary XC mtb.
Great for exploring and smashing out the odd road section. Have been riding my local trails (malverns) for years now and the Whyte has renewed my interest - mostly trying to tick off the descents - its way more capable than I ever thought it'd be.
Having 2 young kids time is a premium so find grabbing the Whyte the best option to get a good ride in as short a time as possible. Also really appreciate the mtbs when I get back on them 😆
I’ve never found an MTB to be that limiting on road or easy off road to be honest. Had pretty much every kind of HT, a gravel bike, Roadrat, Escapade, Day One, RAG etc. I’m now riding a Flare in 27.5 and can honestly say it’s fine for everything. It’s not even that bad on the road over longer distances. Just lock the rear and put more air in the tyres.
Pretty much my view. I just have one bike and ride it everywhere. It is better in some places than others but I enjoy riding it which is the primary reason I am riding. It happens to be the opposite of the one bike you chose which just proves that we all have different priorities. Mine is very much road focused as the gravel roads where I live are very compacted and not really much worse or slower than riding on the road.
I love the way the first two replies so nicely sum up my to-and-fro about a gravel bike.
Win-win vs two compromises.
When I think about 99.99% of my riding in the last 2-3 years, a gravel bike would have been the one-bike-to-rule-them-all.
For the gravel bike I want (definitely not 'need'), I can have an XC hard tail and a cheapish road bike so the decision was easy. When I'm next in a position to "invest" in a new bike it'll be harder to decide.
Good thread this, highlights that there is no single clear winner
Personally my gravel bike (Arkose) became my commuter, so in effect my comfy road bike. Does very light off road tracks and canal paths but generally avoid the mud if possible.
My MTB is a rigid 29er (original Solaris with carbon fork). It did the Dragons Back, slowly, at Coed Y Brenin on new years day and then did a 40ish mile trip on the weekend with Senor J, he was on a gravel/CX bike. He was definitely faster on the road, I had the edge off road
Rigid 29er is a seriously capable compromise, it's a kilo lighter than the HT version but capable enough to do some proper off road.
I'd be up for turning my arkose into an off road bike again but they would need another commuter! It has racks, guards, lock etc
I saw someone on a Mason on my commute this morning, had 2 inch panaracers on it and 1x gearing, looked blooming excellent!
I take the view that I want a road bike, but I don't want just a road bike. So a cross/gravel sort of bike suits me well. Having used a rigid MTB for the same sort of mixed riding, I'd say it doesn't really matter- it's a sliding scale of trading suitability at one for suitability at the other and everyone has a different sweet spot based on where, how, why they ride. I'd say, try some fast tyres on the solaris and break the cross bike free. Try out the type of riding- if you like that, you'll probably enjoy it on any of a fairly broad spectrum of bikes and you can buy the one you think will improve it most/you like the look of. If you find it boring the bike won't make it better!
This thread is really getting me intrigued... It's a big birthday year for me, so I'm now thinking of treating myself to a gravel bike. There's a lot of people making the kind of comments I'd make: I don't see myself as a roadie and don't have any interest in the latest weapon from Pinarello etc, but I'd like something better suited to 100k road rides than my fixed gear commuter and my MTB, with the flexibility to mix it up with canal towpaths, railway trails etc.
And as it's a treat, something shiny would be a bonus...
I have one gravel bike at the moment. Ride time is heavily dictated by my work load (at this stage in my career). So I often travel with my gravel bike and this gives me so many more options.
But even without travel it's the bike I'd have now for everything. My days of hooning it down an Alp are over (just not interested in it anymore), Still, it's nice to actually see the scenery these days 🙂
I have tried CX/Gravel bikes vs MTB over perhaps 3 years. Went from a rigid SS Inbred to an Arkose 3 to a 29er SS Fortitude then onto a Vitus Energie and finally to a rigid Stooge Mk1 (have 2 sets of wheels 2.2 29er and 650+). For me the Stooge has been the best of them all (the Vitus would be next in line). As somebody said above when it gets a bit rough the Gravel bike was awful, could ride it on many of the MTB trails I normally ride but wasnt that much fun. The Stooge is great everywhere, yes slightly slower on the road but I only use that for connecting the fun stuff together. I do have a FS for that last 10% the Stooge cant quite reach, well with me riding it.
Love the Stooge so much have stumped up early for the new Mk4, June seems a long way away...
I have done the rigid 29er thing and I have Gravel bike too.
My 2p, they are different.
Want a bike that makes proper singletrack fun but is not horrendous on the road, then a 29er with fast rolling 2.2-2.3 is your choice. Thing is any tyres that are not soul destroying on the road will feel sketchy offroad during the 10 months of the year our trails are soggy.
Want a bike that is good down shitty potholed lanes that are littered with field runoff and gravel tracks but fast enough on the road to get you over "there" and expand your riding horizons, then you probably want a gravel bike.
I also have 29er with 140mm forks and I reckon between that an the gravel bike I have all the riding I want to do covered.
A big part of all of this is tyre choice. My Arkose 2 (1x9) came with 35mm tyres and wasn't that different to a road bike on tarmac but would still handle fire roads, singletrack and towpaths really well. It now has 45mm tyres on it and is very much an off road machine that does a bit of road but only marginally better than my MTB.
But i live by Delamere Forest so its perfect for making singletrack that would be otherwise have been a bit dull on the MTB really fun to ride.
A big part of all of this is tyre choice. My Arkose 2 (1×9) came with 35mm tyres and wasn’t that different to a road bike on tarmac but would still handle fire roads, singletrack and towpaths really well. It now has 45mm tyres on it and is very much an off road machine that does a bit of road but only marginally better than my MTB.
Agree and what I experienced. Had a fixed gear frame last year that could fit 45mm tyres so I put some on. It immediately felt more like an MTB and lost what I liked about it when running narrower tyres. It was more comfortable and faster on a few sections but I just didn't enjoy it as much. I actually prefer the sketchier handling of narrower tyres.
A gravel bike is definitely not a compromise, in fact quite the opposite where I live
Most roads aside from A roads, around me, are rough as and just downright painful and sketchy on my road bike. Whereas the gravel bike is a pleasure, it then has the bonus that I can jump onto any bridleway I fancy mid route and have a blast in the mud and if I have ridden far enough I can even go for rag around one of our local trail centres.
A standard ride on mine is: straight out of my front door 30-40 miles of rough coastal or moorland B roads, some greenlanes and as much gravel/bridleway as I can find.
I have done several long and fast road rides but being able to take roads that don't really see traffic, without puncturing, ruining wheel, or shaking myself to bits...
I bloody love mine and it has become, easily, my most used bike
My tuppence worth - when I'm on my MTB I am mostly overbiked, which is nice but everything is a little easy & it gets dangerous to push it to the limits.
On my gravel bike I am generally underbiked, this makes things much safer, a little scary & more fun.
a) don’t be an idiot and buy a 29er riding
b) don’t be an idiot and use your Solaris Max
c) don’t be an idiot and release the CX bike from the turbo
d) don’t be an idiot INVEST IN THE SHINY
I think the gist is really that going for a "gravel" ride doesn't need a "gravel" bike, it's too niche between the CX and HT to really be that much better than either in any situation.
I'm not saying don't buy shiny stuff, but I would release the CX from the turbo and go out for some nice long "gravel" rides on it. If you come back and think
a/b) this is rubbish I'm going out on the mtb
c) this is perfect
d) this is almost perfect, but I'd like more standover, wider tyres, possibly a more comfortable frame and luggage mounts.......... then get gravel bike (that fits your needs, because a Vagabond and Datum are nothing alike, but are both "gravel" bikes to somebody).