Could A Gravel Bike Be The Only Bike You Need?
Most people by now have heard the proverb that the perfect number of bikes to own is n + 1.But while a full stable certainly does have its delights, many of us are in the situation where we really need n to equal 1.
Which raises the question: what sort of bike should that single one be? Well with such a range of riding out there available to be enjoyed, versatility has got to be key and for that reason we think a gravel bike is that bike.
Here are five reasons why!
Which raises the question: what sort of bike should that single one be? Well with such a range of riding out there available to be enjoyed, versatility has got to be key and for that reason we think a gravel bike is that bike.
Here are five reasons why!
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00:00 Most people by now have heard the proverb
00:02 that the perfect number of bikes to own is N plus one.
00:06 But while a full stable certainly does have its delights,
00:09 many of us are in a situation
00:11 where we really need N to equal one,
00:14 which raises the question,
00:15 what sort of bike should that single one be?
00:18 Well, with such a range of riding out there
00:20 available to be enjoyed,
00:22 versatility surely has to be key.
00:25 And for that reason,
00:26 we think a gravel bike is the perfect choice.
00:29 Here are seven reasons why.
00:31 (upbeat music)
00:33 We often hear that gearing
00:39 is the number one concern riders have
00:41 when deciding their next bike purchase.
00:43 Specifically, where the gravel gearing will be too small
00:46 for riding on the road.
00:47 However, where you're after a super low range
00:50 for winching your camping gear and cooking pots
00:52 over unpaved climbs,
00:54 or if you're looking for the reliability
00:56 and simplicity of a one-by drive train,
00:58 you'll be able to find an option
00:59 that will work for you on a gravel bike.
01:02 Both SRAM and Shimano offer one-by 11 options
01:05 best suited for razzing around the trails and roads.
01:08 The relatively large chain rings that are generally spec'd
01:11 don't deliver low enough gears for long distance hauling,
01:14 but will allow you to tap out a handsome pace on the road.
01:17 But for a setup that dips well below a one-to-one ratio,
01:21 you can find plenty of options
01:23 with Shimano's two-by GRX group sets.
01:26 The 10-speed versions offer the biggest spread
01:28 and the widest available cassette
01:29 as a whopping 11 to 36 teeth.
01:32 But with that said, the two-by 11 group set
01:35 still offers a really wide 11 to 34 cassette.
01:39 If you have a bit, or maybe a lot, of cash to spare,
01:42 the SRAM AXS electronic group set
01:44 allows for road shifters to be paired
01:46 with a mountain bike cassette,
01:48 providing a colossal spread of gears
01:50 while retaining the shifting simplicity of a one-by setup.
01:54 If you're still confused,
01:55 be sure to check out the video we made on gears
01:57 recently on our channel.
01:59 Get the setup right, and gravel bikes
02:06 are certainly no slouch on the tarmac.
02:09 Putting a set of slick, racy tires,
02:11 such as the Conti GP 5000s or some Schwalbe Pro 1s,
02:15 can deliver a real boost to your speed.
02:17 Add in a set of deeper section wheels,
02:19 and ticking along at 30 kilometers an hour plus
02:22 becomes quite a natural pace to hold.
02:25 What's more, a few low-cost changes to your cockpit
02:27 can help keep your drag down too.
02:30 A negative rise stem can help put you in a lower position,
02:33 similar to what you'd have been on a pure road bike,
02:35 and a set of flared bars can help keep you narrow and aero
02:38 when on the hoods with your arms bent at 90 degrees,
02:41 while still giving you a wider and confident position
02:43 when on the drops for tackling technical off-road terrain.
02:47 A little thought about your position on the bike,
02:49 and these few tweaks can have you more aero on a gravel bike
02:52 than someone on a road bike with a set of wide bars
02:55 and a whole stack of spacers under the stem.
02:57 More so than frame material or any set of components,
03:06 it is the geometry of a bike that determines its character.
03:09 Although a gravel and a road bike frame
03:11 might look fairly similar at first glance,
03:14 the many little changes add together
03:16 to make a huge difference in how they feel to ride.
03:19 The shorter top tube and the longer head tube
03:21 of a gravel bike puts you in a more relaxed
03:23 and upright position, but more substantial differences
03:26 are baked into the frame of the bike.
03:27 These include a lower bottom bracket,
03:29 longer chainstays, and a slacker head angle.
03:32 These combine to lower the center of gravity,
03:35 increase the stability, and slow down the handling,
03:38 leaving you feeling in control.
03:40 Although originally designed for bikes
03:41 that are riding off-road and loaded up,
03:43 these geometries pay dividends on longer road rides
03:46 where comfort is a priority.
03:48 (upbeat music)
03:51 A gravel bike opens up riding on off-road trails
03:56 and single track is also going to be significantly
03:59 more efficient on the road than a mountain bike.
04:01 This means you're not prevented from putting
04:03 in larger loops on the road and exploring
04:05 those areas a little further from home.
04:08 Gravel bikes also have a welcome effect
04:10 of smoothing out those rough lanes
04:12 that have fallen into disrepair.
04:14 And when you do hit the smooth stuff,
04:16 you'll appreciate the silky ride
04:17 just as much as on a thoroughbred road bike.
04:20 You'll still get that same happy burst of speed
04:22 that comes from a freshly surfaced road.
04:24 (upbeat music)
04:27 Gravel bikes and bikepacking go together
04:32 like coffee and cake.
04:34 Generally, coming with all sorts of mounts and bosses
04:36 means that should you decide to head off
04:38 on your own adventure, a gravel bike will be ready
04:40 and willing to be loaded up.
04:42 These mounts don't have to be utilized for every ride,
04:45 keeping the bike essentially as lightweight
04:46 and playful as if it came without them.
04:49 But the point is that the capacity is always there,
04:51 ready and waiting.
04:52 But as part of a bike that is fun to ride day to day.
04:55 In comparison, an endurance road bike
04:57 typically doesn't have quite the same number of mounts
05:00 and the narrow tires aren't quite so comfortable
05:02 for spending a long day out on the bike.
05:04 A gravel bike blends the speedy pep of a road bike
05:07 with the packability of a tourer.
05:09 (upbeat music)
05:15 Following on a bit from the potential for attachments,
05:18 gravel bikes also tend to come with other practical knobs,
05:21 such as mudguard mounts.
05:22 For group rides in the winter months
05:24 when a bit of company really helps,
05:26 a curving set of fenders will keep both you
05:28 and the people you're riding with
05:29 significantly cleaner and drier, making everyone happier.
05:33 The huge tire clearance offered by gravel bikes
05:36 also means that you can generally still fit
05:38 in pretty wide tires, even with the mudguards,
05:41 providing extra grip and comfort
05:43 on wet and broken winter roads.
05:45 In comparison, a cyclocross bike
05:48 might be able to perform similarly
05:49 when it comes to the terrain that can be ridden,
05:52 but a gravel bike, with its plethora of mounts,
05:54 just has that bit more versatility.
05:57 (upbeat music)
05:59 Finally, it's worth considering this.
06:05 By spending more money on just the one bike,
06:07 you can get yourself better components and a better frame,
06:10 making for a ride that is far superior in its quality.
06:13 Why split your money when for the same price as two bikes
06:16 with mechanical disc brakes and a run-of-the-mill frame set,
06:19 you can get a hydraulic setup
06:21 and a rather more boutique frame,
06:23 combining for an excellent ride
06:24 which will be appreciated no matter the surface.
06:28 It's a lot more satisfying to ride quality every time,
06:31 even though the bike not be solely designed for that purpose.
06:35 So there you go, seven reasons you could use a gravel bike
06:39 as your only bike.
06:40 Have you got some thoughts on the matter?
06:42 We're sure you do.
06:43 Make sure to leave them in the comments section below.
06:46 In the meantime, do give us a thumbs up
06:48 and subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.
06:51 (whooshing)