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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00:00Most people by now have heard the proverb that the perfect number of bikes to own
00:04is n plus one. But while a full stable certainly does have its delights, many of us are in a
00:10situation where we really need n to equal one. Which raises the question, what sort of bike
00:16should that single one be? Well, with such a range of riding out there available to be enjoyed,
00:22versatility surely has to be key. And for that reason, we think a gravel bike is the perfect
00:28choice. Here are seven reasons why. We often hear that gearing is the number one concern
00:40riders have when deciding their next bike purchase. Specifically, whereas a gravel
00:44gearing will be too small for riding on the road. However, whereas you're after a super low range
00:50for winching your camping gear and cooking pots over unpaved climbs, or if you're looking for
00:55the reliability and simplicity of a one by drivetrain, you'll be able to find an option
00:59that will work for you on a gravel bike. Both SRAM and Shimano offer one by 11 options best
01:05suited for razzing around the trails and roads. The relatively large chain rings that are generally
01:10spec'd don't deliver low enough gears for long distance hauling, but will allow you to tap out
01:15a handsome pace on the road. But for a setup that dips well below a one to one ratio, you can find
01:22plenty of options with Shimano's two by GRX group sets. The 10 speed versions offer the biggest
01:27spread and the widest available cassettes a whopping 11 to 36 teeth. But with that said,
01:33the two by 11 group set still offers a really wide 11 to 34 cassette. If you have a bit or maybe a lot
01:41of cash to spare, the SRAM AXS electronic group set allows for road shifters to be paired with
01:46a mountain bike cassette, providing a colossal spread of gears while retaining the shifting
01:51simplicity of a one by setup. If you're still confused, be sure to check out the video we made
01:57on gears recently on our channel. Get the setup right and gravel bikes are certainly no slouch
02:08on the tarmac. Putting a set of slick racy tires such as the Conti GP5000s or some Schwalbe Pro1s
02:15can deliver a real boost to your speed. Add in a set of deeper section wheels and ticking along
02:20at 30 kilometers an hour plus becomes quite a natural pace to hold. What's more, a few low-cost
02:26changes to your cockpit can help keep your drag down too. A negative rise stem can help put you
02:32in a lower position similar to what you'd have been on a pure road bike and a set of flared bars
02:36can help keep you narrow and aero when on the hoods with your arms bent at 90 degrees, while still
02:41giving you a wider and confident position when on the drops for tackling technical off-road terrain.
02:47A little thought about your position on the bike and these few tweaks can have you more aero on a
02:51gravel bike than someone on a road bike with a set of wide bars and a whole stack of spacers
02:56under the stem. More so than frame material or any set of components, it is the geometry of a bike
03:07that determines its character. Although a gravel and a road bike frame might look fairly similar at
03:13first glance, the many little changes add together to make a huge difference in how they feel to ride.
03:19The shorter top tube and longer head tube of a gravel bike puts you in a more relaxed and upright
03:23position, but more substantial differences are baked into the frame of the bike. These include
03:28a lower bottom bracket, longer chainstays and a slacker head angle. These combine to lower the
03:34center of gravity, increase the stability and slow down the handling, leaving you feeling in control.
03:40Although originally designed for bikes that are riding off-road and loaded up,
03:44these geometries pay dividends on longer road rides where comfort is a priority.
03:54A gravel bike opens up riding on off-road trails and single track is also going to be
03:58significantly more efficient on the road than a mountain bike. This means you're not prevented
04:03from putting in larger loops on the road and exploring those areas a little further from home.
04:08Gravel bikes also have a welcome effect of smoothing out those rough lanes that have fallen
04:13into disrepair. And when you do hit the smooth stuff, you'll appreciate the silky ride just as
04:18much as on a thoroughbred road bike. You'll still get that same happy burst of speed that comes from
04:23a freshly surfaced road.
04:30Gravel bikes and bikepacking go together like coffee and cake. Generally, coming with all sorts
04:35of mounts and bosses means that should you decide to head off on your own adventure, a gravel bike
04:40will be ready and willing to be loaded up. These mounts don't have to be utilized for every ride,
04:45keeping the bike essentially as lightweight and playful as if it came without them. But the point
04:49is that the capacity is always there, ready and waiting, but as part of a bike that is fun to ride
04:54day to day. In comparison, an endurance road bike typically doesn't have quite the same number of
04:59mounts and the narrower tires aren't quite so comfortable for spending a long day out on the
05:04bike. A gravel bike blends the speedy pep of a road bike with the packability of a tourer.
05:15Following on a bit from the potential for attachments, gravel bikes also tend to come
05:19with other practical knobs such as mudguard mounts. For group rides in the winter months,
05:24when a bit of company really helps, a curving set of fenders will keep both you and the people
05:29you're riding with significantly cleaner and drier, making everyone happier. The huge tire
05:34clearance offered by gravel bikes also means that you can generally still fit in pretty wide tires,
05:40even with the mudguards, providing extra grip and comfort on wet and broken winter roads.
05:45In comparison, a cyclocross bike might be able to perform similarly when it comes to the terrain
05:51that can be ridden, but a gravel bike, with its plethora of mounts, just has that bit more
05:56versatility. Finally, it's worth considering this. By spending more money on just the one bike,
06:07you can get yourself better components and a better frame, making for a ride that is far
06:12superior in its quality. Why split your money when, for the same price as two bikes with
06:17mechanical disc brakes and a run-of-the-mill frame set, you can get a hydraulic setup and
06:21a rather more boutique frame, combining for an excellent ride which will be appreciated
06:26no matter the surface. It's a lot more satisfying to ride quality every time,
06:31even though the bike might not be solely designed for that purpose.
06:35So there you go, seven reasons you could use a gravel bike as your only bike. Have you got
06:41some thoughts on the matter? We're sure you do. Make sure to leave them in the comments section
06:46below. In the meantime, do give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.