Gravel bikes exist because Mountain biking has got boring
- Thread starter Ming the Merciless
- Start date
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chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
My Kona is a good case in point, the steel frame is identical to a 90's rigid mountain bike frame and the wide flared drop handlebars add to the overall affect of riding an early mountain bike.
Gravel bikes as a term can encompass a wide spectrum of off-road capable bikes, from almost pure road bikes with clearance for slightly wider tyres up to 35mm, to bikes like mine, with clearance for tubeless 50mm mountain bike tyres and designed to be very close to a xc mountain bike in terms of capability. I've bought it, not just for the endless miles of forest tracks that we have here, but with an eye to bike-packing in more challenging off road environments.
Gravel bikes as a term can encompass a wide spectrum of off-road capable bikes, from almost pure road bikes with clearance for slightly wider tyres up to 35mm, to bikes like mine, with clearance for tubeless 50mm mountain bike tyres and designed to be very close to a xc mountain bike in terms of capability. I've bought it, not just for the endless miles of forest tracks that we have here, but with an eye to bike-packing in more challenging off road environments.
OP
OP
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
But a commute doesn't need to be efficient unless the rider has a particularly long one and is trying to cut down how long it takes. I commuted for about 7 years on my mtn bike and whilst a road bike may have been quicker, I always arrived at work with a big grin on my face. I also had the option of some off road fun if the mood took me.
Milzy
Guru
If it’s only a few miles & it makes satisfying riding then fair enough.
currystomper
Guru
- Location
- Fife
I'm building one up based on an old Jamis Montain bike frame for Sustran routes mainly. I got a tire pinch on Sustran route though a forest and couldn't get traction on a grass/muddy section on another route. You could use a moutain bike, but I like a road bike like riding position.
It going to be an 3 x 8 mountain bike gearing and 700c 32 wheels/tires and is going to cost around 150 UKP + bits I have in the garage.
It post a picture when it gets more complete (after I finish the DIY I guess :-( )
It going to be an 3 x 8 mountain bike gearing and 700c 32 wheels/tires and is going to cost around 150 UKP + bits I have in the garage.
It post a picture when it gets more complete (after I finish the DIY I guess :-( )
ozboz
Guru
- Location
- Richmond ,Surrey
I had the choice of gravel or MTB, I looked at a few good gravel but I was not to keen on the riding position or handling on rough terrain , so I got a Lapierre Edge MTB at a to good to walk past price and have begun modifying and upgrading the components, first off was the suss forks , I’ve got Exotic carbon ones on it now , a massive weight saving , then hydraulic XT brakes , this weekend I’m fitting a 50t cassette, XT derailleur shifter also sealed bearing FSA headset , I’m looking at new wheels next year but not sure what to get as yet , it’s. 650b , my main use for it is commuting but I will be bikepacking next year , as well as a riding position that suits, I do like to go where I may take a fancy to and it’s ability with the bad conditions on and off road , up to now it’s cost under £800 all up and am as happy as Larry every time I jump on it ! , I have a carbon roadie but not keen on riding that in winter , and as it’s limited to road riding , I do find that a bit boring most times but ...,..do get a kick when I do a 60+ ride on it ,
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Gravel bikes exist because marketing types saw a profit opportunity. Period.
Bit like cars, horses, houses , clothes and the list goes on. Come on only a few of us are riding the bikes we grew up with, my old man sounded just like some of you lot and would not have anything other than rod brakes.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
But I've owned a gravel bike, so it's not curmudgeonliness.
chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
In Britain, in probably have a point. However, here in Germany we have miles of forest track that are great for these kinds of bike and are very similar to North America, where this concept was born. Yes, you can ride them on normal road bikes with 28mm tyres, but it's slow and laborious and believe me I've tried! Mountain bikes have now become so specialised, that they are overkill and boring on these roads. That's were Gravel bikes come in, like the video says, they mimic early mountain bikes that were not so far removed from road bikes of the time. I'm currently running narrow 38mm tyres on mine and a mixed day on roads and forest tracks is an absolute blast and no other bike would provide that same mix of speed and capabilities that a gravel bike can for the routes we have here.
In the summer I sold a MTB and never replacIed it, because I was riding my CX bikes nearly everywhere I rode the MTB, but there were one or two places I thought I was in MTB territory and there were a few places I was avoiding, so I have just replaced it with a N+1 MTB, a 29er hardtail, (as was the one I sold) I also have a 26" inch wheeled rigid MTB with Cantis, that I enjoy riding on the trails, but if it ever stops raining I am looking forward to a bit of rougher stuff on the MTB.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I found that in every environment I used my adventure bike was inferior to the correct bike for the conditions. It was the SUV crossover or the cycling world - sub optimal at everything, master of nothing.
