Gravel Bikes?

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PK99

Legendary Member
Location
SW19
What is the difference between a CX and a gravel bike?
Many of the "gravel bikes" seem to lack rack and mudguard fittings which is odd in a non-competition "adventure" bike

In the USA there are many unpaved gravel roads unsuitable for skinny road tyres, gravel road bies have road geometry but wide tyres set up.
 
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User19783

Guest
I have a Genesis Croix De fer,
The bike comes fitted with 35 mm tyres , which are ok, but I wanted to go wider, so I brought a pair of gravel tyres at 41 mm wide,
The rear was ok for clearance, but the front, there was about 1mm between the tyre and the fork crown.
So I had to refit the 35mm tyres.

I might be now in the market for a new bike.
 
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Rykard

Veteran
I'm looking for a cross between my Scott mtb and the merida hybrid but with drops. These grzvel/adventure bikex seem to fit the bill.
 

LocalLad

Senior Member
Love my specialized diverge. It feels like a road bike, but I don't feel suicidal on gravel. I've taken it quite far off road and always felt fine (apart from when I 'met' the ground..)

It came with 30mm tyres, which I'm considering upgrading to 35 for off road adventures
 
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User19783

Guest
I am looking at this model, it fits the bill nicely.
Pinnacle Arkose Five 2015 Adventure.
 

tatr

Senior Member
In the USA there are many unpaved gravel roads unsuitable for skinny road tyres.

That is also true in the UK! If you navigate using Google maps bike mode it'll try and send you via every muddy footpath in the country.

I've just sold my road bike and bought a titanium kinesis tripster atr with two sets of wheels (35mm off road and 28mm road - the frame will take up to 40mm with mudguards).

Total weight is under 9kg (vs 8kg for my old bike) and it has the same riding position as before. I'm still getting PRs so I guess it's no slower - including uphill - plus I can take scenic traffic free bridleways and tow paths. Tow paths are great at 5 or 6am before any dog walkers get up :-)

Don't see any reason why I'd switch back to be honest.
 
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Gravity Aided

Legendary Member
Location
Land of Lincoln
Many of us in the States just use an older road bike that will take wider tires. Gravel bike events bring riders to places that never knew they existed, and that the riders never knew existed. A lot of them are held in Northwest Illinois, but we could have one here, as well. I think a steel bicycle is good for these, soak up a little more of the road features. I think a number of fellows like the older bicycles for their 27" wheels. As regards commuting, I generally tend to use a converted mountain bike with narrow 26" tires when crossing sketchy infrastructure (like my entire commute).
 

Twizit

CS8 lead out specialist
Location
Surrey
Hmm.. I do to.
Look ideal for a commute.
They look very similar to a pair of DHB ones I've got sat at home. Great for non-lycra commutes and a lot cheaper... although they don't seem to sell them any more. Baggy style but quite close fitting (on my thighs anyway...) and stretchy material
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
They look very similar to a pair of DHB ones I've got sat at home. Great for non-lycra commutes and a lot cheaper... although they don't seem to sell them any more. Baggy style but quite close fitting (on my thighs anyway...) and stretchy material

I have had DHB shorts for commuting. Nice and well made apart from they don't last very long.
 
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