Rip Over Rocks and Roots With The Best Gravel Bikes for Touring, Commuting, and Trail Rides (2023)

FAQs

Rip Over Rocks and Roots With The Best Gravel Bikes for Touring, Commuting, and Trail Rides? ›

Gravel bikes are also good for bike touring because they tend to be a bit lighter than a dedicated touring bike. Gravel bikes are made of casual riding or racing, but also built to withstand rougher terrain. As a result they are heavier than a comparable road bike, but lighter than a touring bike or mountain bike.

Gravel bikes are also good for bike touring because they tend to be a bit lighter than a dedicated touring bike. Gravel bikes are made of casual riding or racing, but also built to withstand rougher terrain. As a result they are heavier than a comparable road bike, but lighter than a touring bike or mountain bike.

Gravel bikes are best for medium to long-distance urban commutes, and they are very good for those who need to ride on gravel or off-road sections. Their wheels can be up to 50 mm wide, which efficiently absorb shocks coming from road imperfections, crossing tram or train tracks, etc.

Gravel bikes are most similar to cross-country bikes, which are designed to cover ground easily and pedal well, while also being able to tackle smaller obstacles and trail features.

Gravel bikes are suited to riding in rougher terrain, such as in rocky, bumpy back roads or through mountain paths.

Are gravel bikes good for touring and long distances? Yes, If you ride a gravel bike that is adventure ready it can be the perfect bike for your next tour. These bikes often have a stack/reach ratio of over 1.5 and mid length chainstays, around 430 to 445 mm are ideal for a well balanced gravel bike for touring.

Some gravel bikes are actually decent enough to use as mountain bikes. But it is important to remember that not all gravel bikes are able. The majority of gravel bikes available on the market come with 45 to 50c tires and are not entirely capable enough for shredding your local mountain bike trails.

Gravel bikes are a type of bicycle designed for off-road cycling on unpaved surfaces, such as dirt roads, fire roads, gravel paths, and single-track trails. Riding on this type of terrain with a gravel specific bike is generally known as gravel riding or gravel biking.

Road tires can be added to gravel bikes successfully if you want to ride them on the road. A gravel bike with road tires will combine the sturdiness of a gravel bike with some of the speed of a road bike. A pair of road tires could mean you could commute on the same bike that you go off-roading on at the weekend.

That's why a gravel bike is more aero (in terms of frame and rider position), allowing you to ride big days, across varying terrain, with low aerodynamic energy losses. Mountain bikes are less aerodynamic, and the rider position is biased toward descending technical terrain.

Why a gravel bike is the only bike you need? ›

Gravel bikes are so incredibly versatile that some people say it's the only bike you need – this is because they're not just for hardcore endurance or adventure riders. In fact, they're a great choice for casual cyclists too thanks to their comfortable geometry and ability to handle a range of surfaces.

18-20 Mph would be considered a good average speed over a long distance on a gravel bike. Typically gravel cycling has two challenges, one is the difficulty of drafting relative to road cycling, and two is the increased rolling resistance due to the terrain and tires. So going 18-20 miles per hour is excellent.

Speed. A gravel bike will be faster on paved surfaces and gravel roads than a mountain bike. But, on the other hand, a mountain bike will sail downhill quicker when it comes to steep descents and rough trails. The speed advantage from a gravel bike comes from two things: It's gearing, and the rider posture.

When descending, move your hands into the drops, elbows still bent and relaxed. This lowers your center of gravity. Shift your weight to the back of the seat, and bend your legs to use them like springs that absorb the bumps and allow the bike to continue tracking in a straight line.

Some Drawbacks

Because of the extra weight and size, these bikes aren't built for nimble maneuverability and handling. That's why they don't do so well as commuter bikes, weaving through traffic and maneuvering twisting city streets.

A touring bike is built for long-distance riding on paved roads, while a gravel bike can handle a wider range of surfaces, including dirt and gravel. Touring bikes typically have a more comfortable ride thanks to their wider tires and suspension, while gravel bikes are more agile and can handle rougher terrain.

Absolutely not. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in, whether that's typical MTB, road or gravel cycling kit, other sports kit or even casual wear.

Gravel bikes are “jack-of-all-trades” bikes, said Kala Riester, a dietitian and cyclist in Salt Lake City. They have lightweight and compact frame shapes like road bikes for speed but also the low gearing of mountain bikes so you can climb steeper hills without working so hard.

Cyclocross Bikes

Cyclocross bicycles are a special type of road bike designed to be raced on a mixed surface course (combination of pavement, unpaved trails, gravel, grass).

If you find yourself in between sizes, grab the bigger one if you intend to do long or multi-day trips, the smaller one if you mostly are planning on short and fast rides. There's no reason not to own a gravel bike.

Should I size up or down gravel bike? ›

Go with the slightly smaller size if you value agility and performance. On the other hand, the slightly larger frame will be more comfortable and better suited to long endurance rides or bikepacking trips.

For all-round gravel riding, we'd suggest an 11-speed two chainring set-up with a 48/31 crankset and an 11-34 cassette, while a single ring 40t chainset with an 11-42 cassette gives a low ratio below 1:1, but doesn't give you the same top end gearing.

A gravel bike will typically give you a more upright riding position than road bike geometry, with a longer head tube and shorter reach. That should result in more comfort on long rides and also lets you shift your weight around to tackle obstacles and off-road descents.

The geometry of road and gravel bikes

Engineered to provide extra stability and increased comfort over distance, gravel bikes ride higher than road bikes. With an elevated bottom bracket, they have more clearance for uneven surfaces, and generally have longer wheelbases for improved stability over rough terrain.

With narrower and slicker tires, road bikes are much faster on Tarmac than gravel bikes but they are also limited in the terrain they can tackle.

Many riders, especially those who are new to cycling, have a misconception that road bikes should ony be ridden on pavement. But the truth is, road bikes can be safely ridden on all kinds of road surfaces, including cobblestone, dirt, and gravel.

Bike Choice: The route is about 65% on gravel and 35% on back roads. Most of the off road sections on the South Downs Way are chalky or grass. We recommend a gravel bike though a mountain bike will be fine.

A gravel bike is often a little bit heavier than a road bike, because it's built to be sturdier. So you might feel the difference riding with friends on the uphills, but it shouldn't be a huge deal.

Road bikes are slightly faster than gravel bikes over the majority of surfaces. On flat roads, road bikes will be be around 5% faster than gravel bikes, and they are between 9% and 12% faster on going up hills.

Gravel bikes will weigh between 8.10kg and 10.55kg on average. They weigh more than road bikes as they need to be a little more robust. Some components have to stand up to more rigorous riding. Wheels and tyres tend to be heavier than road bikes.

Are gravel bikes good for winter commuting? ›

The do-everything nature of gravel bikes means they lend themselves brilliantly to winter riding thanks to their ability to take fat tyres, space for mudguards and all-weather disc brakes.

To maintain a smooth gravel road surface longer, here are some tips: Slow down – ideally to less than 20 MPH. Minimize acceleration and braking (these actions cause more material to move).

Cornering feel: The rotational inertia of wider (and usually heavier) tires makes many gravel bikes feel sluggish compared to a good racing bike, especially when climbing or sprinting out of the saddle.

Average Speed on Flat Ground: 25-28 mph

The average speed for professional cyclists while traversing on flat terrain is 25-28 mph. The average amateur cyclist travels about 17-18 mph while on flat ground.

Recumbent Bikes

A recumbent bike allows you to cycle in a semi-reclined position, with the bike's pedals in front of you instead of underneath you. This bike style is a great choice for anyone who needs back or neck support or wants to reduce pressure on their knees.

Gravel is faster than trail

And it's this stark difference in speed that has perhaps helped define the design differences between modern gravel and mountain bikes. Not unlike a road bike, a gravel bike prioritises pedalling efficiency with the assumption that the wheels will roll over the terrain they're pointing at.

So, will bike prices drop? The price of top-end bikes is unlikely to drop in 2023, but we may see reductions in the mid-range.

A road bicycle is 10 to 30% faster than a mountain bike and is 15% faster on average at the same power output on smooth, paved surfaces. Riding posture, rolling resistance, frame geometry, and weight are the main reasons for road bikes being faster with the same level of effort.

If you're not comfortable riding on dirt and gravel or you're regularly riding singletrack trails, mountain bikes are the better option. The flat handlebars, suspension, wider tires, and mountain bike geometry give riders maximum stability, traction, and control.

Gravel bikes are renowned for their versatility. Even though some of them are designed with roads in mind, and others with adventure cycling, all of them perform well both on paved roads and dirt tracks.

Do you want suspension on a gravel bike? ›

Do you need suspension on a gravel bike? Gravel bike suspension is largely used for one of two reasons: either to add capability on more technical trails, or to smooth out high-frequency vibrations, improving comfort and reducing fatigue over longer rides.

Riding in the drops while descending is actually safer than riding on the hoods. Not only do you have a better grip on the handlebars, you also have a lower center of gravity which means more traction or grip on the road.

Gravel bikes are perfect for those bikepackers who are looking for long distance adventures. They handle perfectly on tarmac but also allow you to enjoy some forest roads and single tracks.

The only solution is to get a larger chainring(s). Depending on how much larger you need to go, you may also need a new chain. A lot of riders setting their gravel bike up for road riding worry about this, but my advice is to leave your drivetrain alone unless you are regularly spinning out your hardest gear.

Types of Bikes for Bike Touring

People commonly use road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. But there are reasons why bikes designed specifically for touring exist: They are purposefully made to be durable, comfortable and stable while carrying lots of gear over very long distances.

Gravel bikes are considered to be neither extremely fast nor too slow, and they are built to be that way. They are fast enough to travel quickly across a range of terrain, but they are not built for out and out speed like road-bikes.

Road bikes are slightly faster than gravel bikes over the majority of surfaces. On flat roads, road bikes will be be around 5% faster than gravel bikes, and they are between 9% and 12% faster on going up hills.

The ideal road bike suitable for gravel

Before starting the conversion process, it's important to select a road bike that's suitable for gravel riding. Look for a road bike with a frame that has enough clearance for wider tires, at least 30-32mm or wider.

For most cycle tourists, riding on mostly paved roads, 35c is a good width. Those looking to go faster at the expense of comfort can go down to 32c, but I don't recommend any sizes smaller than that. For tours on a mix of dirt and pavement, 40c is a good choice.

However, most touring and mountain bicycles use a 'triple' front crankset and 8 or 9 rear cogs to give you 24 to 27 different touring bicycle gearing. The rear cogs or cassettes that are suitable for touring bicycles usually have a 12 tooth smallest cog for 8 speed systems or 11 tooth for 9 speed systems.

What is the average speed gravel bike on road? ›

18-20 Mph would be considered a good average speed over a long distance on a gravel bike. Typically gravel cycling has two challenges, one is the difficulty of drafting relative to road cycling, and two is the increased rolling resistance due to the terrain and tires. So going 18-20 miles per hour is excellent.

Go with the slightly smaller size if you value agility and performance. On the other hand, the slightly larger frame will be more comfortable and better suited to long endurance rides or bikepacking trips.

Flared gravel bike handlebars

They give a wider, more stable position in the drops, which comes in handy on rougher terrain and when descending, and also provides a little more space between the drops for luggage. Flared bars vary in shape and degree of flare, from very subtle angles to the extreme.