What Is A Gravel Bike?

Many cyclists spend much of their driving time on the pavement. It is tempting to take that side road or follow that interesting road, but a road bike is not made for that. Mountain bikes are excellent in really difficult terrain, but gear changes and driving position do not adapt to fast road use.

The gravel bike (or adventure bike) is the ideal solution. At first glance, these bikes look a lot like road bikes, most have drop handlebars, but there are differences:

Frame: The frame geometry is carefully modified to be shorter than that of a road bike, with a steeper angle of inclination, but not as extreme as a mountain bike. It balances the need for straight-line performance with off-road maneuverability.

Tires: The tires are wider, with a deeper tread, to provide extra grip on loose surfaces.

Position: the driving position is a bit more vertical.

Balance: the pedal lever is closer to the ground, which reduces the center of gravity and improves balance.

The result is a bike that can still ride fast on the road that also has the ability to drive gravel lanes and dirt roads. For most of us, it is the type of adventure that is much more common, and more accessible, than the nearest mountain.

Hybrid bicycles are a similar idea, but they focus on comfort rather than sport. You will still have many gears to handle different driving conditions, but the driving position is much more vertical, and there is more padding in the saddle. The tires are for roads, with a limited trail capacity. The hybrids are designed for the most cunning in the city who like to take a walk in an urban park or along the river from time to time.

Characteristics Of The Gravel Bike To Consider

A modern gravel bike can incorporate many different materials and technologies. Let’s see how each affects your choice.

Framework

Frames are often a unique treatment for everyone. On cheaper bicycles, you will mostly see words like “adult” or “teenager.” The best gravel bikes offer a variety of frame sizes. If you travel regularly, and particularly if you ride more than a few miles at a time, it is important to obtain the appropriate size frame for your height. If you don’t, not only will you feel uncomfortable, but you also won’t have the balance and control you want on loose surfaces.

The gravel bike frame can be made of steel, aluminum or carbon fiber.

The frames of steel are the cheapest option. Chromed steel is a lighter chromium and molybdenum alloy than common carbon steel and allows bending. These frames are strong and will withstand many hits, but they are also quite heavy.

The frames aluminum are much lighter than steel, an advantage both on and off the road. Aluminum is not as strong, but its weight advantages are such that it is the most popular frame material for both mid-range and high-end gravel bicycles.

Carbon is incredibly light and can be immensely strong, but it is expensive and not necessarily durable. It is very rigid, so impacts can cause stress fractures and, in extreme cases, even break. Carbon gravel bicycles do exist, but it is much more common in high-end road bikes, where impact is generally not a consideration.

Composite: Increasingly common in mid-range and high-end gravel bikes are composite frames in which different materials are used at specific points, especially around the lower support (where the crank spindle fits). These sections are designed to increase impact resistance, almost as a form of suspension.

Wheels and tires

When it comes to wheels and tires, the options can be confusing, especially the sizes. Unfortunately, our research shows that there is no real standardization in terms.

Gravel bikes for children often indicate tire size in inches: 24 inches is common.

Adult gravel bicycles sometimes use inches, but more often they use expressions such as 650b, 700 or 700c.

650 wheels have 26-inch diameter wheels.

650b means 27.5 inches (the confusion is because 650b is a measure that includes the tire).

700 sizes range from 27 inches (wheel only) to 29 inches (includes tire).

So how do you decide which one is the best? Although you will find numerous wheel and tire combinations, these are the most common we found:



700 wheels with 40 mm tires: the larger wheel offers more stability in a straight line. The smaller tire means you have less contact area, so you’ll go faster with the same amount of effort. This is a biased configuration towards the use of the road.



650 wheels with 47 mm tires: the smallest but thickest tire means more off-road comfort. You will also have more grip. In most cases, you will have less punctures with a thicker tire, as it absorbs more impact. This is a skewed configuration towards the trail riding.



There are many more 700 gravel tires than 650. Unless you are a long distance engaged adventure rider, the 700 is probably the easiest option. Of course, it is always possible to change the wheels later, and some enthusiasts have a pair of each.

Tubular or tubeless tires

While most gravel tires are still tubed , cameraless variants are becoming popular. These tires cannot be placed on all tires, and they are more expensive, but they are less prone to punctures. You can also get tire sealants to repair your tire without a camera on the spot, or fill them out previously; You may never realize that you had a flat. That could be a great benefit if you travel at any distance.

Brakes

You will find caliper (edge) brakes in hybrids, but most gravel bicycles have disc brakes for superior braking power. These are operated by cable or hydraulically.

Hydraulic brakes seem to be the most cost effective option, and have more “feel” of braking. However, with cables it can work much less and, unless you are a competitive cyclist, you are unlikely to notice much difference.

Carbon forks: reduce the weight of the front, which facilitates the rotation, especially in gravel and dirt.

Saddle posts: These have become surprisingly complex: not only does it have carbon options to save weight, but now it also has dropper seat posts that are pneumatically activated so you can change the seat height while driving.

Seats: The seats tend to offer more padding and springs than the razor blades found on some road bikes, but are not necessarily luxurious. The accessories are universal, so it is a simple change if you want a little more comfort.