MTB vs Gravel bike

[Benny Profane]

Basically a long ad for Moots, but, that's cool, amazing scenery. I want to go to Iceland.

[Groomer Gambler]

Actually, having both of those would be the perfect bike stable. Plus a cheap Craigslist bike for commuting as there's no way I'd lock a Moots outside.

[Benny Profane]

You have an addiction.

[mntlion]

so mnt bikes are good for mnt biking,
road bikes are good for road biking

gravel bikes are OK at road and OK at mnt biking, and kinda ok/suck everywhere.


such amaizing place to go.

[Benny Profane]

Yeah, I really don't get this gravel thing, either, but, any excuse to sell somebody another bike.

Nice scenery, though.

[babybear]

well it's sort of nice to have a suspension bike and a no suspension bike so that's sorta how I view it.
I have a mtn bike and a road bike

My husband doesn't like to road bike on pavement so he has the gravel bike for exploration, which he uses the hell out of.
But yea it's a bit gimmicky bc they basically used to be called cyclocross bikes

[plugboots]

MTB vs Gravel bike

This vid made me download Komoot.
If you did the Dirty Kanza, or lived near (and wanted to ride) a lot of gravel roads, you’d want a gravel grinder. Simply put, cyclocross bikes are twitchier, and designed to be shouldered.
Ti is definitely the material for gravel without a doubt, (sorry thesuit). The plus bike was overkill for that ride.

Edit to add GCN and its sister site GMBN are the best sites for bike reviews/comparison tests. Check out this for why you’d want a gravel bike. The gal who did this rocks, btw:

[Groomer Gambler]

^My 'gravel' bike is basically a steel cyclocross/touring bike that can clear a 42c tire. I've raced on it and I'm sort of amazed with the rough shit I've sent it down.

The gravel category makes perfect sense IMO. For those looking at mixed surface biketouring, gravel bikes are generally less money than full on mountain bikes and clearance for larger tires provide some cushion on rough roads. Dirt drop bars and more upright position (compared to road) I'd take my gravel bike for long rides any day over my mtn bike. Would I want to ride this on tech singletrack? No. But I don't mind hiking around. In terms of versatility and value I love the gravel-type bikes, even with the marketing BS.

[Groomer Gambler]

Not to mention riding this on a 40c 'gravel' bike:

http://www.bikepacking.com/plog/jay-petervary-silk-road-mountain-race/

[Benny Profane]

Well, if I lived in Vermont where 60% of roads are not paved, I'd probably succumb to this gravel thing. But, I don't.

[evasive_MT]

Yeah, as noted, the gravel category has slightly different geometry than a CX bike. Little longer, little slacker, little more BB drop. No reason you can’t use a CX bike for long gravel rides (my GF does) but since I’m never going to race CX, I was happy to have the gravel bike option.

[plugboots]

Well, if I lived in Vermont where 60% of roads are not paved, I'd probably succumb to this gravel thing. But, I don't.

Well exactly.
From Winthrop there are fire roads that cross all over Eastern/Northern WA, yet all the road bike rides are simple river valley out-and-backs. I’ve only ridden these roads before there were so many mountain bike trails, and when I was training for big races. I get bored climbing mile after mile on a gravel road, yet lots of people think it’s great. Lots of people are scared of cars, lots of people don’t have money for 3-4 bikes, etc.

[jamal]

My cross bike kind of sucks to ride on gravel because it has a steep headtube angle and high bottom bracket. Works great on a race course but riding fast on a gravel road gets a little scary. Bigger tires with some tread helps but a longer, lower, slacker bike is a lot more stable, and that is the biggest difference between a gravel and a cross bike. Although now, cross bikes are trending that way and tend to have more tire clearance so the difference is less than when "gravel bikes" were a brand new thing.

[HankScorpio]

Well, if I lived in Vermont where 60% of roads are not paved, I'd probably succumb to this gravel thing. But, I don't.

It took just a few weeks for me to get hooked on gravel riding here. On top of 8000 miles of dirt roads there’s countless miles of 4x4, VAST and smooth single track trails you can connect on a drop bar bike with skinny XC mtb tires.

On top of that you rarely encounter cars and the scenery is unreal.

I’m on my mountain bike almost all the time but when the trails are closed in the early spring and late fall, gravel riding rules.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[jacob_dbu]

I have a DB Haanjo gravel bike that I love. I like to ride for leisure and with some Road Plus tires it rolls pretty damn well on the road too. I don't race, so why would I want to put myself through riding chip n seal with 28c?