00:00Most people by now have heard the proverb that the perfect number of bikes to own is
00:04n plus 1. But while a full stable certainly does have its delights, many of us are in
00:10a situation where we really need n to equal 1. Which raises the question, what sort of
00:16bike should that single one be? Well, with such a range of riding out there available
00:21to be enjoyed, versatility surely has to be key. And for that reason, we think a gravel
00:27bike is the perfect choice. Here are 7 reasons why.
00:37We often hear that gearing is the number one concern riders have when deciding their next
00:42bike purchase. Specifically, whereas the gravel gearing will be too small for riding on the
00:47road. However, whereas you're after a super low range for winching your camping gear and
00:52cooking pots over unpaved climbs, or if you're looking for the reliability and simplicity
00:56of a 1x drivetrain, you'll be able to find an option that will work for you on a gravel
01:01bike. Both SRAM and Shimano offer 1x11 options best suited for razzing around the trails and
01:07roads. The relatively large chainrings that are generally specced don't deliver low enough
01:12gears for long distance hauling, but will allow you to tap out a handsome pace on the road.
01:17But for a setup that dips well below a 1 to 1 ratio, you can find plenty of options with
01:23Shimano's 2x GRX groupsets. The 10-speed versions offer the biggest spread and the widest available
01:29cassettes are a whopping 11 to 36 teeth. But with that said, the 2x11 groupset still offers
01:35a really wide 11 to 34 cassette. If you have a bit, or maybe a lot, of cash to spare,
01:42the SRAM
01:43AXS electronic groupset allows for road shifters to be paired with a mountain bike cassette, providing
01:48a colossal spread of gears while retaining the shifting simplicity of a 1x setup. If you're
01:54still confused, be sure to check out the video we made on gears recently on our channel.
02:04Get the setup right and gravel bikes are certainly no slouch on the tarmac. Putting a set of slick,
02:10racy tyres such as the Conti GP5000s or some Schwalbe Pro 1s can deliver a real boost to your speed.
02:17Add in a set of deeper section wheels, and ticking along at 30km an hour plus becomes quite a natural
02:23pace to hold. What's more, a few low cost changes to your cockpit can help keep your drag down too.
02:30A negative rise stem can help put you in a lower position, similar to what you'd have been on a
02:34pure road bike, and a set of flared bars can help keep you narrow and aero when on the hoods
02:39with your
02:39arms bent at 90 degrees, whilst still giving you a wider and confident position when on the drops,
02:44for tackling technical off-road terrain. A little thought about your position on the bike and these
02:49few tweaks can have you more aero on a gravel bike than someone on a road bike with a set
02:54of wide bars
02:54and a whole stack of spacers under the stem. More so than frame material or any set of components,
03:06it is the geometry of a bike that determines its character. Although a gravel and a road bike frame
03:11might look fairly similar at first glance, the many little changes add together to make a huge
03:16difference in how they feel to ride. The shorter top tube and longer head tube of a gravel bike puts
03:22you in a more relaxed and upright position, but more substantial differences are baked into the frame of
03:27the bike. These include a lower bottom bracket, longer chainstays and a slacker head angle.
03:32These combine to lower the centre of gravity, increase the stability and slow down the handling,
03:38leaving you feeling in control. Although originally designed for bikes that are riding off-road and
03:43loaded up, these geometries pay dividends on longer road rides where comfort is a priority.
03:54A gravel bike opens up riding on off-road trails and single track is also going to be significantly
03:59more efficient on the road than a mountain bike. This means you're not prevented from putting in
04:03larger loops on the road and exploring those areas a little further from home. Gravel bikes also have a
04:10welcome effect of smoothing out those rough lanes that have fallen into disrepair. And when you do hit
04:15the smooth stuff, you'll appreciate the silky ride just as much as on a thoroughbred road bike.
04:20You'll still get that same happy burst of speed that comes from a freshly surfaced road.
04:30Gravel bikes and bikepacking go together like coffee and cake. Generally,
04:34coming with all sorts of mounts and bosses means that should you decide to head off on your own
04:38adventure, a gravel bike will be ready and willing to be loaded up. These mounts don't have to be
04:43utilised for every ride, keeping the bike essentially as lightweight and playful as if it came without
04:48them. But the point is that the capacity is always there, ready and waiting, but as part of a bike
04:53that is fun to ride day to day. In comparison, an endurance road bike typically doesn't have quite
04:58the same number of mounts, and the narrower tyres aren't quite so comfortable for spending a long day
05:03out on the bike. A gravel bike blends the speedy pep of a road bike with the packability of a
05:09tourer.
05:15Following on a bit from the potential for attachments, gravel bikes also tend to come
05:19with other practical knobs such as mudguard mounts. For group rides in the winter months,
05:24when a bit of company really helps, a curving set of fenders will keep both you and the people
05:29you're riding with significantly cleaner and drier, making everyone happier. The huge tyre clearance
05:35offered by gravel bikes also means that you can generally still fit in pretty wide tyres,
05:39even with the mudguards, providing extra grip and comfort on wet and broken winter roads.
05:45In comparison, a cyclocross bike might be able to perform similarly when it comes to the terrain that
05:51can be ridden, but a gravel bike with its plethora of mounts just has that bit more versatility.
06:02Finally, it's worth considering this. By spending more money on just the one bike,
06:07you can get yourself better components and a better frame, making for a ride that is far superior in
06:12its quality. Why split your money when for the same price as two bikes with mechanical disc brakes
06:18and a run-of-the-mill frame set, you can get a hydraulic setup and a rather more boutique frame,
06:23combining for an excellent ride which will be appreciated no matter the surface.
06:28It's a lot more satisfying to ride quality every time, even though the bike not be solely designed
06:33for that purpose. So there you go, 7 reasons you could use a gravel bike as your only bike.
06:40Have you got some thoughts on the matter? We're sure you do, make sure to leave them in the comments
06:45section below. In the meantime, do give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel.
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