For most riders, how fast/slow is a Gravel Bike on the road? | Comparison Test & Expert Opinion 

I've put about 12,000 kilometers on a Ghost Road Rage that I bought after moving to Germany. About 80% of my ride is on roads or bike paths. As someonewho hasn't really ridden anything but mountain bikes as a teen so long ago I absolutely love gravel bikes. I can cut through farm trails that road bikes cant even can't even consider. I can also keep up with my road bike friends when they aren't trying to set time records with ease. I just bought a Trek Checkpoint as an upgrade and a spare, I'll definitely keep riding bikes when I move back to the states.

After riding a Trek Marlin hardtail for 3 years I realized that I was doing 90+% of my riding on roads, and not singletrack. I decided I needed a new bike that was right for the job. I went back and forth between the Domane and the Checkpoint, but finally went with the Checkpoint. I have the same 2023 SL5 in the radioactive red. 3500+ miles later I'm still loving it. At the age of 61, and having been out of cycling for 3 decades, it does all the things I need it to do. I do realize that the rolling resistance is there; but I can always buy a second wheel set with tiny road tires if I really need to go faster.

Great video, thanks. After years of thinking gravel bikes were a waste of time, I have recently bought one and absolutely love it, on and off road. Just one thing, your professor needs to go back to physics class. No bike can be any faster than any other bike at 40 kph.

Great video. Very comprehensive. Thank you!

I've been MTB for about a year now and watched your Cypher vs Cypher RS video before buying the Cypher 120. And, as luck would have it, I am now looking to do some road riding and, hey presto, you have a video that's given me some insights. Been stuck debating the Road vs Gravel bike thing... this helps... A LOT! Thank you!

Great video - fantastic presentation and quality. I’m an average rider and I’m training for a full distance triathlon that bikes through the alps this June. I’m getting stronger and am looking to replace my 20-year-old road racer with a new bike. My basic goal is to finish: is it crazy to think about doing this with a new Gravel frame set with aero wheels and 32mm tires? How much harder do you have to work on the flats (which will be rather limited in my race) with a gravel bike given identical tires and wheels?

What size road tyres could the supplied Checkpoint take ? Could I put 28mm GP5000 TR tyres on these rims ?