No one rides their MTb to the trails. They are so overbiked on asphalt they go like 9 mph. So people drive their pick up trucks thus losing total time in the saddle training.
I think the controversial take here is that gravel bikes are essentially pointless. They're heavier, you don't need that ridiculous flaired 46cm handlebar, the tyres at 32mm are wide enough for most gravel roads and the 1-by is also simply not needed and is actually a negative.
I did a test ride on the BMC Kaius and its insane, its feels like a roadbike but is super compliant over rough terrain. Seems like the best thing but that price....
agree disc road bikes are basically gravel bikes with the tyre clearence, discs and lower gearing... You wouldn't of been able to use a road bike from 2010 on that course that says road bikes have become more like MTBs...
They don't really sell road bikes anymore, so what do you expect? A road bike is a bike with rim brakes and narrow tire clearances; a gravel bike is a bike with disc brakes and wide tire clearances. All 'road bikes' currently offered by big name brands are simply gravel bikes being labeled as road bikes.
How long will the gravel bike craze last? How many gravel bikes will be sold to people who will never ride on anything but pavement? How many people will buy a gravel bike and not like it because it’s not as good on pavement as a road bike?
The Jeep trails and forest service roads we ride around here are best done on 45mm+ tires. Hopefully next year they get more adventerous with their course selection.
A lot of riders use road bikes on gravel. The road bikes got more beafy. Nowadays you can put 32mm wide tires on a road bike and roll on low pressure. Older road bikes made for 23mm tires. If you aren't riding aggressive, you are good with 28mm.
Marketing win - they can now try to increase sales by saying if you want to race gravel seriously then you need a road bike capable of fitting fire tread cross tyre, a gravel bike with clearance for a 42 tyre and possibly an even more extreme gravel bike or XC mtb for very tough courses.
That's why multidiscipline riders are a bit plus for bike brand MVP can be used to sell Canyons Aeroroad, Ultimate, Exceed, Lux, Inflite cx, and if he rides a few other Gravel races a Grail and a Grizl.
I think that’s part of the fun of gravel is supping up a bike to the specs you want. I generally prefer a specialized venge with 38 mm treads and a wider aero superbly 1 bars. Any asphalt above 40% of course will encourage underbiking.
