Why Does EVERYONE Suddenly Want A Gravel Bike? 

I think it's popular because it's pulling in people from both the road scene and mtb xc scene. It sits nicely in the middle of the two and covers most of the types of cycling the average rider does that being some road and gravel forest tracks. They are more comfortable than a road bike, lighter than mtb and are fast and easy to ride. I'm a big fan.

I have been a road rider for decades. But in recent years ( here in the States) it seems car drivers have become more aggressive. Bought a "proper" gravel bike 4 years ago and love it. No cars out in the woods. Not that many people either. Oregon is a great place for riding gravel. Thanks for another fine video.

100% agreed!! A year ago I did some kind of experiment: just rid off all my bikes and get a gravel as a all purposed bike. With a extra pair of wheels (28c to hang out with my roadies friends and 35c gravel tires for solos and grand fondos) I must say it covered 99% of my needs....

I think you nailed it. You're riding on the road and see a trail you want to explore. Gravel bike does both well enough, so it wins for people who want exploration and adventure.

I never saw the marketing. But I moved to Oakland and my road bike with skinny little tires just didn’t feel right riding on worn out city streets full of cracks and potholes. I picked up a 2012 Specialized Crux this week and had my first ride today. I’m in love! It felt so sturdy and confident even on horribly cracked asphalt. I love that it still feels like a road bike, with the racing style riding position and drop handlebars. And unlike my road bike, it has disk brakes!

Last Saturday I’ve tried my first gravel bike. And I was amazed by it! After many years of road bikes, using 23 mm tires, the experience with the gravel was very comfortable, without compromising the road bike pedaling position and riding dynamic. And I could ride on tracks which I wouldn’t dare to with my road. Strongly recommend to all bikers.

In 2018 I bought a cyclocross bike that was marketed as "Could also be a Gravel Bike". It has an alloy frame and is a little more stiff than a designated Gravel bike.I'm quite happy with it, especially when I have to enjoy our rotten German roads and cycle paths. Catching up with a road bike for long time might also be a little exhausting - at least for me - 🙂. I'd say this is not only due to the tires but also because of the more stretched sitting position on my cyclocross bike.

Longer wheelbase, bigger tires that make for the most comfortable ride on a road bike, relaxed geometry, off road capability, most models can fit racks and mudguards, great for bike packing, what is not to like about a gravel bike. Oh yeah...the fact that the bike industry has gone crazy again, as they usually do when they find a new thing to sell us, and at the extreme end of gravel bikes are basically trying to sell us 90's mountain bike concepts like suspension stems and 50 mm suspension forks. The Arkose is an excellent example what a gravel bike should be. If you need suspension and a smoother ride the better option is a mountain bike. Sorry for the rant Leonard. 😁

As I've aged the average speed isn't so important anymore and the condition of the roads (along with the increased traffic) has led me to seek solace more off road these days. Being able to ride the country lanes as normal, then venture on to a track is a lot more interesting and relaxing. With this in mind I finally purchased a gravel bike late last summer after years of thinking they they were just a gimmick! I haven't ridden my carbon framed bikes in about a year as they just aren't any fun now as I found I was spending too much time looking at the road surface and trying to avoid all the pot holes. Life's far nicer now I have more freedom to roam.

I also got a Gravel Bike during Covid. To me, it is a bit slower than my road bike on the road, but the Gravel Bike allows me to ride much more varied terrain. I have tried riding my Road bike on gravel and it's a bit sketchy but the wider knobbly tyres on the Gravel bike give me more confidence and stability on loose surfaces. Horses for courses so the Road bike for paved surfaces and the Gravel bike for, well, gravel.

I think gravel is the best thing to happen to cycling. Definitely more accessible and inclusive than road riding.

I live in California. Gravel trails are appearing where a trail didn't exist. Now, there are more and more gravel group rides and this makes it more enticing to buy one. I'm a roadie, but I will buy a gravel next year😁

I bought a gravel bike last year to use for my winter work commute instead of a heavy mtb. I found it ideal to be honest, it was lighter and faster but still had that ‘grippy tyre’ confidence of the mtb. And one particular plus is I’m back on the road bike this week and flying to work after a winter of using a heavier bike.

Before I bought a gravel bike I was riding my cycle cross bike on the gravel roads and on some mountain-bike trails.

Hi Leonard, love the content of the channel. I purchased a gravel bike last spring and it is by far my favorite bike to ride. In terms of enjoyment it beats my road, mountain and tandem bike.

Leonard, I think you made a wise purchase. I was a road rider for years, but when the pandemic struck, and we were encouraged to ride more locally, I thought maybe I should check out the trails. As it happened, I had an old (vintage) CX bike, that was shod in road tyres, as well as a hardtail MTB. On both of these bikes, I discovered a whole network of wonderful local traffic free trails. I now ride trails almost exclusively. My CX bike now has 38 mm knobbly gravel tyre, which is sadly the max tyre size you can get on a CX bike. So,I may have to invest in a gravel bike too!

I applaud your honesty about the cheap gravel bike! Especially as not sponsored. Would like to see you take some offroad adventures on it come summer. I tend to think spending on clothing makes sense given the weather we often get in the UK. Was pleased to hear the cheap gravel bike performed well.

I agree about the speed. I bought a Kona Rove DL last year and was surprised at how well and easily it moved on the road after not riding for well over 20 years.

Another interesting video Leonard. Something which may also be of consideration to those who like me own an older classic road bike (with modern components) with rim brakes, is that in wet conditions I reach for the gravel bike as it has disc brakes which makes a huge difference in stopping confidence on my hilly Devon lanes. Also I am surrounded by many unmaintained roads with pot holes and rough surfaces which I feel the gravel bike is more suited for and I am more confident on it.

Just one more point. I think modern gravel bikes resemble early MTBs when single track riding was more popular that shredding down hill on full suspension monsters. In fact converting and old MTB to a gravel set up can be a fun pastime.

I ride in the states and I think a gravel bike is the perfect because the roads here make you feel like your on an adventure.

Yeah, I agree too, my Fairlight Secan is just a fantastic steel gravelbike. And like you said, they are not slow at all, I ride my Secan with 650b x 48mm tires by Rene Herse, super plush but fast, great fun to ride! And so versatile, I do road rides but mix it up with gravel tracks whenever I come across those. And I am even considering touring in the UK fully loaded on it too..... All the best Leonard!

Great explanation and cleared up the differences very well. Your spring looks wonderful as always and ours in some parts of Canada will be here in about four weeks.

My Giant Roam 2 is great for the road and gravel. It was only about £700. I often cycle a gravel path to Loch Ness. It's pretty comfy too. I also got a Trek FX3 for £775 for the road and that bad boy flies in the city. It's nice and light and very nippy. I kind of like having two bikes myself - so if I ever get a puncture I can still get to work without cursing lol :) I've been caught out with the morning puncture many a time. But that's just me!

Luckily for me there are a couple hundred miles of gravel roads near my home that I ride regularly. And for years now I've been using a gravel bike as my winter and bad weather bike.

I’ve been a vintage road bike kind of rider but did get a gravel bike because I was curious, and being able to GET AWAY from traffic and oblivious pedestrians and take not so popular paths has really converted me. I won’t get rid of my road bikes but any bike I buy in the future HAS to be able to handle gravel roads as well.

With you 100% , I got a gravel my first “proper” bike for all the reasons you mention. My all year round bike and as a larger chap seems more robust. We stick to the back lanes and the two roadies I ride with are considering getting one.

My 'gravel' bike is my 2006 Giant OCR 2, which has been and still is my commuting bike. Takes 30mm Schwalbe cross tyres easily. Has rim brakes that work as good off road as on. Mudguards and a rear rack...perfect. Wheels are team 35 Vision. Lots of fun on the railtrails etc around here.

Thanks Leonard, great vid. I have a Gravel bike and love it, it really suites my needs like you said I use it to run around on.

I love it when someone says "It goes without saying....." and go on to say it anyway!

The gravel bike is the crossover suv of bikes. You won’t turn heads anywhere but you know in your heart it’s the only ride you need.

I love my gravel bike since I don’t like riding my bike on busy roads. Where I live we have a lot of trails that are both paved and gravel…so it works for me 😀

My gravel bike got me back to cycling again, love it. Built up a Sonder Camino Ti frame. I'm now moving to Oman for a few years and the bike is definately coming with me (along with the turbo trainer when it's too hot in the summer to cycle outside).

Agree with you about the weight. I had a cheap road bike and it always felt like it was going to crumple under me. Picked up my gravel bike and no longer have that underlying stress.

Count me in!! Gravel gang! Subscribed. Love the points you make and it makes sense eveytime.Thats what happen when you are an obejective person, thx for this content!

I’m 6ft6 and the Orbea gravel bike was the only one in the local shop I could fit on and was a reasonable price for the base model.

Thanks. I was under a rock for ten years. I had a "hybrid comfort" bike during that time. Its almost the same thing, but with flat bars, pannier rack, full fenders, and a cushy seat.

Great video Leonard. I was particularly impressed by your smooth inclusion of the cycling holiday reference. Coincidently, my band at school were called The Crusty Crud Monkeys...

As a mountain biker and had all sorts of mtbs for over 25years and love them but bought my first gravel bike last year and absolutely love it to the point that I haven’t been on my mtb for anything other than the bike parks

I will find out this fall when my first gravel bike is built cycling is the one thing I regret giving up

My 2006 Specialized Tricross has all features of a gravel bike, apart from the name. It has also eyelets at the front and rear fork for mounting carrier racks and using it as a touring bike.

I'm on my second gravel bike but bit the bullet and went for an Orbea again e bike and love it. I use the power only when I need it so believe I still get a good workout for a 66 year old. I use my Bianchi road bike mostly in the summer when I dont plan on attempting big hills.

"Smooth" plug. I laughed so loud when that part of the video hit. The wink sealed the deal! I am looking at a Domane but the Diverge gravel option is on the table too. Who knows...might see you next year in Italy. Keep up the great vids.

mental how I just ordered my first gravel bike and strait after I click on YT and I am greeted with this video. I'm hoping that my new bike rekindles my forgotten love of cycling. great video by the way 🙂

I also love my Gravel bike and twice on Sunday!!! Very versatile, use it in all weather and all year round! The road condition where I live is horrible at times and I like to cut through the forest so no need to worry about the terrain my gravel bike is so much fun to ride!

I got a gravel bike and ride it exclusively on road. It rides on bad roads, broken roads and rubbish roads. It tackles potholes and unscientific speed breakers without getting a pinch puncture. 1x drivetrain is easy to maintain. Geometry is relaxed and it is tubeless ready. I see Gravel Bikes as a practical road bike (which can also go off road Yay!) Considering how bad our roads are getting. I can jump onto kerbs, jump off kerbs and not worry about any damage. GBs are a win-win for me.

Late posting here, but really enjoyed the video and wanted to comment. In the States, another reason for their popularity is, I think, that the "rails to trails" type of trails are more often than not unpaved: gravel, crushed limestone, packed dirt, etc., is more common. These are wonderful trails, many without significant elevation, so perfect for many levels of riders, but not a fun ride on a proper road bike. Gravel bike manages them so well.

I am too old for jumps and drops, but I like riding off-road. I used to throw my old Trek Singletrack into my truck, drive to the park and ride horse trails for a couple of hours. Now I ride my Poseidon X to the park, ride the horse trails, and pedal home. I see road bike owners asking what’s up, but the mountain bike crowd seems to accept the niche concept just fine.

Me & the wife have only ever owned gravel bikes since giving away the MTB 10yrs ago & we enjoy the more relaxed position. We both completed the Coast 2 Coast in a day on the Specialized Diverge last year, albeit with Mavic Road rims with 32mm road tyres, #499/#500

This is my favorite video, Because it's all true, do anything, wear anything... ❤

Brilliant, thanx for sharing your view on gravel bikes.

Because they are insane fun. So much fun has been sucked out of cycling, these put the fun right back.

I’ve wanted one for a while but as I get older I get stubborn. Still want one but use my MTB for combined road and dirt road (which will jar your insides they’re so rough in places!) I now only ride the MTB because it is soooo smooth and lower pressure, less aggressive tires with Flat Attack or Slime offer protection against “goat head” thorns. Also I’m a solo rider in a rural area and find the MTB better for several other reasons. A wider tire gravel or hybrid bike would be as good or better though. If I was starting out now a gravel bike (or hybrid) would be my only bike! Enjoyed this video! Take care brother!

I’m not entirely sure how a ‘gravel’ bike differs, but in 2015 I bought myself a cyclo-cross bike. It was an instant game-changer for me. Unless someone has very specific requirements, it’s hard for me to recommend anything else as my bike is just so versatile & capable!

I bought a cyclocross bike about 20 years ago. I love it and now it would be called a gravel bike.

You are absolutely correct. Gravel bikes are the latest version of the original MTBs from the 80s-and 90s. That is what I have. Nearly the same geometry. The only major difference is that I am on 26" (559) tires instead of 650B. Potato/Patatto. Oh! I have V brakes instead of disc brakes. Mine are easier to maintain.

Well the roads in south australia are absolutely rooted,

bought a cannondale topstone 4 made it tubeless, loved the look of it as well as the colour, its my go to bike at the minute, the de restricted e bike and the full sus mtb have sat in the garage for last 10 months since i got it, rode a racer as a kid in the early 90s and loved it, its give me that feeling back again love pottering about on it

😂😂 'heaven forbid...your other half' I love that, especially as mine makes me buy bikes so he can feel less guilty about his guitars!

I live in Michigan. Our states roads are shambles. To many pinch flats on a dedicated road bike. A gravel bike smooths things out substantially

I totally love my Whyte Gisburn. Comfy, incredibly well-built, good acceleration, superb centre of gravity and handling, and it has opened up lots more routes to get around off road. I hardly touch my Giant TCR anymore as a result.

Thanks for great explanation. I live in Indonesia and been riding gravel bike for about a year. And I love it. it's budget alloy frame, 10speed, local made, but it suit the road condition. since many road around suburb, and even some in the city are bit rough for my roadbike. thanks again and have a great ride.

Because it is bike most folk actually need. More relazed geometry. Wider tyres. Mpurpose. Comfortable. Plus other stuff too. 🙃 can commute on it too.

I do want one, because I don't enjoy riding on dirt and gravel paths on my road bike with narrower tires (28s) (BMC Roadmachine-their more randonneur oriented road bike). It is next on my list. Probably an Open CDn or a Time. Glad your channel came up in my feed. I used to watch you surreptitiously on my work computer but I retired November 2021!

gravel bikes are like the basic trekking bikes everyone and their mother has but cool and goes fast

I got my gravel bike for fun and for winter use. It’s a BMC Road Machine. Ali frame, 1x and has mudguards. Used it in lots of situations even crashed on it on black ice. In winter my carbon bike is on the Kickr. And as you say, nice to have something that can explore the lighter trails.

Hi leonard, I bought a felt broam gravel bike because I've a touch of arthritis in my neck and the more relaxed geometry is a great help, here in Ireland the roads can be a bit on the rough side and the 40mm tyres give you a magic carpet ride , I don't notice any significant drop in average speed in fact on rough back roads I seem to make better progress as I'm not worried about damaging wheels as on my road bike ,cheers

Great point of view. I personally have 4 mtb's, converted 2 to e-bikes. One rigid mtb into a training road bike and a full suspension 3x9.

you got me with 2:34 :D well done, lovely video!

Years ago I enjoyed the old steel framed road touring ways before switching to MTBing. Afterwards deciding what I'd really love would be that love child you refer to, I found none. They hadn't hooked up yet, so I found myself on a hybrid instead. Steel frame-check, front shocks-check, touring tires-check, off road capability-no. And then the gravel bike craze arrived. So here I am pining for the fjords...and a gravel bike. I am sure one more bike would be worth it...gravel bikes do look like cycle perfection. Thanks Leonard, ATB.

I bought a gravel bike to go touring on. The intention is to be able to get off busy roads as much as possible and cope with moderate rough tracks. I think that this is the reason why Gravel bikes are popular for general riding as opposed to out and out road riding and mountain biking.

Another smoooooooth video, Leonardo! Well done humor!

Definitely marketing but it's something people wanted. As a commuter who rode a road bike for years, I heard people asking for what amounts to a gravel bike for at least the last 10 years. I saw people online and I knew people in person who wanted the look of a road bike and not a hybrid bike but also wanted something that could handle the steep and often deteriorating pavement conditions. People wipe out on road tires so easily when turning across muddy leaves and wet sewer covers. So those knobbier tires are delicious! Our town uses gravel to deal with snow and ice and often there are hazards hidden in the gravel that will pop your skinny road tires rather savagely. The lower pressures of wider tires are very attractive for that reason as well as the comfort. Plus, you get loads of mounting points for racks and fenders on most of them, which is a problem for my little old road bike. The favorites around here are Kona, Salsa, Surly, Jamis, Trek and Cannondale.

Gravel bikes are 90% of a road bike, but for real world riding. Swap aero wheels and you have a zippy sunday bike. Add racks for the big touring trip. Fenders and lights for the weekly commute.

"Smoooth" ... great humor! Loved it!

Great film Leonard!I bought a Cervelo aspero a couple of years back with two sets of wheels one for road one for general,I’m an older rider not bothered about speed ,I don’t even bother with any tech now as I felt the stats had started to consume me and ruin my enjoyment,I just wanted a comfy bike and that’s what I’ve got,distance goals are more important to me!

It gets me off the road away from traffic and also allows me to ride in the wind and and rain with more confidence.

I couldn’t agree more.I gravitate (I had to say it😅)to my one. Trek Checkpoint .Added mudguards and it keeps a lot of gunge off the frame,the running gear and when it’s wet out I don’t get a muddy streak up my back. It’s also the cheapest bike I own.If only I had bought it first.😂

I had my moment of madness last week and ordered an entry level gravel bike similar spec to yours to replace/supplement my 12year old Trek hybrid. I fancied getting a drop handlebar bike again but I'm not as flexible as I was so this seems like a good compromise without compromising the ride. Hill climbing takes a lot of effort these days too so, although it's 2 by 48/32, the gearing is not too far from my 3 by 48/38/28 hybrid. The lanes round my way are often single track and most are covered in crud from farm trafffic, 4x4s etc, wet mud in winter, dusty and gravelly in summer. There's also a lovely stretch of tarmac free canal towpath. All in all, I'm hoping it turns out to be the do it all bike I need and can't wait' til Tuesday to pick it up.

My Topstone is my Winter bike and then Gravel bike come Spring. Seasonal, best £1200 I spent I think, well it helps me keep my Summer bikes clean for Summer😁😉

Been riding "gravel bikes" for 2 decades now and I love them. I always just thought of it as a custom hipster bike though. Usually, I would find an 80s/90s road bike frame, put thicker tires/wheels than what I found it with, and boom I'd have a hipster custom bike, but now they're called gravel bikes.

I bought a gravel bike and changed out the handlebars to Jones loop bars. It came with wide 650B and skinny 700C wheels and a bunch of mounting points for front and rear panier bags. With 11 speed with a single chainring, it is a great do-it-all bike. It won't win any races, but it is as comfortable as a beach cruiser with the handlebars, rugged as a mountain bike and quick enough to be a decent road bike.

Hi Leonard, I have an Arkose Pinnacle 3 which I bought in 2014 and having put 28mm tyres on it after my first ride I have used it as my road bike ever since. I have a 29 er hard tail which I use for the bumpy stuff. I was out with a local group doing an off road night ride on my mtb, whilst all the others had gravel bikes, they we’re definitely faster than me but I caught up with them when they walked over some technical sections or when they got caught in the mud. I suppose it’s horses for courses, you would want a flat bred horse over a steeplechase but you might pop it over some hurdles to keep it interesting.

Wait aa minute, Road bike,MTB, touring bike, city bike now a gravel bike, just get on what ever you got and ride!

I got one a couple Of years ago love it use it for commuting very comfortable use it for bike packing in the new Forrest :)

You video style and quality is fantastic. PS: Good thing about gravel bikes that they are customizable.

I read matching the rim size to the tyre size matters in terms of drag. They have wider rims which keeps the contact area low for wider tyres. But still have the cushioning. Only drawback is more rotational weight and slower acceleration. But if not a speed demon it will likely not matter so much. Once up to speed they are pretty efficient. Even stiffness does not matter so much unless we are a racer pushing out 300w or above lol

I’ve been riding a 6:59 road bike all my life . I’m 64. I bought a gravel bike in 2021 and I don’t regret it! It’s a carbon frame and lightweight like my road bike. It’s more comfortable than my road bike and can take on the gravel roads here in the mountains of NH. Most of all it’s safer because I can stay off the roads more often and stay away from cars. Too much texting and sight seeing in the scenic white mountains which makes road riding much more dangerous nowadays!

I’m a 35 year racer and rider. Not a “35 year old rider and racer” but I’ve been in this game for 35 years. I didn’t think much of the gravel idea. But then I rode one. I bought mine two years ago, and it’s the only one I ride of my three bikes. I’m not going as fast as I used to, so the comfort of the bigger tires is a much nicer ride. Also, where I live the roads are shit. They’re almost as bad as a real ass gravel road. I love it. My bike is a Rodeo-Labs Trail Donkey. Check them out.

Great content Leonard, You have made me to buy one😍

Great bikes. I was very surprised at how well it handles off road. super light in comparison to my 90's mountain bike

I bought a 2019 diverge for purely the fit and comfort. I use 2 wheelsets, one 28 mm for road and 38 mm for gravel. I gave up mountain biking after 35 years and sold my mtb. My diverge is almost a go anywhere bike,even on some of my old mtb trails. Love this channel by the way!

"Some crusty crudmonkey"! Love your use of metaphor my brother in size🙂😀 Ive been riding commuter, mountain and folding bikes the past 2 decades but ive largely quit a couple years ago due to a bad knee and spoke/wheel issues on my bike. Ill likely trade my commuter for a gravel bike soon and sell the Mountain bike altogether. Incidentally: my last folding bike, a higher end Dahon never had wheel issues and did well in the gravel.

I like a CX bike for gravel. I have a Trek Boone with tubeless Schwalbe G-One 700x35mm tires. I can ride the weekday group ride and also ride a good mix of terrains with it. I do not need a ton of water and bag mounts.

It's one bike to do everything. It lets us roadies get away from the ever increasing menace of bigger cars and distracted drivers, lets XC riders enjoy some more speed. Bikes are expensive, living prices are going up globally and so having one bike that you can throw at most situations is a huge plus.

Just a Hybrid MKII, road bikes went down the lighter faster route, mountain bikes went down the more travel more gnarrr route leaving a gap in the middle. Yes I have one, yes I love it. 👍

I just got my Trek Checkpoint SL5 a few weeks ago. I'd been riding a hardtail mtb for the last 3 years. My riding is 95% on roads and bike paths. I did 1550 miles last year. I finally realized I'd been using the wrong tool for the job I was doing. I've been out a bit on the new bike and it's like night and day. Lighter, faster, quicker. I can go in the dirt if I want, but can still roll quicker on the roads.

For a good few years i had an alloy cross bike that got used more and more with the road bike reserved for high days and holidays. Then some fiend put a Cervelo Aspero in a shop window and now the road bike is barely used at all. I can attest that it is bomb proof.

I too bought one. I hated it and was lucky to offload at a price more than I paid for it. The issue I had was that it was a compromise in all conditions. It was too twitchy off road and like a Land Rover on roads, slow and noisy. I did find a few good gravel routes but they involved driving to the location. Riding on road with gravel tyres was just irksome. I don’t miss it at all.

You need more gravel bike vids… love ya stuff, motivation for us all :)