Reddit gravel cycling. So a little more flex in the sole, grippy soles, and uppers that drain and dry quickly are useful. com use same shoes for gravel and road riding? trying to purge some excess cycling gear. I’ve got about 5 of them. Just curious if any of you have been running larger tyres and different thread on same bike. Even though I ride my gravel bike almost 80-90% of my free time, it’s nice to have a bike that can ride on gnarly trails/single tracks. For a relatively adorable tire, Gravelking really seems to deliver handsomely. I've swapped between the two pedal types on ky gravel bike and noticed a significant difference in pedal feel with road cleats. Any recommendations are appreciated. Are there any good spots in or around the city (preferably biking distance but not a deal breaker) to do some off road riding? Thanks! I've ridden some well compacted gravel paths on the 28s and it was a ton of fun, and the bike felt great. Those surfaces vary so we may Used in good condition, even if it is 10-15 years old will probably be better than a new $500 dollar bike. Modern Gravel Cycling is a rehash of 90's MTB while re-reinventing older technology and bringing it to today's demand. Gravel bike vs road bike? (self. thinking of going down to 1 set of pedals/shoes for gravel riding and road riding. I have been out to Powerline and a bit of Snoqualmie Valley Trail starting from North Bend. My question is why do people buy two bikes instead of just buy a really high quality second wheel set for gravel with wider tyres/grip etc for gravel? I mean the change over is 3 mins, I’m a novice but could get that down to 2 easy with practice. They will be mounted to 26mm internal rims. Currently riding on a trek checkpoint ALR 5 stock tires , looking for some faster gravel tires I most ride 70% trails and… This is a great report! Thank you for making it. Think about the gravel you want to ride on: more rough/mountainy or Colorado fire road gravel. Please keep all requests for help choosing a bike to the weekly discussion thread. I used it for everything: gravel riding, road cycling, commuting etc. I ride the same gear for road, gravel and mtb. With it being a quiver of one you can get a 2nd wheel set for road tires and keep gravel tires on the other. is there any "things i wish i knew before i got a gravel bike" tips you guys know? No specific shoe recommendations but I have found that my gravel travels tend to take me well off the beaten path and I frequently end up having to hike-a-bike. What rim depth do you guys use? Im not afraid to do single track, roots, some bumpy stuff, over stones and such (maybe a little too much for my rigid bike), grass, gravel, jumps is the only thing i try to avoid. But I've had one gravel bike with a suspension fork and another with a suspension stem and they are definitely superior to rigid if you ride gravel more than an hour at a time. Both disciplines have shared or very similar bike components and the typical clothing may look identical. ideally would be nice to have one set of pedals and shoes for both. Otherwise, every producer has an entry-level gravel bike close to that price point. Like the title states, what is a good gravel bike (or vice versa) that has the similar geometry to a road bike? I’ve recently… I know gravel cycling isn't so much about speed but i'm curious to know what your average speed on your gravel bike is. If you’re only riding maintained gravel roads and aren’t looking to shred on a rigid bike, stick with a drop bar bike. I will be doing mixed road, am looking for a light bike and likely will be training distance. Often times, this question is asked on reddit and so far I've only been able to give a guestimate answer. Canyon grizl seems like another solid option. I want tubeless tires that roll well, have very good grip cornering on road, won't get trashed by rough gravel roads, decent puncture protection (I rarely have issues with flats a Gravel bike is a harder sell, while the form is beautiful, for a new rider that hasnt logged 1000s of miles it will be a less comfortable place to sit and enjoy, plus the closeness of the front wheel to the pedals leads to many a toe strike and that can be pretty jarring if youre not ready for it. I plan to run one set as my mostly commuter/dad bike and was planning to go with 700x38 GK slicks paired with some fenders. On the other side of the spectrum, there’s so much gravel and singletrack you can ride a gravel bike on, which will open an entirely new world of cycling for you. Muddy river banks, swampy stuff, deep sand, etc. My Kona Rove is the best investment I’ve made when it comes to the bikes I own. And as nice as it is, others For people getting into cycling, gravel bikes seem to be what “hybrid” bikes always promised to be but never were - ride on dirt, ride on road, ride where you want. Reddit for cyclists who enjoy riding and racing gravel Connect with us! discord Strava Garmin Connect General Guidelines Please follow proper reddiquette. Diminishing returns over $7k—just lighter stuff. Im pretty sure the little nick on the tyre A gravel bike is basically a road bike with significantly wider tire clearance and lower gearing. Considering buying a gravel bike from China through aliexpress or alibaba Wear whatever you want on top, but I like a cycling jersey for the storage and ventilation. Any ranks that surprise you? Domane above Checkpoint is surprising. I put a MRP Baxter 60mm fork on the stigmata (amazing fork and amazing customer service by Mrp) which can now take a 50mm tire up front but only 45 in the rear. I am enjoying my road bike. My wheels are 22 internal for reference, and from what I gather the Rove DL can fit up to 700x42. With winter fast approaching/arriving, what mudguards do you guys use on your gravel bikes? I have a carbon gravel bike for racing but when it comes to just going out and having a great gravel adventure, can’t beat the steel bike. I am looking at about 80% road use and 20% gravel use. I'll work on a version that includes sentiment (positive/negative mention) next. Thanks! 10 votes, 72 comments. Also, if you ride road bikes too, what's your pace on that? I just destroyed the front wheel on my gravel bike. If you’re going to be an amateur roadie and do KOM’s by yourself then buy a road bike. He wants a gravel bike but I think he would be better suited to a mountain bike (probably electric at that, though that might be too expensive). I've only used WTB Resolute and Panaracer Gravel Kings, and I like both. The Canyon Grizl 6 is really hard to beat at $1,500. My shoes are essentially the same for road and gravel, so it's not the shoe. To motivate myself to train regularly I signed up for a race (70 miles), which is in 6 months. Broadly, it’s a more practical and comfortable road Gravel saddle is a bike saddle. We also have no big box stores like an REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods etc. Basically, one bike can't rule them all. I have an Apple Watch. It is completely renewed and features a simplified naming system designed to help cyclists choose the perfect tire… Join the r/gravelcycling community and share your experiences, questions and advice on gravel bikes, tires, tubeless, nutrition and more. Recently, I've seen a handful of nice carbon gravel bikes up for sale with the owners stating they have moved onto a Ti bike… First of all, check what's the tire clearance of your current cheap bike frame. Like free ones you’d get at a race type hats. This keeps clutter down! Apr 1, 2025 · The Gravel Cyclist - #1 resource for all things gravel. 11 votes, 64 comments. Or maybe worse. One place that would be a difference would be brakes, though cantis or v-brakes probably would work better than cable disc brakes at that price level. Now im wondering which way i should go tubeless or not. Looking for any suggestions to the following points: Heart rate monitors What's the best setup? I've never used one for training so will be brand new to this. Gravel bikes are essentially hybrids for people with a road background vs. I don't have a use for these stems on my gravel bike. There are a lot of unpaved roads and trails, a few with water crossings, so I need shoes I’m able to walk a little bit On my gravel bike I don’t get as technical in the ascends and I really like the efficiency of the click pedals. Broadly, $2-3k will get you good aluminum gravel bike with nice components these days. $5k will get you electronic group sets with decent CF frame. I've got back into cycling after a hiatus of 30 years for fitness purpose. Hey team, I’m looking for a semi affordable gravel bike (no more than $1700). I find myself riding my gravel bike more on the road than my road bike, not for speed but for confort and versatility. I have an x35 equipped gravel bike (Argon 18 Subito E-Gravel) and have been happily riding it for 3 years now. For cardio I do about 10miles on stationary bike, long hikes/backpacking and skiing). are all fair game here. But now I have the comfort of bigger tires. The unifying element is the mentality!. Unless you race or planning to go full throttle on a smooth dirt path, what’s the point of these kind of bikes? It looks like an aero road bike with gravel tires. Gravel Calendar - Find a gravel event! 2 days ago · Gravel Bike Reviews, Ride Experiences, Calendar, Resources & More! "Vittoria’s new Gravel Endurance range is ready to make its market debut. Fire roads have become the norm. Can anyone help inform our discussion and maybe provide a bike recommendation, budget is no more than $3k open to second hand. A gravel bike is just a current branding zeitgeist — it’s not like there’s any legal requirement around these naming conventions anyway. Pros: both these tires have good traction, roll OK on pavement, and have excellent squish (important for us Clydesdales). All I see are something like 50/34 -- 8-11/34. I'm looking for tires that will be good for mostly road but can handle gravel and some XC trails. Good all purpose tires. Hardtail MTB vs Gravel Bike as a casual/fitness off-road rider : r/cycling r/cycling Current search is within r/cycling Remove r/cycling filter and expand search to all of Reddit Hello - I signed up for my first gravel race in July (68km, 1200m climb) and have not trained properly for a race before. Alternatively, you can make a new post on /r/whichbike, and they will be happy to help. Step 2 is to find some gravel. Budget from $500-$1500. Cons: both tires are a bit on the heavier side (important to some), and I have heard the WTB Resolute can be more difficult to set up tubeless. My contract is up end of July and I’m wondering where would be a good place to take my next contract that has a good biking community. Pearl Izumi Quest are great entry level bibs and I find the chamois really comfy because it isn't too thick or bulky. For folks getting into cycling who aren’t sure which way the hobby will take them, I think gravel’s flexibility is really appealing. cycling) submitted 4 hours ago by OneSpiritual2423 A question that’s probably been asked consistently on this thread - I’m an avid mountain biker looking to diversify my mileage using a lighter bike. I do 80 road 20 gravel I’m looking for a road/gravel style bike and I’m going between a Canyon, Lauf & Trek. MIPS would be My average on my gravel bike and my rode bike has been around 11mph, 17-18 kph. Thinking about Canyon but don’t know a ton about the brand. Some people drive BMWs and to them it’s worth the extra cost. Especially for some 20% gradients since the gearing is lower. I thought I needed a road and gravel bike but I recently downsized and only have my gravel bike. Includes a calendar of events for upcoming races and rides. Basically, road bikes with larger tire clearance. Even with some 2. Just open Amazon and find the absolute cheapest, made in a Chinese factory type hat you can and picture that. It’s fun, comfortable, and can’t handle all the demands that come along with having fun on gravel. Curious if there is anything that's within the city or right near it that is easy to ride to, especially something that's a bit more technical and not just a flat dirt road Big fan of the Prime gravel bar tape. Road platform absolutely a winner for getting the power down. It unlocked a massive amount of different route potential for me locally. curious to pros/cons of riding longer distances with a gravel shoe/pedals. This could eventually evolve into a useful resource for researching gravel bikes and might prevent some repetitive questions/general advice we see here. None are particularly comfortable. If your budget is $3K, and you don't have any or much cycling stuff, do the smart thing most people don't and budget for a bike fit, some kit to get started, tires, some basic tools etc. I am new to the sport, and enjoy road cycling with my cheap second hand bike. Maybe a tick more if it’s a short stretch. I want to get into gravel biking as there is a wealth of epic trails near me in CO, USA. I just installed some GK SS on my road bike, Heather that they're comfortable, confident, and quick on many surfaces. For combined gravel grinding and aggressive off road shredding the best of both worlds is a slack flat bar frame with drop bars, but you really have to know your geo and pick the right frame and size to make it work. I have a proper road bike and I recently bought a Colnago G3X gravel bike. Trying to find something affordable (1000$ range) which comes from the manufacturer with low gearing, but it seems impossible to find. I live in Seattle so hoping to get insight on how they Hey y'all, i'm moving back to Chicago in a couple of weeks and am hoping to keep up my new hobby of gravel riding. It will mainly be road ridden with the rare occasional gravel road/trail. bikeit! bike bikes bicycle bicycles bicycling cycling I was wondering if it would be better to have a gravel bike with a set of road wheels, or a road bike with a set of gravel wheels. If you enjoy riding, you ride a lot, and have the cash then We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Fantastic bike, have upgraded/refreshed it a few times over, used it for CX, gravel riding & racing, and plenty of road miles (35mm slicks are nice!). It's not for everyone. Looking for a city vibe but active and trails/ bike paths easily accessible ?! Any Hello Gravel Gang. Fitting this profile I lean to a helmet with some "aero" features. I love riding the trails but also want to travel longer distances quicker, for which a gravel bike would be perfect. Most popular Gravel Bikes on Reddit. So im loving my new gravel bike but i got my first puncture yesterday. For my gravel bike, I use shimano doublesided pedals (SPD + flat w/pins) so I can clip in or ride on the flat side in regular shoes. but i have alexrims boondock 7D’s and im looking to shave maybe 200-300 grams and better power transfer. Lauf is doing 20% off which brings their Anywhere model under 2k for carbon frame/fork, sram Rival & premium tires and I feel like thats a steal. Beside a bell and a red light on the seat post it is clean. It's likely a cheap aluminum frame with a basic groupset and larger tires, nothing fancy. I thought I would use this as the justification for me to upgrade to a better set of wheels. Reply reply littlep2000 • We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. I'm having a hard time differentiating between what a gravel bike is vs what a road bike is. In my oppinion a gravel bike makes a better road bike then a road bike makes a gravel bike. Pavement? Then think about components—I wouldn’t go below shimano grx 600 Find the best posts and communities about Gravel Cycling on Reddit I used to have a hardtail mountain bike but it got too small for me, since I've grown a lot in the past year or so. I have been riding 70-80% pavement on my gravel bike. Definitely will want to gravel race at some point so I would love suggestions! Thank you! All-road, crossover, gravel, monster-cross, road-plus, supple tires, steel frames, vintage bikes, hybrids, commuting, bike touring, bikepacking, fatbiking, single-speeds, fixies, Frankenbikes with ragbag parts and specs, etc. Is Lauf recommended and reputable brand? With the gravel bike I can have 95% the speed of a road bike but I've ridden many rides already that mix gravel, trail and road. It also doesn't help that on some sites "gravel" is a sub category for road bikes. so you I just moved up to Seattle from the Bay Area and I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions for gravel/dirt in and around the city. Gravel bikes transform well into road bikes…not the other way around. I have somewhat small budget of 500$ for a bike ($550/$600 max) so I was wondering whether its worth it to buy a flat handlebar bike and upgrade We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Hey all, as I turn my Stigmata into a gravel and gnarly single track crushing beast I am wondering about different tire sizes like with mtbs. That said, I'm in love with the smooth silent efficiency of the Ultegra groupset and though the tires can be made gravel-worthy, I'm feeling increasingly reticent to blast my road-intended transmission with gravel more than I need to. I’m looking for recommendations for a gravel bike to replace my road and mountain bike. I like the Trek Bontrager Solstice gel gloves I have, got them for pretty cheap and the difference is noticeable on both flat bar grips as well as my gravel's dropbar. 1" tires I am pretty close to same speed as my road bike was on pavement. The tires I’m looking at putting on would be either a 50mm Goodyear connector ultimate up 47 votes, 168 comments. The thread of those 2 tyres is a Coming from a road racing background anything other than cycling kit seems weird to me on the bike. They are lighter too (crank brothers egg beater 3) with those I use some shimano xc shoes, that still have some sort of profile when I need to walk or carry the bike somewhere. It’s purpose-built for paved roads in a way gravel bikes Comparing a road bike to a gravel bike in terms of speed is dependant on many factors. If you want a durable and stable bike for the dirt, then you will have a heavy and sluggish bike for the road. Reply reply [deleted] • Comment deleted by user Reply reply symbi0nt • Gravel bike would absolutely be the better choice. Reason is just waiting for another maxxis rambler but in the meantime I have a brand new maxxis rambler (700x40) and a Wtb Riddler (700x37) in good shape! Since the rambler is wider and more aggressive I have it up front and the riddler in the back. While being a high quality bike, Orbea just isn’t a popular brand, at least in the USA. It is more or less falling apart and it is also way over the recommended use period of 5 years or something, so it is probably a good idea to get a new model What helmet should I get? I ride about 70% road, 20% light gravel and 10% trails of various difficulties. 48 votes, 87 comments. First gravel bike recommendations. Spent the last 5+ years primarily mountain biking and ditched the Lycra. Where do you go on a gravel ride in Bay Area (+driving distance from SF). However, a road bike is going to be faster on roads because it usually is going to put you in a more aerodynamic position, the frame and wheels are generally more aerodynamic, and the bike is often lighter. See comments from other riders on topics such as tire pressure, night rides, punctures and bonking. Where is the best place to get unique cycling jerseys to wear out for rides, and race days? A lot of what you said is true - a gravel bike is more versatile, can handle rougher roads, and is going to be slightly sturdier. Disc brakes have become a must. If it can fit larger tires go for them and congrats, you have a gravel bike. Faster acceleration, better compliance and easier to turn. I live in an area with a few bike shops but they’re very limited when it comes to footwear. I like the flexibility of taking my gravel bike on occasional single track and bits of trails that are best suited for a mountain bike. Down the line I was thinking of getting a separate more aggressive bike with fatter tires and making it a gravel beast just because. I am not a competitive or particularly strong rider due to age and coming to the sport late in life, but I am able to climb gravel roads up to 15% grade. For basline, I'm relatively fit ( doing 2-3 strength training, 2-3 cardio sessions and yoga every week). Hi !!!! I just got pretty into gravel riding and biking in general. Hi! I just got into gravel cycling and I'm very new to everything. Training plans Recommendations on sites I’m building out a 2021 Kona Rove DL with 700c wheels, and plan to have 2 sets of tires depending on my situation. Fitted MTB shorts and a technical MTB t-shirt feel more appropriate for the rides I’m doing on my gravel bike (ie not especially long). I am currently road cycling but want to try out gravel bike so take I can ride less on roads. Now that I’ve replaced the MTB with a gravel bike, I’m sticking with the MTB attire (with a road-style helmet). I've done my research and gravel bikes seem to fit my use-case the most; 70% road commute and 30% slight off-road trails. What are some good options for a total beginners gravel bike? Something not build for racing but good for long-term use as well. I have the vecnum on my road, road bike. Reply reply Homeless_72 • At the moment I am riding a 661 dirt helmet. The Radavist - Gravel grinding news and reviews. Any thoughts on using a gravel bike on the road more? Share Add a Comment Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Best Top New Controversial Old Q&A Texas-Stew • 781K subscribers in the cycling community. the typical flat bar hybrid for people who grew up riding mountain bikes. I've been really happy with GK SK on my gravel rig. Most gravel bikes don't have suspension (yet) those that do have suspension have very short travel (around 20-60mm). But even then, the Aspero feels slow when compared to my road bike. None It feels way more confident and more agile in the city than my drop bar gravel bike, err, cross bike, errr, road bike with clearance for fat tires, or whatever term one wants to use to pigeonhole a bike. ) to be happily riding. Whether the difference is worth it depends on your budget. But you'll realize from this subreddit, that it's geared more for the gravel RACERS. I’ve put this off for like 3 seasons, mostly because it isn’t that big of a deal. This is my first season mainly gravel riding instead of the past 4 years I spent on roads/paths around DC. Apparently, the Aspero leans toward road bike than other gravel bike. Some people drive Honda’s and think it’s dumb to pay more for a BMW. Definitely the odd man out on mtb trails but it works for me. GRX will have easier climbing gears but doesn't give up much on top end either. Ngl, I got into mtb at the end of last year because gravel cycling. I want to upgrade to proper cycling shoes/pedals and am indecisive if I buy road shoes or gravel shoes like the Shimano RX801, which kind of look like road shoes from far away. Gravel Bike Adventures site is pretty clutch for Colorado (and some other states but the site owners are from CO) I've done my research and now picking my nits trying to make a final choice. Apr 19, 2024 · Even with full-fat 45mm tyres a gravel bike is still more than capable of a 100km road ride, and will take on a surprising amount of off-road gnarl too, if that's your bag. Swap out the wheelset to fit whatever terrain you're Carbon wheels help on any bike: road, gravel, mountain bike. I’m a travel nurse (girly pop) and currently working in Boston and it’s been a fun place to ride. Discussion of everything bicycle related. They didn't cheap out on anything, it looks nice, only changes I would make are the tires + fit adjustments (stem, saddle etc. I’ve also got a gravel bike with 12 speed 42 x 10/50, so the rope is longer at both ends and it doesn’t feel overly gappy compared to the 11 speed 36 x11/42. If you want to hang with your roadie friends and ride in their draft cause you have a gravel bike (always a great excuse) and still be able to rip it off road with big tire clearance and more comfort, buy a gravel bike. I’m not looking to road race or anything, but want to make sure whichever bike I get will be versatile. Reply reply More repliesMore replies Looking to get into biking and want a solid bike that can handle gravel roads and also biking around on sidewalks/roads. You already have a bike so you already have step 1 covered. Step 3 is to ride your bike on that gravel — congratulations, you’re now gravel biking! Yes there’s a lot of fancy stuff and clothes out there marketed as gravel biking but at the end of the day, the point is to just ride your bike on somewhere off of a paved surface. I got Liv Devote (no mods). Also I wouldn’t ride a bike called Twitter even if it was free. I've recently bought my first road bike a cannondale CAAD13, and have been riding it with flat pedals. Just ordered some for my road bike after using on my gravel bike! 83 votes, 311 comments. Tubeless is recommended. I only use this road bike on pavement and a bit of soft gravel. I run MTB pedals as they'll clear mud/dirt. Do you have a First set a budget. I am looking to get a gravel bike and ride it 80% asphalt / 20% gravel, but on significantly hilly route profile. Does anyone have any recommendations for 700c gravel wheels that cost around $500 which I could also use for cyclocross? 61 votes, 64 comments. Or are like 40 -- 11-11/42. Looking to upgrade soon and I want a bike that can fit gravel tires as well. My bike has transformed slowly into something resembling a gravel bike/tourer. . Lots of good advice in this thread, you need to find what works for you. We have quick release brackets redditmedia. My first gravel bike was specialized elite e5 which sells for about $2k and I love it. 105 or Ultegra will be road gearing. I use the same saddles across all my bikes regardless of substrate. I always had an underlying anxiety about road riding since the potential of being hit by a car was always in the back of my mind. I use tubeless on my mountain bike and ive never had a puncture but used to always have standard tyres and tubes on my road bike. Very excited to get out of the canal with it. Gravel riding sits at the intersection of mountain biking and road cycling. Jul 1, 2025 · Budget gravel bikes let you experience the joys of off-road riding and exploring without breaking the bank. It seems my tyres are tubeless as they are glued to the rim when i went to insert a new tube. Two questions: What are you favorite gravel rides? Can you ride there on the race-ish gravel bike? (Such as Crux or Aspero)? On road, the Aspero feels slugish. Marketing departments throughout the cycling industry have really zeroed in on gravel as the latest craze and use it ad nauseam. I’ve been using the cheapest POS cycling hats there are. Like my last wheelset xc mtb rims laced to dynamo hub non boost to fit my gravel bike with stainless shiny spokes and brass nipples. Neither is wrong. I use my gravel bike (Canyon Grizl, 40mm Continental Terra Speed) for commuting (18km one way) in an urban area with shitty bike lanes and I love it. I don't ride gravel much, but the longer bike trails around me are a smooth gravel surface and the characteristics of gravel bikes make it a very pleasant ride. It’s light, fast af and doesn’t make any annoying noise, which is important to me. ewffc rhj cvpckxo flmd licgid ogqh bit plr nyjgvl eys