I find myself very interested in the current “Gravel Bike” trend – to include the gravel grinder events.
My road bike is great fun but impossible (at least for me) to ride on anything but a very hard surface (asphalt, concrete, etc…) due the very narrow tires. I’m riding on 700c x 25 tires which are great on hard surfaces but on soft, they just dig in and slide around. Making a turn on anything loose?? Wow – scary stuff! Yeah, I’m a wimp and I REALLY don’t want to smash up my arm again.
My mountain bike is also great fun but feels “wasteful” on anything but single-track and trails. However; gravel roads with lots of washboard are an exception – it is really great to have the full suspension soaking up all those bumps.
That seems to leave a pretty good size gap which is what the “gravel bike” intends to fill. A sporty ride type bike with bike tires for dirt and gravel (as well as hard surfaces). Makes sense to me. However; I’m not really a CX guy. If for no other reason that it just hasn’t struck my fancy. It’s really about a light bike, making good speed, on less than perfect roads (but not trails).
Ya, I kinda have a crush on the Specialized Crux Expert EVO. Love those 33 mm tires and disc brakes.
Image courtesy the Specialized Concept Store.
What do people have to say about this trend? Is it worth having a third bike? Possibly this is just getting silly, two bikes should be plenty??
Second question: Is a carbon frame worth the additional cost on a gravel bike? I love my carbon road bike for both its weight AND the way it soaks up the road/buzz. Is this an issue with bigger tires? Obviously it is cool!!
I’m looking for input!
Hi JD, just stumbled across your website from IRV2 , nice site! I might have some questions for you later as I want to full time in 2017.
I’m last raced as a cat 3 in the bay area of CA, still setting some good Strava times though uphill.
I love my cross bike, I don’t understand this “gravel bike” phenom. Cross bikes have been around forever and they are a BLAST! It’s so fun to mix dirt/road.
Check out the Trek Boone/Crocket and maybe even the Canondale. These bikes are known for “US” style geometry vs. Belgian. What this means is that the bottom bracket is closer to the ground and the bike handles more like a road bike. I believe the specialized has a bit higher BB, but obviously with all the cross wins the bike must be great!
For my full-time advenutures I was thinking of ditching my Giant TCR Advanced 0 and JUST going with the cross bike! Bring two sets of wheels, one with a 25MM (maybe 28MM) for roads and then a cross set with 38mm or 40mm. Then there is still the dual suspension 29’er for more technical terrain.
You will be amazed and what you can do on the cross bike.
SORRY(!) to also hear about your accident and I hope you get good miles in this summer!
Thanks for the info Dave! I am VERY hopeful that after healing from another arm surgery at the end of February I will be able to get back on a road/cross/gravel bike for some serious riding.
Fire away with the questions! I think your plan sounds fine. I spend a lot of time in the southwest where there is a lot of sand and even the MTB (with 2.3’s) doesn’t care for that (almost need a fat tire bike sometimes). I have 25mm tires on my road bike and they do fine. I run into a lot of paved roads that are far from good – chip seal and just generally not very smooth. For dirt roads, I would think the 38/40’s would do well (if you can avoid the roads with sand).
The space that the bikes consume is a bit of a challenge with full-timing. I refuse to mount mine on an outside rack and leave them constantly exposed to the elements. So, they get the back of the Jeep. With front wheels off and very carefully packed, they both fit ok.