There are a lot of different factors to consider when choosing between a mountain bike and gravel bike tires. A certain reach makes the bike ride better and more stable in the corners. Mountain Bikes are better suited for more challenging terrain, with better suspension and a different riding posture. My "gravel" bike = Cx bike because (1) I want to start riding Cx (2) prefer the race geometry (3) my "gravel" riding involves driving to / from locations with actual gravel paths that are ridable or "allroad". Speaking of tires, a gravel bike has sections ranging from 3.5 cm to 4.2 cm. They also offer many more hand positions, which can provide greater comfort over longer rides. For many, the defining characteristic of gravel bikes compared to road bikes is wider tire clearance, allowing up to 50mm of rubber. The only difference is rim width; mountain bikes have wider rims to accommodate wider tires. There are, of course, a few more recent exceptions, with gravel bike suspension starting to feature more in builds, including the Specialized Diverges Future Shock 2.0 headset, or the BMC URS LTs coil-sprung front end, as well as aftermarket options such as the Lauf Grit, Fox 32 Taper-Cast and Rockshox Rudy XPLR fork. Most gravel and mountain bike riders will opt to run their tyres tubeless. Mountain bikes are undoubtedly more capable on rougher and steeper off-road trails, although theyre not as fast on the road. The demands on riding technique and physical fitness are high here. This or similar sentiments all too often echo around the comments of posts and articles on the subject of gravel. Mountain bikes use flat bars instead of drop bars, which are handlebars that extend from left to right, almost in a straight line. The reach alone does not define your position! There are tons of gearing options for both gravel bikes and mountain bikes, and you can find setups including one, two, or occasionally even three front chainrings for either kind of bike. The first mountain bikes, like many conventional gravel bikes today, were completely rigid. Why compromise on that section of road where you just wish you had your road bike. To ensure better off-road capability, all gravel bikes will be fitted with wider, more grippy tires compared to a road bike. We promise! Providing you can fit your gravel bike with 650b wheels, youll be able to get a couple of inches of rubber in there, which will make a huge difference to how capable the bike will be off-road. Thus, mountain bikes are more robust and robust. Find out more about how we test. On the other hand, on gravel bikes the actual geometry defines the seat angle. (Image source: trekbikes.com). In addition, bikes with a slack steering angle tend to have a vague feeling front end at low speeds that feels like it wants to flop from side to side. The stiffness of the spring can usually be adjusted to the riders weight via the air pressure. The gravel bike's longer wheelbase also helps you stay comfortable for long-distance adventures. Ouachita Mountain; Mountain Bike; Fishing. Mixing the wheels is common on enduro or downhill MTBs as it balances the favorable characteristics of a 27.5 rear wheel with those of a 29 front wheel. The former puts stock in progressive geometry with a long reach, a slack head angle and a short stem, a geometry trend that can be seen in numerous new cross-country hardtails. Save 30% off the shop price + get a Race Face AEffect handlebar worth 41.95, Get a Twinpack Knog Plus Lights (worth 34.99) when you subscribe to Cycling Plus magazine. RNA (Instrumental Version) - Katori Walker. Mountain Bike vs. Gravel Bike: Advantages and Disadvantages. However, the trend will always go in the direction of underequipped, since experience shows that many riders continue to develop further, as well as delving ever deeper into unknown terrain. Lastly, its worth mentioning mountain bike seatposts. By using our content you agree to our, What Is a Gravel Bike? Gravel racing is a discipline that is highly-technical and much tougher than road cycling, since you are cycling through mud which is way more difficult than cycling on smooth asphalt. Mountain vs. Road: Specialization in Motion Gravel and mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding but are different in a few ways. For example, a handlebar with a lot of compliance in an otherwise very stiff bike can feel unnatural and vague. Must-Have Features Explained, Complete Gravel Biking Guide for Beginners, Hardtail vs. Full Suspension Bikes Compared: How to Choose the Right Type, Tubeless Tires Guide All You Ever Wanted to Know. The most popular gravel races around the world are typically 5-10 hours long, on courses of up to 200 miles including 10,000+ ft. of climbing. No, a mountain bike isnt better than a gravel bike. The gravel section of our test loop combined a mix of compact gravel sections and fist-sized, loose gravel. One Pivot Registered Cannondale Topstone Carbon with proprietary Kingpin rear suspension (30 mm) and Lefty Oliver fork (30 mm). It should be obvious that the lines between comfort and traction are blurred. #dropbarsnotbombs. Bikepacking and gravel bikes: new concepts in off-road cycling, or marketing fad? #GMBN #GlobalMountainBikeNetwork #MTB #MountainBiking The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world's largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community - and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world. "Gravel biking is just what mountain biking was 20 years ago!" That's a loaded phrase with a whole lot of room for debate. These were the sections of the test track: A perfectly asphalted mountain road with a gradient of up to 15%. When we talk about compliance at GRAN FONDO, it usually refers to the comfort that a certain component or the bike concept as a whole offers through intentional flex and its construction. Mountain Bikes Vs. Gravel Bikes ( Comparison ) Women on a gravel bike Yes, a gravel bike can be used as a mountain bike on light to moderate mountain trails. When it comes to speed, mountain bikes can barely go through a speed of 20 mph. Of course, our stand-ins cant adequately represent the entirety of their respective bike genres. There are significant differences between gravel bike and mountain bike geometry, though the two are increasingly close at the rowdier end of the gravel-riding spectrum. And downhill world championReece Wilsonis readily aware of how demanding his sport can be. Indeed, the mountain bike is not designed for speed like the racing bike or the Gravel. To reduce the handling of a bike to a single geometry number is fundamentally wrong. A lot of these gravel bikes have tires around 38mm to 40mm. Mountain bikes with an Eagle drivetrain might use a 32t chainring and a 10-50t cassette . Many modern hardtail mountain bikes and almost all full-suspension models have dropper seatposts. Geometry is arguably the most significant difference between gravel vs. cyclocross bikes, and although subtle, the following changes to geometry completely modify performance and ride feel. Real riding and handling in wind and weather on different surfaces instead of Excel tables, theoretical data and lab tests. The point of gravel bikes is to offer riders the most versatile design possible, capable of safely tackling a wide variety of off-road terrains, maintaining speed and comfort over long distances on pavement, and adapting to the demands of bike touring or bikepacking. When it comes to the seat tube angle, we distinguish between steep, from 78 to 73, and slack seat tube angles, between 72 and 70. Looking to build aerobic fitness to help on your mountain bike? All of the major component brands have released gravel-specific groupsets: 10- or 11-speed Shimano GRX, 12-speed SRAM XPLR and the 13-speed Campagnolo Ekar. The first fully gravel bikes have also appeared. Where and how much travel is generated, and what is the ratio of sprung to unsprung mass? What does that mean? Although generally heavier and slower, a mountain bike is a suitable option if you plan on spending most of the time on dirt roads and challenging terrains where you need stability and comfort more than speed and efficiency. With the tried and tested mountain bikes as well as the still-young gravel bikes, you have a choice of suitable bikes for such purposes that wont leave you alone even in the deepest mud. The Gravel looks like a road bike in every way. Gravel Bike Vs Road Bike: Understanding the Difference . They will be excellent. Drops give the most secure hand position and easiest access to brake levers so are used in descents, they also offer a more aero and aggressive riding position. It has a shorter frame and a higher stem to straighten the posture and gain comfort. In the gravel world, options are split between 1x and 2x drivetrains. Gravel tire tread also varies, and you can change yours depending on your preferred riding. The enthusiasm was and still is huge, but when gravelling in Europe, one quickly realises that gravel rarely consists of straight, 10 m wide, compacted highways. We paid attention to how agile a bike is on a scale from lively/playful to smooth/sluggish. In mountain biking, this consists of a shock and suspension linkage that allows the rear triangle and wheel to move out of the way of obstacles. In keeping with the occasion, our test crew was as diverse as the bikes themselves. The new AU (Alchemy Ultralight) line includes the carbon Lycos gravel bike and Atlas road bike, and titanium Argos hardtail mountain bike. Nonetheless, most of these gravel bike suspension options are designed to help reduce the effect of road and trail vibrations on the rider, and range from just a few millimetres of movement to around 40 or 50mm of travel. Flat bars are super wide compared to drop bars the most common mountain bike handlebars measure 78cm wide, whereas road bars are only 40-44cm wide which means that a mountain bike riders elbows will flare out because their arms are so side. The gravel world is still pretty split when it comes to 1x or 2x setups, and it usually comes down to where youre riding. This is key for longer adventure rides and the most popular gravel races which can last up to half a day. How is the riders steering input translated and how does the bikes cornering behaviour change at different speeds? A dropper post enables you to move the saddle out of the way, giving you greater freedom of movement over the bike on steeper descents, which is really key for mountain biking. It is necessary to absorb vibrations and shocks due to the roughness of the ground. This gives riders greater confidence on technical terrain. Mountain Bike. The benefit of these handlebars is they give the rider a high degree of leverage over the bike, making it easier to manipulate the front end over large obstacles. One important consideration is the width of the tires. So whats wrong with the drop bar? Hardtail mountain bikes are those with fork suspension only. So with your budget I'd get However, instead of a heavy shock and complex kinematics, they usually rely on simple suspension elements that generate just a few centimetres of travel, like the BMC URS LT with its Micro Travel Technology. Moreover, people new to cycling tend to prefer the mountain bike position to that of the gravel bike. Thisversatility allows the Gravelto move quickly through city traffic and take rougher roads directly without the slightest problem. In addition to elite-level road, track and Zwift racing, Zach Nehr is a freelance writer and the head of ZNehr Coaching. Ten years ago you had to pick a bike that descended well, but didn't climb so well, or visa versa. Blake Samson is out in the Forest Of Dean to race his beloved Canyon Fatbike against his new Nukeproof Digger gravel bike! Modern mountain bikes have a longer reach, between 430 and 485 mm on progressive enduro bikes it can be over 500 mm depending on the size. The handlebars are a significant point of difference between Gravel and mountain biking. Both forks and shocks are high-tech products in the mountain bike world and rely on damping in addition to a spring. On the other hand, mountainframes are longer, and the angles are slack. Gravel bikes typically have a wider gear range than mountain bikes, better suited for climbing hills. Thats why time trial bikes and aero bars are so narrow, streamlined, and compact. But if your other bike has 160mm travel and wide chunky rubber, a gravel bike does a good job covering . Gravel bikes will usually fall withing the slacker range. Or to put it another way, you have to decide whether you want the right gear for any terrain, no matter how steep, or always want to be at the right cadence. Essentially, the 650b equals 27.5 and 700c equals 29. A gravel bike has drop bars, like a road bike, to give you more hand positions and better control descending. Heres why you can trust us. Most gravel bikes come with 40-45 mm wide tires, but some models have clearance for even more width. Gravel suspension is generally very slight (travel between 20mm and 60mm). In addition, it has small studs, which improve grip and stability on gravel trails. For the latter case, the real seat tube angle will end up slacker than the one specified by the geometry the mountain bike sector now works almost exclusively with the effective seat tube angle, i.e. Topeak RaceRocket MT Where OneUp's pump has. The greater tyre size gives you a bigger contact patch, boosting both. A mountain bike position is much higher to maintain think about how high off the ground your hands and head are than a drop bar position that we see on gravel bikes and road bikes. In addition, they perform relatively well on tarmac and asphalt, making them arguably the most versatile bike style. For maximum bike control the lower handlebar position is a good choice, but with it the centre of gravity comes very far forward, your head lowers and you end up looking directly at the front wheel. Cannondale Topstone Alloy vs Jekyll 1 geometries compared. Mountain bikes typically have a 1x (single chainring) drivetrain, while gravel bikes have a 1x or 2x (double chainring) drivetrain. Jasper - May 20, 2022. I like all riding but I like gravel the best. Tires are the best and most effective upgrade on your bike. A very strong second place! Most mountain bikers ditched their front derailleur years ago and have never looked back. This balance ensures reasonable stability and control off-road, along with comfort and efficiency for long-distance riding. When it comes to bike exploration in the northeast, Montpelier Vermont Gravel Biking seems to be the easy choice for any type of riding. Digital & free: Finding the right wheel size on a gravel bike 700C and 650B battle it out, Shimano GRX RX800 211 gravel groupset (read review here). You dont need to take as many sharp turns on a gravel bike as you would in a cyclocross race. Although they offer about the same travel, they merely decouple the rider weight from the bike, leaving the unsprung mass higher. Shimano or SRAM? The tires have a tread pattern and knobs for comfort as well as additional grip and traction for off-road riding. Enjoy The Ride. While the URS LT represents all full-suspension gravel bikes, the Fustle Causeway represents unsuspended gravel bikes with progressive and mountain bike inspired geometry. Cross-country bikes have narrower tires that are designed for hardpacked dirt and rocks, while gravel bikes have wider tires that can handle looser terrain. Its often the details that make the difference: successful integration, first-class ergonomics and carefully selected components. Gravel bike tires are narrower than mountain bike tires. A good all-round bike is characterised by a harmonious balance between agility and smoothness. Other characteristics that allow MTBs to excel off-road include long and slack geometry, wide handlebars for leverage, dropper seatposts for descending, and powerful disc brakes. But one key thing becomes clear when comparing mountain and gravel bikes. The tire on a gravel bike is akin to the suspension of a mountain bike. The potential range of uses is wide, as we test on everything from asphalt to gravel, forest tracks and trails. Gravel bikes will also tend to have a slacker headtube angle, which allows for steeper, mountain bike-like descents. Gravel bikes use disc brakes with relatively small rotors for control while also maintaining a lightweight. popularity of Gravel and technological advancements Wide Drop Handlebars Usually, gravel bikes will have wider handlebars for added control, and the drops of the bars are often flared outward, too. With the use of suspension forks, these bikes developed into so-called hardtails. The benefit of suspension outweighs this inefficiency as off-road terrain gets bumpy. Geometry data is least meaningful when it is misinterpreted by the reader. Gravel biking has fully embraced in the area, and it is just a matter of what a person is looking for the most. However, these two bikes meet twodifferent needsand are therefore not intended for the exact profiles of cyclists. Here's our top five: 1. This way, the riding position can be optimally balanced and adjusted with regard to the desired performance. A suspension system generates the most traction when it allows the rider, or their centre of gravity, to maintain as smooth a movement possible, while the tires track the rough, uneven ground below. While most mountain bikes feature dropper posts at least above the budget range most gravel bikes do not. Mountain bikes tend to have straight bars, while gravel bikes have drop bars. Cross-country mountain bikers typically favor hardtails for these reasons. However, it does add some cost and repair complexity. When riding downhill the influence of the head angle on the bikes handling becomes apparent. That said, gravel bikes are fast. While a gravel bike is not nearly as intense as a road bike, they require a considerably more aerodynamic riding position than a mountain bike. #3. While almost all road bikes use 700c tyres, both mountain bikes and gravel bikes are designed for different wheel sizes, or sometimes to be able to use both. Both the gravel bike and the hybrid bike were borne out of a similar desire: to blend attributes from the two ends of the cycling spectrum, road and mountain, but with different end results in . Gravel bikes with less reserves than the Canyon push their range of use as much in the direction of asphalt and speed as mountain bike fullys with more suspension travel do in the direction of trails and off-road. Just like mountain biking was, in some ways, a reaction to the stereotypical European road cyclist of the time, gravel biking is a reaction to contemporary mountain biking and road cycling. Gravel bikes have a slacker HTA which provides better stability on loose surfaces than do performance road bikes. Gravel bikes are most similar to cross-country bikes, which are designed to cover ground easily and pedal well, while also being able to tackle smaller obstacles and trail features. The downside of flat bars is the limited hand positioning, so if you ride for several hours, it can be very uncomfortable on your wrists and hands. Keeping the braking surface out the way of dirt and grime, they offer far superior power, modulation and durability out on the trail. Categories: General Questions. The geometry of a mountain bike is built for off-road while gravel is meant for faster riding. This way, the mountain bike and gravel bikes do not better stability on gravel bikes will fitted! 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