• 11 months ago
Most people by now have heard the proverb that the perfect number of bikes to own is n + 1.But while a full stable certainly does have its delights, many of us are in the situation where we really need n to equal 1.
Which raises the question: what sort of bike should that single one be? Well with such a range of riding out there available to be enjoyed, versatility has got to be key and for that reason we think a gravel bike is that bike.

Here are five reasons why!
Transcript
00:00 Most people by now have heard the proverb that the perfect number of bikes to own is n plus one.
00:06 But while a full stable certainly does have its delights, many of us are in a situation where we
00:11 really need n to equal one. Which raises the question, what sort of bike should that single
00:17 one be? Well, with such a range of riding out there available to be enjoyed, versatility surely
00:23 has to be key. And for that reason, we think a gravel bike is the perfect choice. Here are seven
00:30 reasons why. We often hear that gearing is the number one concern riders have when deciding
00:42 their next bike purchase. Specifically, whereas a gravel gearing will be too small for riding on the
00:47 road. However, whereas you're after a super low range for winching your camping gear and cooking
00:52 pots over unpaved climbs, or if you're looking for the reliability and simplicity of a one by
00:57 drivetrain, you'll be able to find an option that will work for you on a gravel bike. Both SRAM and
01:03 Shimano offer one by 11 options best suited for razzing around the trails and roads. The relatively
01:09 large chain rings that are generally spec'd don't deliver low enough gears for long distance hauling
01:14 but will allow you to tap out a handsome pace on the road. But for a setup that dips well below a
01:20 one to one ratio, you can find plenty of options with Shimano's two by GRX group sets. The 10 speed
01:26 versions offer the biggest spread and the widest available cassettes a whopping 11 to 36 teeth.
01:32 But with that said, the two by 11 group set still offers a really wide 11 to 34 cassette. If you
01:39 have a bit or maybe a lot of cash to spare, the SRAM AXS electronic group set allows for road
01:45 shifters to be paired with a mountain bike cassette, providing a colossal spread of gears
01:50 while retaining the shifting simplicity of a one by setup. If you're still confused,
01:55 be sure to check out the video we made on gears recently on our channel.
01:59 Get the setup right and gravel bikes are certainly no slouch on the tarmac.
02:09 Putting a set of slick racy tires such as the Conti GP 5000s or some Schwalbe Pro1s
02:15 can deliver a real boost to your speed. Add in a set of deeper section wheels and tickling along
02:20 at 30km/h+ becomes quite a natural pace to hold. What's more, a few low cost changes to your
02:27 cockpit can help keep your drag down too. A negative rise stem can help put you in a lower
02:32 position similar to what you'd have been on a pure road bike and a set of flared bars can help keep
02:37 you narrow and aero when on the hoods with your arms bent at 90 degrees while still giving you
02:42 a wider and confident position when on the drops for tackling technical off-road terrain.
02:47 A little thought about your position on the bike and these few tweaks can have you more aero on a
02:51 gravel bike than someone on a road bike with a set of wide bars and a whole stack of spacers under
02:56 the stem. More so than frame material or any set of components, it is the geometry of a bike that
03:08 determines its character. Although a gravel and a road bike frame might look fairly similar at
03:13 first glance, the many little changes add together to make a huge difference in how they feel to
03:18 ride. The shorter top tube and longer head tube of a gravel bike puts you in a more relaxed and
03:23 upright position, but more substantial differences are baked into the frame of the bike. These
03:28 include a lower bottom bracket, longer chainstays and a slacker head angle. These combine to lower
03:33 the center of gravity, increase the stability and slow down the handling, leaving you feeling in
03:39 control. Although originally designed for bikes that are riding off-road and loaded up,
03:44 these geometries pay dividends on longer road rides where comfort is a priority.
03:48 A gravel bike opens up riding on off-road trails and single track is also going to be
03:58 significantly more efficient on the road than a mountain bike. This means you're not prevented
04:03 from putting in larger loops on the road and exploring those areas a little further from home.
04:07 Gravel bikes also have a welcome effect of smoothing out those rough lanes that have fallen
04:13 into disrepair. And when you do hit the smooth stuff, you'll appreciate the silky ride just as
04:18 much as on a thoroughbred road bike. You'll still get that same happy burst of speed that comes from
04:23 a freshly surfaced road. Gravel bikes and bikepacking go together like coffee and cake.
04:34 Generally, coming with all sorts of mounts and bosses means that should you decide to head off
04:38 on your own adventure, a gravel bike will be ready and willing to be loaded up. These mounts don't
04:43 have to be utilized for every ride, keeping the bike essentially as lightweight and playful as if
04:47 it came without them. But the point is that the capacity is always there, ready and waiting. But
04:52 as part of a bike that is fun to ride day to day. In comparison, an endurance road bike typically
04:58 doesn't have quite the same number of mounts and the narrow tires aren't quite so comfortable for
05:02 spending a long day out on the bike. A gravel bike blends the speedy pep of a road bike with
05:08 the packability of a tourer. Following on a bit from the potential for attachments,
05:18 gravel bikes also tend to come with other practical knobs such as mudguard mounts.
05:22 For group rides in the winter months when a bit of company really helps, a curving set of fenders
05:27 will keep both you and the people you're riding with significantly cleaner and drier, making
05:32 everyone happier. The huge tire clearance offered by gravel bikes also means that you can generally
05:37 still fit in pretty wide tires, even with the mudguards, providing extra grip and comfort on
05:43 wet and broken winter roads. In comparison, a cyclocross bike might be able to perform similarly
05:49 when it comes to the terrain that can be ridden, but a gravel bike with its plethora of mounts
05:54 just has that bit more versatility. Finally, it's worth considering this. By spending more money on
06:06 just the one bike, you can get yourself better components and a better frame, making for a ride
06:11 that is far superior in its quality. Why split your money when for the same price as two bikes
06:16 with mechanical disc brakes and a run-of-the-mill frame set, you can get a hydraulic setup and a
06:21 rather more boutique frame, combining for an excellent ride which will be appreciated no
06:26 matter the surface. It's a lot more satisfying to ride quality every time, even though the bike
06:32 might not be solely designed for that purpose. So there you go, seven reasons you could use a
06:38 gravel bike as your only bike. Have you got some thoughts on the matter? We're sure you do. Make
06:44 sure to leave them in the comments section below. In the meantime, do give us a thumbs up and
06:48 subscribe to the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel. [00:06:00] [END OF AUDIO]

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