Difference between modern Rigid MTB and Gravel

[Woz]

At the time, called a 27" Monster Cross if I remember right. This is a real beauty, and had the chance to see it. Only 22 years old now.

I found this inspirational stuff for my builds and what I expected from a bike. Was it radical? No. Pretty much dusted off old ideas with newer available tech. and very well put together. But I'm glad someone did it.

 

[R-V]

There are some budget "28er cromo frames with mtbish geo, and tire clearance for 1.75 or rather 2.0 .
one of the things i really need. Surlys are matching this criteria, but a bit pricy. I would like to have a cheap retro solution.
bitd there were nice xt specced hybrids but also not all of them were offering enough space for wider tires.

 

[brocklanders023]

I think they keep the drop bars just so they can label it as a Gravel.

They don’t make sense to me as in my opinion the vertical brakes with awkward shifters aren’t as ergonomic nor as practical as brakes on a flat bar with either trigger or twist shifters.


I did notice that when Gravel first appeared, I and many others confused them for CX bikes.

Nah, drops certainly have a place, especially if your riding is more road/gentle off focused. You cover ground quicker, it feels less effort and you can go longer from my experience. Once you are used to the position then modern drop shifters are not really any worse ergonomically to any other style, especially Shimano. It's a very fine line though as the terrain does not have to get too rough before flat bars are better, again, in my opinion, having run my GB and Whippet on exactly the same rides so I could work out where I wanted to be.

As for the second point, I believe CX bikes have to fit within certain parameter's to be allowed to compete in races so GB's were very similar but didn't need to follow any rules. I imagine that's why they have evolved away from CX?

 

[slackboy]

I imagine that's why they have evolved away from CX?

35mm max tyres. Which seems a bit narrow these days, and cx geometry is steep angles designed for short sharp circuits rather than traversing moors.

 

[Imlach]

Gravel bikes do not exist

 

[coomber]

This has to be one of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen

 

[coomber]

Also, drop bars themselves vary a lot, the multi position ones like alpkit bombers or on one midge mean they can ride like drops and flats for offroad (well almost flat). Like these:

 

[slackboy]

This has to be one of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen

And one of the reasons that I went for a cascade

 

[Tootyred]

Having just spent 2 days looking round shops with a good mate, to try and find him a bike, its quite confusing to those who need a label! If you accept a bike is a bike and the differences can be eliminated under the umbrella of requirement, it gets much easier.

i do however agree with above, that there is a massive convergence at the moment in the middle if the spectrum. If you exclude down hill ( motorcross bikes with pedals) and road specific, we found its really down to marketing and wheel width clearance!

Tbh, with the correct tyres, most of these middle ground bikes will handle most middle ground things.

one other thing i noticed, as ive not set foot in one of these shops for 15 years is the poor quality of supporting components and the very poor rigid forks on most bikes sub £900!

 

[coomber]

Should be able to find a pretty decent gravel bike to cover most things on and off road for 1000 to 1200. Sonder camino etc. Planet x had some great bikes for 999 quid last week too.

I have a camino and use it a lot especially in winter. Realistically as a wheels on the ground rider I'd take it to at least 50% of where I would my mountain bikes, but it isn't always so much fun off road, mainly as I ride flats usually so being clipped in on it is terrifying off road