Gravel bikes combine the best aspects of road and mountain bike designs to meet your needs for exploring unfamiliar terrain. Typically taller than endurance road bikes to ease hand, arm, and shoulder fatigue.
Most adventure gravel bikes feature a two-speed drivetrain to allow quick gear changes on rough roads or steep climbs, while some come equipped with built-in mounts to accommodate racks for commuting or touring purposes.
Frame
A gravel bike's frame is the basis of its other components and determines its performance on rough terrain. These bikes often come equipped with more upright riding positions than road bikes for increased comfort on longer rides, making shifting weight around easier to tackle obstacles and rough road sections more effectively.
As adventure gravel bikes typically feature wider tires, their frames must be capable of accommodating them. It typically means having a longer wheelbase than on road bikes - this also allows for greater tire volume to decrease air resistance.
Due to their more demanding environment, gravel bikes often feature hydraulic disc brakes. It provides more consistent performance than traditional cable-pull brakes in wet environments.
Road bikes typically feature a more limited gear range than gravel bikes; to help riders overcome hills more effectively. One way of accomplishing this is utilising a 1x drivetrain, which uses only one chainring and thus offers greater gear diversity than traditional road bikes.
Due to their versatility, gravel bikes come equipped with numerous mounts for accessories and luggage such as racks, fenders, and bags - making them an excellent choice for cyclists who wish to ride both on paved roads and light off-road trails without feeling limited by race-oriented road bikes.
Tires
Tires are unquestionably the cornerstone of any gravel bike, providing contact with the ground and ensuring proper dirt road grip. Finding a set-up that works is key to creating effective control and precision when traversing rough terrain.
When selecting the appropriate tire for any rider's chosen terrain, consideration must also be given to the intended use of their machine. If they plan on primarily riding on smooth or paved surfaces, a more aerodynamic tire with a shallow centre-knob design and light casing would likely provide greater rolling resistance reduction and may be best.
Aggressive gravel tires feature wider knobs with larger spacing that dig deep into loose or muddy surfaces for maximum traction, providing riders maximum power in wet or rough conditions while rolling more slowly on pavement and smooth gravel than more focused road tires. They may be suitable options for maximising performance with their gravel bike while enjoying smooth roads or surfaces.
The Schwalbe G-One R is one of the most widely-recognised gravel bike tires due to its impressive speed and grip across various terrain. Available in multiple sizes with stylish tan sidewalls for those who like a bit of extra flair on their wheelset. Also, consider Vittoria's Terreno Mix, which combines MTB tread patterning with puncture protection at an affordable price.
Suspension
Gravel bikes are built to tackle various terrain, and many riders opt to add suspension forks for greater stability on rough roads, enabling riders to focus more on pedalling and steering rather than worrying about extra weight at the front of their bike. Unfortunately, suspension forks add weight up front that may hinder efficient pedalling performance.
However, gravel-specific suspension forks have one major drawback: they add weight to the front of their bike, which may prove problematic for certain riders competing in gravel events.
Suspension forks may change the geometry of a gravel bike and alter how it handles, particularly single pivot stems that depend on having its fork flex upon hitting bumps.
Shifting
Gravel bikes are designed to handle various terrain, from loose and steep surfaces to rough roads. Their longer wheelbase and slacker head tube ensure increased stability and comfort when traversing rough or off-pavement terrain, with flared drop bars providing comfortable gripping capabilities on technical or sketchy trails.
With cycling becoming increasingly popular, adventure gravel bikes manufacturers have started producing bikes specifically tailored for off-pavement riding and racing over gravel surfaces. While there are various styles, each bike shares some core features.
All-terrain bikes offer wider tire clearance to fit wider off-road tires, more reliable disc brakes than rim brakes, and comfortable frame geometry - characteristics that allow fast road riding and long tours requiring camping equipment or other gear. They also provide more stable riding positions than traditional road and cyclocross bikes for riders looking to spend longer in the saddle.