Road Racing On A Gravel Bike
There s an entire category of bike called the all road bike which overlaps with gravel bike and road bike at the same time.
Road racing on a gravel bike. A road bike is best fit for traveling on paved paths while the other is built for comfort and can handle all sorts of terrain. So what exactly is the difference between a gravel bike and a road bike. A gravel bike is often a little bit heavier than a road bike because it s built to be sturdier. Gravel bikes and road bikes are very similar.
Gravel bikes have now truly opened up a new genre that fills the gap between lightweight mountain bikes and carbon road bikes end. Races have slightly different rules different philosophies on feed stations and mechanical assistance and of course different terrain. This disc brake equipped mudguard shod do a bit of everything machine that makes a lot of sense for the rider who doesn t always want to stick to the tarmac. It s designed to be fast and efficient and also burly making it the perfect option for those who want the option of exploring dirt roads forest roads and the occasional bridleway as well as riding on tarmac.
Just a few years ago gravel bikes were often no more than endurance road bikes or cyclo cross bikes that had a bit extra tyre clearance. 700c vs 650b is one of the most hotly debated topics in the gravel world. Companies are leaving no stone unturned and are experimenting with gravel specific geometry componentry and even suspension. Cross gravel road that s what the cgr initials stand for on ribble s all rounder a bike with solid gravel bike dna that s also up for adventure road bike riding.
A gravel bike is in many ways a combination of an endurance road bike and a cyclocross bike. 3 reasons to buy a gravel bike instead of a roadie as the all road market booms bikes are becoming more capable and more niche the canyon grail cf slx 8 0 di2 photo. But there are some minor distinctions such as the frame design brakes tires and bike. 700c is the standard size of the wheel you ll find on a road bike while 650b or 27 5in is an old touring standard that.
Each race has different logistics to consider and there s less standardization in the gravel racing community compared to road track and cross country mountain bike racing. So you might feel the difference riding with friends on the uphills but it shouldn t be a huge deal.