Using A Road Bike On Gravel
Simply said a gravel bike is a combination of a road bike happy on tarmac and a cyclo cross bike happy on mud.
Using a road bike on gravel. 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. 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. A road bike other than the most lightly built can handle a well packed gravel road trail with minimal loose gravel. The biggest problem is that the skinny tires will not handle loose gravel well at all.
Bees not essential. If you have a gravel or adventure bike you re in luck. So you might feel the difference riding with friends on the uphills but it shouldn t be a huge deal. A road bike won t be able to handle rough terrain the way a cyclo cross or mountain bike would so you ll need to avoid potholes larger rocks and the loosest gravel.
Ordinary limestone gravel is not particularly hazardous to tires though gravel composed of say crushed volcanic rock might be a problem. As usual the idea comes from the us where the countryside is crisscrossed by miles and miles of unused tracks designed to help fire trucks navigate around remote forests. It s built like a road bike but with slightly different geometry and components to help you navigate different surfaces. A gravel bike is often a little bit heavier than a road bike because it s built to be sturdier.
The best way to do this is to keep your eyes scanning up the road for the safest line possible.