Find your used roadbike, gravel Bike & MTB | buycycle UK (2024)

FAQs

What road bikes can be used as gravel bikes? ›

The ideal road bike suitable for gravel

Look for a road bike with a frame that has enough clearance for wider tires, at least 30-32mm or wider. It's also positive to make sure that the frame has eyelets for fenders and racks, as these can come in handy on longer gravel rides.

This more relaxed geometry enables riders to tackle long distances and endure rough terrain without sacrificing comfort. Therefore, while road bikes are generally built for the intense demands of racing and speed, gravel bikes are crafted to offer a more enjoyable and versatile riding experience in varied conditions.

Gravel bike faster on road due to more aero position (depends how fast your going though) and gearing. MTB better over bumpy surfaces though.

Gravel tyres have a less aggressive tread pattern than mountain bike tyres, making them suitable for both off-road riding and paved detours. The knobbly tyres typical of mountain bikes are perfect for keeping traction on rocky trails but can hold you back on the roads.

One of the most basic parts of any road bike to gravel bike conversion is swapping out your existing road tires for gravel tires. Gravel specific tires are wider than road tires and have more aggressive tread patterns so they can provide good traction on rough terrain.

Many riders, especially those who are new to cycling, have a misconception that road bikes should ony be ridden on pavement. But the truth is, road bikes can be safely ridden on all kinds of road surfaces, including cobblestone, dirt, and gravel.

So, what can we glean from the results? Well, on average the road bike was a not insignificant 1.24kph faster than the gravel bike. On my hour-long commute that means that the road bike would save me just under three minutes if the terrain was similar to where we held our tests.

Some of the gravel bikes on the market are being optimized for single chainrings. If you will ride mostly in an area without big climbs, that'll work. If you have big hills, and/or like to travel with your bike, you'll benefit from using a compact double crank with a wide-range cassette in the back, like an 11-36.

Broadly speaking, if you average 15 to 16 mph on your hilly road rides, you'll likely average 12 to 14 on a gravel ride with similar total elevation, depending on the road surface. Obviously, the tougher the terrain (think: lots of mud, loose gravel, sand) the slower you're going to go.

Generally, gravel bikes are more expensive than mountain bikes or basic road bikes because they use premium materials that are durable as well as lightweight.

Do I need a gravel bike if I have a mountain bike? ›

Get a gravel bike if you want to ride outside the limits…of town, city, and road networks. If you need inspiration to make routine routes new again, get a mountain bike (a hardtail with a rigid fork will do that beautifully). Ritchey creates gravel bikes for enjoying the thousands of kilometers, miles, leagues etc.

You don't have a limitation on your gravel bike. Of course, on nicely tarmacked roads you will find a faster bike and for downhill races, you should go for something else. But for all the kinds of terrain and underground in between, you will have loads of fun on a gravel bike.

While there may not be many gravel roads around your way, gravel bikes are great for a whole lot more than riding on actual gravel. Unless you're racing, a gravel bike could be the single bike you need as they are capable of riding almost everything, except very technical mountain bike trails.

Adventure Gravel-bikes

They're mainly intended for off-road riding – everything from fun single-trails to chilled out week-long bikepacking adventures – but still significantly faster than common mountain bikes on tarmac roads and soft gravel paths.

Gravel bikes tend to be designed with a more upright body position in mind, with the exception of racing steeds, and therefore measure up with a shorter reach and higher stack than many road bikes. Endurance road bikes also feature a less aggressive position, so there may be some overlap here.

The strength of a carbon fiber composite frame is not the problem. There are many CFC gravel, cyclocross and mountain bikes, so obviously CFC as a material can take the impacts. If you ride a road bike on a harsh, bumpy paved surfaces it does not break.

gravel bike tire clearance. The main consideration, if you're planning to swap gravel tires onto your road bike, is tire clearance. Most road bikes can only fit tires in the 25-32mm range (versus 40-45mm for gravel bikes). Before buying tires, look up the maximum tire clearance for your bike.

Gravel bike geometry

That normally means a longer wheelbase and slacker angles for the frame and forks. A gravel bike will typically give you a more upright riding position than road bike geometry, with a longer head tube and shorter reach.

The tires. For greater stability and reliability, gravel tire sections are wider. While road bikes are generally fitted with 25 or 28 mm tires, gravels are generally fitted with 40 mm tires. Once again, it all depends on your riding style.