If you have never ridden a gravel bike before, there are a few things you should know. Gravel bikes are great, low-maintenance, all-purpose mountain bikes. They were created in the USA by replacing the traditional two-wheeled mountain bikes with a lightweight, road-ready bike with a front-wheel cast in a solid form. The result was a fantastic bicycle that had all the features you would expect from a road bike, but with the performance characteristics of a sports bike.
Gravel bikes offer you the performance you’d expect from a mountain bike with the comfort you’d want from a hybrid. These bikes provide a smooth ride for a casual ride or a sportier ride when you want to get more out of your workout. These smooth rides on gravel are typically called “ride and roll,” where you ride your bike over bumps and dirt roads while maintaining a laid-back pace.
There are several distinct types of gravel bikes: bunny trail, cross country, dirt street, hybrid, dual suspension, uphill/ downhill drivetrains, hobbies, mud tires, and even scooters! Each has its own set of benefits and features. Bikes with a knobby tire are best suited for smooth streets and highways; however, if you like to go off the beaten path, a mudding (mud tire) bike is perfect for those tricky, winding country roads and mountainsides. For cross country riding and short distances in the woods, a dirt road bike is great; however, you will find these types of bikes performing best on trails and long-distance road rides.
The Lightweight Carbon Fork is another popular feature found on these models of gravel bikes. The Carbon fiber fork enables the frame to be lighter without sacrificing strength and stiffness. It also improves the suspension geometry to provide a smoother ride and reduces road shock absorption. However, users must be careful of this factor as the extra weight can cause the bike to feel harsher when cornering. Most gravel racers prefer these bikes for their lightweight and enhanced suspension system.
The final common feature that is found on all Gravel bikes is the braking system. Most users prefer the disc brake system as it offers reasonable control during speed efforts and offers better breaks. Some riders, however, find hydraulic disc brakes hard to control. Most of the time, the differences between the two types of brakes result from weight and build quality. These bikes remain the top picks for most bike enthusiasts.
