In recent bicycle forums and websites, the new term "gravel" is being discussed as a new category of road racing. Do you know what kind of characteristics these bikes have? Let's take a look at this article!

Gravel literally means gravel or sand. It refers to traversing roads covered in gravel or sand, earning it names like "gravel bike," "crushed stone highway bike," or even the "great demon king of roads." Although a gravel bike is called a road bike, its domain isn't limited to paved roads. It can conquer forest trails, industrial paths, alpine forest roads, and any other ground you might encounter along your route.

▲Road bikes used to be limited to roads, but with a gravel bike, you can challenge various environments you never imagined.

Origin of Gravel

Gravel road bikes became popular in the US around 2015. Due to the vast land area of the American continent, there are many winding paths and dirt roads everywhere. Riding a traditional road bike on such paths would result in insufficient grip and shock absorption. Not only would your hands and feet go numb, but you might also crash and damage your bike. To ride road bikes without fear of various road surfaces and to explore different areas, the Gravel Bike began to emerge.

So, what's the difference between a gravel road bike and the road bikes we know? The most significant visual difference is the fatter tires. Road bikes often use 23-28C flat tires, but gravel road bikes use tires up to 38-50C wide to provide stronger traction and comfort. The tire surface also has large and small knobs, allowing them to adapt to various road surfaces.

▲Gravel road bikes on sale often come with multi-functional tires in the 35-42C range, allowing for easy transitions between various road surfaces.

▲The widened front and rear forks can accommodate rugged, knobby off-road tires.

The wider front and rear forks accommodate larger tires, which also makes the RC (Rear Chainstay) longer, making the bike appear larger. To enhance off-road performance, some models are equipped with 27.5" or 29" MTB wheelsets, and can even use super-coarse tires up to 2.4" (approx. 60C). When you see a road bike configured like this, you might do a double-take and wonder what you just saw.

Gravel can ride on any road surface!

"It's just an off-road vehicle, right?" But gravel road bikes don't just have off-road performance; their geometry is designed like a touring road bike. In addition to matching the curves of highway vehicles, the riding style also approaches that of a road bike. Therefore, the ride comfort of a gravel road bike on paved roads isn't heavy like off-road, and pedaling is smooth. Because the wheels used by gravel road bikes have the same standard as road bikes, if you switch to road bike tires, the ride comfort is generally not much different from a regular road bike.

▲Whether on flat roads or uphill, even with off-road tires, cruising and acceleration are quite smooth.

Go on an adventure with Gravel!

Because gravel road bikes can traverse more types of paths, you might want to explore hard-to-reach hidden spots with them, leading to another new term: "Adventure Bike." To go further and challenge more environments, you'll carry more luggage. Therefore, many gravel road bikes are designed with front and rear racks, fender mounting points, or multiple bottle cage mounts to avoid running out of supplies during exploration. This focus on luggage capacity strongly links gravel road bikes to the new popular cycling sport of "bikepacking."

▲Locking points on various parts of the frame allow for the addition of racks, fenders, and various external equipment such as bottle cages.

If cycling isn't just about pursuing speed for you, but about reaching more places and seeking more enjoyment, then a gravel road bike might be the perfect bike for you. Simply by changing out parts like wheels, you can adapt to various travel conditions. Whether it's for long-distance cycling, forest trail exploration, or general road riding, one Gravel Bike can solve all your needs!

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