Many of you looking for a new bicycle are probably struggling to choose one, and that's because there are so many options. There are road bikes that effortlessly achieve top speeds, mountain bikes for downhill and technical climbing in local forests, and compact mini velo bikes suitable for city riding – a wide range of choices.

What if I told you there's a bicycle that combines the best aspects of both road bikes and mountain bikes (MTB)? It actually exists, and it's called a gravel bike. You'd be incredibly delighted, wouldn't you?

Gravel Riding — The New Popular Cycling Trend

Gravel road bikes can be categorized as an intersection of road bikes and mountain bikes. To some extent, gravel bikes have the benefits of both models: the speed of a road bike and the robustness of a mountain bike. They are lightweight, fast, and efficient on compact surfaces, yet possess sufficient strength and stability.

Versatility is a key factor in the popularity of gravel bikes! While their shape and riding posture may not be as aggressive or efficient as possible, they offer comfort and stability over long distances. Gravel bikes have become the best choice for many cyclists.

As the demand for gravel bikes increases, gravel bike frames have gained considerable popularity. This is certainly due to their versatile characteristics. If you want to go on a long cycling trip, a gravel bike is the perfect choice. Gravel frames are considered the missing link between road bikes and mountain bikes. However, not all gravel bikes perform the same in similar situations.

As one of the most important parts of a gravel bike, a gravel frame must incorporate all the functions of a gravel bike frame. This article is a buying guide that you won't regret if you purchase a gravel road bike frame, and I hope it will be helpful.

The Appeal of Gravel Bike Frames

The first thing you'll notice is that gravel bike frames are light and fast. While you don't necessarily need to go fast, these gravel bikes are designed to be fast on all terrains while remaining comfortable.

Riding a gravel bike allows you to go anywhere, anytime. For example, you can easily ride on almost all road conditions, including city streets, gravel roads, and broken pavement.

Also, while the riding position of a gravel frame is similar to that of a road bike, the geometry is less aggressive, focusing on long-distance compatibility. Gravel road bikes are not for racing, but for exploring, riding with friends, and enjoying adventures.

What kind of gravel bike frame is right for you?

When choosing a new gravel bike frame, there are thousands of different options, and you'll need to consider which one is best and where you want to ride. If your goal is to ride singletrack, you'll need a bike with wide, grippy tires, but if you're aiming for Dirty Kanza, you might consider a lightweight carbon frame with sturdy 650B slick tires.

Mainstream Frame Categories

All-Road Gravel Bike Frames

This is the all-rounder frame in gravel bikes, accounting for the largest share of the gravel bike market. These frames are typically carbon, making them lightweight and easy to handle.

The geometry is slightly more upright and relaxed than a classic road bike or CX bike, with 700C wheels fitted with tires up to 40C. This bike is intended for reaching your destination after a day out and taking road trips with your family.

When taking these long journeys, you'll need plenty of mounting points for bags, water bottles, and even luggage racks. A packed bike will definitely require lower gear ratios to tackle every steep climb you encounter. In most cases, these gravel bikes also have eyelets for fitting fenders.

Adventure Gravel Bike Frames

This category of gravel bike frames is most influenced by mountain bikes, with even slacker head angles and wider wheelbases than all-road bikes. The frame and fork are large enough to accommodate even larger tires, sometimes up to 2.1-inch XC tires with 29-inch wheels.

Since this bike is intended for off-road riding, the larger handlebars provide increased stability. Some bikes also have suspension forks to improve control and comfort. This segment of gravel bikes is equipped with durable and robust components, larger disc brakes, and even dropper posts, familiar from mountain bikes. While this bike shares DNA with mountain bikes, it is faster than mountain bikes on paved and gravel roads.

Bikepacking Gravel Bike Frames

For weekend trips or dream long-distance adventures overseas, you'll need a gravel frame that can withstand whatever you throw at it, while minimizing the possibility of technical issues or frame breakage. This means you'll be looking for a steel or aluminum frame bike, which allows you to embark on your trip without worrying too much about the weight on your bike.

These gravel bike frames are designed to cover long distances every day. What you're looking for is a bike that can handle any situation without compromising comfort, whether it's muddy gravel roads, winding asphalt in the Alps, or the start of a steep climb.

These frames come with balanced geometry and an ergonomic cockpit to keep you most comfortable during hours in the saddle.

Another important aspect of these bikes is their components, technology, and mounting points. Components must be fit for purpose. This means a sensible groupset, not a road bike groupset with a 54t chainring or a 1x system with a small cassette.

Large disc brakes are essential for stopping you and your luggage on steep descents. One of the most important yet overlooked components is tires. For bikepacking adventures, you need grippy all-around tires with low rolling resistance and excellent puncture resistance, preferably 700 x 45C or larger. It's crucial for the fork and frame to have many bolt-on cable routings, as this makes it easy to attach and access all types of bike bags.

Race Gravel Bike Frames

These bike frames are at the other end of the spectrum in this category. As the name suggests, these bikes are all about top speed. The geometry is optimized for a more aggressive, aerodynamic stance, leaning further towards a road bike. Components and frames are also lighter and higher-end to achieve maximum weight reduction.

In this category, carbon or custom titanium framesets are more common. These materials tend to absorb and dampen vibrations better, making racing more comfortable, and a comfortable bike keeps your body fresher for longer. One of the most well-known bikes in this category is the Specialized Diverge.

What material should I choose for the frame?

Not only is the type of frame important, but the material of the frame itself also depends on your needs, and most importantly, your budget. It's clear that someone looking for the perfect bikepacking bike won't be looking at carbon gravel frames. You need a more robust frameset that can support the weight of bikepacking without breaking the frame. There are various types of materials for making frames, each with different characteristics and prices. I will briefly explain these frame materials. The current mainstream frame materials are aluminum and carbon fiber.

Steel Frames

Steel is a very strong material. However, the properties of a bike frame depend entirely on the manufacturer's choice of tubing. You can find everything from inexpensive but very heavy and robust frames to high-end, ultra-thin steel tube constructions. These premium frames come at a considerable price. However, more robust frames are typically used, especially for bikepacking.

Aluminum Frames

Aluminum is one of the most cost-effective frames to manufacture. They offer virtually the same stiffness as carbon frames at a more budget-friendly level. Aluminum does not have damping properties, so you have to compromise on ride comfort. However, an aluminum gravel bike frame combined with a carbon fork and handlebars can still be a lot of fun.

Carbon Frames

The most popular choice is carbon gravel frames. These gravel bikes are very lightweight and stiff. Carbon frames do have some drawbacks: damage from impact is not always visible.

Do you recommend any gravel bike frames?

If you have a sufficient budget, it is recommended to consider brands of carbon gravel bike frames such as Cannondale, De Anima, Factor, Moots, and Trek.

But the reality is, some major brands only sell complete gravel bikes, not just gravel bike frames. Therefore, it's difficult to find many options for gravel bike framesets.

Fortunately, there are many high-quality gravel bike frame manufacturers in China, and they are also very reliable in terms of quality. If you are a beginner to gravel bikes, I recommend purchasing a gravel bike frameset from China. ICAN is one of China's gravel bike frame manufacturers. With a budget of 70,000 yen, you can get the best gravel frame of 2021 on the ICANJP official website.

Titanium Frames

Titanium frames are very popular due to their appearance and special properties.

They are as lightweight as steel, but robust, and offer excellent damping properties. Furthermore, titanium is completely corrosion-resistant. Among all bike frame materials, this is the most expensive. Titanium raw material is very rare, and making titanium frames is labor-intensive and not easy to handle. This is why most titanium frames are custom-built.

Do you recommend used gravel road bike frames?

New? Used gravel frame? Which one do you buy? This is something you have to decide for yourself. Experience shows that after the first 1,500 km, bikes require maintenance such as chain and tire replacement, but the frame is less affected, and a good gravel road frame can last for decades. Therefore, if you don't have a lot of budget, you might consider choosing a cheaper used gravel frame on the market.

How much does a good carbon gravel bike frame cost?

Currently, carbon gravel frames from major brands on the market are sold for over 130,000 yen. However, you can find good carbon gravel frames in China for under 100,000 yen. Most gravel frame manufacturers come from China, where the foundries for major brand frames are located.

Finally

Do you think a gravel frame is worth buying? If you ask me, everyone, whether a roadie or a mountain biker, should own at least one gravel bike. A gravel bike can open up your world to roads you would never visit, or help you maintain your fitness during long, wet off-seasons when the roads are muddy and you can't ride your mountain bike. Everything is possible with a gravel bike. Whatever you want to do, you're sure to find the right frame for your needs and have the best time of your life.