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I think it's just that they are very beginner friendly bikes, and a lot of new gravel bikers are kind of in that Dunning-Kruger phase of this hobby so they come off annoying. Kind of like the people who still start arguments how one speed is better.

Actually the reason here probably is that they are relatively expensive and new, and this forum hates people who take the easy way and just buy things new.

>lighter than an MTB
bike in your pic is over 14kg, canyon hardtail for the same price is 13kg, a decent 100-200 euro 90s mtb is 11kg.

>can do everything a casual MTB does
drop bars really suck on trails with any technical sections. Even a tiny 90s flat bar is better for "casual mtb".

>>1900416
>bike in your pic is over 14kg
sure, but most gravel bikes are around 11-12kg. I'm rocking a steel frame at 10,5kg that's still quite light, considering off-road capability.
>drop bars really suck on trails with any technical sections
did you not read the 'casual' part? I'm not saying it can race an MTB, or even a 90's MTB on a technical single track, but it can ride that trail with some challenge and fun. That's not the point however, cause despite youtube shit, those bikes aren't designed to do radical single track stuff, rather they can get over harder terrain with ease and speed, where most normies would get an MTB, while not even riding stuff that brings out the potential of a proper MTB.

>>1900412
Gravel bikes are hybrids with curvy road bars and good components and this infuriates /n/ because they can only afford heavy shitty BSO hybrids.
Roadies hate gravel bikes because they are not road bikes, and mountain bikers don't give a shit because they are out riding their bikes.

My only take is gravel bikes with tires bigger than 700x40 are retarded. Just get a 29er and call it a day.

>>1900423
Bigger volumes only apply if you use 650B wheels like in OP. You need the volume to measure up in outer diameter and it helps with a more supple ride.
With that said my new 40c tires give more than enough suppleness and grip well on dirt road and gravel

>>1900421
You should be in jail for dropping all those truth bombs.

They were just pushed over toad bikes to casual riders. I. Our opinion it was to their detriment.

Of course if you live in the country on gravel roads or dirt roads or cobbles then a gravel bike is awesome.

I have my front susp mtb and a road bike so Ive yet to buy one yet. Im saving up for a serious upgrade for the road bike but if i see a sub 1500 usd gravel bike ill prob yet one. My mechanics shop sells marins

>>1900423
In my experience 40mm to 45mm are pretty much the same in width and the difference is more dependent on how wide your rim is. A 29er isn't really a solution for everyone, if you actually ride stuff where a gravel bike is optimal. For me wide and straight handlebars are unnecessary and a comfort issue. I don't need suspension and it also adds up to the weight not to mention MTBs now all have a 1x with a tiny chainring, which is only good for climbing on a heavy bitch like that. At the end of the day, it's about the tyre thread and how good it is vs. what you are riding. Schwalbe and Gravekings are great tyres for this type of bike, but if you deal with a lot of mud and sand, you should look elsewhere. For example, WTB Nanos are 40mm wide, while Gravelkangz are 43mm. You'd think the latter would be better for tougher terrain, but in reality once mounted, they are pretty much the same in thickness, and Nanos actually deal with mud and sand thanks to the thread. That said, they also wear like crazy on paved and like to leak sealant through sidewalls. So mud or not, I'm with Panaracers and width has nothing to do with it. Also, supple is simple, just go tubeless and not be fat and low pressure is your best friend. 650b is only a thing in America, shit's rare in EU and not worth the price.

>>1900450
Protip: Get a good quality 29er hybrid with flat bar, 3x10, hydro disc, then replace flat bar with alt bar like the Surly Corner bar, apply leather bartape. Put on 40c gravel tire.
Done and under budget.

>>1900453
I'm using 40c Nanos, they measure 42mm on my rim. They are also SG2, and feel supple even with standard tubes.

Rigid MTB is fine. I just don't understand why you would pick drop bars for dirt.

>>1900460
Aero, more hand positions, very important for long rides. What my gripe is most gravel bikes come with dinky road bars with 40-42cm width where a gravel bike benefits from a wider bar like 46-48cm with ~25° flare. There is a reason why there are ridiculous wide bars for gravel with 56cm center width, extreme flare over 35° that extends the width to 68cm and so on.

But we are in the early stages of gravel and we will soon see bastardized gravel bikes with Altus or Tourney level parts (fucking Cues and Microshift) and shitty heavy frames just like with early quality hybrids/cross/all-terrains devolving into Walmart BSOs.
Maybe UCI gravel championship will keep it afloat.

>>1900460
I personally would pick drop bars for anything, just because on longer rides my wrists hurt like fuck when on on flat bars and so does my back. No such problem on drops. Also, the point of gravel bikes vs. MTBs is that you actually do long routes, where shifting your hand position to something natural is a must, at least for me, but I think that I'm not the only one. MTBs used to have those horns for that, but this seems to be a gone trend by now and even considered cringe by some. In any case, drops are more comfy anyway as is the general body position on a gravel bike anyway. As far as 'dirt' goes, it really depends on how hard the dirt is and how long you're gonna be on it. A 20-minute single-track downhill will probably not cause any comfort issue for you, but 4 hours even on a flat gravel road across some fields can cause serious wrist and arm pain for some people (like me).
I'm not really trying to shill gravel bikes here as the end-all, be-all bike, but for what I ride, MTBs have been a frustrating and painful experience for me, hence I went gravel and while some shit about those bike still annoys me:
>high cost
>high maintenance cost
>tubeless pretty much being a must on some bikes, and then being a must once you try it
>tubeless maintenance once a year
>disc brakes being expensive and not really all that beneficial for the use
All I can say is for me, an MTB is not a viable option and a road bike is completely out of the question cause shit roads and shit traffic and asshole cagers. Gravel is expensive, but I have money to spend and it's something I love doing (riding not spending), so this a "fuck you, I like it" post if anything else, but I considering where I stand, I still don't get the hate on /n/ while specialized stuff like delivery 3-wheelers or full-carbon fixies get a pass.

>>1900412
The "gravel culture" is mostly a bunch of consoomers willing to drop thousands on a glorified hybrid. In my opinion, gravel fills a niche in the market that no one needs, considering that MTBs were doing a good enough job and are much more effective at what they do.
I think the popularity of gravel is mostly due to aggressive marketing from manufacturers, especially at this point, when Giant or Specialized are making gravel bikes with suspension. They don't serve too much of a purpose, and the average gravel cyclist will do better with a mountain bike either way.
Oh, I might also add that the UCI Gravel Championship was won by road bikes with thick tires, with most of the riders using road groupsets, as opposed to the "gravel-specific" ones.
It's fun to ride one, but it's more fun to have an actual off-road capable mountain bike.

>>1900450
>Of course if you live in the country on gravel roads or dirt roads or cobbles then a gravel bike is awesome.
This is exactly why I did end up getting one, since my workplace has fancy bike benefit here in euroland. Not to mention, when I got mine, there wasn't any road bikes available in companion stores that fit the price range.
Later on ended up getting a cyclocross bike as upgrade to my BSO commuter, and seems like even roadies like those for shit weather bikes here.

>>1900462
>Aero, more hand positions, very important for long rides
I'd cut aero here, it's kind of a thing only when you got wind in your face, but hand positions is the more important part. There were handlebars released in recent years that had the potential of drops but accommodated MTB levers. Can't recall what it's called, but the thing looked like the best of both worlds as in you don't need to spend more money on brifters, still can use bar-tape, keep everything cheap and simple and have the hand positions.
>But we are in the early stages of gravel and we will soon see bastardized gravel bikes with Altus or Tourney level parts (fucking Cues and Microshift) and shitty heavy frames just like with early quality hybrids/cross/all-terrains devolving into Walmart BSOs.
I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions on this one. Decathlon, being the normie sports brand has gravel bikes that are... actually not terrible, are more affordable than anything else and they give you free service. As much as I hate corporate brands and everything that goes with them, if a friend asked me to recommend the cheapest gravel bike... I hate to say it, but I'd tell him to get a Triban. I've ridden it, and while it ain't anything to write home about, it rides decent, then there's the price and in current times that free service isn't a bad thing, if you live in a place where there's not pro-level bike-service around. Also, some top level bikes are using Microshift components nowadays (I assume due to parts shortage?) and they aren't bad. Microshift cassettes for example are the same as Sunrace. My boss has a cheap Triban road bike and that shit is actually a good ride, nothing wrong with the shifters, cranks and all that, I'd compare it to something like Shimano Sora, with maybe a bit less smoothness. It gets the job done and they fix it right and quick, no charge (not sure how long the warranty lasts, but at least 2 years I think).

Gravel bad

>everyone riding gravel
>prices through the roof

DECATHLON PLEASE SAVE US POORFAGS

>>1900467
>The "gravel culture" is mostly a bunch of consoomers willing to drop thousands on a glorified hybrid.
I wasn't asking about what is reddit. I also don't think that there is such a thing as "gravel culture" anymore. Trendies go more and more for "drop-bart MTBs" and eventually just MTBs, cause their favorite tuber just can't figure out a way to make content without constantly overbiking.
>In my opinion, gravel fills a niche in the market that no one needs
Fair enough, but I can tell you that it fills a very specific nieche in the market that for example I need. Not sure about history here, but I was fed up with MTBs being the universal bikes, did a lot of research on fixies only to find them a fun thing that doesn't work for what I need and eventually stumbling upon gravel, which I had no knowledge of, then started digging and learned that that is exactly the type of bike I need.
>gravel bikes with suspension. They don't serve too much of a purpose, and the average gravel cyclist will do better with a mountain bike either way.
I agree on the purpose thing, suspension is for jumping, but people will still be fooled by marketing to buy shit just because they can't into softer bar tape, lower pressures and other ways to deal with hand pain.
>the popularity of gravel is mostly due to aggressive marketing
You might be right, but I think there might also be another reason. You're average dad goes into a bike shop, he wants a bike that is comfy, cheap and can do all terrain. A proper MTB is not in his sights and a road bike is out of the question. So the shop guy suggests a cross-bike. An MTB-like with thinner tyres and shit components, shit-welded frame and Tourney gears. A few years ago, the dad would buy that crap for himself, his wife and a smaller version for the kid who would hate him for that forever. But now, lo and behold we got this bike that covers all your dad bases and looks cool and is not made of shit parts.

>>1900412
>Why does /n/ hate gravel bikes?
I don't speak for all of /n/ but I'm triggered by "gravel bikes" because it has always been a thing and the aggressive marketing for it makes it a tired meme without exhausting the form factor from market saturation yet, unlike the 90s MTB which was memed so hard it proliferated the market leading to low cost bikes that achieves and exceeds the capabilities of the gravel bike. We've gone through this before on /n/ and compared geometries, gravel bikes are no shit 90s rigid MTBs with drop bars and 700c wheels while companies are charging a premium because it's in demand. Just like the 80s OTS that came before the 90s rigid MTB, their popularity stems from achieving an optimal price-performance ratio thanks to the abundant supply during the days they were manufactured. That premium on gravel bikes might be why there won't be a 20s gravel bike meme 30 years from now.

>>1900476
>we got this bike that covers all your dad bases and looks cool and is not made of shit parts
It was like that when the hybrids started in late 80s, MTB like geo with thinner 29" tires and flat bars, good frame and good parts. It was so popular that soon everyone and their dog was welding shitters and selling hybrids and put on shitty parts to increase profits. And the walmart BSO was born.
see
>>1899278
and
>>1899282

>>1900412
Honestly I would recommend myself two years ago when I had 0 training to start witha gravel bike instead of the crappy hybrid I bought.
But now I own bot a lightweight roadbike and a cheap but durable aluminium hardtail MTB and Im happy as fuck. probably would have sold teh grabbel anyway.

>>1900488
>It was like that when the hybrids started in late 80s, MTB like geo with thinner 29" tires and flat bars, good frame and good parts.
I had one of those during my high school days like 20 years ago, it was marketed as an "all-terrain bike" aka ATB. I got it used and it was already like 20 years old at the time but I forgot the brand of it, it was a steel frame bike with flat bar and thumb shifters on a 2x6 gearing system and a 27x1-3/8" wheel and tires (ISO 630, not 622). I really liked that bike

>>1900455
this. or are people regularly going above 30kph against atrocious winds?
and the flat bars are better for dealing with any gravel a road bike cannot handle...

>>1900496
The catch is getting a good bike to start with, all hybrids are trash except for gravel bikes.

>>1900412
I'm confused why a gravel bike coats you more in maintenance.
My gravel bike is a road bike but with mountain bike parts, except the brifters.

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>>1900423
I agree with this.drop bars and mtb wheels is silly. And drop bars that are so flared that they are basically just curvy mtb bars, combined with mtb wheels is retarded

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For me a gravel bike is
>Endurance road bike
>But you can fit big tires
>And a rack and maybe panniers or bags

A fast-enough do-it-all bike. A touring-lite bike.

I feel like a reason people sperg out about gravel bikes is because they include stuff like what I described, but also nightmare in picrel

>>1900498
Wrong dude..there are so many cash money 90's hybrids with nice steel frames and good geometry. 700c with clearance for 44mm tires, cantis posts..ugh the dream

>>1900421
>mountain bikers
>riding their bikes
they are driving their bikes around in the back of the ute

>>1900460
my two bikes are a midnight special and a rigid karate monkey. i love them both

>>1900476
>suspension is for jumping
Not really. The main benefit of suspension is keeping the wheels in contact with the ground while going over rough terrain to give better brake and steering control.

I am in two minds about a short travel suspension fork on gravel bikes. On the one hand I have never felt a need for one (but that is mainly on smooth fire roads and single track), but on the other hand I can see the benefit if you do a lot of riding on poorly maintained and rough trails.

>>1900515
>Wrong dude..there are so many cash money 90's hybrids with nice steel frames and good geometry.
Oh nice, I assume I can purchase one from my LBS?

>>1900496
>and the flat bars are better for dealing with any gravel a road bike cannot handle..
Having rode both road and gravel bikes on gravel, the gravel is more comfortable and more capable.

>>1900486
>because it has always been a thing and the aggressive marketing
>>1900467
> popularity of gravel is mostly due to aggressive marketing from manufacturers
Where does this line about gravel being aggressively marketed come from? I worked in a bike shop over the past few years and saw no marketing for gravel. The marketing I do see for gravel in my social media feed is on par with MTB and road. When I am out riding, I don't really see any gravel bikes.

>>1900467
>In my opinion, gravel fills a niche in the market that no one needs, considering that MTBs were doing a good enough job and are much more effective at what they do.
But here is the catch, gravel bikes and MTBs are designed for different use cases. Gravel, going far and fast on gravel and paved roads. MTB, going fast over rough and technical single track.

>>1900423
After going from 45mm to 55mm I don't see myself going back, it's just so much more comfortable. Wide XC tires are really fast these days so 40mm touring tires makes zero sense to me unless you are a weight weenie or need clearance for fenders.

>>1900556
>Where does this line about gravel being aggressively marketed come from?
A new market appeared and everyone wanted a piece of the cake while having nothing else to shill. All manufacturers tried to sell their new product and flooded the market and press with it. I guess this is what felt like aggressive marketing to a lot of people

>When I am out riding, I don't really see any gravel bikes.
This so much. I saw a whopping five last year on the road (including myself) compared to dozens of fancy roadbikes and hundreds of E-MTBs. This place always acts like theyre the biggest thing currently but you hardly ever see any of them.

t. not the guy you replied to

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>>1900594
>I guess this is what felt like aggressive marketing to a lot of people
Honestly it just sounds like manufactures marketing the latest product. I would say enduro MTBs have had more aggressive marketing over the last decade. This new category of high performance race bike emerges and the cycling industry tells everyone that they need to buy one, even if it is completely overkill for their riding/skill level (picrel).

>>1900659
I still have no idea what "enduro" bike means. Downhill yes, XC yes, but enduro eludes me.

>>1900674

Versatile XC geometry, long fully suspension and wide tire clearance as in DJ bikes. Maybe? Not sure either.

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>>1900412
>Why does /n/ hate gravel bikes?
I don't, I have one and I love it.

These are true:
>>lighter than an MTB
>>can do everything a casual MTB does
>>versatile
>>works well as a touring bike
>>great commuter if you have shitty roads
>>comfy thanks to dropbars
>>wide choice of bikes to cover your riding needs
>>fun as fuck
these however are utter bullshit:
>>almost as quick on paved roads as a road bike
>>a lot faster on paved that an MTB
SPECIALLY with those MTB tyres some love to put in their grebbel bikes. Tyres makes the biggest difference in any bike, this is not detable. The geometry makes some difference, but not much, you get the feeling you're going faster because you're feeling more of the road imperfections due to the lack of suspension. So if you do that and add gigantic MTB tyres, you're just riding a rigid MTB with dropbars. Which in my opinion aren't more confortable when riding on anything I wouldn't take my road bike on.
But then again, who cares? Ride whatever. They're great bikes, yes, just stop being obnoxious about it. It's just a bike.

>>1900692
>rockrider
I'm sorry for you, anon

>>1900706
It's pronounced "cockrider". anyway, when did you last go outside?

>>1900708
At weekend, the week was a morning to evening grind. Won't be riding anytime soon though, bike is getting its shiny shiny Ultegras in the front and shiny shiny XT in the back, will have to wait longer for the new handlebar which is keeping up the works.

>>1900674
>>1900682
Enduro is a category of full suspension MTB designed to race downhill trails similar to what you would on a downhill bike, but are also designed to be capable of slowly climbing (including up technical climbs).. Differences in design between enduro and downhill bikes include 12sp wide-range groupsets, suspension that is 2-3cm shorts, geometry skewed towards climbing, dropper posts, lighter frames and components, suspension designed for better pedalling efficinency.

That all being said, you have enduro bikes like the Norco Range that can be built up as downhill bikes.

>>1900697
>these however are utter bullshit:
On a gravel bike you can comfortably sit on 25-30 km/h on the road. On a road bike you would be 30-40km/h and on an MTB you would be closer to 20 (depending on type of MTB).

>>1900412
can do all that shit on a 2010s hybrid for about 10th of the price.

>>1900758
>On a gravel bike you can comfortably sit on 25-30 km/h on the road. On a road bike you would be 30-40km/h and on an MTB you would be closer to 20 (depending on type of MTB).
as the guy said, the tyres matter more than the frame/type of bike. if you want to go fast get low rolling resistance tyre.

>>1900764
>2010s hybrid
shhh, /n/ is still about 15 years away from shilling naughties hybrids as the next meme bike. If you spoil the secret now, everyone will buy one before I can have a chance to build a collection to profit from

>>1900758
>On a gravel bike you can comfortably sit on 25-30 km/h on the road
I comfortably sit on 67 km/h on my gravel bike on road. I did not pedal it up to that speed, rather let gravity do it's magic. I thought I was doing 40-50 then I looked at the speedo, didn't look at it again until I got down the descent. I was still accelerating so the top speed was well above 70 and had to brake a lot.
The couple cars behind me were like maybe passing but decided nah and gave me 20m space in front of them not to run me over.
Coming from MTB this was quite the thrill. What really surprised me is how good the bike handled at speed, didn't even feel it.

>>1900758
>>1900758
>gravel bike you can comfortably sit on 25-30 km/h on the road. On a road bike you would be 30-40km/h
A generic gravel bike is a road bike. The tires are not slowing you down, not more than what 15 watts.

>>1900814
> A generic gravel bike is a road bike
Retard take

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>>1900819
What comes to the general cycling discourse, it's the closest definition to the truth. It's actually the first sentence for "gravel bike" definition in finnish wikipedia.

>>1900697
>>1900765
Just having ~40 cm wide drop bars instead of ~80 cm wide flat bars makes gravel bikes a lot faster than MTBs on roads. Even if the geometry is the exact same on both the MTB will be a lot slower because of aero. And gravel bike geometries put you in a more aero position than MTB geometries if you're looking at the same size bikes. Pretty much the only difference between gravel and road bikes is tires, change the tires to road tires and you've basically got an endurance road bike. Even with well rolling gravel tires you're pretty close to wide not top tier road tires. So yes they're almost as fast as road bikes.

Aero is by far the biggest thing slowing you down when you're getting to road speeds. Sure tires are easily noticeable and they do matter, but there's going to be a massive difference in aero between 29er and gravel bike on the same tires.

>>1900819
What differentiates a generic gravel bike from a road bike? Wider tire clearance? But at what point do you classify one a gravel bike and not a road bike? The answer is marketing, you might have the exact same frame and market it as gravel or endurance road bike depending on what you want to do. Gravel bikes are a lot closer to road bikes than they're cyclocross bikes. Cyclocross bikes have decent tire clearance but everything else in the geometry is further away from gravel bikes than your average road bike. They have higher BBs for clearing obstacles, they have steep seat tubes, they have aggressive, and fast handling geometry to go around tight cyclocross tracks. That's the opposite of gravel bike geometry. Thrn there's those extreme gravel bikes that are resembling a hardtail MTB, but they're by no means what people mean when they speak about gravel bikes.

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$700 hybrid
+
$15 barends installed in the middle of the flat bar, in order to simulate the brifters position

here's your 95% gravel bike for 50% the price, brother

>>1900835
Damn you just made road bikes obsolete

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>>1900835
>>1900840

>>1900835
my flat bar is thicker in the middle those thing doesn't work for me

>>1900849
This is perhaps the most retarded handlebars ever be conceived

>>1900855
>oh no no no all the money I spent on road kit was for naught!

>>1900712
I sincerely hope you're trolling and I'm just being slow. If not this is actually really sad.

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>>1900412
they think its a new trend but its actually how bikes used to be also lycra fags realizing they've been fed lies all their life and cant handle it

/n/ is one of the most retarded boards iv been
I mean seriously look at all these walls of text of cope on this low quality bait thread

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>>1900858
Just buy this, flip it and put hood knobs on there and that's the same thing for 30 euros.

Tho I don't really know what's the point of drop bar if the drop is 5cm, it's 60cm wide and the hoods arent comfortable. Wouldn't something like a ritchey kyote do the same thing for 500g less weight?

>>1900874
>monkeying gravel
>weight weening
>on a hybrid bso
You just proved the poorfag /n/ cope. It's not a meme anymore

>>1900899
>spending less money is le bad
stop being poor and worrying so much about coming across as thrifty.

>>1900914
There's a difference being poor and trying to cope that your poorfag equipment is just as good as all the expensive stuff, and being thrifty.

>>1900916
sure thing buddy, I'll remember to not have fun on my hybrid BSO the next time I hit up a gravel path.

>>1900412
>lighter than an MTB
Only a problem if you're weak
There is no reason to pick gravel over mtb unless you need every inch of your bike to cover in bags when you drive for a month between populated areas

>>1900465
>just because on longer rides my wrists hurt like fuck when on on flat bars and so does my back. No such problem on drops
how so

>>1900919
Nowhere did I say you can't have fun on your BSO hybrid. But you'd have more fun on a proper bike.

>>1900971
proper = hybrid with drop bars.

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>>1900926
>There is no reason to pick gravel over mtb
There is, if you want to go on tarmac or packed graved at a decent speed.
>>1900960
Might be more or a personal thing, but in general hand position like pic-related for extended periods of time is not natural and causes strain. It's why vertical or spherical keyboards exist. Yeah, you can use horns like >>1900835
, but with how wide MTB bars are nowadays, I don't find them comfortable.
>>1900825
Agreed, and that is why I went with gravel, but bike companies are now doing drop-bar MTBs and other weird shit. NGL some of those bikes look cool, but if I wanted to ride in places where you need an MTB, I'd prefer flat bars.

>>1900863
I'm not trolling, I do have most of the upgrades for my bike. Ultegra brifters, XT RD and cassette, TanPan 11 for RD, but the GRX crankset and BB is in shipping, sitting somewhere, I hope it won't get lost.
The truth is, I can ride the same trails as you, me having fun and you seething knowing I'm having fun. It must suck being a poorfag cope, knowing someone somewhere can afford nice stuff.

>>1901010
No. Proper as in having a good frame that actually fits you and doesn't weigh 20kg alone. Something the original hybrids had in '88-89. The drop bars just bring the added comfort of hand positions and aero posture.

I love gravel bikes, they're perfect commuter bikes. Lots of rack mounts, wide tire clearance, drops position for the stretches of tarmac where you can speed up or to deal with the eternal headwind. As for gravel proper, I always take my mountain bike with flat bars to deal with difficult terrain.

>>1900765
> the tyres matter more than the frame/type of bike. if you want to go fast get low rolling resistance tyre.
Good thing the vast majority of gravel bikes are running lower profile tyres that are 30-40mm and not those MTB tyres.

>>1900814
> A generic gravel bike is a road bike. The tires are not slowing you down, not more than what 15 watts.
Nah, they are different. Comparing my BMC Teammachine to my Giant TCX. The TCX is heavier despite being a carbon frame, frame is not as aerodynamic, frame can accommodate super wide tyres, and the geometry is more relaxed.

>>1900926
> There is no reason to pick gravel over mtb unless you need every inch of your bike to cover in bags when you drive for a month between populated areas

If your off road riding is restricted to dirt roads there is no reason to buy a mountain bike. A gravel bike is better suited to your needs and you will have more fun.

>>1901031
Jesus christ lad take a chill pill. You're picking an argument with someone who rides an aluminium Decathlon hybrid with a suntour greasy spring fork, but ironically they're out riding their bike, and you aren't because *checks notes* half of it is on the slow boat round the cape of good hope. I'm not sure what kind of mental gymnastics is going on here, but this isn't the win you think it is.

>>1900412
I have a gravel bike and actually use it, I even live on a gravel road. Mostly they're a marketing scam though, getting people to buy an over engineered bike.
>I need muh $3000 bombproof bike so I can ride on smooth gravel and post photos of my bike online

>>1900835
I have a used gravel bike I bought for $150, a Bombtrack Arise geared. You don't need to spend a lot, you just need to buy off a boomer who bight a nice bike, lightly used it than bought an e-bike and thinks their old fashioned looking steel bike is worthless kek

>>1900412
its just a hybrid but more expensive and with curly bars it doesnt need

>>1902154
>nice components cost money
>I can't afford them therefore they are bad
>also too insecure to admit being a poorfag so I'll just bash on those curvy bars
I can only imagine how you will seethe knowing my bike sports both Ultegra and XT parts.

>>1900416
90’s mountain bikes are the real dunning kruger lmao go try some bikes

>>1900460
I got a gravel bike last year after 11 years of enthusiast mountain biking and I have absolutely no problems with my drop bars on trails (admittedly it is literally as wide as my 2010 enduro bike’s bars)

Rigid fork? Fuckin gay. Skinny tires? Weak as shit. Inferior drivetrain? Why. But drop bars? Im shocked the mtb guys aren’t even considering trying them, aero bar attachments of all things are nearly standard in multi-day mtb races

>>1900467
That’s because the UCI has no fucking idea what they’re doing and their first “gravel race” course was notoriously road-friendly. That race was widely considered a huge flop.

>>1900476
>roadie giving his opinion
>suspension is for jumping
Every time

>>1900659
I just read that article on these guys lol you’re aware they’re specifically biking to an enduro mountain bike race, where they will be racing their enduro mountain bikes

>>1902181
Of all the things you could do, why would you? Just do what Jeff Kendall-Weed does, and strap your bike on the back of your motor bike.

>>1902180
Agreed I much prefer the opinion of the 40 year old alcoholic on a 3 year licence suspension cruising around in small-small on his child’s mountain bike

>>1902284
Probably thought it would be fun, the absolute madmen

>>1900412
>Dude, you want to ride on gravel?
>You need a special bike for that!

t. marketing department

>>1902503
You'd be surprised at how many retards think having paved roads with a normal amount of cracks and potholes requires bulbasaurus rex 650b donuts and dropper posts because they're too incompetent or obese to watch the pavement and preemptively unweight themselves in the saddle

It's usually those people you see creating bicycle traffic jams on your favorite ride on the first "nice" weekend in the spring, I hate normies so much it's unreal

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1990 muddy fox All Terrain Bike, tange prestige tubing, overbuilt to fuck early XT group, SHITS all over any onions consooming hipsters modern built to last 12-18 months before next consoom is due plastic shite bike.

There is no such thing as a gravel bike you retarded lemming cunts, only bikes that can handle all terrains and bikes that can't. Get on my level or don't, personally I could not care less.

>>1902743
yes you care so little that you posted your mediocre bike with an antagonizing message. those derailleur cables are begging to get snagged on stuff, the hoods are too high, the saddle angle is questionable, and for some reason you are in the lowest gear on a flat street.
>SHITS all over

>>1902748
That anon is right though. You're just malding because you fell for the grabol meme. Guaranteed that bike will outlast whatever chinkcore meme bike you bought for too much money, his awkward setup aside.

>>1902748
Ikr, listing the desirable price-raising features of the bike and claiming other people are the consoomers

>>1902743
this bike looks like the owner has several fungal infections (but luckily no stds because you have to have sex to get those)

>>1902743
>All Terrain Bike
That is a codeword for hybrid. Not a real MTB.

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>>1902743
>mimicking grebbel bikes to the tee
>i-i-it's not like i WANT it, baka!

>>1902776
If you split everything into "road bike", " mtb" and "hybrid", then both "atb" and "gravel" are "hybrids". What's your point?

>suspension is for jumping
i snickered.
all this bickering about tires but not realizing its almost entirely anecdotal and that proportionally a tire tread with a wider profile contact than long will have, ackshually, less rolling resistance.
>muh aero dusnt matter
t. various posters
aero is the greatest source of drag to a cyclist at speed. prove me wrong.
protip: ya cant and wont.

>>1902776
An all terrain bike would probably be a fat bike desu

>>1902511
I look on gravel bike sites sometimes (including le reddit), and these assholes have absolutely bulletproof bikes and they're riding on super smooth gravel lmao

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>>1902748
consoomer cope

>>1902898
I can see that in a non-competitive context there's overlap.

I wouldn't show up to a gravel race with a trek fx, but if I just want to vibe out on a fire path there's no point spending the money for a gravel.

>>1902945
like spending more than the value of the bike on a new drivetrain isn't consooming? at least the cruiser bars look more practical than drop bars.

>>1902898
>>1902933
see
>>1899278
>>1899282

>>1900412
Get a road bike, and a second set of wider sturdier wheels ?

>>1902964
Or get a gravel bike so those wheels with wider tires actually fit and the geometry makes more sense off road

>>1902964
they don't fit, otherwise that's basically a gravel bike

>>1902964
Better yet, get a cyclocross bike.

>>1902964
A modern disc endurance road usually fits at least 32mm, sometimes even 38mm. For most that is enough tire.

>>1902743
>Old ass mtb with drops
>Nice steel, feels like a boat and weight 28 lbs
>We are supposed to be impressed

>>1903207
I use 40mm but I want 50mm.
Just because your stupid little brain comes up with a turd of a thoght doesn’t mean it applies to everyone else

>>1903151
Now that's giga ret

The Big Cycle wants to sell me the same bike AGAIN.
We've been thru this with the monster cross, Besides I want something truly innovative.
Where TF are my 30 years of development on the infamous lotus/cheetah frame? Were are the 'bents? Better ergonomics? Less weight? Cutting edge materials? Any thought put in the drive components?
It's always The Same Old Bullshit or the e-Same Old Bullshit. Fuck that.

>>1902963
Yeah bikepacking.com is great for rich yuppies without any meaningful interests

>>1904281
You can say that about any other bike.
New MTB? Big bike just want to sell me the same bike again, only the top tube is a little lower.
New road bike? Big bike just want to sell me the same bike again only the head angle is 0.3° different.
New hybrid bike? Big bike just yadda yadda this time with a motor inside.
You have something seriously loose in your head, mate. Nobody is forcing you to buy a new bike every week it's all in your head.

>>1904321
How is someone else being wealthy conducive to your argument. How is someone elses interests, lack thereof or lack of 'meaningfulness' of those (I wonder who is to be the judge on that, (You)?) relevant to any argument. Both appear to be ad hominem ublnless there is a case to be made that those traits specifically matter in the discussion at hand.

>>1900412
I ride tri bikes through gravel at times. Me personally, I am hardly ever confronted with the need to venture into terrain that is beyond what you can do on 20mm tires. So I can always push for the bike for the last mile if needed. I'm not saying everyone is like me or in my situation but the thing is: I imagine a gravel bike only gets you ever so slightly more of those capabilities. Such miniscule improvement is just not worth the extra bike. Sure, when the gravel is deep and loose the front wheel sinks in and you're forced to stop. But realistically the conditions can only get so much worse until you find yourself forced off a gravel bike too. On my 'utility' bike then again I expect to get just as far as the gravel bike.
Now a MTB is something different. It's purpose built. Speed is not a consoderation, it's optimized to get you through as much adverse terrain as possible on any bike. Thats not a mere marginal advantage and as such MTB is a category of bike that is more relevant to be differentiated.

Guys, it's my fault. I'm the target demographic. I was looking for a gravel bike before gravel bikes were a meme. I'm the demand for this product that companies are now supplying. It's my fault we have gravel bikes now. Sorry, not sorry. I like my road bars, 40 mm supple tyres and hydraulic dick brakes.

>italy
>on the road I see plenty road bikes, and some MTB getting from one trail to the other
>on trail, all MTB from shitty to very good ones. plenty lazy cunts on e-mtbikes.
>still has to see Gravel anywere.

Were are italian gravelfags riding?

>>1904719
>on the road
You are looking in the wrong place
Also Italy is giga gay so they would be riding e-mtb or fatbikes on the street dressed in gay suits

>>1900467
>road bikes with thick tires

I've been under the impression that's like half of what a gravel bike is

>>1900798
>I comfortably sit on 67 km/h on my gravel bike on road. I did not pedal it up to that speed, rather let gravity do it's magic.

Hooligan.

They are piles of shit designed for Freds. If you live in Girona or America where there are loads of actual gravel roads, then they are great. Other than that they are piles of shit. Marketing bikes.

If you are into serious road cycling, ie 20 hours or more a week, then get a real fucking road bike with rim brakes and external cables and leave the marketing horseshit to the sissified niggers that watch gcn.

>>1905779
What's the other half?

>>1905871
>They are piles of shit designed for Freds. If you live in Girona or America where there are loads of actual gravel roads, then they are great. Other than that they are piles of shit. Marketing bikes.
>If you are into serious road cycling, ie 20 hours or more a week, then get a real fucking road bike with rim brakes and external cables and leave the marketing horseshit to the sissified niggers that watch gcn.

I disagree. A single chainring drop bar bike with tyres wider than a road bike, but narrower than a MTB, is actually very versatile and can do everything.

>>1906094
plus if you go steel frame/racks/dynamo it makes an awesome commuter/utility/light touring/bikepacking rig. i do kind of wish for a 2x, but whatever

Due to advances in technology, materials and applied knowledge, the typical "gravel bike" of 2023 is more capable at both road and crosscountry, than dedicated bikes of 30 years ago.

>>1905871
Extremely based and correct

>>1905871
>then get a real fucking road bike with rim brakes

even this is a dumb take. If you live somewhere with rainfall, discs are better. This is just chud contrarianism.

>>1906101
discs are less aero and more weight, they are harder to maintain and fix and more expensive.

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There is no need for 'Gravel bike™' to exist. We all know it is simply a clever bit of branding by multinational bike churner-outers that has no basis in reality.
Every bike can cope with light off road riding, some better than others, and even those that may struggle can be easily adapted to better suit whatever surface you consider to be gravel.

The reason /n/ hates Gravel™ is because it's fucking bullshit marketing aimed at retard consoomers, and as such it insults the intelligence of anyone remotely knowledgeable about or experienced with cycling.
an extra 3-5mm on your tyre width is all that's required, it's not rocket science, no new geometry is needed, no radical rethinking of the bicycle as a concept is required, the bike is a solved technology, any good bike from the past 150 years is a gravel bike ffs. So if you bought one of these you are a fool and a retard.

>>1900412
what's the CHEAPEST way to get hold of a decent half frame bag? I'm not ready to spend $100 on something like that wtf.

>>1906105

If the Tour de France is a mix of rim & disc, an ordinary citizen should not concern himself with the weight penalty of disc. Choice of frame material is far more consequential for a leisure rider and even then one kilo this way or that way doesn't matter.

>>1906116
It's amazing how the industry managed to convince the consooooooming public that weight matters when it comes to frames, but not when it comes to everything else. There are lads who cycle to work on carbon frames with groupsets, tyres, rims and spokes of the heavy variety and then they are attaching racks, fenders and other accessories that are also cheap and therefore overweight. But funniest of all is themselves, fat and out of shape wearing heavy coats, cargo pants with pockets filled with junk and work boots ffs. Then they'll have the temerity to sneer at my steel frame when my bike with all accoutrements weighs in at under 9.5 kg and my lean athletic frame is bedecked in ultralight cycling wear.

There's even one twat with a carbon ebike, and he brags that the battery is 3kg!

>>1906116
there is only one team that uses rim now.

>>1906117
actually aero matters more now.

>>1906119
Round is aero

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>>1906156
Round is actually not aero, you want teardrop shaped tubes

>>1906160
I wasn’t talking about tubes

>>1906160
Just embrace wind resistance, see it an opportunity to overcome something, and anyway, no matter how aero your frame may be your risible fat form will completely negate any potential benefits.

Aero matters to two kinds of people, racers, and I mean serious career athletes for whom every hundredth of a second can mean the difference between feeding themselves or not, and Global Bike Inc execs who need to employ ever more creative and insane ways of convincing retards to buy more overpriced but ultimately pointless consoomer bullshit.

>>1906113
>Tell me europoor without telling me

>>1906175
>Consumer cope auto-response
Well done, you expertly dismantled all his arguments, the way you took his points apart reminds me of a surgeon artfully wielding his scalpel.

Raced cx, hwy 1 touring trip, single track, lunch rides with roadies, etc. The adaptability is unparalleled.

Saying the bike is a solved technology is not objective.

The only people who have ever expressed disdain have been road cyclists who don't appreciate the buzzing of knobbies on pavement when I ride in a group.

>>1906179
>Annoying people with noise
>They tell you to fuck off
Yeah sure they are the morons. Not you who runs stupid fucking tires on tarmak.

>>1906181
>autism

Hey, I saw your post about road bikes and I wanted to offer a different perspective. I used to be all about road bikes, but I gotta say, I think gravel bikes are the way to go for most cyclists.

First off, gravel bikes are way more versatile. You can tackle all sorts of terrain that you just can't do on a road bike. And let's be real, who doesn't love a little adventure on their ride? Plus, those wider tires and disc brakes mean you have way more control and stopping power, which is especially important if you're hitting some technical terrain.

But it's not just about the terrain, it's also about comfort. That more relaxed geometry on a gravel bike means you're not all hunched over like a roadie. And those wider tires mean you can roll over bumps and cracks without feeling every jolt. Plus, if you're doing any kind of touring or long-distance rides, the added comfort is a game-changer.

I'm not saying road bikes don't have their place, but for the majority of cyclists out there, I think gravel bikes are the better choice. They're just more fun, versatile, and comfortable, which is what riding should be all about.

>>1906838
chatGPT wrote this post

>>1906839
Hey, just to clarify, I'm not ChatGPT. I'm just a fellow Redditor who wants to chat about gravel bikes. What do you think makes them superior to road bikes?

>>1900412
because of these threads

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>>1906113
OH NONONONONONONONO GRAVELSISTERS WE HAVE BEEN FOUND OUT!!

This post goes so hard, it is so fucking true it hurts.

>>1906899
>autism

>>1900692
St-520? Why do you call it gravel

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>>1906909

>>1906838
Wow faggot you just described a hybrid commuter bike. The entire point of road bikes is to go fast on long touring rides, which by nature a gravel bike can’t do. Your “adventure” is dodging buckshot from Bubba as you ride on grass and rocks in random countryside that no one gives a shit about. “Versatility” in biking isn’t a good thing, it means it does nothing well

Can’t use it for triathlons or group rides, too slow

Can’t use it in snow like a true fat tire bike

Can’t use it for mountain biking, have dumb drops

So if you want a bike that allows you to be the worst at whatever activity you decide to pursue then yes it’s a great purchase, or you can use it to do a gravel race and afterwards trade tomagachis and any other meme activity that won’t be around in 5 years

>>1906961
>can't mountain bike with drops
lol

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>>1906961
>can’t mountainbike
Actually true, MTBers take the lift or the shuttle up the mountain
Picrel, me climbing a mountain

>>1907057
Kek

>>1900412
Maybe because they are exactly what industry took from us. Before slapping a new name onto it and reinteoducing it only to enable selling the most basic thing at a markup.

The market diversified and categories of bikes specialised at an increasing rate. You can not anymore buy a 'normal bike'. You'll get at least the 'suspension' fork. Oh you don't want that ? There you go road bike, 23mm tires. Oh you eont always be on clean pavement ? There you go fullsus on big fat knobbies. What do you mean 'normal bike'.
Gravel bike is the 'normal bike' of the past. 30ish tires, solid fork and rear, comfy enough saddle, comfy enough position, sturdy enough. A bailout gear too.

>>1906095
1x or 2x largely depends on your location. If you live somewhere that's pancake flat 1x can be a great option. But for someone living around lots of elevation changes 2x might make more sense.

>>1906113
Your own picture proves that gravel bikes aren't a new concept. /n/ shills rigid 90s MTBs as great bikes because of poorfaggotry. Gravel bikes are essentially the evolution of those bikes. And in the current bike market they're by far the best general purpose bikes available. Geometry does have an effect on how bikes handle. And the "gravel" geometry is pretty damn good for general riding on relatively smooth surfaces.

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>>1907059
>selling the most basic thing at a markup
I don't get this point. The grx groupset seems to be the only one bringing hydraulics and clutches on rear derailleurs on drop bars with no competition at that price point. Their road hydraulic counterpart groupsets are similar in price.
The only thing I'm noticing is that most people who are 'serious' about gravel bikes have enough money to buy them pre assembled and don't want to fuck with building their own.
There are not enough poorfags (like me) who want wide tyres with drops for the market to provide an ultra-budget option, if you don't want to spend at least 1-1.5k then you're going to have to frankenstein your own mullet with some mechanical disc brakes.

>>1906961
If you're too slow for group rides with a gravel bike that has road tires then the problem is you not the bike.

Gravel bike is the ideal winter commuting bike. As long as the paths are plowed then it's far superior to fat bike. On an average winter here, from early December to early April, there are less than handful of days where a fatbike would be better for commutes.

Drop bars are fine.

>>1906165
>ultimately pointless consoomer bullshit.
why is being able to go faster bullshit?

>>1907063
>gravel bike that has road tires then the problem is you not the bike.
a gravel bike with road tires is a road bike.

>>1907067
We're not talking about significant differences when it comes to whether or not your seat post is tear drop shaped as opposed to round. For 99.9% of all cyclists the difference would be imperceptible, and probably within the margin of error. You'll gain more speed simply by taking a shit before you ride, or by wearing lighter shoes or timing your farts downstrokes.

This bizarre obsession with aero is just like the grabbel madness, it's just the industry selling bullshit to retards who need to consoom. And everybody knows it.

>>1907069
You might think so but they aren't the same. The geometries are massively different.

>>1907122
Each separate aero upgrade might not make a big difference but they do add up to something that's easily noticeable.

>>1907125
Yeah, they're road bikes with endurance geometries.

>>1907062
I use XT mech with Ultegra shifters via tanpan. GRX 1x is actually gimped to fuck, no SGS cage so no actual wide range ability

>>1907062
Also TRP has road hydro brake levers and you can use a barend shifter for an MTB mech

>>1907057
You call that a mountain?

>>1902743
>saddle
>hoods
lmao

>>1907062
What I mean is that this type of 'bike', the gravel bike, which has formerly been known simply as 'bike' is the basic interpretation of a bicycle.
I hope you notice that groupsets being marketet as 'MTB', 'road' or anything specific has no bearing on their actual suitability for an application. It may be correct that lately more features have been introduced into some ranges but this is merely an expression of the diversification I've been criticising. In fact I wouldn't call it far fetched if someone was to assume the fact that you feel confronted with some features being limited to 'gravel bikes' was nothing but part of the marketing strategy of pushing said category. You argument seems to fall apart to me. 'No competition at that price point'. See what they did there ? So yeah, 'bike' is 'gravel bike' now and got similarly expensive as any specialised class of bike.

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>>1907376
What if I really, truly don't care what it's called and it still has everything I'm looking for? Wider tyres, drops with hydraulic brifters, rear mech clutch, sub 25 to 100+ gear inches, all the bosses for racks, fenders, bags etc.
The one thing I truly hate is the absolute mess that are cable pull ratios that, unless you want to spend another 50 € on a pulley adapter, limit you to using road mechs with brifters. And, while shimano really is especially guilty of that, sram didn't really put out anything in the low-mid budget to solve that and just went full retard with the 1x meme.

>'No competition at that price point'. See what they did there ?
What did "they" do? The cheapest sram hydro brifters are double the price of the cheapest shimano's, and they're 1x. Again, If I'm building up a bike I will spend more trying to mix and match shimano's cheapest hydraulic road brifters (same price as the grx ones btw) and the cheapest clutched rear mech then worry if shifting down the front mech will throw the chain into the spokes.
I'm not throwing money on experiments with adapters or TRP hydraulic brakes and thumb shifters. I'm done with that rabbit hole and the headache is not worth it. If I wanted to cheap out I would just stick with my picrel setup.

>got similarly expensive as any specialised class of bike
Poorfags haven't been buying anything with drop bars for two decades now, let alone some hypothetical experiment-gone-mass-produced aluminum bike with tektro hoods, v brakes and friction shifters.

>>1907283
It is well above 1000ft unlike your hills

>>1907424
I think you're not getting it since youre repeating a flawed argument.

>>1907432
From the valley or sea level

>>1901031
>>1901101
have those parts arrived yet lad lmao

>>1907549
Already built it, Bubba. AUW 8.6kg

>>1907424
>What if I really, truly don't care what it's called and it still has everything I'm looking for?
schizos on 4chan will never understand this approach because they're still stuck in their juvenile consolewars-tier fanboy stage of teenage development despite being 25-40 year old men using a shitposting board for freaks

>>1907424
>Poorfags haven't been buying anything with drop bars for two decades now
You're just proving his point, you're easily impressionable and come up with random bullshit like this to pretend that drop bar bikes are supposed to be something special worth the extra price tag.
If you can get a 500€ bike with hydraulic brakes, there's little reason for one to be unable to get a road bike with hydraulic brakes around that price, other than marketing considerations, of course.

>>1907424
Shimano mtb brakes are $20 and sram shifters are $20, both being suitable for pro level usage, I agree that roadies are retarded and paying 5x more for their products just because the average roadie lives in California

Not a single dropper post in the thread.

>>1907568
post a photo lad

>>1907594
Thanks for the sanity check.

>>1907647
>you're easily impressionable and come up with random bullshit like this to pretend that drop bar bikes are supposed to be something special worth the extra price tag
I'm describing the current situation, not justifying it or projecting my opinions, retard.
Drop bar bikes haven't been the everyman's choice in the west since the 90s, mountain bikes replaced them.
Disc brakes have been standard on MTBs for almost two decades. That's two decades of having a massive lower-middle class market for r&d to take advantage of and trickle down flat-bar hydraulic disc brakes to the (relatively) absurdly low price they currently are.
Drop bar hydro bikes never had and probably never will have that large untapped pool of lower-class demand that could push r&d to trickle them down in price.

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>>1908147
>lower-class demand that could push r&d to trickle them down in price.

Oh yeah thank god for the trickle down mechanical disk brake technology.
The crappiness of cable guided brakes, with the noise and umpleasantness of disk brake chafing and squealing at every stop. Hydro will always cost more money because fluids handling require higher standards.

By the way OP I dont give a crap about bikes branded as "gravel", Road bikes have always been thrown around gravel and cobblestone roads. It's just marketing and in the end the more people embrace cycling the better.

>>1908147

It's a fucking bike not a spaceship.

>>1908176
I want to take bicycle design to be on the same level as spaceship design.
I will be the bicycle scientist from /n/
Successfully distilling all the memes into one legendary bike. Lately I've been mulling over what the best rim braking surface would be. I've thought of _glazed_ ceramic, idk material science though.

>>1900412
>I get all the meme-tech criticism and just get a 90's MTB, but at the end of the day, the only drawback is the price of entry and the price of maintenance
yep, 90's mtb on slicks wins

>>1908266
Reverse thrusters.

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>>1908266
Have you not seen Pink Bike's Grim Donught?

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Ok fuckers, I'll bite the bullet in a few weeks. Got a checkpoint alr4 for pretty cheap around my area, might check it soon.
I never owned a disk brake bike, and I only had wider tyres on my old ass cheapo steel MTB. I hate that my 23mm rock the fuck out when going over curbs or the slightest piece of terrain that isn't smooth tarmac. I'll be swapping the gravelkings for 32mm zaffiros and ride mostly on dirt/paved paths. Wish me luck.

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>>1908266
basalt helps with heat resistance, some of the older wheel rims had Ceramic coating but it wears off,
now here is something, so far as I know Servowave has never been applied to hydraulic rim brakes.
although this would only be useful if the wheel was extremely well trued

I don't understand why gravel bikes are hailed as the next big thing when >90% of the population lives some dozens of miles away from any extensive network of gravel roads.

>>1908386
Because it's more comfortable, and people don't really care about going 5kph faster if they are more miserable while doing so and can't even climb cobblestone roads without puking.

>>1908369
I just sold a checkpoint just like that on consignment through a local bike shop. You aren't in Oregon, are you?

>>1908398
More comfortable? My road bike has a 60 mm spacer stack and 28 mm tires it's very comfortable. I don't think most people who ride gravel bikes have ever seen a cobblestone road to be entirely honest.

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>>1908428
you're using your singular example to generalize to most people. Stop being retarded. Just because you don't ride off pavement doesn't mean others don't. Also, even if you ride 80% road, 20% gravel, having those bigger tires will be nice for that 20%

Anyways, a gravel bike probably costs as much as a new road bike. But can fit bigger tires, and could have an even more relaxed geometry. Ergo it's more comfy. So even if youre 100% road, a gravel bike just gives you more options. And normies get to spend big bucks on what is essentially a glorified hybrid with drop bars, which they ride really slowly and rarely. BUT the fact that these types of bikes are in the market is good for actual bike people, because they are genuinely good general purpose bikes.

Also, I don't mean to.defend "gravel bikes" as a product to consume. Just the ideal of a gravel bike itself, which could be an old hybrid, a 2023 trek crossroad, or just a cx bike.

Anyways, acting like a 28mm road bike is as practical as a 50mm gravel bike is retarded, stop being retarded

>>1908437
If you ride routes that are 80% road you could probably make routes that are 100% road. Why are you seeking out gravel roads? Just ride on asphalt lol.

>>1908443
Man are you messing with me? I didn't mean your ride is 80% road 20% dirt, I meant you use your bike 80% the time on road, 20% of the time on dirt

Also, and you already know this, what if I don't want to? Like wtf are you even saying. Have you ridden on dirt/gravel? It's fun. Example: I have a cx bike with 40mm tires. Most of the time I ride it round town. Occasionally I ride super long rail trails/fire paths. Sometimes I take it to the local singletrack and goof around. you can't do all of that on your 28mm road bike.

Anyways, you have to be being silly on purpose so congrats you got me.

>>1908428
What brand allows over 40 mm of spacers?

>>1908437
>>1908386 here, is a gravel bike with 50 mm tires practical for all the suburbanites and urbanites buying them? I don't really think it is.

>>1902743
that's a hot bike, except for the u-brake. I feel sorry that you have to deal with that

>>1908413
No, I live in bunfuck nowhere, South America.

>>1908457
If you ever rode on shitty broken pavement, up on sidewalks and whatnot, you'll see why people want larger tyres.

>>1908545
Larger tires I understand, but those existed before gravel bikes. Why are gravel bikes specifically touted as the next big thing? People in this thread really struggle to answer this simple question.

>>1908547
People want to ride things that look like road bikes. Mankind’s fascination with drop bars goes back decades, bike manufacturers are just capitalizing on this obsession.

>>1908547
You're just too fucking dense.
Flat bars lack options, aren't as nice for longer rides, no need for suspension in the city.
People who want gravel don't want MTB geometry, it's that simple.

>>1908552
This is the only explanation I’ve ever seen to make any sense

>>1900412
Aluminium trekking bike is a cheaper solution. Lighter and with the right tyres I would say quicker on road than older steel racers, decent enough off road for gravel tracks etc. Will cost under 100 euros to get one. You can swap bars on them if you want to

ITT: Poorfag reasoning turned up to 11

>>1908573
So you admit that gravel bikes are a luxury item?

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Pro tip, don't use gravel and road shoes.

>>1908576
Did you go jogging on those SPD-SLs?

>>1908577
I had to dismount and push the bike, since the hill was steep as fuck and I kept getting wheel spin. It's always the last fucking hill before finish.

>>1908569
Highest tier parts is Deore T and it’s shit, also all frames are bso tier heavy shit. There was no real quality options in the hybrids until gravel arrived.
You are literally just seething about the good parts costing money

>>1908552
This, there's no coincidence that gravel bikes gained traction soon after hydrobrifters became a thing. Roadchads rule the cycling industry.

>>1908574
Is luxury a bad word for you? Of course it is, any bike is a luxury when you can just walk. You pay for the bike to get ther faster, you pay for a better to bike to get there even faster and in comfort.

>>1908457
Yes?

What is a more practical bike, if you don't think so? I don't really see your point. Sure new gravel bikes are overpriced, but yes a rigid bike with huge tires definitely IS a good city bike for urbanites. Comfy, dependable, quick enough.

>>1908595
Are you talking about gravel bikes or hybrids? Make up your mind, I’m only asking why GRAVEL bikes have been shoved down our throats for the past number of years.

>>1908601
Decreasing road racing participation and road bike sales led to the development (more like appropriation) of a new “discipline” to keep sales numbers up. Gravel bike is new, hip, and authentic. Kinda like those 4Runners with the tiny little ladders and Jeeps with external storage containers. It’s selling an image. I know a lot of people who have bought gravel bikes and will drive 100 miles round trip just to get to areas with gravel roads.

>>1908601
Gravel is a hybrid. How dense are you?

>>1908603
So? I know people with mountain bikes living on flat lands who drive 100 miles to get to MTB trails. What is the point here?
Other than anon being a retard of course

>>1908605
So you admit gravel bike sales are fueled by people trying to buy an image of ruggedness and authenticity?

>>1908606
I’m a different anon, anon. But to answer your question I dont care what other people think of my bike and will build it up as I like it. I also don’t care what other people do or buy or why they buy it. The question suggests the problem is in your head, mate.

>>1908130
well then, I think it's safe to assume you're trolling.

>>1908606
>>1908574
You are VERY tryhard, lol

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>>1908603
>I know a lot of people who have bought gravel bikes and will drive 100 miles round trip just to get to areas with gravel roads.
You're exaggerating, right?

>lighter than an MTB
>can do everything a casual MTB does
>almost as quick on paved roads as a road bike
>a lot faster on paved that an MTB
>versatile
>works well as a touring bike
>great commuter if you have shitty roads
>comfy thanks to barends
>wide choice of bikes to cover your riding needs
>fun as fuck

yes, I love my hybrid.

>>1908656
Same thing for me except instead of barends I use the drop bar positions.

I'm not a bike person at all...I basically know what a mountain bike and a road bike are. BMX too, I guess. What's a gravel bike? They just look like amalgamations of road and mountain bikes. Why is there a special bike just for gravel...?

>>1908643
Ppl. live in places where there's no gravel (roads) ?!

>>1908714
Because people decided that a comfier road bike is a sensible thing.

>>1908588
What are you blabbering about? Are you unwell? I pass people like you wearing Lycra with 5k bikes all the time, always find it amusing how you all get so upset so easily

The gravel bikes are a bit wanky, the idea really niche as there are not many gravel tracks about, so why people are riding these things as daily riders in Europe I don’t know, the tyres are kind of ludicrously large for roads

>>1908772
Literally, just read the rest of the thread. No one cares if they go a tad slower but in way more comfort.

>>1908772
You must be living in an entirely different europe than I do. Gravel roads are in abundance in my area and they are the better alternative. The dust sucks when cagers decide to have a go, but usually the gravel roads are not part of the murdercage containment zone.
They heat up less in summer.
Water gets to drain.
Easier, cheaper and more sustainable construction.
I'll admit, some are furnished with what seems to be dubious rubble that probably, by law, should be disposed of seperately.
Other than that gavel is awesome.
Now... what bike do I ride ? Tri-bikes mostly, the superior mode of transportation, 20mm tires and gravel do match you just have to watch not to get into spots where rain accumulated gravel.

>>1908724
They already had that with endurance road bikes though

>>1908829
normies are too dimwitted to see past "scary race bike" that's why they made a new name for it

>>1908793
It's fucking asphalt m8, it's comfortable starting at 28mm tires. At 35mm even cobblestone is short work on harsh touring tires.

>>1908428
>>1908443
>>1908547
>>1908772
>>1908829
>>1908852
>>1908829
>>1908833
>>1908852
>Gravel bikes are mostly stupid marketing
Yes but actually a quick road bike with fat tires is a pretty chill design. We like that bikes are trending that way, at least.
>Yea but you don't ACTUALLY ride off pavement, so you don't ACTUALLY need anything more than 28mm
Fuck off

Anon is scared of fat tires because of numb needle penis

>>1908829
And now we have that with gravel bikes. I don't see why this seems to be a problem for some people.
I rode a flatbar gravel bike at the turn of the century, like a decade and a half before "gravel bike" became a thing. Drop bars and disc brakes on a type of bike that I've ridden my whole adult life shouldn't have to be so controversial as people make it out to be.

>>1908893
>hmm do we increase tire clearance on our endurance road frames and keep selling them under the same category?
>no let’s invent a new category of bicycle that’s pretty much the same thing but with a way cooler scene around it this will make the big money
And then bike manufacturers proceeded to make the big money

>>1908905
>being this butthurt over a name

>>1908908
What in my post makes you think I’m mad about gravel bikes? I think it’s funny that they’re only a slight tweak on endurance road bikes but people will rabidly defend their honor on the internet.

>>1908916
>they’re only a slight tweak on endurance road bikes
Which is why I don't get al the hate. And my impression is the haters are much more "rabid" than the proponents.

>>1908921
people hate on the marketing spiel, not the bike. If you posted your bike and it happened to combine all the features commonly associated but you didn't frame it as a gravel bike everyone would be cool about it.

>>1908922
>frame it as a gravel bike
What does that mean?

>>1908930
dude shows bike. cool bike dude.
vs.
same dude shows same bike. explains it's a 'gravel bike'. ppl loose mind. we live in society.

>>1908856
I ride a road bike, with 32mm road tires, on the road

There's no need for a special name. Road bikes are road bikes, the name works

>>1908934
>dude shows same bike. explains it's a 'gravel bike'.
I refer to my gravel bike as a gravel bike because that's the popular term for the kind of bike that it is. If that's what you mean.
I used to refer to my old bike as a cross bike or a cross hybrid, because the term gravel bike hadn't been invented yet. But knowbody fucking knew what that meant. It essentially was a gravel bike though, but with flat bars, shitty v-brakes and a triple.

>>1908921
It probably ended up that way because the whole point of having a new name was that there was a certain loud and obnoxious faction who constantly disparaged "road bikes" online and so people would go into bike shops and go "I don't want one of those uncomfortable race bikes" and having a stupid name for a road bike made it easier to have a rational conversation with people who were being bombarded with toxic nonsense from unracers

>>1908949
You only needed those terms AFTER specialisation drove road bikes to be what many believe to be 'race only bikes'. This left a niche that they previously occupied.

>>1908981
when do you think that happened?

>>1908944
Are you saying that road bikes can fit 50mm tires?

>>1908922
Wow sounds like some fucking nanny shit, anon.

>>1908989
lots of them fit 40s now. 33 is a perfectly good gravel size for a lot of routes.

>>1908992
>lots of them fit 40s now
That's a gravel bike.
>33
That's a CX

>>1908993
i wasn't that guy but lots of endurance road bikes have that much clearance they aren't called gravel bikes and gravel bikes really should have both lower gearing and more bosses.

also CX is a specifically super knobbly tire there are non-cx tyres in that size for riding gravel and allroad.

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>>1908916
I kind of get what your saying, because in my eyes yea the ideal bike IS the equivalent of "road endurance but at least 40mm clearance"
A trek check point is exactly that >>1908369, also this bike: >>1907057

However, look at this bike: >>1900412 or the bars on >>1900849, or this fucking thing: >>1900514. Hell even this old clunker: >>1902743


They're all "gravel" bikes. If you pretend like the marketing didn't exist, you'd realize the term "gravel" bike is kind of useful to describe "fat-tire drop bar rigid bicycle". Meanwhile, generally speaking, "Endurance road" describes a neat, tidy bike that is designed to be quick on the road. Not an everyday beater, not a touring vehicle. Like picrel

I feel like even if you hate it, it's innaccurate to say "gravel is just endurance road" when you got weird shit like >>1900412, >>1900849, >>1902743 which people would agree count as a style of gravel bike.


All this to say it's all fucking phooey anyways. It's 2023 and bicycles are sexually liberated. They exist on a spectrum of "carbon penismobile" to "26 inch boat anchor".

>>1908992
Ya i mean is it surprising that you see overlap between shit like >>1902743 and shit like >>1907057? They're all gravel bikes, see my blog post in >>1908996

>>1908996
yes you're right

realize a large part of the hubris of many retrodocuhes is that their bikes are superior from being categorically different AND cheap so if they accept gravêle is the same category they're no longer superior in literally every regard they're just poorer and possibly cooler

>>1900412
>Why does /n/ hate
money, it's literally all money
if posters on /n/ had the money for 3-4 $2k+ bikes, we'd be creaming ourselves over them

>>1909006
If i had more money to spend on bicycles i'd spend more money on bicycles but honestly i'd still mostly ride similiar stuff. Still be a retrodouche. You can spend the money in any direction. Tastes may be dictated by lack of money but taste dictated by lack of money remains with money and can easily transition into a moneyed version of itself.

I've had the fredsled.

high end modern mtb is the only uncharted territory, which i'd like to get into.

>>1908992
>lots of them fit 40s now

The ones with a lot of tire clearance are usually rated at 35 and throwing 40s on those just makes them useless for any wet weather conditions

>>1908576
another win for platform pedals and trail runners

i just like riding on 650b 48mm slicks and having a front rack baby! i don't care what you call the bike.

>>1908944
true, some roads are even dirt or gravel. the gravel bike term is pure marketing for plebs to consume *new thing* and feel trendy. will be able to pick them up for a song in about 5-10 years.

>>1909006
part of the reason I have so much money is because I don't spend it on unnecessary items. I'm not super rich but close to millionaire. I ride a hybrid bike.

>>1909021
Nice blog

>>1909020
the gravel bike term is marketing for roadies who reguraly do 100km gravel routes and bikepack 'races' on them thats actually who does the volume of gravel sales

>>1908995
>lots of endurance road bikes have that much clearance
Can I have some examples, please? Once that are actually available now.

>>1908954
The mysticism of road bikes being implements of torture has gotten to the point where I know some people who are actually afraid of trying to use drop bars. I think your post is one of the more correct posts in this thread.

>>1908995
No they don't. Keep in mind clearance is not just meant for just about fitting the tire, a 45c or 50c tire also have to have ample amount of clearance for mud shedding.
It's like you never owned a bike other than a toothpick.

bros, I've just bought a new gravel bike and it's the first bike with drop bars I got
the size of it is right for my height and it feels good overall, but my hands are not very comfortable
on my previous bike I can ride however long and my hands never bother me, but on this one I have to change my hand position constantly and I feel something is off almost as soon as I start
what do?

>>1910427
Could be saddle position. Could be bar position. Could be stem length. Could be a you issue (flexibility and/or strength and/or just not knowing how to position your body)

What exactly is this "something" that you feel is off. Let's start with when your hands are in the hoods (neutral position), what part of you is uncomfortable and in what way

>>1910428
I think it's just too much preassure on the palms of my hands
I wouldn't think it would be a problem since I do some lifting and bench press so my hands aren't unused to heavy weight
But I've looked on the internet a bit just now and it's what people say, too much weight supported on hands, too little on pedals
Most common advice is to move the saddle back, I'm going to try that soon
Anything else you think I should try adjusting?

>>1910430
Only change one thing at a time, and unless the pain is really bad give it at least 3-4 decent rides (25+ miles) before you change something else

Also be sure your pelvic tilt is good and the soles of your feet are basically level throughout the pedal stroke because that's fundamental to your core position. Bad posture and bad pedal stroke can cause you to favor the wrong saddle position (fore/aft, tilt, and height) and then the rest of your body has to work harder to sustain that

Only thing you need to really be careful of is numbness, if you're getting numbness something needs to be changed right away (as in, before your next ride)

>>1910432
thanks anon

>>1909058
Giant, trek, canyon. Google their latest endurance roadies.

how much you pump your tires boys? mine say 40-70 psi so 've pumped them to 60 but kinda feel bad on anything other than asphalt
I'm 90kg, not fat just bulking

>>1910473
40-50 psi on 40mm gravel tires with tubes, less if tubeless or larger tires.

>>1910427
Sounds like bar tilt thing to me. At least that's where I'd start adjusting

>>1910473
depends on the width and tire a lot, for me it's 70 front 80 back on 28s, some tires though I need to go 80 front 90 back. I'm light enough to get away with 40-60psi on 28s but I like speed and I ride in shit tier streets so I'll trade traction for speed because suicycle

>>1910427
you've got pussy hands, ride more
t. pussy hand owner

>>1910427
the bike might be too big for you.

>>1910427
>check the angle of the bars and STIs, the drops should be relatively flat and STIs and bars should have a smooth transition
>check your saddle fore-aft position
>check whether your reach is too short. If it's too short you'll have lots of pressure on your hands.
>check whether your saddle is level
>ride for a bit and see if you get used to it
>get a thicker bar tape or maybe try using gloves

>>1900412
I bought one recently and its great, got rid of my shitty 10+ year old mountain bike that had a bent wheel I was using. I might also be retarded and I'm new to the sport but desu I don't really care its way better than what I had and if I'm still cycling in 5+ years time then I can get something better. But desu I never take 4chans advice seriously anyway, if I did I'd be running linux on a shitty thinkpad, playing bad video games, listening to bad music and watching bad tv and have bad political opinions. (you can see where I'm going with this)

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I grabble so hard that even grabble people distance themselves from me.
Did a 101km ride today.

>>1910706
>even grabble people distance themselves from me
You mean you're slow?

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i love gravel

>>1910719
Goes without saying, does it not?

>>1910706
>full sus droppie
>springed seatpost
>pink
>absolutely useless 220mm rotor
Incredibly based.

>ricejews marketing is so efficient that people are taking off 105s to put GRX on instead
> I've already bought two r7000 sets from LBS because customers demanded an all GRX set up on their new bike ar delivery
> +/- 1000 EUR in, contemplating getting a 3rd

I fucking love gravel!

>>1911104
the thing with the r7000 sets on most entry level bikes is that they come with these massive cassettes that are a struggle for a conventional clutchless long cage mech RD, GRX actually is an upgrade because of the clutch (though you could achieve the exact same result by just switching the RD itself and leaving the rest alone)

>>1911104
>want gravel bike
>gravel bikes are widely available
>get something different that limits you in the only thing you were asking for (wide tires) and even let the shop swap the whole fucking groupset for no reason

sounds like a massive larp

>>1911125
>half of gravel offerings are repainted (or not even) endurace bikes with 38 clearance at most
>affluent people are only purchasing things that make sense or are useful and are not the prime target of every premium brand on the planet

>>1911244
>>half of gravel offerings are repainted (or not even) endurace bikes with 38 clearance at most
Not true
>>affluent people are only purchasing things that make sense or are useful and are not the prime target of every premium brand on the planet
Why wouldn't they just buy a gravel bike like the manufacturers and shops want them to instead of some shit you made up?

>>1911244
What's wrong with that? If my endurance road bike were to get stolen or totaled this would be my go-to choice. No reason to get tires any wider than 38c

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>>1911318
>No reason to get tires any wider than 38c
This. If you need wider you should be on a mtb

>>1911318
>>1911328

What if I wanted that, though? You morons.

>>1911310
Trek gravel section: domane & checkpoint
Canyon gravel section: endurace, grail, grizl
Do you want me to keep going?
>Why wouldn't they just buy a gravel bike like the manufacturers and shops want them to instead of some shit you made up?
Because people with money are stupid, more news at 11. Also the shop is winning because they sell a full bike + new groupset + labor + old groupset on the side. You don't belive me? Check your local Craigslist and ask where the 105s are coming from.

>>1911425
>Do you want me to keep going?
Yes because those framesets dont even have the same geometries.

>>1910706
Fucking hell i wish you lived in north Italy and could join my freds company.

For the love of god, add a chain wrapped under the seat and pink nylon pedals.

>>1911425
Are you just naming random bikes?

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>>1902743
Shockingly bad bike

I've been riding a gravel bike for the past 7-8 years. Had a CX before.
I live in a place where 70% of roads are dirt. I like them a lot.
I do sort of miss the weight weenie road bikes I was building before though. I'm not fast anymore though so just cruising on gravel is fun.

>>1903151
No one even makes CX bikes anymore, gravel ate up all the market share.
It's mega hard to get one and companies only make 1 or 2 models now all high dollar.

10 years ago it was easy to get an affordable CX bike.
CX bikes are great, but gravel bikes are just better for the vast majority of riders and have way more options.

>>1902743
That thing is sick. I finally bit the bullet and had my u brake removed, fillet brazed canti posts and now i actually have rear brakes. You should do this if u not poorfag

>>1907057

beautiful

>>1913738
I wanted to buy a cyclocross but it was during the pandemic and all I got my hands on without waiting for 2 years was a gravel bike. It's good, I like it, but I totally understand the /n/igga hate for disc brakes now.

Are Crust decent or is it just hipster marketing hucking trash frames?
I know Ritchey are highly regarded and was thinking about an Outback but they aren't available...
Crust has Evasions which look decent but I'm sketched out by such a high hipster cache

I have a Soma Wolverine and it fucking sucks.

>>1914198
you're asking on /n/ so i'l get the stock response out of the way and tell you they're hipster marketing hucking trash frames and you should just do whatever i personally prefer instead, like a 90s mtb or road bike with 28s, trust me bro, it's definitely way better and cheaper and less onions

they seem pretty nice if you like the quirks they have. i would like a lightning bolt or romanceur desu but i think i am destined to just collect surlys

what don't you like about the wolverine? i almost got one a few years ago

>>1910754
If that's what it takes to distance myself from lyvraboomers, so be it.

>>1914215
the rear end is super stiff vertically so it pounds you even with 2.25s, but there is a removable section of the DS CS for belt drive so its really flexy laterally...if my derailleur isn't perfect I get chain rub.
Front end is very flexy front to back but the geo makes it so you still have your wrists pounded on things like big cracks in paved surfaces. Front to back flex leads to brake oscillation on hard braking.
It handles like fucking shit when climbing where the front end wanders all over the place.
Its heavy (I don't really give too much of a shit about weight on a frame like this but it's a little over the line).
Handling in general is wonky...when cornering hard on paved surfaces the lateral flex loads up and then when you hit mid corner it spings back and it feels like it snaps into unsettlingly quicker turn in.
Literally the worst frame I've ever owned and I've owned about 10-11 frames over the years.
The CAAD12 on 30mms was way more comfortable on dirt than this is on 2.25s.

>>1913560
When is the best time to do alpi Adria? I

>>1914342
You are talking to someone who mostly bikes when it's below 5°C and hates the summer. I also bike from 3:30 in the morning to 9 so I don't have to meet lycra enthusiasts.
Apart from commuting....