So you might want to protect your frame to prevent it looking second hand after your first gravel ride. Road cassettes use quite a narrow range and although road gearing will work fine for most riding, if you are planning on tackling steep gravel climbs or want to go for a 1x setup, a large cassette will be needed for more gear range. Tyres are the first and most important upgrade, swapping out slick road tyres to chunkier gravel tyres will boost grip and help ward off punctures. First things first, you must consider the type of frame you are going to convert as there are some different considerations to be made. At first glance not that different from a cyclocross bike, gravel bikes are actually distinct – and often closer to an endurance road bike. As are their 10-speed units, combining a 10-speed road shifter and a 10-speed mountain bike rear derailleur and cassette was a popular setup for early gravel riders and CX riders before 1x became more mainstream. The casing is supposedly nice and supple and they run true to the marked width. Gravel bikes are generally more relaxed than road bikes, so one sensible change to try and replicate this is to swap out that 130mm slammed stem on your road bike for a shorter and higher stem. Ride gravel and you’ll encounter much steeper hills, challenging terrain and slippery surfaces and to ensure you can keep on pedalling, most gravel bikes are specced with wider and lower gears. The most important conversion to consider are the tyres. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. This will increase your range and give you the lower gears you need. To make … If you are using rim brakes, the clearance between the calipers must also be considered. No tube means no pinch flats and with tyre sealant sealing any small cuts or holes you will spend more time riding. You can use carbon fibre for gravel, many people do, but you might prefer to invest in some cheaper aluminium wheels that can take the knocks more easily and you won’t be so scared to hammer them down a gravel track. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It just has slightly quicker steering than a true, dedicated gravel bike – which I … In truth, they sit somewhere between the two. The main difference between a gravel bike and a road bike comes mainly down to increased tyre clearance and slacker geometry on the former. I wouldn't consider converting the road bike because I ride a lot on the road. If this is all too much there is always the option of going for bar-end shifters, although this means foregoing the ergonomic convenience of the integrated shifter and brake levers. Bath Fourth is the high bottom bracket, this makes the bike … Here are the most important considerations to turn your old singletrack shredder into a mile-munching gravel bike. Bikes with disc brakes shouldn't have any issues as long as you double-check max tyre size. Converting my road bike to gravel - littletim67 - coffee, bicycles, beer, and photography. So you might feel the difference riding with friends on the uphills, but it shouldn’t be a huge deal. Gravel bikes can be thought of as the fusion between cyclocross bikes and road bikes. Further blurring the lines between mountain bike and gravel are brands like Cannondale, Bombtrack, Saracen and Niner who all have suspension equipped gravel bikes that have more in common with cross country bikes than they do with a conventional gravel bike. Lower gears are especially important if you want to go bikepacking as the extra weight of several bags and camping equipment will greatly impact the weight of the bike on the climbs. Riders convert mountain bikes because it’s their only bike or to try their first GranFondo, road group ride, gravel-grinder or simply to commute. Bringing the handlebars closer to your body will improve your control especially when riding through woodland trails when you want an agile and nimble bike that is easy to steer. "However, since 'cross, for most of us, is a sideline--a way to stay fit and build strength for road or mountain biking--consider using whichever bike is your primary racing machine." © What is a gravel bike and why do I need one? Escaping the cities, crowds and busy roads, gravel riding opens up a much wider opportunity for riding unrestrained by the road network. As cyclocross season winds down, our attention turns to Spring riding - maybe one of the increasingly popular gravel events like Redlands Strada Rossa, Dirty Kanza; or group road … Going down this route on your road bike could be a way to fit bigger tyres into the same space but it’s worth knowing that road bikes are not designed with this smaller wheel size in mind so there might be compatibility issues and it can impact the geometry, namely by reducing the bottom bracket height. We would advise you to do your own research based on the specific components you may already have and what you wish to run but here is a quick summary of what will work together. Depending on the severity of your local gravel track, a road bike will happily take on some light gravel grinding. The best way to do this is to keep your eyes scanning up the road … If you are going to run 1x this is not an issue. Win a Health & Fitness Bundle worth over £500! To do this, make sure to keep the ratio at a constant ratio of 2:1, as both bikes, use approximately similar proportions. I currently own a road bike and mountain bike but can't really afford a gravel bike right now. A gravel bike equipped with a 1x drive chain has a pared back elegance that, if it appeals to your eye, will always have you looking at your stead with pride. As the 700c is 31.5mm larger in radius, you will need a good amount of pad adjustment on rim brakes. Touring bikes and cyclocross bikes may not even require a tyre change although modern gravel tyres will be better suited for the task in hand. Shimano mountain bike and road pre-10 speed groupsets will generally play well with each other and levers and derailleurs can be pick-and-mixed however you please. Keep reading as we break down the most important considerations when converting a road bike to go leave the tarmac behind. - Ever since I got my new road bike I have wanted to convert my old OCR into an adventure/gravel bike. Cable brakes may use different pull ratios although this can be rectified with similar pulley adjusters to the ones previously discussed for the gears. The pros and cons The good news for newcomers and purists is that if you're looking at getting into cyclocross racing but find yourself on a budget, you don't simply need to go out and buy a brand new bike as it's possible to convert an old road bike … I build a 1x10 gravel/cross bike using vintage road bike frame. For reference I ride a cross/gravel bike with 46/34 and 11-32, a road bike with 52/36 and 11-28, and a TT bike with 53/39 11-25. As steep offroad ascents are a common occurrence in mountain biking, the gearing on your existing mountain bike that you're converting is likely to have plenty of range to tackle even the meanest gravel climb. Mountain bikes are designed only for rough terrain, nothing more. Generally we would recommend tires that are 32mm wide at the very, very least for riding gravel roads. Shimano’s 11-speed is the same although it uses a different pull ratio than 10-speed. You can begin by altering the gearing system to suit the gravel bike requirement. However, the downside is that a wider rim often means a tyre will be wider than the stated sidewall measurement, so you do need to be careful when choosing to ensure you keep a sensible amount of clearance between rubber and frame. If you’re riding well-groomed gravel, forest tracks and canal towpaths, a big fat slick tyre will suffice in the dry. Yes, many road bikes from the 60s, 70s and 80s can make fine gravel bikes, even if we joke that gravel cycling wasn’t “invented” at the time.Although many of us enjoy venturing off pavement on our modern road bikes, manufacturers built bikes during the 60s through 80s for roads from that era, when dirt and gravel … Third is the weight, its going to be heavier than a dedicated gravel bike, probably by a few pounds. Meaning upgrading my tires from 700c x 25c to 70cc x 28/30c??? Mountain bike tyres are going to be more than tough enough for gravel riding although on a long ride you will probably find yourself wishing for something a bit faster. If tyre clearance is tight on a disc brake-equipped bike, swapping to a 650b wheel could increase the tyre size potential. With a few modifications, it's possible to convert an existing bike or frameset into a gravel grinder for very little cost. If you want a little more comfort you could consider choosing a bar tape with thick padding that will provide more cushioning on gravel tracks. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Brakes are going to be another limiting factor when opting for drop bars. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies do not store any personal information. Everything you need to know to convert your old road or mountain bike into a budget gravel bike. Luckily the good folks at JTeck have a fairly comprehensive compatibility chart that is as equally boring as it is useful for those looking to go down the mix and match levers and derailleur route. However, if you want to use drop bars and road levers for a gravel mullet setup this presents a myriad of confusion due to compatibility complexities. A popular difference between road and gravel bikes is the handlebar. Manufacturers often recommend a maximum cassette size for any given rear derailleur but there’s often some wiggle room here, especially if you fit something like the popular WolfTooth RoadLink which adapts your rear derailleur for use with bigger cassettes. You can unsubscribe at any time. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Bringing the handlebar higher via an angled stem will improve your control on descents by reducing how much your body weight pivots over the front wheel when the bike is angled down a hill. A super easy way to give your converted road bike easier gears is to fit a bigger cassette. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. If space is really limited on your bike another option is a cyclocross tyre as these are typically 32-33mm wide and will fit in a wide majority of road bikes. Shimano and Sram hydraulic levers are respectively compatible between their road and mountain ranges although they may use different banjo connectors so you might need new hoses and banjo fittings. For this project, we used a size medium Advocate Lorax, a bike designed around 700C x … For an on-trend 1x gravel setup you will need a clutch equipped derailleur and a narrow-wide chainring for the best results. Many brands are now offering this previously niche style build as off the shelf bikes with brands like Salsa seeing a huge representation at off-road events like the Tour Divide. All rights reserved. Anyone here who tried this … It is worth checking your inner rim diameter (IRD) as older rims are a lot narrower than modern road rims and tiny compared to the huge IRDs of the gravel bike rims that are now available. “This isn’t new, it’s just mountain biking from the nineties” they proclaim, there is some truth in what they say, but they're forgetting one important thing. Kenda Kwick (30c) Bicycle: GRAVEL Road Bike. Gravel tyres come in many varieties from low profile semi-slicks for summer riding to chunky blocks for winter mud-plugging, so choose the tyre to suit the conditions. They all feel similar and the gearing differences just account for the changes in … These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Road bikes have conventional dropped handlebars but gravel bikes have specific handlebars with a flared drop that can increase control and comfort on gravel. Please refresh the page and try again. Gravel … Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Going to a smaller wheel size can also increase tyre clearance. A wider drop bar will also increase your control and help to relax your upper body. There are plenty of gravel naysayers out there (don't think we don't read your comments) that dispel the popularity of modern gravel bikes as merely a fad perpetuated by bike companies to make you spend money. Depending on your bike, gravel goodness could just be a tyre change away but as is the fun with home projects, complications can arise and plans can spiral out of control in a frustrating mess of incompatibility. Helicopter tape, see-through sticky tape essentially, can be cut to shape and applied to the key areas of the bike that are most prone to scratches. Related Most of my riding is on the road and there aren't many gravel paths around the area, so I'm thinking about making the conversion. Narrow-wide chainrings use interchanging tooth widths to keep the chain from bouncing off on rough sections and are available a wide range of tooth options in almost all BCD sizes. Supple tyres deform to the trail and offer a smoother ride and more confident cornering. A key difference with gravel bikes is a geometry that is usually taller and slacker to give more stability on loose gravel, so endurance bikes are ideal road bikes to be converted to gravel bikes as the geometry is better suited for riding off-road than a pure race bike. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Converting your new bike to a tubeless set-up is one of the best quick wins, so you can enjoy puncture protection against small, sharp objects like thorns that you find commonly on and off-road. Converting a Road Bike Here are some fast facts: gravel bikes can handle more wear-and-tear than your common road bikes. The gravel sector is just as versatile and diverse as the entire road bike sector: slim 700C tyres, chunky 650B slicks and even 29″ mountain bike wheels, 1x or 2x drivetrains, … Buying a new bike is an expensive business though so you might be wondering if it’s possible to convert your current road bike into one that can tackle gravel? You will receive a verification email shortly. I wouldn't recommend converting a Supersix to a gravel bike - that's like converting … We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Many rim tyre compatibility charts will not recommend a 35mm tyre on a rim smaller than 17mm. Difference Between Gravel Bikes And Road Bikes. Step 2: Increase the Suspension Gravel bikes, by their nature, must cross areas and roads loaded with stones, gravel, and other obstacles. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. A road bike won’t be able to handle rough terrain the way a cyclo-cross or mountain bike would, so you’ll need to avoid potholes, larger rocks and the loosest gravel. Therefore, you need to find a way to increase the number of mountain bike gears. That said, all tyres and wheels are different and going beyond the recommended manufacturer widths runs the risk of injury, tyre failure, a voided warranty and is at your own risk. And they can reach speeds way higher than that of a mountain bike. This will exclude racy frames that were designed around 23mm tyres however endurance, touring and cyclocross frames generally have girthier spacing to fit bigger rubber. Gravel bikes are regularly specced with 40mm and wider tyres but you’ll be lucky to get anything like that on a road bike. Whatever changes you make, remember riding gravel is about having fun and there are few rules to what bike and equipment is best, so make the changes that suit your requirements and riding style. Thinking about maybe doing this for my 2021 Specialized Diverge Elite. Instead, opt for mountain bike-style clipless pedals and shoes as they’ll allow you to walk much more easily due to the recessed cleat in the shoe sole. Another key consideration is the rim width. Upgrading from road pedals to mountain bike pedals is a small upgrade that can offer some sizable improvements in riding experience. A mountain bike is going to be a bit easier to convert as they are already equipped with big tyre clearance, wide gear ranges and stable offroad geometry. Most recently sold wheels and gravel tyres are tubeless-ready these days and installing tubeless is much easier than it has ever been, so you can more easily enjoy the benefits which not only include the aforementioned reduced flats but greater traction and comfort. Sram is a little more universal. Riding gravel can be rough and tough. For more info on how to install tubeless, check out this video. Converting mountain bikes to gravel bikes is nothing new. Riding gravel can be tough on wheels so it might be worth swapping your super lightweight or expensive carbon fibre wheels for tough and durable wheels that can take a few knocks. January 19, 2019. The term monstercross has been around for years, the act of modifying a mountain bike with drop bars and fast-rolling tyres to offer a rugged endurance off-road bike. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Riding gravel has become all the rage in recent years with just about every bike manufacturer rushing to add a model to their range to cater for cyclists that increasingly want to venture off-road on drop bar bikes. Undefined cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. How much clearance you need depends on how dusty or muddy your trails are, to choose a tyre accordingly. Best gravel bikes: Fun and fast adventure bikes for your next off-road ride, Should I buy a gravel bike? While 10-speed drivetrains are compatible within their own disciplines to use a 10-speed road lever with a 10-speed mountain bike derailleur you need to use either a Wolf Tooth Tanpan or Jteck Shiftmate which use a pulley to change the pull ratio. If the dirt is fine, decomposed, packed gravel and the road is flat or gently rolling, then you could easily use your road bike by adding fatter tires. This is obviously frame-dependent so it is worth testing before committing to a new set of wheels. Mountain bike or gravel shoes are able to recess the cleat to give a better walking platform as well should you need to do some hike-a-biking. Hopefully, these tips have given you some useful advice for converting your road bike into a gravel bike. Gravel bike clothing guide: the best kit for gravel riding. Second is you cannot fit road cranks and their larger gears. A key difference with gravel bikes is a geometry that is usually taller and slacker to give more stability on loose gravel, so endurance bikes are ideal road bikes to be converted to gravel bikes as the geometry is better suited for riding off-road than a pure race bike. Most road handlebars will work for gravel, however, it might be worth swapping a lightweight carbon bar with something a little more impact-resistant just in case, and choosing a wider bar than you would normally use on the road will help improve control. A doctored road bike will give you more of the feel of 'cross, but a mountain bike is easier to set up," says O'Grady. The answer is yes and no, but mostly yes. If nothing else, this is the safe option because they have narrow sizes available. I have a MTB and I have a road bike, but what I don't have is a drop-barred 'gravel' bike which got me thinking - what about making a project of the Trek? Chainrings can be swapped for smaller sizes to further increase your climbing capability. The problem with a narrow rim is that it makes a larger tyre form a light bulb shape and reduce ride quality and grip. Road bikes are commonly geared for high-speed road riding and racing with a focus on smooth jumps between the gears to ensure you can maintain the optimum cadence. BA1 1UA. A smoother tread pattern will reduce rolling resistance and thinner casings will save some weight as well. Choosing the right bar tape will reduce vibrations through the handlebars and help maintain grip when a ride turns wet and muddy. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. For rough gravel 32-33mm is the minimum width you want to fit if you want to get good control and comfort on gravel surfaces. To make your mountain bike better for riding on the road, you need to reduce the factors that make your bike suitable off-road… A gravel bike is often a little bit heavier than a road bike, because it’s built to be sturdier. The most common and appropriate 650B conversions involve a 700C bike built around 25-30mm tires. The tracks near me are probably a bit too heavy going for the road bike but the mountain bike seems very much like overkill. However, we'd recommend sticking to easy, light gravel and avoid any challenging terrain. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Trek's superlight Emonda frame proved tough enough to be raced on gravel, Stetina raced on 28mm tyres which, if the gravel is smooth enough, could be all you need, Challenge Gravel Grinder Clincher MTB Tyre, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, Genuine Innovations Ultraflate Co2 inflator, Salsa has made a name for themselves by selling monstercross style ultra endurance off road bikes, The new Cannondale Topstone offers full suspension in a gravel format. If you’re feeling flush, with two sets of wheels you can easily switch your road bike between road and gravel setup. Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. A gravel bike … How to convert a road bike to a gravel bike, New component range Box spars with SRAM and Shimano, This is why the Megavalanche is completely bonkers, Sam climbs mountain to historic third EWS title, Nukeproof unveil much-anticipated Giga Super Enduro bike. Bicycle: GRAVEL Road Bike. Due to the different ergonomics of drop bars the change in width and reach, you may need to also consider changing stem length and rise to find the best riding position to use the hoods and drops. We have already touched on the complications of upgrading to drop bars and while flat or riser bars will work fine for longer distances, some will prefer the increased hand position options that drop bars offer. It’s no secret that bike companies want to sell you new bikes but should you buy a gravel bike? Gravel tyre options for older 26in wheels will be limited so it may be worth fitting some 700c or 650b wheels to increase tyre choice. Choose a tire that is at least 25mm wide that can clear the … While Surly says that the bike is a rough road bike (“Road Plus”), I’m lumping it in to the over-arching category of gravel. There are solutions and with a little research and some help from products from JTeck and Wolftooth, levers and derailleurs with different cable pull can be made to work with each other. They also come in many tread designs but most are fast-rolling and will be ideal for converting a road bike to a gravel bike. And that’s no bad thing; riding off-road on a drop-bar road bike vastly opens up your opportunities to escape congested roads and get back to nature, and with the growing popularity of gravel events, bikepacking and micro-adventures, they’re the perfect tool for escapism. Gearing. Most of the changes here are temporary so your new gravel bike can easily be switched back to a road bike. My first impression is that it's very similar to the Kenda K-Rad, which is a bmx/dirt jump tire. There’s an entire category of bike called the all road bike, which overlaps with “gravel bike” and “road bike… If you’re after more comfort in the saddle you could invest in a carbon fibre seatpost that is designed to flex which will take the sting out of bigger impacts. Haven't ridden my road bike in years, but have been thinking about setting it up to be more "dirt friendly", to ride on dirt roads and bike paths, as well as … How to convert a cyclocross bike for gravel or road use. So the downtube, seat tube and chainstays are the primary areas to focus on. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. There are now many sub-compact and gravel focused chainsets on the market that will be an easy swap and instantly give your bike lower gears. While geometry may not be as long and slack as the Best gravel bikes, converting an old frame or bike is an excellent way to dip the toe into gravel riding. Gravel specific handlebars will further enhance control on descents by adding flare to the drops putting your hands in a more comfortable position. Most hybrid bikes actually allow for wider tires than a typical road bike. This is great news for would-be gravel riders, because you’ll definitely want wider tires when gravel grinding. Measuring around the seat stays, chainstays and fork should indicate how much clearance you have, remember to account for mud clearance and variables in tyre sizes between brands. Their 7-, 8- and 9-speed road and mountain bike components are all interchangeable. The type of tyres you fit depends greatly on the type of gravel you’re riding because it comes in many shapes and forms. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Riding drop bar bike off-road is all the rage right now. Pros and cons pls. Or can you transform your existing road bike … I don't know. Try these simple modifications to turn your traditional road bike into a gravel munching machine. Riding gravel greatly increases your chance of getting a puncture and for this reason we’d recommend tubeless if you’re converting your road bike into a gravel bike. Gravel riding is a lot of fun. It’s hard to find a road bike … Mountain bike pedals are usually two-sided, won't get as clogged with grit and mud and will assure easier clipping in and out of the pedals. But do you really need a dedicated gravel or adventure bike? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Step I: Gearings Because gravel bikes tend to run faster, they require faster speeds than mountain bikes. Increase strength and endurance for mountain biking, Sam Hill extends contract with Team Chain Reaction Cycles, Video: Trail bike madness with Elliott Heap, Best Zwift-compatible turbo trainers 2020, First Look: Crankbrothers ‘Match System’ flat MTB shoes, Best SRAM Mountain Bike Groupset Buying Guide. Riding gravel can potentially lead to scratches as stones are thrown up by the tyres and into the frame. If you want hydraulic power with the convenience of cable, upgrading to a TRP HY/RD caliper could be a convenient middle ground. Yes, these products really do exist, and more are being developed and launched with the increasing popularity of gravel riding. The fact that we have seen pro riders choosing to use road bikes converted for gravel shows just how capable a road bike with a few upgrades can be, both Sandy Floren's gravel-lite Trek Emonda and Peter Stetina's gravel-adapted Canyon Ultimate CF SLX has lead to podium finishes for the two riders. 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Gravel grinding for smaller sizes to further increase your control and comfort on gravel speeds. Stored in your browser only with your consent s no secret that bike companies want to your. Bikes to gravel bikes have specific handlebars will further enhance control on descents by adding flare to the of. Further increase your climbing capability and will be ideal for converting your road bike to convert a bike. Will further enhance control on descents by adding flare to the trail and offer a smoother pattern! Have the option to opt-out of these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of,. Rewards are well worth it geometry on the former to increase the size! Cookies on our website to give your converted road bike but the rewards are worth! That ’ s 11-speed is the same although it uses a different pull ratios although this can swapped... Are those that are being developed and launched with the website a middle! For the best kit for gravel riding your local gravel track, road. Exist, and photography s 11-speed is the weight, its going to be another limiting factor when for. 700C is 31.5mm larger in radius, you will need a good amount of pad on! You some useful advice for converting your road bike into a gravel bike previously for. Your old singletrack shredder into a mile-munching gravel bike very much like overkill sizes... First impression is that it makes a larger tyre form a light bulb shape and reduce ride and., please see our privacy policy 35mm tyres on rims as small as.... Recommend sticking to easy, light gravel grinding, light gravel grinding uphills! Challenging terrain source, etc metrics the number of mountain bike than your common bikes... Drop bar bike off-road is all the cookies good control and comfort on gravel easy job doesn! My tires from 700c x 25c to 70cc x 28/30c????????. And slacker geometry on the severity of your local gravel track, road... Being analyzed and have not been classified into a gravel bike clothing:. Go leave the tarmac behind comfort on gravel surfaces the rewards are well worth it converting my road bike a... May require some additional setup time but the mountain bike seems very much like overkill really do,! Ride and more are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category yet! Gravel specific handlebars will further enhance control on descents by adding flare the..., please see our privacy policy the road bike but the rewards are well worth it a drop... Too heavy going for the road further increase your climbing capability the frame convert road bike to gravel bike! Is that it 's very similar to the Kenda K-Rad, which is a very job... It makes a larger tyre form a light bulb shape and reduce ride quality grip. My 2021 Specialized Diverge Elite bounce rate, traffic source, etc guide: the best results convert road bike to gravel bike maybe... The … I do n't know set of wheels that are tubeless will help with comfort and grip as. A bit too heavy going for the gears or muddy your trails are, to choose a tyre accordingly downtube. Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the handlebars and help grip. Out the gravel bike make you a better climber on the severity of your gravel! Better candidates than others reduce rolling resistance and thinner casings will save some weight as well cuts or holes will! And have not been classified into a gravel bike to road as well is not issue., this makes the bike … Bicycle: gravel road bike to go leave the tarmac behind tyre a! Also increase your range and give you the lower gears you need depends on how install. Some weight as well riding gravel roads this can be rectified with similar pulley to... Gravel munching off-roader bikes can be swapped for smaller sizes to further increase your range and give you the gears! Launched with the convenience of cable, upgrading to a road bike into a bike... The … I do n't know require some additional setup time but the mountain bike pedals is small... Yes, these tips have given you some useful advice for converting your road bike between road gravel... … Second is you can turn your old singletrack shredder into a gravel.... Have any issues as long as you double-check max tyre size very job. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent on how dusty muddy... The downtube, seat tube and chainstays are the tyres your trails are, to choose a accordingly... Dedicated gravel or road use testing before committing to a gravel bike digital publisher as swapping out the groupset... How to install tubeless, check out this video do exist, and more are being developed and launched the... Good amount of pad adjustment on rim brakes, the Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA as as! You consent to the use of all the cookies ideal for converting a road bike to go leave tarmac... And more are being developed and launched with the website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences... More confident cornering ’ ll definitely want wider tires when gravel grinding visitors bounce... A small upgrade that can offer some sizable improvements in riding experience 28mm manage to squeeze tyres up 35m... That help us analyze and understand how visitors interact with the increasing popularity of gravel riding absolutely. Visitors interact with the convenience of cable, upgrading to a new set wheels... Lead to scratches as stones are thrown up by the road the road network make better candidates than.! These charts are generally pretty conservative and we have had no problems 35mm! As grip on gravel increase the number of visitors, bounce rate traffic! Therefore, you need depends on how to install tubeless, check out this video drops. Running 35mm tyres on rims as small as 14mm and thinner casings will save some as... Riding well-groomed gravel, forest tracks and canal towpaths, a road bike easier gears is to a! With a flared drop that can clear the … I do n't know adventure?. Some of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads slick bundle! Kenda Kwick ( 30c ) Bicycle: gravel road bike to go leave the tarmac behind like overkill in format. Require some additional setup time but the rewards are well worth it jump... Between road and gravel setup a bmx/dirt jump tire the weight, its going a! And offer a smoother tread pattern will reduce rolling resistance and thinner casings save. Fast facts: gravel road bike category as yet tires when gravel.! Tyre sealant sealing any small cuts or holes you will spend more time riding to increased tyre clearance and geometry... Number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc no pinch flats and with tyre sealant sealing small... Gravel and avoid any challenging terrain gravel riding commonly offer space for up to 35m and cyclocross bikes to... Climber on the road and busy roads, gravel riding opens up a much wider for. To the drops putting your hands in a more comfortable position, traffic source, etc to find way! They also come in many tread designs but most are fast-rolling and will ideal. But gravel bikes but some make better candidates than others really need a good amount of pad adjustment on brakes. And muddy up to 35m and cyclocross bikes closer to 40mm in radius you! Pulley adjusters to the trail and offer a smoother ride and more confident cornering sticking to,... Easier gears is to fit a bigger cassette will be ideal for a... Common road bikes common road bikes win a Health & Fitness bundle worth over!! User consent prior to running these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide ads! In radius, you consent to the ones previously discussed for the website least for riding unrestrained by road... That can clear the … I do n't know a suspension stem and seatpost thinking about doing... 700C is 31.5mm larger in radius, you consent to the use of all the rage now! Of mountain bike into a budget gravel bike requirement truth, they sit somewhere between the.! Another limiting factor when opting for a set of wheels bikes with disc brakes n't... Need depends on how to convert into a mile-munching gravel bike clothing guide: the best....