BytagSee the publication "Beginner? No, gravel biking isn't the solution to everything!"
You walk into a bike shop, eyes shining, ready to invest in your first "real" bike. And there, they're praising gravel bikes: Versatile, comfortable, ready for anything! Stop. Breathe! If you're a beginner, the golden rule is simple: choose a bike suited to the type of riding you'll be doing most of the time, not one designed to withstand a hypothetical off-road excursion. Let us explain.
By Guillaume Judas – Photos: depositphotos.com
Each terrain has its own bike
There are several types of bicycles, adapted to different types of terrain:
- Bikes from routelightweight, aerodynamic, and with thin tires for asphalt only
- mountain bikes with straight handlebars, suspension and wide tires for trails, rocks, rough and uneven terrain
- Gravel bikes, between the two previously mentioned, with racing handlebars but wide tires and endurance geometry for paved trails and the route
- Time trial bikes, triathlon bikes, cyclocross bikes or track bikesThese are highly specialized fields, requiring machines that are rarely found in stores.
The gravel bike is a bit like the SUV of cycling : a machine capable of operating equally well on earth and sand as on route, and even sometimes on a few singletracks in the woods or in mytagnot if they are not too brittle. A machine faster than a mountain bike on the route, and with more capabilities than a bicycle route off the beaten track. But is it the ideal choice if you can only have one bike in your garage? Not necessarily.
In fact, It all depends on how you envision cycling.If you mainly want to ride on mixed routes, made up of paths, routewhite s, undergrowth, cycle paths and routepaved roads, then this is probably the best solution. But if your primary goal is to ride on route or even to achieve performances, with eventually the possibility, once in a while, of borrowing a route On unpaved roads, a gravel bike will very quickly show its limitations.
A bad default choice
Gravel bikes are appealing on paper because, theoretically, they allow you to do everything. In reality, as soon as you ride more than 50 km on tarmac, their limitations become glaringly obvious. The more upright riding position, with its geometry designed for endurance and the rider's capabilities...tagIt makes you lose watts against the wind and tires you out faster at high speeds. The less rigid frame results in a loss of pedaling efficiency. The larger, knobby tires produce significantly more rolling resistance. The added weight makes acceleration less responsive. And the drivetrain, often a single chainring, imposes excessively large gear ratios between each cog. route flat terrain or when riding in a group. In short, it's mostly aboutAn average bike everywhere, instead of an excellent bike where you really need it.
Please note, we are not saying that gravel bikes are bad bikes, far from it. They are machines designed for a specific use. Allroad...and to tackle all the inherent difficulties of this type of terrain. If you're aiming for gravel races, long distances without hesitating to cut across fields, if you want to get away from traffic as much as possible, or even if you want to do a sporty commute with a bike capable of safely navigating cycle paths, gravel biking is for you. But choose it with full knowledge of the facts.
The increased capabilities of bicycles route modern manufacturing processes
For those who are unsure of never taking the road less traveled, The good news is that the bikes of route today have evolvedMost frames, whether entry-level, mid-range, or high-end, accept tires up to 32 or 35 mm wide, more than enough for riding on smooth roads without any problems. Some even accept 650b gravel wheels for the occasional outing. With these new capabilities, you retain 95% of the performance of a road bike. routewhile keeping the door open to adventure, without sacrificing your daily outings.
Buying a gravel bike for hypothetical rides is a mistake
With a gravel bike, you can do almost anything, that's true. But it's a bit like running with trail shoes on the sidewalk: it works, but it's less efficient, less fluid, and ultimately less enjoyable. Choose the type of bike that excels where you'll be riding most often.You'll ride faster, more often, longer, and with a smile. When you really want to explore the trails, rent or buy a second used bike: it's cheaper than making a mistake with the first one.
