Gravel Bike Vs XC Flat Bar | What’s The Difference?
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 08. 2022
- Are you torn between a gravel bike and a flat bar XC mountain bike? Which is faster? Which is more versatile for bikepacking trips? In this video, Anna & Doddy are out in the Forest Of Dean to spend the day comparing the two options as they look at the pros and cons of gravel Vs flat bar XC bikes!
Useful Links:
Watch #shorts on GMBN 👉 gmbn.eu/GMBNshorts
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 upload.gmbn.com/tech
Check out GMBN Tech T's in the GMBN Shop 👉 gmbn.tech/Tshirt
Do you prefer to have a do-it-all bike for everything or certain bikes for the perfect job!? Let us know your thoughts down below! 👇
Watch more on GMBN Tech...
📹 High-Pivot MTB History! 👉 gmbn.tech/HighPivotHistory
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gmbn.tech/editorschoice
📹 Watch our weekly show 👉 gmbn.tech/TechShowPlaylist121
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
All of This Time (Instrumental Version) - Superintendent McCupcakes
Composite Key - DEX 1200
Cut the Mustard - Tigerblood Jewel
Doing the Twist - OTE
First Horizon - ELFL
The Rat Not the Tail - Harry Edvino
Rebound - Coma Svensson
Still Ballin' - Amber Spill
Glacier Come Alive - William Claeson
I'll Be Me (Instrumental Version) - Penny Lane
#gmbntech #gmbn #mtb #mountainbiking #GravelBike #XCBike #BikeComparision
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community - and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.
Every day of every month, our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: gmbn.eu/Canyon
Nukeproof Bikes: gmbn.eu/nukeproof
Orbea Bikes: gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: gmbn.eu/ParkTool
POC helmets and eyewear: gmbn.eu/POCsports
Crankbrothers Pedals: gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Dainese Protection: gmbn.eu/Dainese
Ergon: gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: gmbn.eu/Vittoria
FSA: gmbn.eu/fsa
e*thirteen: gmbn.eu/EThirteen
Spank: gmbn.eu/Spank
Topeak: gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: gmbn.eu/Garmin
Muc-Off - gmbn.eu/Muc-Off
Wahoo: gmbn.eu/WahooTraining
Komoot: gmbn.eu/Komoot
Worx Power Tools: gmbn.eu/Worx
CamelBak: gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Watch our sister channels:
Global Mountain Bike Network - / gmbn
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / embn
Global Cycling Network - / gcn
GCN Tech - / gcntech
GCN Racing - / gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / gtn
GCN Italia - / gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / gcnjapan
GCN Training - / gcntraining - Sport
Some ppl don't have the choice of using different bikes for different types of riding. The main factor is getting out and riding is it not.
3:22 that scream 😂😂 another great video, need more of Doddy and Anna! Great chemistry on screen as always
rofl
He looked so pleased with himself whilst lining it up! 😂
Doddy and Anna are such great presenters
Even when i'm not that interested in the topic of a video i still watch it because of how charming you two are😊
True that, the chemistry between the two is super cool. Doddy is the reason I started doing maintenance and mods on my bike despite being technically illiterate. He just makes everything look easy.
GMBN is just so much better than GCN at this point
Really enjoyed this. Yeah, that XC bike without suspension reminds me a lot of "mountain bike shaped objects" from the late 80s through the mid-90s - just needs 26" wheels. Having woken up a couple of months ago to find myself 70 years old, I remember those bikes were fun to ride back then, for both city riding on pavement, gravel outside the city limits, and flowing single track. Used to follow Ned Overend and whippersnapper John Tomac in early mtb races, and much of their racing occurred on bikes like this. I still ride, and have both a hard tail and a full sus. mtb, but at times wish I had something like the featured gravel bike for the kind of riding I'm mostly doing these days
I am 69. Glad to see others of a like age are still at it. I still have my Cannondale hardtail/Manitou fork bike from the early '90s. I ride it every now and then just to scare the s@$% out of myself. I will stick with my 2021 Scott Genius. I do have a "gravel" bike. A Soma framed (steel is real) custom build. With a change of tires I can go from serious gravel to a modern hardtail and bike packing. Drops just scare me.
@@garthflint - I'm with you - drops just scare me and the grip on brakes in either grip just isn't as firm as with a straight bar, especially when commuting in traffic flow.
(and I'm just a boy at 62! and my first MTB was Specialised HardRock hardtail and forks.)
Same. I don’t think I’ll ever ride drops. I’m into the 50’s and intend to be riding till I drop. My happy place this is. Keep at it lads!🫶🏽🙂🙏
I've come to the conclusion that when trying to decide whether to buy a gravel bike (or any bike really), it really comes down to what terrain are you riding and how many bikes are/will be in your garage
This. Don't think of gravel bikes to replace mtb terrain or thinking you can do equal efforts on pavement with mtb compare to road or gravel drop bar bikes. It's not the same. Flat dirt for miles a gravel bike would eat it faster than an xc bike due to gear ratios
If you ride a variety of terrain and can only afford one bike, then a good cross country mountain bike is the ideal choice.
@@Durwood71 the commuters bike of choice is an xc bike. Nothing wrong with that.
In my area, gearing is king. 70% mountainous terrain... whatever helps you deliver power and minimizes suffering... and suffer you will...
@@Durwood71 but if you go to work by road with it every day, you will be fed up quickly
I live in rural eastern Idaho. Our weather varies from -35 C to +35 C, with ❄️, hail, 🌧️, sleet, freezing rain, slick ice, 80 kph headwinds, and sandstorms. Within 50 meters of my home I have rocky canal trails that are very difficult on anything other than a fat tire bike. I'm an avid cycling commuter. During pounding sleet headwinds, only my velomobile will do to pedal to work. For trips that don't require picking up anything, my 1984 Bianchi Limited race bike is exquisite in perfect weather. It's my well past midlife indulgence for $300 used from the basement of Dave's Bike Shop in Idaho Falls. My Salsa Marakesh touring gravel bike is nice for most weather and gravel trails. My single speed cafe racer bike is a single speed Walmart bike that I put gravel bars on for aerodynamics vs the headwinds I often encounter. My cafe racer is an awesome commuter bike because nobody in their right mind would steal it. It's ugly but still pretty fast. My Amsterdam bike is a nice commuter for nice weather and rain. But it's in the shop due to riding over rail road tracks fast one time. My wife and I have a tandem bike which is fun for dates. This Friday we will celebrate her 30th anniversary of her 20th birthday with pedaling into town for sushi. If I had to have one bike only, it would be my Surly Pugsley fat tire bike with additional studded fat tires for the slick ice which knocks ATVs into the ditch. It's slow but it will get me there and back in all possible weather, all possible surfaces, and all terrains.
fat bikes are pure awesomeness. add another set of 29+ wheels and you have much faster bike. great platform to make it the one, that rule them all :)
Looking at GCN and GMBN videos on this, it looks like the gravel roads in Great Britain are often single lane old bridle paths or lanes with little or no vehicular traffic, and therefore no washboarding. Where I live in Montana the gravel roads are largely unmaintained logging or mining roads or forest access roads to backpacking trailheads often with substantial rocky, washed out and washboarded areas. I am in a group which does gravel rides weekly and I ride these roads almost daily. Some of the members have high end "gravel specific" bikes but often choose to ride their mountain bikes with front or dual suspension instead. Additionally, for many of these rides the lowest gearing on most gravel bikes is not adequate (especially for older riders), especially if you carry panniers or packs. My Timberjack hardtail is perfect for many of these rides and has attachments for racks as well. My point is that gravel roads run the spectrum from almost tarmac in quality to babyheaded, rutted, washed-out, rock-strewn washboarded nightmares more suitable for fat tires. I wish you would do a segment on choosing a new bike based not on "gravel vs road vs singletrack" but on what is the most appropriate bike for the terrain you generally ride.
I live in Montana also. I have to agree. Yes, there are people who can ride a real gravel bike and survive. Me, I want some comfort. A day on a hardtail is two days with a sore back.
Just get a mountain bike. They can go anywhere a road or gravel bike can go.
"Lower gearing on most gravel bikes just not adequate"
This, 100% this. Gravel specific Shimano/SRAM group sets are just too road centric still. Cant use em on serious off road climbes, even when the rest of the bike is otherwise good for the terrain.
Judging by some of Anna's comments, will we be seeing her do some bike packing videos at some point?
Seems like that!
This is my experience with both bars.
Flat bars, stock are great for control and handling precision. Also due to the position being in the middle of the bike, they feel genially great off-road. Another advantage is the wide range of modifications available, including adding bar extensions to it. With some bar tape, this improves comfort for longer rides. Aero can also be improved by adding bar drops, but up to a point.
Drop bars, the combining of the brakes and shifting is useful.
Due to most drop bar bike geometry. It pushes your position forward on the bike which was always great for road riding. But was never idea for off-road terrain, especially when descending.
Tying to correct this position on the bike was found to be very difficult. This is due to the lack of bar extension modifications out there that support the larger bar diameter.
What helped a bit was raising the drops as high as they can go, then adjusting the hoods accordingly.
Did the Coast and Castles (NC1 I think) on my hardtail XC bike, then a few months later a slightly shorter two day trip on my gravel bike. Got to say the XC was more comfortable and just as quick. As long as its got two wheels just ride it.
You right, gravel is for me a marketing scam.
@@GrafRamolo Maybe not a marketing scam, but the fact is that it is a bike that in theory is pretty good in things that XC bike could do and inn terms of speed. But in reality the result is that it is not better anywhere, it is just okay.
@@jurekgadzinowski2895 exactly. Better buy second hand light xc bike then new gravel , you will get away better bike for the same amount , plus you will go places where no gravel can .
did you use bar ends ? I rented drop bar bike, but i could never find it more comfortable than flatbars..
I never felt 100% comfortable with drops and changed out to flat bars and added SQLabs inner bars. . Solves the position/aero argument and I'm more confident in sketchier terrain. Rockshox Judy would be a great upgrade as well to help with the chatter of longer rides.
Judy has a plastic damper which doesn't let you lock out too often, as it wears out rather quickly. I really recommend RockShox Recon. Or even Manitou Markhor.
Judy is so 90s , love it !
3:22 such a perfectly executed splash!
Anna and Doddy videos are the best. Great comparison. Reminds me of my rides with my wife. She is on our gravel bike and I keep up with my MTB. Until this year, I was keeping up with an older hardtail and just got a new XC. We have lots of gravel rail trails around so we venture long rides. Great video, great team, great channel!!
I love having one bike that kinda works for all: My superenduro. but the best is also having some specific bikes like my dirtjumper and dh bike. and a new trail hardtail for something between the enduro and dirtjumper
Absolutely love seeing Doddy out on a bike....more of that please.
Doddy is a great presenter, Anna is a great presenter, but together 'they're greater than the sum of their parts'; brilliant duo, double-act, team...(reluctant to say couple)
@Austen Davis Yep, hence avoiding the couple comment.
Yes like watching Little & Large LOL
I like these canyon adverts.
I love the classic mountain bike look!
My son and I cycled 75 miles to start of Peddars Way, a 46 mile offroad pre Roman road that runs from near Thetford to Hunstanton. Fairly bumpy, very dry with lots of loose flints. We used a hardtail 29er and a steel touring bike with 40mm Clement explorer gravel tyres. We swapped bikes occasionally and we concluded that there was no appreciable difference
nice vid of you guys! got Annas bike last week in the same color ;-) perfect bike for chilled rides in the woods and also for some more structured training offroad.
I love my Fully ridged Mtb, I think it has a ton of advantages over a gravel bike especially on real Nasty Mountain Gravel Backpacking route. $800 Frame, $500 Fork., that bike is cool but absolutely ridiculous. You have to use Areo bars to make up for the aero drag in the flats. Plus for a true comparison, with the same tires, and same chainring/gear ratios. The guys round my way that put down the same times on there xc bikes on loop trails to me are putting in the same times on gravel loops as I am, they for sure catch up on flats but get lost on climbs and Decent. Right tool for the right job, I got it.
Completed a 93k "gravel" ride over the weekend. Road my Trek Farley with 3.8s. It was the best choice as calling the route gravel was a stretch, lots of rock fields, sand, mud, and river crossings.
Usaly i ride a Full emtb, but i just got the Alma! Some small adjustments, and i think it wil become a great all-rounder. To long stem, and need a wider bar Great video! 🤗
Niceee happy I saw this. Was looking into my first gravel bike to compliment my new full suspension. Love the content 🤙
one of the best review videos about these bikes. It really depends on what the rider wants. I prefer the all around purpose mountain bike.
I own I think literally the first gravel bike ever made, a Marin cyclocross prototype with loads of clearance from 1999. I have done everything on it from bike messenger work in NYC to single tracks and rails to trails to bike polo and even a gold time in El Tour De Tucson riding with the roadies. Great bike, but I often pick my Litespeed fully rigid too. Just depends on my mood and where I am riding.
Great team, great video!! Very enjoyable to watch. Mountain Bike on trails, not too technical, through the woods. Given the cost of bikes, I have to limit it to one bike (MTB) that gives me the most flexibility for my type of riding. The MTB (Santa Cruz Tallboy) is set up lower and longer to accommodate my needs and ultimately that is what everyone has to determine for themselves.
Great video. E-biker myself, non-competitive, and what I ride is essentially a classic hard tail mountain e-bike. Damping on front fork with lockout option makes it work both in single track and on roads. Furthermore, I have upgraded with a drop seat. It has factory mounted fenders and rear rack, and to me this is to me a kinda “ jack of all trades, master of none”-bike. The fenders keep me cleaner, which I like, and I do not do the extreme stuff where they would get in the way. When it comes to handlebar, I have a back that prohibits forward leaning positions to a degree, and my bike even have an adjustable stem that provides the suitable upright position. If I configured a similar bike without the electric motor, it would not be able to compete with yours, but it would still be a very versatile bike. The main concern would probably be to configure a gearing range both suited for climbing and high speed on the flats. Anyway … a lot of the choices when finding the right bike are to me very personal. As a non-competitive biker, I love the idea of that versatile bike that can do it all, and my rides reflect that, since I often have a mix of asphalt, gravel and single track on the same trip.
One of the most significant differences between gravel and XC/Mtb bikes - often overlooked in these comparison videos - is gearing, particularly the front ring or mech configuration.
They're just components though, should be controlled for.. but these aren't fair tests
@@mcspikesky Never seem to be either.
Absolutely nailed it! I need to hear more about the impact of drivetrains.
Just bought a Kona Rove DL and it’s a great bike, but I’m also considering buying a road bike too as I love to focus on cadence and long distance for supplemental training for running.
Now im just an old guy trying to get into biking. I first bought a cheap, but decent road bike (an entry level Trek), and found that i really don't like that kind of riding. I sort of gave up, but then i bought the orbea alma (i kept the suspension fork though). I love that bike so much more. I feel like you can do whatever you want with it. I feel like im nearly as fast on the road, and much more comfortable, but i can also take it up on our local. Mountain bike trails and have fun off road too. I just can't see doing that on a gravel bike. I think it would be fine on light trails, but trying to ride the faster downhills on drops would just be scary.
For me, i love the orbea. I don't know if ill ever pull the road bike out again. I probably ought to just sell it.
Back in the late 80’s early 90’s I had a Scott sawtooth rigid mountain bike and had the best time doing trails , canals, woods, road . Much like the modern day gravel bike . I use a trek Crockett now , still as much fun
Gravel bikes have filled the void left by mountain bikes getting more able off road. Living in the South East, in the late 80's /early 90's MTB wasn't to draggy to ride out from home on the roads, and then were a laugh in the woods as they were usually out of control. Modern MTB, even hardtail, with 2.3" tyres with soft compound are hard work on road and then local woods are dull as the bike is so good. Gravel bike has given back that same feel as the old bikes, can do 50-60 mile routes and have fun in an out of control kind of way in the woods.
I'm an old Skool MTBer as well. As I get older, the more I gravitate away from technical trails toward gravel. My rides now are a combination of Pavement, Gravel, and light Trails (often during the same ride) so need a bike equally capable on all substrates. I tried drop bars, but absolutely can't stand them. I am currently building a classic "Path Bike" (before there was such a thing as Gravel or Hybrid bikes) it has the geometry and gearing of a Road bike, with Flatbars and 26" MTB wheels. The hardest part has been trying to find tires that can go pavement-gravel-trail. Back in the late 80s most MTB tires were designed that way, but tire companies have gone way too specialized in recent years.
That silver Orbea Alma is gorgeous!
When I ride my enduro bike around town or anywhere off the trails I veer off to hit a feature from big stairs, little stairs, curbs, and all sorts of fun stuff.
Put drops on a quality 90s MTB and you've got the best of both worlds -- that's what I ride in Devon, England, and it outperforms both of these, especially for bikepacking. I also think that 1x drivetrains cost you a lot of options for finding exactly the right gear over longer distances -- so I've got a 2x CX drivetrain on the bike.
as a women of limited means I prefer to have one bike for everything..I just purchased for me, a sick mountain bike that I use for everything and I love it.
Magnificent countryside. Fun video. Thanks
Love the dynamic between you guys but I must say that for me, gravel isn’t the chill choice. It’s the hardest but it might be because I like to take every single track road possible, just like Doddy. Love these vids keep it up 👍🤘
This topic is a Hot one for many of us, and these two excellent presenters covered just about all the most important points! And all with lots of laughter, which always matters. Thanks to Anna & Doddy for 'putting the ol' band back together' for this one!👍🏼👍🏼
(Too bad we didn't get more of this before AD moved along to his new path.)
I'm a converted road biker from MTB. been saying for years gravel bikes are just a way for road bikers to get an MTB without actually saying they are riding an MTB!
my gravel bike is ,cheap a hybrid frame with disk mount , with mtb 29er wheels , long rigid fork drop bars and sti shifters , dual mtb crackset , work just fine ,
Doddy splashing Anna was too funny 🤣
That Orbea frame looks really nice.👌
Would of gone narrower bars with the end stubs coupled with super light tyres fast rolling on the MTB..
The mezcals make it noticeably slower. With a proper gravel tire, it would be night and day (I just did this upgrade towards the mezcal to gain downhill performance on trails).
If your gravel adventures are mainly gravel and paved roads, use the drop bar.
If your gravel adventures include tons of forrest service roads and singletrack, use the flat bar.
Why? Riding rough roads on a drop bar sucks. ESPECIALLY trying to brake from the hoods of a drop bar. Mountain bike brakes work so much better on rough roads. Additinoally, flat bars are wider which does two things. More control on rough roads. Your brakes are farther apart, easier more controllable braking.
I have both but they have their limitations, as suggested in the video. My gravel bike just cannot cope with rocky / bumpy sections without slowing right down, but it's great on long road / tame gravel rides. My XC however is more versatile, can handle most rough terrain and gets a decent speed on road but is limited on fast DH. Love having both bikes to choose from depending on the ride, but if the route is more off-road than road I'd take the XC
Any bike I have will go down hill faster than I want to take it. I just do not scare myself so bad on my full suspension!
And almost all trips has more rough sections ;P
@@GassTron I do, when I doing ultra endurance gravel and pavement, and need more mounting point for bikepacking. I have an AM bike and aero road bike, then I sold my XC for a gravel bike.
Hey bro is flat bar easier to balance than drop bar?
The Alma looks stunning. I love it.
The geometry and 1x setup on the orbea would be a slog at 25kmh even on smooth tar, let alone the large volume nobby tires. This video didn’t address the flat bar limitation comparison at all.
I like the crossover stuff.....simple as...I ride MTB's, gravel/CX bikes and even a road bike....I enjoy it all !!
This year i have been using my mountain bike for gravel races and mountain bike rides.
Not sure about the claimed easy average of 25-30km/h on 50mm 650b tyres on the gravel bike. I've considered getting one but can't justify it as the difference between it and an old rigid 26" is just not enough, and you can add on bar ends for changing hand position and fatigue (put them inside the levers/shifters too like mini aero bars, and can support a sleeping bag etc). As for water bottle cages on the forks, ever heard of jubilee clips lol!!!?
I did 30 kmh average on some 100km tours in the 90's as a kid on 26" 90's mtbs... the claim just makes no sense
I ride cheap old used XC fittted with 24x2inch road bias tire, and found the difference with entry level roadbike on flat tarmac around 24 vs. 27 kph..
I need to hear more about the impact of drivetrains. A Moloko bar on an aggressive hard tail 29er frame will give you all kinds of hand positions (more than a drop bar) and provide the aero rider angle (if on the inner hand positions of the Moloko) of most road bikes. Throw 40-50c gravel tires (I.E. match the gravel bike) and then it is a matter of weight (can be quite comparable with a racing hardtail). So what is really left that matters and can be an expensive and decisive buying-decision difference is the drivetrain. More on this, pretty please😊 as I wonder aloud if it is really the key/material consideration.
I use my Gravel Specialized Diverge with flat handlebar I think it very comfortable and maneuverability
The narrow & dropped bars and finer tyre tread is what makes gravel bikes faster with less effort IMO.
Was almost gonna get a gravel as my mates took of noticeably easier up a fire trail,, but coming back down on a HT with 100mm forks I blew past with cornering confidence… HT bike packs & is plush for the rough stuff… Then there’s the tyre issues with exposed rock & stones,,, 50mm compared to 2.5 …
i think I'd prefer a decent old school hardtail to a new gravel bike... certainly look more comfy..!
The Orbea reminds me of the old Mondraker podium. They share similar silhouette.
I enjoy the combination of the 2 my gravel bike a Felt Broam 30 and flat bar a Haro 700 Bridgeport the 2 bikes suite the way I bike
Perfectly
What a great pairing these two presenters make. "Infotainment" at its best. Long may it last.
I love those new school/old MTB 👍
I just added a trekFX sport5 as my non-MTB. I prefer not to ride on roads with traffic, we have a great rails to trails here in NY so the longer distance bike path experience is available. We also have gravel back roads within a drive away…so having a broad application, do it all bike is what I wanted. My true love is riding single track mtb, but I like riding it all and many of my aged friends simply are not adventurous enough for a MTB so a bike that rides well with them is why the flat bar gravel bike came home with me!! As the roads continue to cater to distracted drivers , bikes need their own safe space and gravel offers that!
At the end of the day - it's how you ride. If you like comfort, stability and chill rides, go with the xc flat bar. If speed, distance and climbs are your thing then go with the gravel bike.. Enjoy and ride safe everybody!
I bought a Gravel bike, but the narrow 43mm wide drop handle bars made me a nervous rider off road. Changed them to flat handle bars and cut them down to 50 mm and added bar ends for the road and so I had another hand position. This made me a stronger off road rider and still had the riding position for the road.
43cm=430mm, can't imagine 43mm bars lel
Honestly, wider tires are a good addition for a casual rider and they don't lose much in terms of rolling resistance
add suspension and you will get proper bike ;)
@@GrafRamolo - proper bikes don't have suspension (Specialised HardRock hardtail and forks)!
I put an aero bar on my rigid mtb with niner fork for more loads and water bottles. Aero bar beats drop bar anytime of the day. 😅 the combination of a flat bar and aero bar are surreal
I like to have a ride for whatever I feel like when I go out. Got bikes from 1960 to 2012 that I ride on a weekly basis. Never enough days in the week to ride them all.
Anna's not short Doddys a frigin Giant! Love you guys Great video!
#Getting light🤔
I have a gravel bike i really like, have had a few, but my Scott scale 930 is just as fast and light , its better on rougher rides and the gravel bike is a little better when there's more pavement involved
Great video~!
What about a flat bar converted gravel bike. Seems to be the trend lately. I spec'ed and built a Litespeed Watia with a flat bar and dropper post last year. She rips!
Nice to see Mtbing is on BBC red button all day.
Doddy with the puddle slap Hahaha 😂
these two are hilarious on screen!!🤣🤣 love the vid.
Brilliant, she’s not letting Doddy get away with anything.
super fun video!
3:23 Priceless : having a value beyond any price
Will there be a specific channel for gravel bike soon?
Gravel Bikes are for Roadies who want to hit some dirt paths or fire roads along the way. They avoid dirt climbs tho because they know the downhills are going to kill them.
I have both bikes. The XC bike is far more capable and confident on any terrain with the flat bars (especially braking). Will do gravel rides no problem, but will sit on 25km/h if I'm lucky. The gravel bike is just effortless. Sits on 30km/h easy, and turns long day rides into a casual cruise. However it's quickly out of its depth when the single track turns rough.
Brilliant bike what size is the frame please good video 👍
That Alma is bloody gorgeous 😍
I modified my Canyon Exceed CF SLX8 12 speed with a Enve rigid MTB fork, a 38t chainring. It’s much better to use as a road/gravel bike than keeping the 34t chainring. Do try it
Interesting, I’m toying with the idea at the moment on my 29 hardtail with a 120mm travel fork. What’s the difference when you do a bit of singletrack?
@@stujm8376 it will be much harder for climbs on 38t chainring vs 34t in the trail for sure. On gravel tracks and roads, the bigger chainring brings the benefit of faster average speed and straighter chain line.
@@stujm8376 basically it’s challenging replacing the rigid fork with a suspension, and I feel it cannot replaced a front suspension XC hardtail. This setup is more to convert the XC hardtail to a more light trail ready Gravel bike, a more gravel bike than a traditional dropBar gravel bikr
same here, i have a specialized epic Ht, inatalled enve mtb rigid fork, 38t oval chainring in front, 9-45t e13 helix gravel chainring. You can pick the right tire depending where your going
Went on my xc mtb for a 150k ride with ease: just get some inner barends for the aero hand position and get some proper tires for the job.
Gravel bikes have become very popular now, but then where are the hybrid bikes?
(Merida crossway XT or Trek Dual Sport 4...etc)
The difference all depends on the type of gravel and terrain you ride.
Where I live and ride the gravel roads are mostly up and down hills and some chunky rocks and rain ruts. If stick to the gravel on your ride a MTB is probably better. Throw in some pavement, then you may be better off with a dropbar gravel bikes.
You need to get Manon and Anna together in a video
I'm putting a flatbar on my cyclocross for the winter time double and green blue single track rides with 41mm knobbies.
I am actually close to ditching my gravel bike and use my hard tail trail mountain bike for long rides, road or single track; then get a full-sus trail mountain bike for those times i want to tackle gnarlier trails.
that's an amazing frame on that orbea!
Lucky for me I have a nice mid 90s Ti hard tail mtb er... grovel bike if I really want to do that, but honestly riding on trails if much more fun.
What's the model of Anna's POC helmet?
"Look at my old mtn bike worth 6,500 pounds without a custom paint job and see how it compares to a new bike" I'd say pretty effing close.
I smash my gravel rides on a 30 year old Orange C16r with billy bonkers tyres. Has the right geo, bar ends, good old fashioned 3x8 gearing for speed and climbs and totally versatile. £300 all in and I’ve never had a 10x more expensive gravel bike go past me…..
"It's not the wrong bike, it's the wrong trail."
That's a great quote.
There are full CF mtb style bikes by such companies as Salsa, to name but one, that have "braze ons" all over the place for backpacking etc.
Then there are alt handlebars such as the Jones loop or Koga Denham which give multiple hand positions inc a sort of aero tuck and wide enough for tech stuff and, most importantly, all day comfort.
Both the above several grand cheaper than that 6.5k bike.
Just check out what some of the people riding the Great Tour Divide are riding.
Anyone who can ride a flat bar all day long, has better wrists and palms than me, or, has not had as many motorcycle accidents...
I'm surprised there is no discussion about gearing - that was the biggest reason I got a gravel bike, because of the limitation for front chain-ring size on my mountain and fat bikes. Good video though - thank you!
100% agree.. this is kinda the situation i am in .. much prefer the mtb riding positon but the gearing is the limiting factor... and i find myself looking at gravel bikes for that reason ..
how fast do you want to go? I get plenty enough speed with 32t x 10t.
yeah, you want to go fast? try 2x12, that’s many xc athletes using
@@daispatrick yeah thats the thing .. i often have to ride 30 or 40 km to trails or mountains , i have an older 32 x11 and quite often spin out on the flatter parts or declines , an mtb with a 40 x11 or 40x10 would be perfect lol.. modern frames dont really have the room ... just have to save harder and get both i guess.
What is this size limitation you speak of? MTB can run any size you like
I only have one bike, but fortunately, I can lock out the suspension so I don’t have to miss out on gravel rides with friends.
have you seen Lachlan Morton bikepacking setup ? His XC lefty cannondale with the handlebar slammed below the stem, he must be really aero.