Undefined cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Chainrings can be swapped for smaller sizes to further increase your climbing capability. January 19, 2019. Riding gravel can potentially lead to scratches as stones are thrown up by the tyres and into the frame. And they can reach speeds way higher than that of a mountain bike. Here are some fast facts: gravel bikes can handle more wear-and-tear than your common road bikes. 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. Gravel specific handlebars will further enhance control on descents by adding flare to the drops putting your hands in a more comfortable position. Hm, i ride my CX / commuter with 35mm tyres (Schwalbe Marathon - not too much grip pattern on them) on gravel roads, and on hard packed gravel it's fine, but on loose gravel i'd recommend wider tires with less pressure and more grip. 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? 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. 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 … We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Meaning upgrading my tires from 700c x 25c to 70cc x 28/30c??? A super easy way to give your converted road bike easier gears is to fit a bigger cassette. Try these simple modifications to turn your traditional road bike into a gravel munching machine. 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. 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. BA1 1UA. And remember, have fun! This is a very easy job and doesn’t cost a lot. 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. Choose a tire that is at least 25mm wide that can clear the … The idea of an 'any road' bike … And that can mean a lot of fun and a fresh look at where and how you ride.A gravel bike … Please refresh the page and try again. Another key consideration is the rim width. This is great news for would-be gravel riders, because you’ll definitely want wider tires when gravel grinding. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. With a few modifications, it's possible to convert an existing bike or frameset into a gravel grinder for very little cost. 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. 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. 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. 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 … 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. 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. Most hybrid bikes actually allow for wider tires than a typical road bike. Exercises to make you a better climber on the bike. If you are using rim brakes, the clearance between the calipers must also be considered. 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. 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. If you want to ride rough gravel and woodland trails then you want to fit a wide aggressively treaded tyre that will give you maximum grip and control. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Riding gravel can be rough and tough. 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. The pros and cons England and Wales company registration number 2008885. A popular difference between road and gravel bikes is the handlebar. If you’re riding well-groomed gravel, forest tracks and canal towpaths, a big fat slick tyre will suffice in the dry. Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Kenda Kwick (30c) Bicycle: GRAVEL Road 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. 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. 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. It’s hard to find a road bike … In truth, they sit somewhere between the two. All rights reserved. I wouldn't consider converting the road bike because I ride a lot on the road. Most gravel grinding is done on gritty country roads. Win a Health & Fitness Bundle worth over £500! 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. 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. These charts are generally pretty conservative and we have had no problems running 35mm tyres on rims as small as 14mm. I currently own a road bike and mountain bike but can't really afford a gravel bike right now. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. 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? © To do this, make sure to keep the ratio at a constant ratio of 2:1, as both bikes, use approximately similar proportions. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Is it possible for my road bike to convert into a gravel one? Generally we would recommend tires that are 32mm wide at the very, very least for riding gravel roads. A short cage rear derailleur won't be able to handle larger cassettes however the WolfTooth Roadlink solves this problem and will save the need to buy a new rear derailleur. So you might feel the difference riding with friends on the uphills, but it shouldn’t be a huge deal. Keep reading as we break down the most important considerations when converting a road bike to go leave the tarmac behind. 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. Going to a smaller wheel size can also increase tyre clearance. If that’s not enough comfort, then how about a suspension stem and seatpost? 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. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Fourth is the high bottom bracket, this makes the bike … A smoother tread pattern will reduce rolling resistance and thinner casings will save some weight as well. 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. A gravel bike is often a little bit heavier than a road bike, because it’s built to be sturdier. Visit our corporate site. 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. To make your mountain bike better for riding on the road, you need to reduce the factors that make your bike suitable off-road… Thinking about maybe doing this for my 2021 Specialized Diverge Elite. Their 7-, 8- and 9-speed road and mountain bike components are all interchangeable. 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. There was a problem. Most road bikes can be converted to gravel bikes but some make better candidates than others. - Ever since I got my new road bike I have wanted to convert my old OCR into an adventure/gravel bike. Gearing. "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." You can use road clipless pedals on gravel but if you do need to dismount and walk for whatever reason, you’ll quickly trash your cleats and expensive carbon fibre shoes. 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. Let’s take a closer look at how you can turn your slick tyred road bike into a gravel munching off-roader. Bike Frame. 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. 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 … 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. 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. 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. All road bikes are designed around 700c wheels but gravel bikes are commonly being designed to be compatible with the smaller 650b wheel sizes, which offers the advantage of running a bigger volume tyre for more comfort and traction but the overall diameter being no larger than a 700c setup. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Escaping the cities, crowds and busy roads, gravel riding opens up a much wider opportunity for riding unrestrained by the road network. This will increase your range and give you the lower gears you need. Shimano’s 11-speed is the same although it uses a different pull ratio than 10-speed. They all feel similar and the gearing differences just account for the changes in … Gravel bike clothing guide: the best kit for gravel riding. 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. 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. 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. 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. The most important conversion to consider are the tyres. Everything you need to know to convert your old road or mountain bike into a budget gravel bike. Racier bikes max out at 25-28mm while endurance bikes commonly offer space for up to 35m and cyclocross bikes closer to 40mm. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, If you’re feeling flush, with two sets of wheels you can easily switch your road bike between road and gravel setup. 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. 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. 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. Depending on the severity of your local gravel track, a road bike will happily take on some light gravel grinding. 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. “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. Cable brakes may use different pull ratios although this can be rectified with similar pulley adjusters to the ones previously discussed for the gears. 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. Many rim tyre compatibility charts will not recommend a 35mm tyre on a rim smaller than 17mm. However, we'd recommend sticking to easy, light gravel and avoid any challenging terrain. 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. 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. 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. 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