​Expert interview with Marcus Klausmann: “I don’t see the point of a suspension fork on a gravel bike.”

Gravel cycling is booming. But the market is heading in two directions: on the one hand, there are the aero racers; on the other, adventure bikes with suspension forks, panniers and balloon tyres. Who needs what? We spoke to Marcus Klausmann. The 15-time German Downhill Champion has a surprising take on the matter.

“With a suspension fork? You might as well ride a hardtail.”

BIKE: Marcus, gravel bikes are getting more and more extreme. On the one hand, there are aero racers; on the other, adventure bikes with suspension forks and bikepacking gear. Where is this all heading?

Marcus Klausmann: I’m a huge fan of gravel cycling. My daughters do a lot of gravel riding, and cyclo-cross in winter. And we’re all definitely part of the aero camp. (laughs)

BIKE: So you’re not a fan of the new off-road gravel bikes?

Klausmann: Not at all. I don’t see the point of a suspension fork on a gravel bike. It’s completely missing the point for me. I’d much rather ride a hardtail. After all, that’s what it was built for.

"I want that Van der Poel feeling."

BIKE: That’s surprising. A 15-time downhill champion, of all people, is arguing against more off-road terrain?

Klausmann: Actually, it makes perfect sense. If I want to get out into proper terrain, I take a mountain bike. For me, gravel means: off the road, onto gravel. Fast, smooth, sporty – I’m the classic gravel rider. I ride on 38-millimetre tyres – that’s more than enough.

BIKE: Really wide trainers are now coming into fashion.

Klausmann: Yes, even in road cycling, 35s aren’t out of the ordinary, depending on how you use them. On a gravel bike, though, I personally don’t need anything wider than 40 or 45 millimetres. But of course, that’s a matter of personal preference. I prefer to ride with slightly higher tyre pressure – between 2.5 and 3 bar. I don’t want to feel any flex in the tyres, nor do I want to constantly hear the rim hitting stones.

BIKE: What fascinates you about gravel riding?

Klausmann: Acceleration. That ‘van der Poel’ feeling! You start pedalling and the bike shoots forward. That’s why I can’t really get to grips with panniers or little screws on the right, left, front and back. That’s not my world. I’m a racer. I’ve never understood suspension forks from the start.

"Most people don’t want to go camping – they want speed."

BIKE: Even so, bikepacking is booming.

Klausmann: I don’t see many people out and about with all their kit. But of course this group of people does exist. And that’s perfectly fine. But I reckon the majority come from the road cycling scene. People are fed up with traffic and cars. So they ride on forest and country tracks – but just as competitively as before. You don’t need a suspension fork for that.

BIKE: Is gravel cycling currently going through a sort of period of self-discovery?

Klausmann: Probably. That’s the case with any new discipline. But to be honest: riding over challenging trails on a road bike is far less fun for me than on a hardtail. They do everything better – you’ve got a proper set of handlebars – and the bikes are brutally fast, too.

"580 euros for the frame – and I love this bike."

BIKE: What do you ride yourself?

Klausmann: A gravel bike from Airwolf. A Chinese frame with an aero cockpit. I just wanted to give it a go.

BIKE: A professional downhill rider on a Chinese frame?

Klausmann: (laughs) Why not? The frame cost 580 euros, works perfectly and gives no trouble. I’ve never sat on a bike as comfortably as this one – and I’ve really ridden a lot of bikes.

BIKE: What do you look out for when buying a bike?

Klausmann: I’ve got to like it. Nice and aerodynamic with a one-piece handlebar.

BIKE: What do you look out for when buying a bike?

In that case, you’d surely like the traditional Italian brands.

Klausmann: Well, obviously. Years ago, I was looking for a new road bike. I’d always wanted a Pinarello Dogma, but that costs €7,000. Just the frame! That’s mad. So I didn’t buy that one in the end; I went for a Basso Diamante instead. It’s a cool bike – you turn the handlebars and the Italian flag pops out at the bottom. Absolutely brilliant! I later passed the bike on to my son, Levin.

BIKE: How did you come across this Chinese brand?

Klausmann: By chance. At first I wanted to buy a Wilier, then I discovered the Airwolf brand. And the Airwolf gravel bike rides brilliantly. Now even my daughters are out and about on it.

BIKE – Conclusion

Marcus Klausmann doesn’t do things by halves. For him, gravel isn’t a substitute for a mountain bike, but a road bike for gravel. His formula is simple: narrow tyres, high pressure, minimal weight – and maximum acceleration. Anyone setting off into the wilderness with a tent, a camping stove and a suspension fork, however, would probably disagree with him. That’s precisely where the appeal of gravel cycling lies: it’s everything. Just not clearly defined.

Who is Marcus Klausmann?

World Cup victories, 15 championship titles and a passion for technology

He comes from Albstadt, once rose to the very top of the world rankings – and has never really left. Marcus Klausmann, born in 1977, is one of the most unconventional figures in German mountain biking.

He got off to a sensational start: at the ages of 14 and 15, Klausmann won the Trial World Championship title in 1991 and 1992. He then switched to downhill and picked up exactly where he’d left off. In 1996, he won the World Cup race in Nevegal, finished second in the UCI overall standings – and, on top of that, went on to win a further 15 German championship titles by 2013.

In 2016, she was stopped in her tracks by a heart arrhythmia. Klausmann brought his active running career to an end – and immediately turned it into something else. Today, he runs a business in Mahlberg Klausmann Suspension, a service centre for MTB suspension systems and hydraulic seatposts. Anyone who knows how a bike should feel also knows how it should be set up. His analytical, almost scientific approach makes Marcus a true master of suspension travel. Today, Marcus lives with his wife and children in Mahlberg, South Baden.

He is also a coach – specialising in MTB, road cycling, track cycling and personal training, and holding a C licence in competitive sport – and still competes himself as a Propain team rider. His racing team, Klausmann Suspension Racing, also fields his son Lenny in the Junior category of the Downhill World Cup. Marcus Klausmann used to be a cyclo-cross rider and is now a passionate gravel bike rider.