What is a gravel bike?
What exactly constitutes a gravel bike is not regulated anywhere. The only thing bike manufacturers agree on is that gravel bikes have typical road bike handlebars, wider tyres (from 37 millimetres), disc brakes and a gear system that also has easy gears for steep climbs off-road. However, the seating positions and the range of use targeted by the manufacturers are very different. Many gravel bikes have now moved a long way away from their ancestor, the classic cyclocross racing bike.
Why do I need a gravel bike?
The appeal of gravel bikes lies in the fact that there is no single purpose for them. The gravel bike is just as suitable as training equipment for a brisk after-work ride as it is for commuting to work, short weekend trips, long cycle tours and bikepacking adventures. This universal approach clearly hits a nerve and convinces many people to buy a gravel bike.
Gravel bike frame: Better aluminium or carbon?
Because the material can be freely shaped, a gravel bike frame made of carbon can be tuned more comfortably than one made of aluminium. In addition to the price advantage, an aluminium frame is above all more robust. A fall or chain jam will only cause a dent in the tube or a scratch in the gravel bike frame - in the worst case, a carbon frame can be a total write-off.
Gravel bike gears: Which groupset do I need?
Road bike groupsets (Shimano 105/Sora etc.)
In principle, road road bike groupsets like the Shimano 105 are also a great choice for gravel bikes and bikes that are not ridden exclusively on tarmac. Their disc brakes are superb, the shifting is precise and smooth. Because the Shimano 105 drivetrain does not allow extremely light gears as standard, which can be useful on steep off-road climbs, many manufacturers combine the road bike drivetrain with cranks from manufacturers other than Shimano. This means that gear ratios smaller than 1:1 are also possible in first gear.
Shimano GRX
Shimano's GRX is a special groupset for gravel bikes. The Shimano GRX drivetrain is designed for a wide gear range including light mountain gears. The versions for 2 x 11 drivetrains are available with 48/31 and 46/30 tooth chainring ratios. In conjunction with a cassette with 11 to 36 teeth, even an extreme gear reduction is possible. It is difficult to categorise the quality of the Shimano GRX because the groupset offers a number of different variants of varying quality. Simply put, the higher number indicates the higher quality version. Example: the FC-RX810 crankset is lighter and twice as expensive as the FC-RX600 crankset. The ST-RX810 shifters are also more expensive than the ST-RX600.
SRAM eTap AXS
With the eTap AXS, SRAM offers an electronic groupset that can be found on high-quality gravel bikes. The 12-speed drivetrain offers a wide range of gear ratios. In addition to the disc brake version, the Force eTap AXS is also available with rim brakes, either with classic or direct mount. The groupset is designed for both 2x and 1x drivetrains.
Since 2022, SRAM has also been offering a new series of special 1x12 drivetrains for gravel bikes. The newer SRAM XPLR eTap AXS switching groups are available in the Red, Force and Rival quality levels. They are characterised by cassettes with 10-44 teeth.
Campagnolo Ekar
A groupset especially for gravel bikes, with 13 mechanically shifted gears. This puts the Italians at the forefront of the development towards drivetrains with just one chainring, because: More sprockets mean smaller, more harmonious jumps between gears without compromising the gear range. There is a choice of three gradations with 9-36, 9-42 and 10-44 teeth. The right-hand Ergopower brake lever is characterised by a newly designed thumb shifter that is easy to reach from all grip positions. The Campagnolo Ekar can be shifted up to three gears at once, and down one gear at a time.
Classified
The innovative gear shifting system from Belgian start-up Classified aims to combine the best of both worlds: The many, closely stepped gears of a double derailleur gear system with the robustness and simple operation of a single drive or geared hub. The clever combination of derailleur and hub gear offers 22 gears - with just one chainring. The two-stage planetary gearbox in the rear wheel hub is actuated by a Bluetooth signal from the gear lever. The electromechanical masterpiece celebrated in Ridley's Kanzo Fast gravel racer Premiere, Rose, for example, now also equips its gravel bike Backroad with the drive.
How many gears do I need on a gravel bike?
Whether a single drivetrain is sufficient (i.e. a drivetrain without a front derailleur - with only one chainring on the crank) depends on the type of rider and the area of use of the gravel bike. One advantage is that you only have to operate one gear lever (on the right). In addition, the front derailleur is no longer a potential source of interference. The disadvantage of single-speed drivetrains is that the gear steps between the gears are relatively large with 11-speed drivetrains. With 12-speed or 13-speed gravel bike drivetrains (such as SRAM eTap XPLR AXS and Campagnolo Ekar), these jumps are significantly smaller.
Which wheels on a gravel bike?
Basically, a bike with lightweight wheels is more agile and accelerates faster. However, the tyres have a much greater effect on the riding characteristics. This is why lighter carbon wheels are also justified on gravel bikes. Inexpensive gravel bikes are often equipped with heavy aluminium wheels. An upgrade to lighter wheels can have a very positive effect on acceleration and lively handling.
Which tyres do I need on my gravel bike?
A general recommendation is difficult because you should choose the tyre according to the terrain on which you mainly ride your gravel bike: tyres with a fine diamond tread work best on asphalt, while tyres with a pronounced lug pattern feel comfortable on softer surfaces. Wider tyres offer more comfort. Most gravel bikes are currently fitted with 37 to 40 millimetre wide tyres. In the medium term, the trend for gravel bikes is likely to be towards even wider tyres.
You may want to consider riding with tubeless tyres. Tubeless tyres are ridden without an inner tube, as is the case with cars. They require special rims, which are fitted to all gravel bikes. Tubeless technology offers great advantages, especially on gravel bikes: less weight, better puncture protection, more comfort and more grip. In addition, the lack of friction between the tube and tyre wall reduces rolling resistance. This is offset by more complicated initial fitting. However, the advantages are so clearly noticeable, especially when riding off-road, that it is definitely worth giving tubeless tyres a try.
Respect for tubeless mounting? No problem: With our how-to video guide, even beginners can switch to tubeless.
Where should I buy a gravel bike?
Do I buy my bike from a specialist dealer? Or do I order it from an Internet provider such as Canyon, Radon or Rose? You can usually test ride different models and brands at specialised dealers. They can advise you on size, sometimes offer bike fitting and are the first point of contact for service and repairs. Internet brands such as Canyon, Rose and Storck, on the other hand, are manufacturers and dealers in one. As a result, they can usually offer their gravel bikes at lower prices than specialist brands. However, buyers have to take care of many things themselves, such as finding the right size or assembling and adjusting their bike themselves after delivery. Another problem is that some dealers refuse to repair bikes from mail-order brands. If you don't feel confident enough to maintain your gravel bike yourself, you should look for a dealer in your area who also accepts bikes from mail-order brands for servicing.
