Mountain bikes with racing handlebars and gravel elements are becoming increasingly popular with leisure bikers. But does this trend really make sense or is it just unnecessary? One editor shares his opinion.
Mountain bikes score points for riding safety and comfort, even on difficult terrain. Gravel bikes offer better aerodynamics. For the combination, professional cyclists now often rely on a mixture of gravel and mountain bikes for extreme races such as the Tour Divide.
Gravel manufacturers have also reacted and are putting more and more gravel racers with mountain bike features such as wide tyres or smooth-running geometry in the shops. Even tuners like Dangerholm have recognised the concept for themselves. The categories are becoming increasingly blurred. An analysis.
Mountain bikes in the gravel craze: readers enquire
A recent reader mail to BIKE magazine provided the impetus: "Dear BIKE editors, there was a time when bikers, in a fit of modernisation mania, bolted single gears to their 26-inch MTBs. They thought it was cool, but were surprised that they were overtaken on the left by grannies with rollators. Recently, I've noticed that some bikers are fitting gravel handlebars to their hardtails for similar reasons!
Does such a 'hermaphrodite' have any driving characteristics worth mentioning?
A sight to be ashamed of. The handlebars can't match the frame geometry in terms of looks alone. Does such a "hermaphrodite" have any riding characteristics worth mentioning? Otherwise, it's better to leave the bike as it is. The MTB is already perfect! Yours sincerely, André N., Bernau"
Assessment by BIKE editor Jan Timmermann
Hello André, thank you very much for your message. I'm a big fan of classic mountain bikes, but I have to admit that I fitted gravel handlebars to my hardtail ten years ago and called it "monster gravel".
Technically speaking, however, this only makes sense on gravel and easy forest trails if an extremely short, flat stem is used. This can compensate somewhat for the longer reach and shorter head tube compared to a gravel bike and provide aerodynamic advantages (e.g. Salsa Guide Stem 60 mm / +25°). However, the steeper the descent, the greater the advantage of conventional MTB handlebars.
...only makes sense if an extremely short, flat stem is involved
In my opinion, mountain bikes with gravel handlebars are a fad that aims to circumvent the shortcomings of gravel bikes and the "moderate coolness factor" of hardtails. We don't have a specific article on this topic in the pipeline at the moment, but we do recommend our three-part gravel vs. hardtail concept comparison from BIKE 10/25. Best regards - Jan, Test & Technology Editor at BIKE Magazine
Jan Timmermann
Editor
