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Article first published online on tour-magazin.de on 5.11.2022, article update on 27.05.2024
In addition to the ideal gravel bike, which is equipped with profiled 40-millimetre tyres, a balanced riding position and safe handling there are now various sub-categories that merge seamlessly into one another. If you don't know your way around, it's easy to lose track. What do the terms allroad, adventure, bikepacking or randonneur, which are often used in connection with gravel bikes, mean?
The different Genera and types of gravel bikes differ primarily in their design:
- With the Tyresthat are suitable for different terrains
- With the Seating positionswhich can be designed to be more sporty or more comfortable
- In the Steering behaviouroptimised for different riding styles and purposes
- The Translationsthat take into account performance level and preferred terrain
- And in the EquipmentThis mainly concerns preparations for accessories such as luggage, mudguards or lights.
Adventure & Bikepacking Gravelbikes
The terms usually accompany difficult terrain and long distances or travelling optimised gravel bikes. The Tyres are a generous 45 to 50 millimetres wide and heavily profiled, so they also cope well with sand and mud. The framesets often offer the option of fitting smaller wheels (650B), which is even possible for up to 60 millimetres wide tyres and brings the range of use close to the typical terrain of a hardtail mountain bike. Also First models with suspension forks are already on the market. The special Gravel bike suspension forks However, at around 30 millimetres, they offer significantly less suspension travel than MTB forks.
The Sitting position is rather uprightwhich enables a better overview and control in the terrain; also a Wide handlebars is designed to facilitate handling on rough terrain. The wheels often run stoically straight ahead and steer sluggishlyso that they keep the track well on loose or rough surfaces. Also a Low centre of gravity improves driving stability off-road.
The gear range is wide and offers gear ratiosso that steep climbs can also be mastered with luggage. Drivetrains with a (relatively small) chainring are common, but the gear steps are large and the largest gear has a comparatively short ratio, meaning that the speed level covered is lower overall.
Standard Accessories the bikes don't have much to offer at first, but they are usually designed so that panniers can be easily attached to the bike. There are also many eyelets for additional bottle cages, pannier racks or mudguards.
Typical representatives of adventure & bikepacking gravel bikes
Allroad gravel bikes
Strictly speaking, all-road bikes are not gravel bikes, but Road bikes that have been optimised for poor surfaces. They fill the narrow gap between road bikes and gravel bikes. The bikes are often based on endurance bikes and are fitted with wider tyres. The tyres are 30 to 40 millimetres wide and have little or no tread. This is easily enough for smooth field and forest paths, but the bikes are quickly overtaxed in heavier terrain or mud. On the other hand, progress on tarmac is no less swift than on a typical road bike.
The sitting position is usually relaxedThe handling is similar to that of a road bike. They are therefore more manoeuvrable and nervous than typical gravel bikes, which is also a disadvantage in difficult terrain. The gear range is wide, with the emphasis on speed: In the lowest gear, there is usually a 1:1 ratio or slight gear reductions. Double cranks with fast road gears are still standard and the gear steps are relatively fine.
Luggage is rarely provided on the bikes, Fixed points for mudguards on the other hand, are frequent.
Typical representatives of all-road gravel bikes
- BMC Roadmachine X
- Canyon Endurace All-Road
- Cervélo Caledonia
- Giant Contend AR
Cyclocross bikes
Race-orientated off-road racing bikeis also known as a CX or cross-country racing bike. Basically a Forerunner of the gravel bikeIts roots go back to the 1950s. The regulations restrict the tyres to a maximum width of 33 millimetres and can have very different profiles depending on the substrate.
The riding position is long and stretched, Narrow handlebars and long stems are typical. The steering behaviour is very agile and optimised for tight circuits. A very short wheelbase facilitates handling in tight bends, but the tips of the feet easily come into contact with the tyres. A high bottom bracket allows you to ride over obstacles without touching the ground. However, the high centre of gravity and nervous steering require a little more practice and riding technique off-road.
Important difference to gravel bikes: the gearing on cyclocross bikes is extremely narrow and very finely graduated. Double cranks with 46/38 are common, which deliberately have a lot of overlap. Single cranks with a road bike cassette are rarer. Very light and very fast gears are generally missing. However, the gear ratios can be adapted relatively easily to other requirements.
No accessories are includedIt is not uncommon for there to be only one bottle cage on the frame. The top tube is designed so that the bike is easy to shoulder.
Typical representatives of cyclocross bikes
- Canyon Inflite
- Cube Cross Race C:68X
- Giant TCX Advanced
- Stevens Super Prestige
Gravel Race Bikes
Sporty gravel bikewhich is specially designed for gravel racing. The tyres are around 40 millimetres wide and try to strike a good balance between off-road capability and low rolling resistance. The wheels are Optimised for lightweight construction and aerodynamicsCarbon frames are the rule, integrated handlebars and aerodynamic carbon rims are widespread.
The sitting posture is stretchedsimilar to a competition road bike. The handlebars are rather narrow and often integrated.
The gear ratios are designed more for fast ridingsingle drivetrains with relatively large chainrings are common. The range usually offers No very light gears or gear reductionsbut tolerable gear jumps and more air at the fast end. A long wheelbase, the low centre of gravity and slack steering angles with short stems bring Good directional stability and stability at high speeds off-road. Accessories such as pannier racks or mudguards are not usually provided.
Typical representatives of gravel race bikes
- BMC Kaius
- Cervélo Aspèro
- Scott Addict Gravel
- Factor Ostro Gravel
Randonneur & Commuter
The randonneur is originally a road touring bike with mudguards, pannier rack and lights. Commuters are appropriately equipped commuter bikes with comparable features. Today, these commuter bikes are usually based on appropriately equipped, inexpensive gravel bikes.
The tyres are slightly narrower (30-38 millimetres)so that fixed mudguards still fit into the frame. This makes the bike a little more road-heavy and less suitable for off-road riding, and the tread of the tyres is usually only slightly pronounced.
Due to the narrow tyres, the handling is somewhat more agile and closer to that of a road bike. The gears offer Many gears, including very light onesminimalist single drives are the exception.
The category is characterised by the extensive range of accessories fitted as standard. This is because it turns the bikes into true carefree packages with permanently mounted mudguards, dynamo-powered LED lights and a sturdy pannier rack.
Typical representatives of Randonneur and Commuter
Jens Klötzer
Editor
