Gravel Riding Is HARDER Than Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is known for being tough, but we think gravel riding might be even tougher! With our new power meters from Favero, we put our gravel and mountain bike assumptions to the test: Gravel riding is not just better, it’s also harder. Will we be able to prove it?

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[briannyob]

What is the bar? Skill? Fitness?

I have both a gravel and a full suspension bike. Two entirely different bikes that are used for completely different purposes.

Neither is harder. They are simply different.

[samuelpringer]

A gravel bike can make a pretty good dirt road fun and challenging, a mountain bike makes a pretty good dirt road feel like pavement.

[ThisGuyRides]

Looks like XC racing 30 years ago, which is understandable as today's XC racing resembles freeriding 30 years ago.

[grahambonner]

As someone who used to ride mountain bikes off road and still occasionally rides a hybrid on dirt/gravel tracks, mountain biking is harder in every aspect, more skill, more strength, more balance, control, agility and cojones!

[BaldKiwi]

Leave it to gravel riders to tell you their discipline is most difficult lmao.

[bungee]

I have a PlanetX Ti cyclocross bike. I just use it for everything; road, gravel, bike packing (Tour Aotearoa). There are some places where I’d like a hardtail, but not so many that I’d buy one.

[LawrenceMacMacster]

Yes but no, anyone can do gravel, not everyone can do mountains 😅

[xil]

Meh. Gravel bikes are so unambitious!
Why settle for a vehicle that merely makes easy dirt paths harder to ride. I bet we can invent an even worse vehicle that makes road almost unrideable.

Bonus points if it's on fire.

[NaeMuckle]

My gravel bikes for taking me long distances on road and dirt. My mountain bikes for literal mountains. Gravel biking isn't skillful in the slightest. It's just ridiculous to suggest it is.

[timothyhollmann]

Gravel riding is nothing more than an "n + 1" game. The bike manufacturers got another $5k out of you for on more bike. Thebest part is gravel riding trashes equipment faster, so more replacement needed. Like lemmings to the sea....

[petersouthernboy]

I raced XC MTB for a long time and recently got into gravel. I really like it.

[damirculic]

Mountain biking is harder in every aspect .

[patrickhaarhues]

Yes gravel riding is tougher because people are using wrong type of bike.

[jamesy]

Didn't realise it was a competition. Cyclists: hold my beer 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

[sing_cycle_referee]

Like comparing Usain Bolt and Mo Farah! Totally pointless!

[leszek]

If you're riding a bike, which is not made for hard terrain, only rougher gravel, then yes lol, it will be harder on a gravel bike

[adamhazutubez]

i can believe it under the right circumstances...you might also be able to argue for easier climbing w a rigid fork, however. as a mountain biker ive been saying for years that i think road biking is WAY more dangerous than mtb moment per moment

[C_Wheezee]

As a mountain biker, why tf would I want the sport to be "harder". I'm in it for fun. Save the labor for the lycra crew.

[brianphillips]

Mountain requires much more skill. Gravel (If you are doing serious racing) requires more endurance.

[BadriyahNyonya-qj]

SERIOUSLY.. the Orbea Terra is just one of the most fun "all terrain all purpose" bike.. its just build to be a beast..