How Much Slower Is A Gravel Bike?

Is the gravel bike truly the one bike that can do it all? They’re amazing, no doubt! But even still, the big question everyone wants answered is: how much slower is a gravel bike compared to a road bike? And importantly, will you be able to keep up with your mates on road bikes?

00:00 How much slower are gravel bikes?
00:32 Test Breakdown: Orbea Terra VS Orbea Orca Road
01:33 Gravel bike: 3 runs on each setup at 150w, 300w & 400w
02:58 Differences between these bikes
05:00 Road bike test!
05:56 The Final Test: Do tyres make the biggest difference?
07:56 What’s more important than speed?
08:57 What cycling is really about…
11:22 Results & Why

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[gcn]

How much do feel, agility and aesthetics matter to you? 🚲❤️ What bike and option would you go for? Give us your thoughts in the comments! 👇

[fenbops]

Last sportive I did, I finished with a guy who was riding a gravel bike with thicker tyres than my 32’s. The guy was an absolute machine and it was a blast. It doesn’t matter what you’re riding as long as you’re having fun!

[martinkroutil]

I have been riding my "gravel" bike primary as a road bike, with 38cm handlebars and 32mm GP5000, It is the best road bike I have ever own :).

[turboseize]

12:55 - this is exactly what I did. Gravel bikes come in a wide range of flavours - some are mountain bikes in drop-bar disguise, some are much closer to a road bike in geometry. I chose one of the latter, put on a road groupset, and *very* supple 40mm slicks. Kept the handlebar width reasonable and the position as close to my road bike as possible.
The result is an all-road bike that is not measurably slower than my previous road bike (at least that is what strava tells me), but that does not confine me to well-maintained tarmac. As long as the surface is somewhat firm (a bit of mud is ok, deep mud isn't), I can ride it. The small country road with smooth tarmac turns to rough tarmac and finally to gravel? No need to turn around, you just keep going! Your route lead you onto a major road with fast an aggressive car traffic - but there's a forest path running parallel? Why bother riding with traffic?
The wider tyres give you so many more options.
I'm pretty sure that at some point the aerodynamic disadvantage of the bigger tyres would impose a speed penalty. But I'm not fast enough for that to be noticeable. If I look at individual strava segments, then the speeds are virtually the same. But on longer rides (>100km), the "gravel" bike even tends to be a bit faster - probably because the wide, plush tyres reduce vibration and thus fatigue. For normal people, comfort and performance go together.

[roysauto]

This is the best road vs. gravel comparison I've seen. As someone who is pretty new to cycling, and who started on a gravel bike that has mostly been ridden on tarmac, I appreciated the "feel" perspective of someone with years of road bike experience. It makes sense and I can better appreciate that perspective.

[seanparker]

Agree, after switching to a gravel bike I really notice that ascending out of the saddle seems a lot more sluggish. But I really enjoy the handling and comfort of a gravel bike.

[scottwatson]

It’s taken me around four years of riding gravel bikes to realise that it’s the sweet spot for me. I don’t race and ride for the fun of it. I also have a xc mtb and a road bike and haven’t rode either of those for ages, the gravel bike at least for me is the perfect set up.

[pokie]

Really happy you did this video. I’m 60 years old and a full time RVer here in the USA. Loved my road bike and all the group rides i went on when I was stationary. But traveling i have found that not every place has good (rideable) roads. So I switched to a Gravel bike about 8 months ago and also held onto my road wheel set. The gravel bike feels a little slower and i guess my data shows that as well. But i do like the versatility. I hope when i settle back down i can still keep up with the young guys on the group rides on the gravel bike with road wheels.

[timothyzwitser]

I'm actually positively surprised that you are finely taking the cycling experience or ride-feel into account. That's what it's all about if you ask me. Cycling is to us humans what horse riding was to our ancestors. It's about exploration, about freedom, about adventure, about conquering your fears, pushing your limits, going into the unknown, about play (yes; that feeling of mucking about like a kid out on his bike), about the exhilaration of powering a machine with your own strength, is about feeling the wind rush along your body, feeling the sensation of traversing this single track descent, it's about being outside and feeling stronger and healthier with each fresh breath of air and with each mile you ride, it's about that nod to your fellow rider, it's about cruising and swerving alongside this canal with backwind when unexpectedly joined by a flock of geese hovering just overhead, it's about growth (both in terms of strength and endurance) and about self-reliance. And last but not least it's about meeting the world - head on face first - putting your self out there. Going places. meeting people; needing only your sweaty body, and pouring your heart, mind and soul into something you love and sharing it with other people.

Ride feel is everything. I ride a bike because I enjoy the feeling of going out into the world, trusting my body, my wits and my bike to get me where I am going. The best feeling is just to surrender to the ride, and leaving it all to chance. Not knowing what the ride will bring in terms of vistas, meetings, situations and the sheer exhilaration of the ride. So yes, again; For me cycling is about the love of cycling and all about emotion. 🚵♥🌍

[fergalstapleton]

I just rode a 100km charity cycle yesterday, ( reckon Si is talking to me😂) small group of 8 and we rode as a loose group. As the only one on a gravel bike I held my own (Terra H40). 100km, 880m climbing and average speed just under 20kph. All very amateur cyclists. The road surfaces were unbelievably bad and I really benifited from the bigger tyres . Upright geometry suits my inflexible 47yr beer sculpted body . As with all things cycling there is amazing choice out there . Find a bike that suits you, your riding style, fitness, ability but most of all enjoy cycling.
Overall a really good video highlighting the differences between road and gravel.
Buy the bike for the rider you are, not the rider you think you are.

[TheMachoGabacho]

Your “chill intensity” is pretty close to my FTP!

[LokChuenJonathanLo]

Definitely agree with the point around "feel"! I have both a road and gravel. On tarmac, it is really just something special about a road bike that simply cannot be replaced by a gravel bike.

[svendsteenfeldt]

You repeatedly manage to nail the questions we all struggele with. Not being overly complicared but using just the right balance of scientific background and practical trials to nail the result. Honestly, in my oppinion yoy are consistantly doing a great job. Thanks for that!!

[chrismackenzie]

Last fall I did a cycling holiday in French Alpes on my gravel with road wheels. Absolutely
No regrets, great gearing and hydraulic brakes made this experience much better than my last visit on my old rim brake bike. Managed a solo without any issues at all.

[rickybobby]

You guys missed out the main benefit of the gravel bike geometry which is stability. As soon as speeds start getting above 50kph the gravel bike is much faster because the longer, slacker geo makes them infinitely more stable which, if like me you get your kicks descending means I’m minutes faster because I can maintain 70/80kph on a my gravel bike where as 50/60kph on my road bike is sketchy af.
Cornering at slower speeds feels much better due to the stability too, I’d argue that for 90% of cyclists a gravel bike with road tyres is the best choice.
Even the stronger frames and forks negate the weight because you don’t have to avoid pot holes, curbs etc you can bunny hop them or boost a speed bump for a giggle without worrying about damage.
Pointy, twitchy road bikes are great if your racing a crit because you can change direction easier but that’s a really small percentage of us. Average 80-110kg weekend riders and commuters would get so much more out of a gravel bike than a traditional road bike.

[SecwetGwiwer]

Most people I know don’t spec their gravel bikes as gravel bikes, they use the tyre clearance to fit mudguards and wide road tyres.

[wendymiller]

Your philosophical ramblings really hit home. I commute daily on a gravel bike set up as close to my road bike as possible, and when I go back to my road bike it feels like I am flying. Speed-wise, there is not a noticeable difference, but the peppiness and responsiveness makes me feel like I am faster even when I am not.

[jessenorman]

I'm with you Si. When I get on my road bike it asks me if we can do intervals. My gravel bike asks to cruise all day long

[bengt_axle]

This video very nicely shows the suspension effect (2:45) of a larger tire volume. You can see the bike bouncing up and down gently and it is easy to understand why this setup, while more heavy than a road bike, would be more comfortable on a poor surface road, thereby keeping you less fatigued and able to keep riding without taking a break.

[orsolyaviragh]

Have two very similar bikes, road and gravel. Same brand, both carbon, minimum weight difference, the gravelbike having a rather race oriented geo, same drivetrain setup (DuraAce 2x11 vs Ultegra 2x12 both 52-36/11-30) as I use the gravel more like an allroad-winter bike. The only significant difference are the tires (both on carbon wheels). Use 28mm GP5000 on my roadbike and 32 GravelKing slicks on my gravel.
I am a fairly weak rider and did the same test over the weekend on a stretch of smooth tarmac with no elevation. For me the difference was cca 4km/h at 180w which is very significant.