5 More Reasons You ONLY Need A Gravel Bike

Way back in 2020 we gave you five reasons why the only bike you need in your stable is a gravel bike. We’re back with five MORE reasons why you only need a gravel bike!

If you missed that original video then make sure you go back and give it a watch. Anyone commenting with a point raised in the previous video will be reprimanded in the comments section.

Have any more reasons why the only bike you need is a gravel bike? Leave them in the comments and maybe we will make a commenters edition of this video. Or if you feel REALLY strongly about only needing a road or mountain bike leave those thoughts in the comments too!

Is the new Cannondale Synapse the biggest blurring of the lines between gravel and endurance bikes? Watch our review here:

Top 5 Gravel Race Bikes from Grinduro Wales 2021

We brought our diary series to the gravel roads of Britain last year and we’re back for more in 2022! Catch up with series 1 of Gravel Diaries:

What does a gravel bike of a pro look like? Top 5 Pro Gravel Bikes from 2021 UNBOUND

#GravelBike #Cycling #GravelCycling

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[bikeradar]

Have any more reasons? Leave them in the comments and maybe we'll make a commenters edition of this video!

[DonutEndurance]

A few arguments for a few bikes. Parts wear out slower making the maintenance cost about equal to one bike. Less likely to break parts if you use the right bike for the surface. If one bike is down for maintenance or in the shop you can still ride. Riding different disciplines make you a better all around rider and decreases the likelihood of overuse injuries and burnout.

[DandyDanDanDanDan]

If you only have space for 1 bike, then yes a gravel bike is all you need. However, if you have space for 7 bikes, you should have 7 bikes.

[chca]

Yeah, you've convinced me to ditch my 4 road bikes, 1 fixie, 1 cross and 3 mtbs for a gravel bike. Should I get a gravel adventure bike, gravel suspension bike, gravel aero bike, gravel climbing bike, gravel do-it-all bike or gravel what?

[woutervanderdoes]

For me, less tinkering is an argument against having only one bike ;) (except having to wax chains more often...)

A lot of my maintenance expenses go to wear components, that wear when being used (tires, cogs, chain, brake pads, etc.). Distributing use does not affect spending here

[plfree]

Now that I have a road-bike and a MTB I have two main reasons why I don't need my gravel-bike anymore 😄

[allthingsbike.]

Tifosi cavazzo and 3 sets of wheels! Hunt aero 50 with 30mm tyres, fulcrum db4 with 700c x 45 and 650b x 2.1 mtb tyres. 👍

[joemendozaCAN]

MTB cross country bike can bring you every where 😁

[TheWrigle]

I feel like a gravel bike can easily replace a road bike for most people, but it's not gonna replace a full sus mountain bike. I have both, and I feel like it's a good combo. My gravel bike is much better on the road and does pretty well down green or blue single track, but it's not gonna rip down a trail like my full sus mtb. That being said, the mtb is a grind on the road. Each has its place. I ride the gravel bike for workout and adventure. I ride the mtb for adrenaline and progression.

[ultimatist]

Here's the ideal stable:

1. Aero race bike
2. All-around gravel bike (that can become endurance bike with wheel swap)
3. Dedicated trail/enduro bike (gravel can do light XC duties)

[GREATVOVA]

I was riding gravel bikes from 2018 but in 2021 I've added MTB to my bike garage. Gravel is great but sometimes it just not good enought for some conditions like deep sand or forrest ride where hight maneurability is a must.

[abedfo]

It's got to be in the right price/performance bracket for me. If your "all round" bike is really expensive you are shelling out for a comprise. You might aswell buy two lesser but class specific bikes for the same cost.

[ks]

Maintenance is a calculation based on miles, toughness of terrain/use. having multiple bikes on a rack doesn't wear them out while not in use. store them cleaned and oiled up. I will maintain a large selection of bikes, I'm not using my light rim brake on tubs daily but it feels special to take it up a climb.

[bugboy]

You are so right! I have a Cervelo Aspero with 40mm gravel tires and reserve wheels for gravel and ENVE 45 with 30mm tires for the road/Zwift.

[WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

For the last 5 years I have gone to 2 inch (50mm) tires for recreational road cycling. A GOOD 2 inch road tire is as fast as any tire below 20mph, possibly higher, and provides a wide range of pressure levels for any terrain, skill, rider weight, and strength. I am now enjoying smooth rides on any surface and safe mountain descents without blow-outs on these wide (for road) tires. From 3 flats a week on 25 to 28mm tires to maybe one flat a year on these 26x2 inch Schwalbe Marathon plus tires. (10, 000 miles a year is my average mileage).

[edrcozonoking]

I have more than 10 bikes. The one I usually grab is one of my gravel bikes.

[Outsideville]

I really enjoy my Warbird with two sets of wheels. Not sure why so many think a gravel bike is slow on the road if you have road wheels and tires. It's much faster than me on a hard tail on the road. Fun and fast on dirt roads. Usable on mild single track, which I do so infrequently that a mountain bike needed service each ride. There's no way I can compare my old 90's mountain bike (Giant Sedona) to a modern gravel bike. To each their own. I for one am glad for this trend.

[reinmutuc]

A solid argument based on all points. In opinion it's good to have two as long as you've the resources to accommodate the additional steed. Gravel bikes are indeed becoming very popular everywhere. I'm actually working on converting a old 90s hybrid to a gravel bike. Cheers!

[josh]

Over the years of "accumulating" bikes, I can honestly say that gravel bikes work most areas, but for instance no gravel bike will replace my Ibis Ripley nor are they meant to.
However, it does an "okay" job of replacing my HT, but I would almost argue that my HT (Trek ProCaliber) does a better job of replacing the gravel bike. Swap of the tires and its almost as fast as the gravel bike on pavement (700x50 vs 29x2.1) and handily out speeds it off-road when the trails get even a little bit chunky.

The other end of that is that I do have a very light fast CX (Trek Boone) that I use as my "adventure bike"...its by far the most comfortable for mixed terrain, but sustaining 30km/h on group rides are quite a bit taxing unless I get to tuck in on the draft. My wife bought me a Bianchi Oltre XR3 for my birthday...how could I turn it down so of course when its a gift, I will ride it.

I have a lot of nice bikes, but I also do all my own maintenance, and I believe its much lower than 10% of the bike per year, but I am also not running anything exotic..no electronic groupsets or anything. The biggest purchase for me has been accessories and tires.

[dragoclarke]

I have a gravel bike, a hybrid bike and a XC mountain bike. Having done tours on each I've come to the conclusion the XC is the only bike I need so have wasted money getting the gravel bike (the hybrid is one I've had for a long time and is used as a shopping bike nowadays). The XC was as fast on road and more comfortable off road with front suspension.