Gravel vs Cyclocross Bikes in 2024

In this video I share my experience of riding cyclocross bikes and a gravel bikes. Obviously a 'cross bike is made for cyclocross racing, but it can also make a great gavel bike. I talk about the differences to help you decide which one is best for your needs.

Here's a video on cross vs gravel bikes I made in 2018:

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[honestreviewer]

I got a Cervelo R5cx to use as a gravel bike. Its geometry is closer to my road bike. It handles really fast, it accelerates quickly, it's light and doesn't have all sorts of mounting points I don't need. I'm currently using it with 40s, but it will fit up to 50s. I've yet to see another one out in the wild, but I think it makes a better gravel race bike than the Aspero.

[thomasdailey]

Been riding 2012 Giant TCX Al frame, on sale at the time, alternative to mtn. Bike. Quick handling for sure. My local rides are on 1” gravel (moderate maintenance), dirt-wide single track, 4x Unbound Gravel 50-mile (1-3” rock), and senior-games road race (qualified for nationals). I used to be a weekend warrior. Has required constant concentration and flexibility to absorb chatter and worse. Tire width limited to 38 in front, 35 in back, considering mud (2 sets of wheels, not tubeless). I’m now at the point (71, hip replacement, failed lower back surgery, etc.) where I want a more forgiving bike, and my future will have less full-suspension mtn. Biking. Gravel bike in my future. Custom, PT-guided fit before that purchase. The fact that we have so many bikes to choose from, and bike reviews (thanks Clint), is wonderful. And yes, I am on over 70 FB group.

[dominicbritt]

Once those tyres are bigger than 35mm, Cx bike becomes a gravel bike 👍
I have built up a CAADX with GRX400 and it’s makes an amazingly good gravel bike than also avoids feeling sluggish on road…

[keith_cottongim]

I agree, if coming from road a CX bike feels better. A gravel bike will feel sluggish.

[OutThere]

Clint, your points are spot on. Best if every rider can figure what surface they’re riding on, whether they are riding to ride or riding to race and how comfortable they want to be at the end of it and that should dictate the type of frame geometry and then material. I feel like you can overcome material differences through tire selection, and then maybe wheel and other touch points. And if $ allows the best solution is N+1 if it’s a mix and you can’t decide

[vinncecil]

I use my felt fx5 cyclocross bike for gravel. At one point it was my road/CX and gravel bike till I picked up a dedicated road bike.

[stevenr]

Great video! I would add that every individual rider might be more or less sensitive to any of the items that Clint discussed. So figure out what is important to you. Also I learned the hard way that we evolve-so don't be too rigid when you lock in a good bike and geo. Suddenly, " why am I on a aggressive road bike? I haven't raced in 10(really 30;) years and the chatter now bothers my arthritis". The object can be, having as much fun/enjoyment as possible. So keep paying attention & evolving.
My previous Cervelo- had a trail of 50, chainstay-410. My current Crust, has a trail of 80, chainstay-425 (the same as my 1994 Barracuda A2X MTB)🤘
FYI, they sell headsets that can give you up to 2 degrees more or less headtube angle-so you don't have to replace a great frame to tweak your ride.

[bikes_n_goodtimes]

100% agree my Cross bike is very fun, responsive, & capable but the gravel bike is a little more forgiving fatigue wise for long days out. The gravel bike also feels more stable on long steep descents due to that lower bottom bracket and slightly longer wheel base.
2024 Crux Pro vs 2020 Checkpoint SL 5 (Carbon Wheelset) Tire choice, width, & pressure definitely factor in as well.

[brandonhoffman]

I just went endurance. The Roubaix sl8 comp. It feels so good with its futureshock I keep thinking the tire is flat when I hit bumps. It supports up to 40mm wide tires.

I took it for its first ride last evening. It rolls so much faster than the mountainbike I came from. Easy 2mph faster into the wind of the onshore breeze I ofthen face.

[DR__]

I'm using a CX as an allrounder, mostly road with some connecting trails, I won't take part to any cyclo cross competition!
I suppose it's a personal preference, I like how CX handle, more lively, it feels like it responds faster. But some people find them "borderline"!
It's a 10 kg aluminium, S 105 and GRX, handle bar comes with some moderate flare. I already replaced the rear tyre with something slicker but robust, the plan is to keep a 2nd front wheel ready with a different tyre to have both alternatives when the weather asks, X-One and Cinturato velo for now.
CX gears are a bit weird, might need some higher gears for the road (but I am not using 53 x 11 and 12 much on my older road bike), and lowest gears are still higher than those on MTBs and some gravels, but I'm fine for now.

[byronevans]

Love these comparisons Clint. Tyres make a big difference - got the Maxxis Mud Wrestlers 33mm front for grip, and Vittoria Dry 35 back for comfort and speed on my TCX. Not the lightest combo, but bombproof in most conditions.

[pedrolahoz]

Cross bike makes a good fast gravel bike. Usually a cross bike will be more limited on the size of tire you can fit, 40mm or less.
On a cross bike, with smaller tires you have to be more attentive, otherwise will easily hit the dust!!

[OutThere]

What you’re saying is that each of us needs a bike frame geometry that lets us ride the routes we ride -the terrain (hills or flat, twisty or straight) and surface (paved or not, smooth or rough or really rough) sand dirt gravel rooty AND the bodies we have (flexible or less flexible from age or injuries). Frame geometry is what establishes that. The material of the frame . And the rest of the parts are interchangeable, decide how much you want to spend.

[stevenmurphree]

I think the reason for some of the steering feeling between the cx bike and gravel bike has a lot to due with weight bias. It seems cx bikes tend to set the bias further rearward for better traction.

[tludwig]

There are so many different niches and so much overlap between them, I don’t pay much attention to what manufacturers call their bikes these days. I just look at the geometry. It gets even more interesting with the flip chips offered on some models.

[bldrv]

You’re killing me. I started watching your videos years ago and had to go purchase a new mountain bike. Then the cyclocross videos and I just had to get a CX bike. The gravel bike arrives this week…

[TheNationalTrails]

The long seattube and tall toptube always felt fast on the Giant MTBs of the 2014 to 2016 era. The 17 Trance Advanced vs the 2014 road so significantly different on technical downhill sections; in reality not far off in terms of suspension design. But, I certainly felt the harshness on the 2104 Advanced 0 team model vs the 17 Advanced 1.

[scottwatson]

Having a similar debate with my Giant Revolt and Giant Defy. The latter feels faster on roads but in reality due to the comfier tyres on the revolt it’s around 1 mph on average at the end of a ride. Debating getting the Cadex AR wheels and selling the Defy. Trouble is the Defy feels more alive and ultimately a little more fun.

[johnparrish]

I love my Lynskey Pro-Cross on gravel. Great video sir.

[Scottslookingabout]

A few years ago I was trying to find a used road bike I could put bigger tires on, I never found one. I didn't want to spend the money on a specific gravel bike, then I learned and found a cyclocross bike, wow, that's perfect. I like to see margin gains on my workouts. I've been doing biking for my main source of fitness and am very pleased with the fitness gains in time and watt results. It just seems to fit my concept of what I'm trying to get out of my efforts, I don't want my marginal efforts to be sucked up in a spongy frame.