Why Gravel Bikes Will Get Much BETTER In 2025!

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0:00 - Intro
1:15 - New Derailleur Drivetrains Will Make Hills Easier
3:36 - New Tyre Sizes Will Provide More Comfort & Control
6:21 - New Suspension Forks Will Improve Performance
9:30 - New Gearbox Bikes Will Reduce Bike Wear and Maintainance
11:15 - Summary

[OperationDarkside]

The touring mountain bike I got 20 years ago would now be categorized as a gravel bike. Interesting.

[linmai]

In the early 2000s, road bikes were still somewhat expensive in China, while MTBs remained the most popular choice. Some cyclists opted to upgrade their MTBs to enhance speed—replacing larger chainrings, fitting narrower tires, and even installing drop bars. Interestingly, the concept of gravel bikes did not yet exist during that time. We call these modified bikes as ‘Shan’ma’ (山马), which combines elements of both mountain(山) and road cycling（马路）. Nowadays, a similar trend persists: we modify gravel bikes back to MTBs, make to tackle rough terrains with ease.

[buck]

5 years later, gravel bike will be mtb again.

[sherab]

I'm definitely a gravel bike man but it seems we are going in the direction of dissolving the distinction between gravel bikes and hardtail XC bikes. And I think gravel bikes should stay something in between the road and full terrain - something like the bike version of a crossover or SUV. For me, a gravel bike (and this is purely personal) is still a type of bike that feels better on the road but is capable of taking us in some more rough terrain if we need to. But the real off-road tracks should stay reserved for MTB. Drop handlebars might be not enough to keep the distinction. More 'road-like' geometry may be the key feature here.

[nahguacm]

It's also nice to see lower gears on more entry level groupset. I'm so glad to see CUES has a 40/24 crankset

[phediashadjicharalambous]

Yes! The bike industry is slowly reinventing the HT mtb.
Keeping my HT, I need to look cool in future times.

[budenskarinderia]

The future of gravel bike is a 29er, full suspenion XC bike with a dropbar. Seriously.

[louwlife]

The Lauf fork has quite an advantage over a suspension fork; it's half the weight (400g versus 800g), zero maintenance (as opposed to regular maintenance on hydraulics), are MORE aerodynamic than a regular fork (5w apparently) as apposed to a penalty on hydraulic suspension forks, plus it is proghessive damping (due to the spring design) and has zero lag like a hydraulic fork. Yes, I did my homework, that's why I have one! Leaf springs are a no brainer on gravel bikes

[moose]

Don’t know about most people but I have 1 bike and will likely always only have one bike. I got a gravel bike 3 years ago that was way closer to road than MTB and it suits me really well. Since then gravel bikes have just moved more and more towards MTB. There is a gap now between road and “gravel” I honestly don’t know what I would buy now.

[todd]

There are two gravel bike setups that are relevant for my riding. A setup that allows fairly fast street riding and then some gravel and LIGHT trail added in. And then another drop bar gravel setup that is more conducive to rougher road and trail bikepacking. And it seems that bar choice and tire size on the same frame will satisfy both of these needs for me. Adding Redshift suspension stem and seatpost to this same frame has made this setup cover just about everything.

[timdixo]

Gravel bikes...the most misunderstood sector in the history of cycling. If they were named "all road" we wouldn't have the "they're just MTB's" nonsense.

[stefanhansen]

Great as always. Thanks! I just bough my first MTB today, and learned a lot from your videos.

[eeeckful]

The videos of your channel are always packed with tons of valuable infos. It may be the only channel, where I often rewind to make sure to capture every word.
I‘m planning to replace my 16 yrs old Stevens Trekking bike next season with either a Rohloff or Pinion Smart Shift touring bike and I found your buyer‘s guide valuable narrowing down candidate bikes. Living close to Idworxx‘s factory it was one of my favs… until I realized how crazy $$$ expensive it is.

[nonsequitor]

All we need now is flat bars so you can get to the brakes, an extra chainring, lightweight barends and I've finally got my 1990's MTB back 🙌👌💪❤️

[coolcycles]

My 3x10 currently has not only 573%, as shown in the video, but 764% range: 42-32-24t / 11-48t
For more ground clearance the 42t can be replaced by a 32t sized bash guard: 582% range, going 2x10.
It's a shame, what's going on with front derailleurs at the moment…

[JohnManjohn-foyo]

I'm looking forward to put drop bars on my downhill bike and call it a gravel bike

[Fedelia]

Why is everyone so sensitive about how you call a bike and what niche should not be covered?

Isn't it great that we get more options and variants and you can get exactly what you want? Of course there is some overlap - so what?

Most (stock) XC hardtails are fairly different from gravel bikes, even those with a sus fork. Most are not made for riding fast on flatter terrain (and i don't mean xc-fast, but roadie-fast) but gear much more towarda more rough and more uphill.


I love my XC (fully), but it is just a different experience compared to riding my gravel bike.

On a side note: modern gravel frame geometry is nothing like 90ies MTB, repeating that statement doesn't make it true.

[shmvon]

Hybrid (light frames, wider tyres, endurance position, higher bottom bracket) is the way to go for 90% of us. The only weight penalty should be the tyres and the forks. Single speed front gears (40:10-44) may make up for it.

[marccheli]

I would have loved your comments and comparaison about the LAUF fork that is a zero maintenance and very light 30mm suspended fork..

[salzhaltigersalzhaufen]

I really don´t get why people think that a single chain ring drive train is a good option for a gravel bike thats supposed to be a kind of do it all bike and especially for that I would choose a double front chainring but I guess everyone has their preferences