Why Mountain Bikes Suck as Gravel Bikes

Do mountain bikes make good gravel bikes? I take a Salsa Timberjack on a local gravel loop to find out.

[planesandbikes]

Kind of a black and white comparison, using such a Plus tire trail bike. But consider comparing a XC-racer style 29er mountain bike. They have vastly lower rolling resistance, a bit racier aero riding position, and tire widths more similar to a gravel bike. Also can be extremely light weight too.

[daveebert]

I ride a Norco MTB for everything, including a week long 700 km tour on pavement last year. No that was not ideal but I ride a lot of gravel, backroads and trails so that bike is a Swiss Army Knife ride for me. I love your channel and everything you do, thanks.

[pkelly]

Since I got my gravel bike, I really miss the comfortable well controlled feeling of flat handlebars with bar ends. I want my mountain bike back !

[bbobcats]

Russ, you just made our day! Mountain bikes are excellent gravel bikes if you don't have a dedicated gravel rig.

[dennisolmstead]

Tired of “drop bar” always preceding “gravel bike.” Anything wrong with a flat bar or alt bar gravel bike? That might have been the perfect bike for this ride. Too bad the choice is always the drop bar bike vs something else.

[jeffbmtb]

I sold my gravel bike and built up a kona unit steel 29er with a rigid fork. It does great on any terrain, if i want to tackle harder trails, i switch out the rigid fork to a suspension fork. I also have another wheelset with xc tires for all day riding and another wheelset with knobbier tires when riding technical trails. I do miss my gravel bike, but my 29er is a blast to ride. I have more saddle time on the steel rigid than my full squish enduro. Thanks for the awesome vids.

[Fixingeverthingwithaengine]

I use xc style tires on my mtb. They have alot less rolling resistance.

[sagehiker]

I am in Wyoming and the verdict for me is I need two bikes, a hard tail mountain bike for two tracks and bookie roads, and for open plains with gravel and silt roads, a straight bar gravel bike. One bike/all road and trail doesn’t work for me. Nor does “under-biking” (grins)

[unchewable]

I have had a hard tail a dual suspension and I ended up getting a giant revolt and I love it. The thing is there isn’t a right and wrong answer it’s just whatever your preference is. I have to admit there is something I just like so much more about gravel bikes and I do lots of road too in our routes.

[gjtramey]

That looks like a perfect ride for your Jones SWB. Thanks Russ for all your efforts.

[bhtinkh]

A few years ago I bought a Giant FastRoad, at that time promoted as a "flat bar road bike, " because I've been 'broken & repaired' a few times too many and find drop bars uncomfortable. I've since converted it's Tiagra drive train to GRX 2x11, upgraded the scratchy OEM wheels to DT Swiss running 38mm tires, and voilá, I have a flat bar gravel bike, without the weight of a suspension fork, and with narrow bars and bar ends.

[TheRadDadShow]

I gotta be real with you Russ. I used to own two steel gravel bikes. I tried really hard to like gravel and just couldn't ever find an exuse/opportunity/reason to ever use them. Both bikes weighed 30 lbs, which is the same weight as my hardtail mountain bike and 5lbs heavier than my vintage rigid mountain bike. I started riding the vintage mountain bike on gravel roads and found that bike to be excellent both on road and on gravel roads in my area. I lost one mile per hour overall on my gravel route, but finished the rides less gassed in more comfort than on my gravel bikes.

[faceinthecrowd]

Considering a flat bar gravel/fitness bike for next year. At times I feel it is a totally great decision adding another “category “ bike to my fleet, other times I think I’m over thinking the hell out of it too much internet time can do that!! I have too be honest with myself and ask “how important are the subtle differences?” I have 2 specialized full suspension MTB’s one turbo EMTB, another non E mtb, both can lock out the shocks making them basically a rigid bike, both are relatively heavy, both have wide aggressive tires, both are incredible on dirt, both can ride on roads for miles in comfort. I also have a vintage steel frame hybrid bike with 700x35 multi use tires, comfortable flat bars and although it is heavy like steel frames are, it rides road and gravel pretty darn good……so why another bike? I don’t race, I’m a intermediate recreational rider and other people don’t seem to care what I ride they only focus on what they are on and as long as we all get along it’s all about the fun.
I suppose the itch for the “perfect “ bike for the exact conditions of my ride is all about my love and desire for the most amazing experience I can have, even though rolling along a sweet trail/road/path in itself is what it is all about even if on a Huffy Walmart cruiser ( no offense intended), it’s my thinking that tells me I MUST HAVE! Understanding this my addiction to bike riding will still in the end win. The carbon framed “ideal” bike will be rationalized some how in a hundred different inner self dialogues until I spend X amount of hard earned dollars and then I will be setting my sights on the next biking must have as I continue my love affair with 2 wheels.
It’s all good as long as no mortgage payments are sacrificed, no divorce lawyer is needed and I continue to be a better person to all as a healthy and happy bike enthusiast. We must pick our passions in life and feel gratitude along the way.

[devoidbmx]

I ride a Salsa Fargo with 27.5 x 3.0 inch tires. It's technically a mountain bike, but has drop bars and its fully rigid. Works great for these types of mixed rides as it handles intermediate level singletrack and dirt roads great. Even does pretty darn good on pavement if you add some tire pressure. Wildly enough, air the tires down and it holds its own on winter fat bike trails as well, so its the ultimate quiver killer, as long as you are not into the hardcore ends of the MTB or road spectrum.

[williamdowling]

Randomly recommended on my feed. I'm more of a runner than a cyclist, but I still love watching outdoor trail content.

Your straightforward production quality, competent narration, your tag line at the beginning (if you enjoy the non-competitive side of riding, you found your people), and soft smooth speaking voice earned my sub right away.

Good stuff. Keep it up. :)

[Max-xlml]

A rigid mtb would be ace for this kind of riding imo. I'm biased though that's what I ride. It's a really cheap and easy conversion for an old hard-tail too. You have to have a curtain attitude for it though when it comes to riding pavement. Under-biking on the road lol.

[CristianValenzuela]

I love this channel, every day it grows my hunger for riding! Thanks for keeping up such good content and frankly, I most of all value your honesty when stating "this is me", "this is when it gets subjective", all that follows those spoilers is great input right there. I was about to sell my chromoly hardtail and now you've pretty much made me change my mind! So thanks, Russ!

[law]

A 29er with a rigid fork would be a good option for me. I’ve never been able to get comfortable with drop bars and I like a more upright riding position. But that’s my opinion and everyone like what they like and that’s why there are lots of different options out there. I like the non competitive video aspect. So many people just want the fastest bikes out there but that’s not for me.

[tomfuller]

I use my mountain bike as a city commuter and it works great on the crappy roads of Philadelphia.I swapped out the tires and added mirrors.

[fayleya]

Really good analysis. The grey area where an individual feels adventurous is different for each of us, just like a tent is more adventurous and fun than a house (but not everyone likes camping!). For me a hard tail instead of full suspension gives my mtb enough adventure on all roads!