Are Gravel Bikes Just Mountain Bikes From The '90s? | GMBN Tech Make A Gravel Bike

Drop bars off road? What's the point? With the rising popularity of gravel bikes it can be easy to forget that mountain bikers were using drop handlebars even in the 1990s. Specifically, John Tomac; who raced a Yeti C-26 to 4th place in the first Downhill World Championships, and we have a replica here! Doddy checks out all the details of this vintage MTB before creating his own modern version and taking it for a shred 🤘

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[randallmiller]

It’s off road, it’s riding bikes, and it’s fun. You nailed it at the end. That’s my reasoning for having a gravel bike, and a mountain bike. Dare I say fatbikes are a blast too.

[grumpynerd]

The great thing about gravel bikes is the ability to ride diverse surfaces in a single ride. Maybe a ride is primarily about off-road, but it's on a patchwork of parks and reservations that offer maybe 20 minutes of riding. You wouldn't consider those places as viable mountain bike destinations, you'd spend more time getting your bike on and off your car than you'd spend riding, but you can *link* those places up with road riding on a gravel bike for a satisfying day long ride. Or sometimes it's the opposite; there's a road ride with a section that's not nice or unsafe, but you can get around it by going through the woods, or simply taking a detour literally off the beaten track.

Putting a faster tire on a mountain bike isn't going to cut it. It's just not any fun to ride a mountain bike on the road, it's a joyless slog, a sometimes-necessary evil. It's really important that a gravel bike be almost as good on the road as a road bike and almost as good on non-technical trails as a mountain bike; it doesn't have to have the capabilities of a mountain bike on technical trails. Gravel bikes are about covering distance, not cleaning features.

[billderas]

Both, John Tomac (Yeti bikes) and Jacquie Phelan (Cunningham bikes) used drop handlebars for their many NORBA mtb conquests. Totally agree that Tomac was the greatest of all time; but, Phelan was the greatest woman for her time (1983-1985 NORBA women's champion) racing against the likes of Cindy Whitehead and other notables. Both were awesome racers.

[MrGruzefix]

Yes. I actually rebuilt an old Giant 26" frame as a Gravel bike a few weeks ago. Rides like a charm.
And the steel frame looks amazing with modern components.

[michaelb]

I used to be dubious, but now owning both a XC 29er and a gravel bike I know exactly which bike I’d use for given situations.

I think the only people who still don’t understand what a gravel bike is for and where it comes into it’s own are those people who just go into the woods or to the MTB parks doing tricks and DH runs while trying to look cool doing it.

Even XC is becoming ‘downcountry’. Great if you want to hurl yourself down rock gardens etc, but what if you’re just an average guy who wants to go for a pedal away from traffic? What if you just want to efficiently cover lots of miles on gravel paths and fire roads which heaven forbid may actually incorporate some tarmac national cycle network routes too? The MTB is a slow draggy experience on rides like that, especially with a headwind.

Lots of people just do average cycling on varying terrain where more pedalling is involved than berms and drop offs are. That’s what a gravel bike is for, they weren’t trying to be cool or hip which sadly seems to be the way all cycling disciplines are now. Gravel bikes were to fill a gap which was definitely there. To cater for the masses of average cyclists who just want to get out there and cycle without limitations or labels, you know just literally riding a bike for hell of it wherever that may be.

[petercroce]

“That doesn’t matter because I built my own one!” You’re a gift, Doddy. So good.

[marksmithWLC]

I had the pleasure of both seeing Tomac ride and actually race against him in European Grundig races. He was technically so much better than everyone else and the only racer to include stunts and tricks. That disc wheel makes the most wonderful noise off road. Tomac was also insanely quick at changing an inner tube (we all had to carry spares and carry out any repairs during all races). Happy days.

[christopherhday]

You should see if John Tomac would do a video with you and revisit the retro age of mtb and talk about where mtb is today.

You do a great job on these videos.

[chrisridesbicycles]

This video is close to perfection. Retro stuff, the „what the heck?“ looks of the boys passing by and the superb editing with period correct slow motion scenes and music. Only missing a neon yellow helmet and VHS video „quality“.

[savasolarov]

That was one of the best episodes ever! The editing, discussion, music, all adds up to something special.

[sandykavor]

They definitely are. Things eventually circle back around. Take a look at the old MTB video where Juan Ochoa and Manuel Montero are riding in Spain. Ochoa is wearing a hip bag 28 years ago. Suddenly it is such a hit.

[arktct]

This sucks, but if people are going to fall for the marketing/ advertising, oh well.
XC bikes continue to get more slack and now have so much travel, they’re essentially yesterdays trail bikes. Enduro bikes are essentially yesterday’s DH.
Road bikes have transitioned to gravel and cross country, and now those bikes are starting to get suspension - and they’re marketed as being innovative by GCN and GMBN, but the manufacturers are essentially recycling the innovations/ changes that took place at the infancy of mtb - but at today’s prices.
And so many people on both channels just eat up the marketing.
Soon, those gravel bikes are going to get straight bars, and bigger forks and will become the hardtail XC bikes we had just 5-years ago.

[jormateras]

"A very humble Canyon Grand Canyon hard tail". So, now I know why I own the Grand Canyon. It's not because it was the best I could afford but apparently I bought it because I am a humble man.

[nicholasklug]

When I bought a new MTB in 2018; I converted my 2008 Cannondale Rush into a gravel bike. It has a 100 mm Lefty reduced to 80 mm, so I could upgrade to 29 inch wheels. I put drop bars with Gevenalle shifters and BB7 mechs. I ride it more than my new bike now, it is so fun.

[alwaysbmx]

I really enjoy how Doddy loves and pays homage to the heritage and old school mtb stuff, while still loving where new bikes are going and staying up to date!
Too many people get hung up on nostalgia and thinking things used to be better.

[philiptomlinson]

I love my gravel bike
Mines completely rigid with 700c wheels (I guess 29x1.3 ish in propper money) and I took it round the same trail (verderers trail at the FOD)
I rode 40 miles round the FOD and wye valley, including road sections and big hills with ease like a road bike, but it still handled trails like that with a new-found excitement than if I rode it on my santacruz bronson.
When you start to look at them as fun versions of road bikes and not dropped bar mountain bikes, they start to make sense!

[RossiDeakin]

Looks an absolute scream on them flowing blue trails. Brilliant again Doddy, keep up the great work. 👍👏🤟

[hobo_overland]

I have an old carbon Empella 26er, built with 27.5" wheels and 1.5" tyres with drop bars. I call it my GravelBastard, and it's perfect for the 16 mile commute to work along the canal path.

[scchua]

John Tomac is THE Legend! As you said, he is the GOAT. Glad you had a great time on the drops! I did this once and called it a hybrid. No front shocks, so fully rigid mountain bike shod with 26" wheels. I only did it because I am a roadie and it made sense to me. Like Tomac, helped me keep my position.
Your D-41 Grand Canyon, is super cool!

[mattkavanaugh]

Daddy, your gravel bike experience is why I love that type of riding. I have heard it called “under-biking”; riding a type of bike that makes terrain more challenging. Most of my local trails and fire roads are blues and greens, and a gravel bike with wider tires and a bit of front suspension and a dropper seat post makes those trails different and in some ways more fun than when I ride them on my XC or trail MTBs. Also, the gravel bike is great for linking together different dirt segments with paved or fire road routes. And I do think it makes me a better road and MTB rider as I am forced to make better line choices, balance and speed control. I think it’s a genre here to stay - in fact I think the genre has split into gravel racing bikes and adventure bikes. Hope you do focus on them in the future.