
What is a gravel bike?
So many things. A gravel bike is a beautiful and weird hybrid of road bike, adventure bike, and cyclocross bike with just a hint of mountain bike thrown in. In terms of geometry and ride feel, a gravel bike is very similar to a road bike.
Whereas a cyclocross bike will have a shorter wheelbase for maneuverability on slow moving, technical cross courses, gravel bikes feature a slightly longer wheelbase for excellent stability at speed on the road or on gravel. The result is a super capable bike for gravel racing, bike packing, adventuring, or big days in the saddle.
Gravel bike vs road bike. What’s the deal?
The single biggest difference between a gravel bike and a road bike is tire clearance—gravel bikes feature tons of clearance for wide, grippy tires. Gravel bikes will also feature multiple contact points for bike bags, racks, or fenders. You’ll get a lot of the benefits of a road bike, for sure—efficiency on climbs and flats, excellent stability at speed, and good handling manners.
But you also get a tougher overall package able to handle a huge range of terrain. Many gravel bikes will also be 650b wheelset compatible—a good upgrade for anyone looking to tackle especially rough or difficult gravel roads or terrain.
Can I ride my gravel bike on trails?
Definitely! Well, within reason. Gravel bikes offer a fun challenge on flowy singletrack with bumpy sections—especially if you run a tubeless tire setup (less likelihood of pinch flats). Tackling big gravity trails or super burly terrain, however, is a less good idea. A gravel bike will definitely not survive the bike park or enduro sections, but it can hold up and be a lot of fun on mellower cross country trails.
So when weighing gravel bike vs mountain, think about what you might want to be doing. A mountain bike will always be able to ride more trails than a gravel bike. So if trails get you excited, buy a cross country, trail, or enduro mountain bike. But if the idea of riding efficiently on the road, gravel paths, logging roads, and the odd mellow mountain bike trail appeals to you, go for gravel.
Brake
Sram Force
Stem
Rocky Mountain 31.8 XC | 7° Rise | XS = 60mm | SM = 70mm | MD = 80mm |LG = 90mm | XL = 100mmGrips
Rocky Mountain Gel Bar TapeHeadset
FSA Orbit NO.57E ZS44|56 | Sealed 36°x45° Bearings | 30.2mm x 41mm x 7.1mm Upper | 40mm x 51.8mm x 7.5mm Lower | 1.5" Crown RaceHandlebar
Easton EC70 AX | 80mm Reach | 120mm Drop | Flare 16° | Width: 420mm XS | 440mm SM-MD | 460mm LG-XLFrame
Rocky Mountain Smoothwall Carbon | BB386 EVO | Zero Stack Tapered Headtube | Fully Guided Internal Cable Routing | Dropper Post Compatible | 12 x 142mm Axle | Sram UDH Compatible Rear Triangle
Weight*
18.26|8.3 KGS
Chain / Belt
Sram Force 12s
Cassette
Sram XPLR XG-1271 10-44T
Crankset
Sram Force 1 Wide Carbon | 42T | DUB Spindle | Crankarm Length: XS-SM = 170mm | MD = 172.5mm | LG-XL = 175mm
Shifters
Sram Force AXS
Bottom Bracket
Sram BB386 DUB Wide
Rear Derailleur
Sram Force XPLR AXS
Tires
F: WTB Venture TCS Light Fast Rolling 700 x 40c // R: WTB Venture TCS Light Fast Rolling 700 x 40c //
Spokes
Pillar PSR 2.2/1.5/2.0
Wheels
Rocky Mountain 24GR Carbon | 28H | Tubeless Ready - Tape / Valves Incl
Front Hub
Zipp ZR1 12mm
Rear Hub
Zipp ZR1 142mm
Tire
F: WTB Venture TCS Light Fast Rolling 700 x 40c // R: WTB Venture TCS Light Fast Rolling 700 x 40c //
Saddle
WTB Silverado Race 142
Seat Post
Easton EC70 27.2mm
Fork
Rocky Mountain Carbon Gravel | Full Carbon Steerer |110 x 12mm Axle |3 Pack & Fender Mounts
Disclaimer
Depending on the situation, differences or deviations between specified and installed components are possible. Alternatively, installed components correspond to the quality level of the selected components. Errors and omissions are excepted.