What is a Gravel Bike?
If I have to go straight to the point, I’d say; gravel bikes are a type of bicycle designed for off-road riding on various terrains, mainly gravel paths and dirt roads. They combine the comfort and efficiency of road bikes with the durability and versatility of mountain bikes. But I like bikes, and I like to ride them and I have variety of them, so let me explain you how gravel came to to bikes and why you might perhaps consider getting one!
History of Gravel Bikes
The rise in popularity of mixed-surface cycling competitions, particularly in the American Midwest, was a major factor in the early 2010s for gravel bikes. Riders desired a specific bike that could handle tarmac, dirt tracks, and loose gravel roads equally well. Early models were kind of a mix of touring and cyclocross bikes, but they also had disc brakes for improved handling on rougher terrain, larger tire clearance, and a relaxed geometry. First companies to produce gravel bikes were the likes of Salsa, Specialized, and Cannondale.
Today, from my personal experience, I can tell you that gravel bikes are rather very popular! For a long time, I only had a simple city bike and a fixed gear bike (I still do, and will always have one!) but after getting hooked to bikepacking , I started to look for a bike that could give me some comfort but also be faster than my city bike. Enter the gravel bike!
Why Should You Get a Gravel Bike?
Well, as I mentioned before, gravel bikes are designed for off-road riding on various terrains, mainly gravel paths and dirt roads. They combine the comfort and efficiency of road bikes with the durability and versatility of mountain bikes, but they are not as heavy as mountain bikes. Basically it’s a mix, but, a perfect mix for bikepacking!
Since bikepacking is all about having your bike carry your gear for you, gravel bikes are a perfect choice for that! Combine them with a saddle bag, frame bag and a handlebar bag and you’ve got yourself a complete package for your next bikepacking trip! Of course, you can also use them for bike touring (which is what I do most of the time) but knowing that you can ride them on some rought terrains gives you the confidence to go on a trip that is more adventurous!
Do I Need a Gravel Bike for Bikepacking?
I can confirm, 100% that a gravel bike is not a must, and a good quality one will definitely cost you some money, but it’s not something that should take away your desire to go out and try bikepacking! Any bike, literally any bike that has decent components such as working brakes and gears (even a single speed or fixed gear, I made my first ever bikepacking trip with a fixed gear bike) will do the job!
Conclusion
Whether gravel or a city bike, it’s all about the adventure! An expensive gravel bike won’t make your bikepacking trip more fun. So, if you’re a seasoned bikepacker, you probably already have a gravel bike, but if you’re not, you don’t need to worry about it, just ride whatever bike you have.
If you however, want to get a gravel bike or build one! I’ve got some great ideas here on Velopacker, as you can also see for yourself on the roadmap I’m working on a Bike Builder that will help you build your bike or rather put together components with compatibility in mind, then you can get that to your Local Bike Shop and get quote on how much it would cost, or maybe I can help you with checking up the prices for individual components. Like, I literally get ideas about what I want to build whilst I’m writing this article!
Check velopacker.com for roadmap, latest updates and features and sign up to waitlist, to be one of the first to get the info, once it’s live!
