Choosing your gravel bike

We decided to write this blog following several recent discussions helping customers explore their gravel bike options.

For different riders with different goals, gravel bike options can be very different - even more so than the options available for road bikes. Leaving budget aside, this blog brings together several of the considerations for your gravel bike purchase.

What kind of riding do you want to do? Do you want a bike for fast gravel riding, one-day rides, or races? Or do you want to get into bikepacking adventures like those we enjoy here? Your bike setup will differ significantly depending on your answer.

These days there are clearly defined classes of gravel bikes separated by speed. On one hand, you have light and fast gravel bikes with a racier geometry and not too many options for carrying gear, which are ideal for one-day rides or races. On the other hand, you have bikes with less concern about being light, but offering all the options to tackle conditions and carry everything you need for an adventure.

If your goal is speed, the choice is relatively simple. If you are interested in bikepacking adventures, there is more to consider.

The adventure setup

A bikepacking setup is designed for adventure and self-sufficiency over longer distances. The focus is on comfort, durability, and the ability to carry necessary gear.

The geometry is more relaxed and upright. The head tube is slacker, the wheelbase is longer, and the chainstays are longer, all of which provide a more stable, comfortable ride, especially when loaded with gear. It's designed to handle a variety of terrain and conditions without feeling twitchy.

While carbon is commonly used, steel, aluminum, and titanium are often seen. The strength of these materials is a defining choice, but so is the weight advantage or disadvantage. 

Your wheels and tires are the critical connection to the trail. You'll want a bike with generous tire clearance to fit wider tires (up to 50mm or even to 2.1" or more) for better traction and comfort on rough terrain. For your rims, we highly recommend hooked wheelsets for their reliability. While hookless designs are lighter, they can be a liability when you're off-grid due to the risk of a tyre burping or coming off the rim.

Another critical difference between a race gravel bike and a bikepacking setup is your mounting points. The more you have, the more versatile your bike will be. Check for common mounting points on the top tube, down tube, and under the down tube for extra water bottles or tool canisters. The fork can also be a handy location, with three-pack mounts on each fork to hold cages to carry anything from water to sleeping bags.

The decision between a simple 1x setup and a versatile 2x setup is a crucial one. A 2x drivetrain provides a massive range of gears, invaluable for climbing a steep hill with a fully-loaded bike. However, a 1x setup is simpler, with fewer moving parts, which reduces the number of potential points of failure when you're far from home. If it helps, we ride 1x for all our offroad riding.

To help you decide, here is a breakdown of the key considerations.

Choices to make

Beyond the bike itself, think about the accessories that will make or break your ride. 

Consider flared handlebars for better control on descents. A wider bar also provides more space for a bar bag on bikepacking trips.

The bags you choose are just as important as the mounting points. It is best to use a combination of frame, handlebar, saddle, and accessory bags, to distribute weight evenly and maintain stable bikehandling. The fundamental of bikepacking is to carry only what you need. It's a fine line between self-sufficiency and overpacking, and the choices you make in your bag system are critical to getting this right. If you buy bigger bags, you will almost always fill them, which means more weight to carry up those gravel climbs. It is best to choose bags that are "just enough" for the essentials which will naturally limit how much you can carry and force you to be more selective. Our mantra is “pack just enough, not too much.”

A dynamo hub is a great option for long-distance, self-supported bikepacking. It generates power from your front wheel's rotation, providing a constant supply for lights and devices. The downside is a small amount of rolling resistance, and it is likely overkill for most rides. Unless you're planning a massive, off-grid expedition, a high-capacity power bank and USB-C cables are a much simpler and more flexible solution to keep your electronics charged.

Electronic gearsets offer so much ease of use, but they introduce something that can go wrong when you're off the grid. You should definitely know how to reset your gears if they need it. Mechanical gears are simple and reliable, with fewer points of failure. 

While traditionally a mountain bike component, dropper posts are becoming a popular choice on gravel bikes. A dropper post allows you to quickly lower your saddle to give more room to maneuver on steep, technical descents and a lower center of gravity, which improves control and stability. Remember though to check that your dropper post will work with the bag system you choose.

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Choosing a gravel bike is a personal decision, and what works for one person may not for another. Our advice is simple: think about what you'll be using your gravel purchase for the majority of the time, and always go for the most versatile option that suits your needs.

At MC, we ride all gravel styles and are always happy to chat on your dream setup over a coffee, so don’t hesitate to drop in to the MC Clubhouse for a chat.