I am a road cyclist, and I intend on getting a new bike soon. I’d like to use it to zoom around town for fun like I already do on my road bike, but I also want to be able to commute with it. As such, I’d like it to be able to handle light grass and dirt when I need to (no mud, gravel, excessive drops, etc). I’ve been thinking about a gravel or cross bike, but they’re just not quite “zoomy” enough for me; I like more aggressive geometry and a nice, aero frame. Additionally, there has been a growing trend for thicker tires on road bikes, so a modern road bike should be able to fit cross tires. Should I just get a new road bike and throw some 33mm cross tires on it? Or should I suck it up and get a cross/gravel bike that’s actually designed for dirt? On one hand I want to zoom and won’t be on dirt/grass all that much, but on the other I don’t want to ruin an expensive bike by taking it off-road when I shouldn’t. Help a brother out.

  • sbf@feddit.orgOP
    2·
    5 days ago

    Thanks for the opportunity to vent my love for gravel bikes.

    Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

    My father is also a road cyclist, so I didn’t grow up on mountain/hybrid bikes like most other children do; road bikes are pretty much all I know. I’d love to dip into other disciplines, but I don’t want to spend a bunch of money on a bike and then find out I don’t like it. However, I do fully agree with your point about road bikes being restrictive; I often have to take longer, much busier routes around my town when I could just take one of the many trails that go all throughout it. I don’t plan on doing any sort of technical trails, but I’d still like to have the ability to do the most basic of off-roading.

    The thing is, I don’t really care about the number on my bike computer/watch’s speedometer. I just want to feel fast; I want to feel the wind, the rattle of the bike against the road, the momentum shift as I lean into a corner. That’s what I enjoy. From what I’m reading, you seem to get that very same thing! Perhaps gravel bikes aren’t too bad after all ;)

    • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.de
      2·
      5 days ago

      The occasional trail just to avoid traffic, sure. That’s the gateway drug right there and suddenly you’re climbing muddy 15% trails after heavy rainfall. Talk about a slippery slope! The disappointment in your dad’s face.

      You can certainly feel very fast on a gravel. Since my bike came out before Shimano’s GRX groups did I have a regular 2x11 Ultegra road group on mine (fine, I swapped to the 11-34 cassette at some point, 36/52 chain rings in front.) 28mm slicks, and I’m pretty sure what I’d have is a road bike. (Hypothesis untested.)